Chapter Six [Service to the Community and the Church]

The Ross Paulson papers, 1849-2001 and undated (bulk 1958-2001), contains documents, photographs, and correspondence created during Paulson’s time at Augustana. Paulson collected materials on many subjects including Women’s suffrage and prohibition (both domestic and international), feminist theory in the Quad Cities, Black Power and politics on campus, and campus ministries. He also conducted research on Augustana’s academic calendar, and Augustana’s sixth president, Clarence Woodrow Sorensen. His papers are arranged into six series.

The Committees series (1959-2002 and undated) contains meeting minutes, correspondence, research, and other papers related to the many committees Paulson served on during his career at Augustana College such as Faculty Senate, Educational Policies committee, American Association of University Professors, Library and Bookstore committees, and Augustana’s Campus Ministries.

The Campus Culture series (1958-1997 and undated) contains research files, correspondence, and collected publications regarding the overall lifestyle of students on Augustana’s campus, as well as campus trends taking place nationwide. Such research includes, but is not limited to, black power, student rights and politics on campus, Greek life, and ethics and diversity on campus and how the Augustana administration handled such issues.

The Class Materials series (1961-2001 and undated) includes course materials, syllabi, tests, papers, and gradebooks used by Paulson in the history courses he taught at Augustana College. This series also includes audiovisual materials such as audiocassettes, reel-to-reel audiotapes, and VHS videotapes. These materials contain personal interviews done by Oral History students on a myriad of topics including immigration in the Quad Cities and the Quad Cities chapter of the National Organization for Women. Paulson also recorded many of his lectures.

The Personnel series (1968-1996 and undated) includes professional references, resumes, and discussions regarding Augustana faculty tenure and hiring of professionals at Augustana, mostly in the history department. Included are recommendations written by Paulson for Paulson’s former colleagues and students.

The Research series (1849-2001 and undated) contains files created by Paulson on various topics in the course of his research. Topics relate to numerous areas of study, such as intellectual history and historiography. Also included are research files pertaining to the development and improvement of Augustana’s campus.

The Personal Papers series (1959-1998 and undated) contains Paulson’s personal correspondence and publications, including personal information on his years at Augustana and his family life outside of school. Paulson kept in contact with many of his previous students and included are his correspondence with them as well as information he accumulated from their activities after Augustana. Paulson also consulted on other projects outside of Augustana, including book reviews and editorial projects which are included.

The Sorensen Manuscript series (2000-2002 and undated) includes chapter drafts of Paulson's untitled mansucript on the biography of Clarence Woodrow Sorensen, the sixth president of Augustana College (1962-1975). The series also includes correspondence, clippings, and references related to Paulson's attempt in publishing the manuscript.