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 28 Collections and/or Records:
Department of Communications committees and offices records, 1952-1960
Contains correspondence and other materials from the Public Relations Office (BYU) and Radio and Television Committee. Materials date from between 1952 and 1960.
Department of Communications correspondence, 1956-1999
Contains correspondence relating to the Department of Communications, including letters to private donors for the communications buidling and alumni outreach efforts. Also includes correspondence with various board and committee members on topics including convention accommodations, scheduling, and scholarship applications. Also contains correspondence on the subject of the Daily Universe, 1956-1999.
Department of Communications faculty records, 1953-1973
Contains faculty files from the Department of Communications, including correspondence and lists of publications. Also contains curriculum vita as well as evaluations and employment recommendation records, 1953-1973.
Department of Communications general correspondence, 1946-1971
Contains correspondence with President Wilkinson, the Dean of Students, Harvey L. Taylor, the Dean of the College of Humanities, student publications staff, and University Press staff. Materials date from between 1946 and 1971.
Department of Communications instructions, catalog notes, and other material, 1959-1968
Contains administrative files, including Instructions, catalog notes, curriculum revisions, grade rolls, correspondence, graphs, class outlines, and enrollments. Materials date from between 1959 and 1968.
Department of Communications news releases, 1952-1964
Contains administrative files, including news releases and clippings. Materials date from between 1952 and 1964.
Department of Communications records
Contains records relating to the Department of Communications, including records on the American Society of Newspaper Editors (ASNE) as well as building project records and meeting minutes. Also contains course materials, correspondence, and records on faculty members, 1920-1999.
Department of Communications records
Contains correspondence to and from the chair of the Department of Communications for the period of 1988 to 2001, and portfolios done by students in the department in 2011.
Department of Communications records
Includes the correspondence and department records of chairs Oliver Smith and J. Morris Richards. Materials date from between 1933 and 1974.
Department of Communications records on American Society of Newspaper Editors, 1920-1995
Contains revision drafts of "Gods Within the Machine: A History of the American Society of Newspaper Editors, 1923-1993," a study written by Brigham Young University communications professor Paul A. Pratte. Also contains related research records, including minutes, correspondence, the organization's bulletin, journal articles, and presidents' speeches and records, 1920-1995.