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A Finding Aid for the 1970 Presidential Search Committee Records

Collection Summary

Collection Title: 1970 Presidential Search Committee Records

Creator: Ferris State College. Presidential Search Committee.

Dates: 1970

Abstract: In 1970, a campus-wide committee headed by Dacho Dachoff designed a process to replace retiring president Victor Spathelf. The records document the processes and procedures of the committee in selecting a new president.

Language: English

Quantity: 0.5 cubic feet; 1 half-records center box

Identification: UA 1.11.1

Repository: Ferris State University Archives and Records Management Program

Historical Note

On June 2, 1970, 19 of the 22 members of the Presidential Search Committee met for the first time. The committee was charged with recommending five candidates to the Board, although the Board was not legally bound to choose one of those candidates. At the first meeting, the committee set up subgroups to determine procedures and processes, and created set of duties and qualities of the next president of Ferris State College. These were presented, along with a tentative budget and approved by the Board of Trustees (then called the Board of Control) on June 12, 1970.

Following an initial review of the applicant pool, select members of the search committee conducted interviews at neutral interviews around the state. These were held in Big Rapids, Detroit, Grand Rapids and Traverse City. This work occurred over the summer with an elected "executive committee." In the fall, based upon those interviews, 10 candidates were selected for an on campus interview. They were on campus for a full two days of interviews.

Robert Ewigleben was selected as the next president of Ferris State College and approved by the Board of Trustees.

The committee was chaired by Dr. Dacho Dachoff. Members of the committee included: Blanchard, Charlene Herbert Carson, John Fleming, Robert Geha, Robert Hitch, Florence Holdern, Clare, Jareki, Karlis Kazerovskis, Robert Kosanovich, John Lupinacci, Neva C. Martin, Herbert Parsons, Lawrence Prakken, Donald Rankin, Robert Redman, Roger Reisdorf, Pamela Ryals, John R. Smith, Ronald Snead, and Edwin Wigglesworth.

Initially, committee members had expressed concern at the large size of the committee, but it allowed participation by different members of the committee at various stages in the process. Their final recommendation was approved by the Board of Trustees.

Scope and Content Note

This collection documents the process of selecting Robert Ewigleben as the president of Ferris State College in 1971. It is not a compilation of resumes or personal information about the candidates. Instead it contains documentation of the committee, its processes and its resources. Information includes membership lists, processes, forms and minutes for the committee. Some material in this collection may be restricted because it contains personnel information.

Arrangement

Conditions of Access

The 1970 Presidential Search Committee Records are open for research to all users in accordance with University Archives and Records Management access policies. It is available in the reading room of the Ferris State University Archives.

Conditions of Use

Requests for permission to publish material should be directed to the University Archivist. It is the responsibility of the researcher to identify and satisfy the holders of all copyrights.

Copyright interests for this collection have been transferred to Ferris State University. For more information, contact the University Archivist.

Subject Headings

Below are a list of names, organizations and subjects relating to the collection. Names have been taken from Library of Congress Authority headings whenever possible.

Related Materials

None specified.

Administrative Information

Citations

Footnotes and bibliographic references should use the following format:
[Item], Folder, Box (or url). 1970 Presidential Search Committee Records. Ferris State University Archives. Big Rapids, Michigan.

Provenance (Acquisition Information)

These records were donated by Dacho Dachoff upon his retirement from Ferris State College in 1983.

Processing Information

The 1970 Presidential Search Committee Records were processed to the folder level by Melinda McMartin Isler in April 2008. A finding aid was prepared in a word processing format and converted to EAD 2.0. A collection level MARC-format record was prepared and placed in the library online public access catalog. Description was based on Describing Archives: A Content Standard (Chicago: Society of American Archivists, 2004).

Technical Requirements

This collection consists of paper based documents. No specialized software or hardware is required for viewing.

Content Listing

Series 1. Subject Records. 1970.

Subject records consists of 0.5 cubic feet of records. The collection contains administrative records such as membership lists and composition of the committee, reports and correspondence, and procedural information.

It is arranged alphabetically by function/topic.

Box Folder Contents
1 1 Background data on Ferris State College for candidates. Compiled May 1970.
1 2 Board of Trustees. Correspondence. May 1970.
1 3 Board of Trustees. Reports. May-June 1970.
1 4 Budget. 1970.
1 5 Chairman. Correspondence with committee. May-November 1970.
1 6 Correspondence. May-November 1970.
1 7 Executive committee. Meeting minutes; agendas. July-November 1970.
1 8 Forms. 1970.
1 9 Job description. May 1970.
1 10 Member packets for candidates. August 1970.
1 11 Membership lists. 1970.
1 12 Meeting records including agendas and minutes. June-November 1970.
1 13 Neutral on-site interview procedures. 1970.
1 14 On-site interview procedures. 1970.
1 15 Procedures. 1970.
1 16 Publicity. May-June 1970.
1 17 Search committee structure. 1970.
1 18 Subcommittee reports. 1970.
1 19 "Systemizing the Presidential Search Process." Dachoff, Dacho. Draft article. Undated.
1 20 Tip sheet. Undated.