Brigham Young University. Department of Communications
Dates
- Existence: 1963 - 2015
Administrative History
The Department of Communications (1963-2015) was responsible for communications courses under the College of Fine Arts and Communications at Brigham Young University.
The Department of Communications at Brigham Young University was established in 1963. Functioning under the College of Fine Arts and Communications, it was responsible for teaching public relations, advertising, marketing, journalism, and communications. Previously, communications courses were part of the Department of Journalism in the College of Humanities and Social Sciences. The organization functioned to provide a professional program in communications which includes a broad base of general education, thorough orientation in the processes, functions and responsibilities of mass communication, and the development of skills in fact finding, analysis, and communication through the mass media. The department also sought to provide service courses to help students from other departments develop desired communication skills. Department chairs included: Oliver R. Smith (1964-1966), J. Morris Richards (1966-1972), Edwin O. Haroldsen (1972-1975), M. Dallas Burnett (1975-1980); Brent D. Peterson (1980-1983), J. LaVar Bateman (1983-1986), Ralph D. Barney (1986-1987), Gordon Whiting (1987-1991), David P. Forsyth (1991-1996), Leonard L. Bartlett (1996-1998), Laurie J. Wilson (1998-2002), Michael K. Perkins (2002-2004), Edward E. Adams (2004-2008; 2012-2015), Bradley L. Rawlins (2008-2012), and Edward E. Adams (2012-2015).
In 2015 the department was renamed the School of Communications.
Citation:
BYU Organizational History Project, May 4, 2012: Dept. of Communications (1963, College Fine Arts and Communications, public relations, advertising, marketing, journalism, and communications, previously Department of Journalism in College of Humanities and Social Sciences, professional program, broad base general, orientation, mass communication, fact finding, analysis, service courses, chairs Oliver R. Smith (1964-1966), J. Morris Richards (1966-1972), Edwin O. Haroldsen (1972-1975), M. Dallas Burnett (1975-1980); Brent D. Peterson (1980-1983), J. LaVar Bateman (1983-1986), Ralph D. Barney (1986-1987), Gordon Whiting (1987-1991), David P. Forsyth (1991-1996), Leonard L. Bartlett (1996-1998), Laurie J. Wilson (1998-2002), Michael K. Perkins (2002-2004), Edward E. Adams (2004-2008), and Bradley L. Rawlins (2008- ))BYU Organizational History Project, February 1, 2024 (department chairs, Bradley L. Rawlins (2008-2012), Edward E. Adams (2012-2015); renamed as School of Communications in 2015)
Found in 49 Collections and/or Records:
Joseph M. Boel papers
Contains correspondence and papers pertaining to journalism and news photography, with copies of the Intermountain Journalism Bulletin, and Nieman Reports, 1946-1962. 64 items.
Broadcast Services correspondence with Department of Communications, 1967-1969
Contains correspondence with the university's Department of Communications. Materials date from between 1967 and 1969.
College of Engineering Sciences and Technology course notes, 1966-1981
College of Fine Arts records on Department of Communications, 1969-1983
Contains Communications Department accreditation files, administrative records, audits, and files on an external review, forensics, and programs; Communciations History Archives administrative records and David O. Selznick collection files; and Communications Research Center administrative records and reports.
Department of Communications activity correspondence, 1959-1962
Contains correspondence and reports on activities of department majors and graduates. Materials date from between 1959 and 1962.
Department of Communications budget and expenditures, 1947-1967
Contains budget estimates, employee salary data, correspondence, student publication budget estimates, graphs, and balance sheets. Materials date from between 1947 and 1967.
Department of Communications building project records, 1920-1999
Contains records related to the building projects of the Department of Communications, including brochures of funding information, funding proposals, and budgeting. Also contains pictures of project models and correspondence regarding the projects. Includes records about the planned Gordon B. Hinckley Communications Center, including a floor plan and details about conceptual design, as well as records on the Eagle Gate plaza and office towers and the Harris Fine Arts Center, 1920-1999.
Department of Communications building records, 1948-1964
Contains administrative files on furnishings, facilities, lab equipment, the Harris Fine Arts Center, McKay Building, Student Service Center, and Journalism Reading Room, including floor plans, correspondence, and room assignments. Materials date from between 1948 and 1964.
Department of Communications chair records, 1933-1971
Department of Communications chair records, 1960-1974
Contains administrative files, including grade summaries, academics standards, memorandums, correspondence, invitations, articles, seminar and workshop files, book lists, brochures and pamphlets, bibliographies, curriculum materials, meeting minutes, and employment and enrollment data.