Ross Paulson papers

Collection

Identifier: MSS 144

Staff Only

Scope and Contents

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.

Dates

Creation: 1930-2002 and undated
Creation: Majority of material found within ( 1958-2001)

Creator

Paulson, Ross Evans (Person)

Language of Materials

English, Swedish, French, and German

Conditions Governing Access

Materials in boxes 44 and 45 closed to researchers 80 years from the date of creation.

Conditions Governing Use

Unpublished manuscripts are protected by copyright. Permission to publish, quote, or reproduce must be secured from Augustana College Special Collections and the copyright holder.

Historical Note

Dr. Ross E. Paulson was a history professor at Augustana College from 1962 to 1995. He was born in 1935 and graduated from Harvard University. He specialized in American and European intellectual history, historiography, and interdisciplinary studies. During his time spent on Augustana’s campus, Paulson was very involved with the school. He served on many campus and faculty committees that served to improve the school’s academic system, student life, and overall organizational structure.

Among his many positions held on campus, Paulson oversaw Augustana’s Omicron Delta Kappa and Phi Beta Kappa chapters and served as secretary of the Swenson Swedish Immigration Research Center advisory board. He was also very involved with Augustana’s campus ministries, the college chapel, and the Evangelical Lutheran church in America.

Paulson researched and studied many of the relevant topics of discussion and controversy taking place during his career at Augustana. He made several contributions to the scholarly research community that were well recognized within his field of study, including research lectures and published journal articles regarding American and European intellectual history and historiography. Paulson also researched and collected many materials from current events taking place on campus and around the world. Much of Paulson’s work was meant to directly impact Augustana’s campus life, such as planning for Augustana’s academic calendar and research on Augustana’s sixth president, Clarence Woodrow Sorensen. Paulson was particularly interested in women’s and gender studies and women’s history.

Paulson passed away in 2011 in Shakopee, Minnesota. Paulson’s immediate family included his wife, Avis, and two daughters, Linnea Anderson and Lisa Bauch.

Extent

19.75 Cubic Feet (/ 46 boxes and 7 AV boxes)

Additional Description

Abstract

Dr. Ross E. Paulson was a history professor at Augustana College from 1962 to 1995. He specialized in American and European intellectual history, historiography, and interdisciplinary studies. During his time spent on Augustana’s campus, Paulson was very involved with the school. He served on many campus and faculty committees that served to improve the school’s academic system, student life, and overall organizational structure. Paulson researched and studied many of the relevant topics of discussion and controversy taking place during his career at Augustana; such as black power, women’s history, and President Sorensen. The Ross Paulson papers, 1849-2001 and undated (bulk 1958-2001), contains personal papers, research files, audiovisual materials recordings, class materials, and committee records. These materials primarily relate to Women’s history, student work at Augustana, Campus Church and ministries, President Sorensen, student’s rights on campus, and multi-cultural activities on campus.

Arrangement

Materials arranged within series chronologically and grouped by subject when applicable. Original folder titles have been maintained when possible.

Immediate Source of Acquisition

Received from Ross Paulson in multiple accessions, 1995-2002. The 2022 addendum was received from Linnea Anderson.

Existence and Location of Originals

Much of the material in Paulson's research files was photocopied from original sources held elsewhere. The location of the original materials is uknown.

Related Materials

MSS 6 C. W. Sorensen papers
MSS 69 Augustana College Department of Women's and Gender Studies records
MSS 249 Augustana College Campus Church records
MSS 268 Phi Beta Kappa, Zeta Chapter records
MSS 283 Augustana College Department of History records
MSS 291 Oral History Interviews
MSS 310 National Organization for Women, Quad Cities chapter records