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Brigham Young University. Department of Communications

 Organization

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:

Oliver R. Smith photographs and notebook, circa 1935-1974

 Series
Identifier: MSS 2087 Series 4
Scope and Contents From the Collection: The six series in the Oliver R. Smith papers are arranged according to genre type. The first series contains Smith's correspondence. The second includes various family newsletters as well as writings by and about Smith. The third series is comprised of university memoranda from the '50s, '60s, and '70s. Another small series contains various photographs, including several of BYU. The largest series is Smith's subject files which contain information on BYU student clubs such as Delta Phi,...
Dates: Other: circa 1935-1974
Found in: L. Tom Perry Special Collections / MSS 2087, Oliver R. Smith papers

Oliver R. Smith subject files, 1940-1975

 Series
Identifier: MSS 2087 Series 5
Scope and Contents From the Collection: The six series in the Oliver R. Smith papers are arranged according to genre type. The first series contains Smith's correspondence. The second includes various family newsletters as well as writings by and about Smith. The third series is comprised of university memoranda from the '50s, '60s, and '70s. Another small series contains various photographs, including several of BYU. The largest series is Smith's subject files which contain information on BYU student clubs such as Delta Phi,...
Dates: Other: 1940-1975
Found in: L. Tom Perry Special Collections / MSS 2087, Oliver R. Smith papers

Owen S. Rich research projects, 1972-1983

 Series — Multiple Containers
Identifier: MSS 2127 Series 1
Scope and Contents

Contains reports of research projects from courses taught by Owen S. Rich. The course research projects are from Communications 449 and Communications 499, 1972-1983.

Dates: 1972-1983
Found in: L. Tom Perry Special Collections / MSS 2127, Owen S. Rich papers

Pamphlets and brochures on Department of Communications, 1966-1977

 File — Box 1: [Barcode: 31197233618781], Folder: 5
Identifier: UA 5634 File 5
Scope and Contents

Contains pamphlets, a half-poster, award programs, and other material. Dates range from 1966-1977.

Dates: 1966-1977
Found in: L. Tom Perry Special Collections. University Archives / UA 5634, Collection of pamphlets and brochures

Personal histories of Owen S. and Ora Rich

 Collection — Multiple Containers
Identifier: MSS 5784
Scope and Contents

Contains two bound volumes. The first "A Lifetime of Romance and Adventure" contains the personal histories of Owen and Ora Rich. The second "Owen S. Rich: Teacher, Radio and Television Pioneer" contains letters of tribute to Dr. Rich upon his retirement.

Dates: 1922-2006
Found in: L. Tom Perry Special Collections / Personal histories of Owen S. and Ora Rich

Owen S. Rich photographs and other material on KBYU

 Collection — Multiple Containers
Identifier: UA 1142
Scope and Contents

Photographs and some papers related to the history of KBYU television and radio.

Dates: 1940-1960
Found in: L. Tom Perry Special Collections. University Archives / Owen S. Rich photographs and other material on KBYU

Oliver R. Smith papers

 Collection — Multiple Containers
Identifier: MSS 2087
Abstract Includes correspondence, family newsletters and news clippings, university memoranda, photographs, artifacts, and a few Hill Cumorah Pageant files. Subject files contain information on BYU student clubs, including Delta Phi, Kappa Tau Alpha, Omega Nu, and Sigma Delta Chi, and information on organizations with which he was affiliated, such as the US Air Force Reserve, Association of Educators of Journalism, Rocky Mountain Collegiate Press Association, National Council of College Publications...
Dates: 1935-1979
Found in: L. Tom Perry Special Collections / Oliver R. Smith papers

Speech and videos on KBYU

 Collection — Multiple Containers
Identifier: UA 989
Scope and Contents

Contains a speech given by Rich on the establishment of KBYU and a video documenting Rich's career at KBYU as well as three DVDs containing "The Rich Years" and a recording of Dr. Rich's retirement party.

Dates: 1987-1990
Found in: L. Tom Perry Special Collections. University Archives / Speech and videos on KBYU

University Communications files on the Communications Department, 1956-1999

 Sub-Series — Multiple Containers
Identifier: UA 5395 Series 5 Sub-Series 3
Scope and Contents note

Contains newspaper clippings, news releases, correspondence, meeting minutes, and photographs concerning the Communications Department from 1956 to 1999. Materials also relate to community relationships, the communication disorders clinic, communications week, public communications, the Communications Council, media services, and cooperative education.

Dates: 1956-1999
Found in: L. Tom Perry Special Collections. University Archives / UA 5395, University Communications records / University Communications files on colleges and departments

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