Title: News Bulletin, 1918-1919, 1923-1948, 1951
ID: 39/1/810
Primary Creator: Public Information
Extent: 0.6 cubic feet
Arrangement: Chronological and Alphabetical
Subjects: Press Releases, Publicity
Languages: English
Printed News Bulletins prepared by the Director of Publicity as a clipping sheet of University news for the editors of Illinois newspapers from September 1918 to September 1919, including news of war programs, students, agricultural and food suggestions, health and sanitation, the Student Army Training Corps and war issues. The September 1918 Daily News bulletins were issued as announcements to the instructional and administrative staff of the University. After 1923, clipping sheets appeared annually or irregularly and were known as the "University of Illinois Research Page" - Western Newspaper Union, 1923; "University of Illinois" - Western Newspaper Union by the News Service Bureau of the University of Illinois, 1924-27; "News of University of Illinois Research and other activities," 1928-34 and "University of Illinois News," 1934-48, 1951 (a list of graduates).
In 1919, a special committee of the Board of Trustees "recommended establishing a 'Bureau of Publicity' whose duties would be along 'University publicity and propaganda lines'1. On August 15, 1919 the Board of Trustees appointed Joseph F. Wright as Director of Publicity, effective September 1, 19202. On July 25, 1956 the Board of Trustees approved a change of title to Director of Public Information3.The Office of Public Information is charged with the responsibility "for interpreting the University to the public" and with "the task of collecting University news and making it available to the communications media"4. The Director of Public Information advises the President on University matters "in which the public is interested" and assists "in interpreting University policies and activities" through the media5.
In September 1967, the Director became University Director of Public Information and Assistant to the President for institutional relations and development6. On January 17, 1980 the Board of Trustees authorized the position of Special Assistant to the President and university director of public information and communication activities7.
1. Jerome Rodnitzky, "A History of Public Relations at the University of Illinois, 1904-1930" (unpublished Ph.D. dissertation, University of Illinois, 1967), p. 193.
2. Board of Trustees Transactions, 30th Report, August 15, 1919, p. 505.
3. Ibid., 49th Report, July 25, 1956, p. 20.
4. University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Academic Staff Handbook, p. 33.
5. University of Illinois Statutes, Section 50(b), June 1958.
6. President's Faculty Letter, No. 174, April 7, 1969, p. 5.
7. Board of Trustees Transactions, 60th Report, January 17, 1980, p. 506-07.
URL: https://files.archon.library.illinois.edu/uasfa/3901810.pdf
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