TABLE OF CONTENTS

Overview of the Collection

Biography

Scope and Content

Arrangement

Restrictions

Index Terms

Related Material

Administrative Information

Detailed Description

Series I: History, undated, 1882-1954

Series II: Speeches, undated, 1917-1953

Series III: Professional Papers, 1914-1964

Series IV: Personal Papers, 1903-1952

Walter Stemmons Papers

Biography

Walter Stemmons (1884-1965) became Agricultural Editor at the Connecticut Agricultural College in 1918. The scope of his official responsibilities expanded rapidly as the college grew into a state university. He was director of the Division of Publications and University Editor until he retired in 1954.

Mr. Stemmons came to Storrs from the Oklahoma Agricultural and Mechanical College where he had occupied a similar post. His formal education and professional background were acquired chiefly in Missouri and he was one of the first graduates of the School of Journalism at the University of Missouri.

As Agricultural Editor, Stemmons was responsible for editing the college catalog, Experiment Station Bulletins, and the numerous pamphlets and other material of the Agricultural Extension Service. In addition, Stemmons gradually acquired chief responsibility for writing and arranging publication of news releases from the college.

Walter Stemmons came to Connecticut when the then Connecticut Agricultural College had an enrollment of two hundred students. In addition to his editorial duties over the years, he was a faculty advisor to many student organizations, including the Connecticut Campus, the Nutmeg, the Mediator, and the Husky Network.

For thirty years, Stemmons taught a course on news writing at the University and a number of his students entered the field of journalism as a direct result of his teaching.

When instructed by the Board of Trustees to write a history of the college, Stemmons accepted the task and, after several years of intensive effort, turned out Connecticut Agricultural College - A History.

Towards the close of his career at Storrs, Stemmons worked on the preparation of a second volume dealing with the history of the institution, and wrote several chapters which described developments of the college during the 1930s and 1940s, but left this material in incomplete form.

For additional information on Walter Stemmons, see Six Speeches of Walter Stemmons, College and University Editor, 1918-1954, selected and edited by James H. Barnett, University of CT Publications Series, 1971.

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Scope and Content

The papers consist of materials gathered by Walter Stemmons in his capacity as editor for the Agricultural Extension Service and director of University Publications. The papers consist, in large part, of research files for Connecticut Agricultural College: A History, the published manuscript, the research files for the unpublished history of Connecticut, Volume II, speeches made by Stemmons, professional correspondence, and personal papers.

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Arrangement

Series I: History (undated, 1882-1954) contains research materials for the publication of Connecticut Agricultural College: A History and unpublished chapters of University of Connecticut, Volume II. Both are arranged chronologically.

Series II: Speeches (undated, 1917-1953) contains numerous off-campus speeches made by Stemmons for various civic organizations throughout the state. One such speech, “The Higher Science of Trout Fishing,” delivered in 1942, was reprinted in several state and local newspapers, as were many of Stemmon's speeches. The popular speaker was the toastmaster at the Connecticut Campus annual banquets as well as at Uconn retirement receptions. These speeches have been included in the series along with his radio broadcasts and are arranged chronologically.

Series III: Professional Papers (1914-1964) consists of Walter Stemmons' professional papers, his College of Agriculture publications, and correspondence. The series also contains annual reports, and the Freckleton Memorial correspondence. Harold R. Freckleton, a Connecticut Campus editor and the first UConn graduate to die in World War II, was highly esteemed by Stemmons and his classmates. Stemmons was instrumental in establishing the Freckleton Memorial and annual award. Also included is Stemmons' professional correspondence for 1914-1964, which concerns, principally in his early years, the workings of the Agricultural College and clearly shows the relations of the college and extension services to the state's agriculture. Stemmons' correspondence for 1955-1964 shows his close connection with Provost Albert Waugh and R. W. Stallman of the English Department. This series is arranged alphabetically by subject.

Series IV: Personal Papers (1903-1952) contains personal memorabilia of Walter Stemmons, which includes his high school and college yearbooks. A scrapbook with newspaper clippings, dating from 1908-1911, early publications and oversized newspaper clippings complete the series, which is arranged alphabetically.

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Restrictions

Restrictions on Access

There are no access restrictions on this collection.

Restrictions on Use

Permission to publish from these Papers must be obtained in writing from both the University of Connecticut Libraries and the owner(s) of the copyright.

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Related Material

Archives & Special Collections has a substantial collection of materials pertaining to the University, its history, administration, faculty, staff and students. For detailed information on these collections please contact the curator or ask at the reference desk.

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Index Terms

This record series is indexed under the following controlled access subject terms.

Persons:

Organizations:

Places:

Subjects:

Document Types:

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Administrative Information

Preferred Citation

[Item description, #:#], Walter Stemmons Papers. Archives & Special Collections at the Thomas J. Dodd Research Center, University of Connecticut Libraries.

Acquisition Information

The papers were donated to the University by Lora Davis Stemmons, the widow of Walter Stemmons.

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Detailed Description