Lewis R. Alderman papers , 1928-1943

Overview of the Collection

Creator
Alderman, L. R. (Lewis Raymond), 1872-1965 ; United States. Works Progress Administration. Oregon
Title
Lewis R. Alderman papers
Dates
1928-1943 (inclusive)
Quantity
1.5 linear feet, (1 container)  :  1 record storage box
Collection Number
Ax 473
Summary
Lewis R. Alderman (1872-1965) became a prominent and influential educator, first as a principal and school superintendent in McMinnville, then as superintendent in Yamhill County and Eugene, a University of Oregon faculty member, Superintendent of Schools for Oregon, Director of Education of enlisted men in the Navy, and Chief of the Service Division in the USO Office of Education. The collection contains, scrapbooks, speeches, radio talks on education, correspondence and documents on adult education in the Navy, writings, manuscripts, and publications about adult education, and an autobiography.
Repository
University of Oregon Libraries, Special Collections and University Archives
UO Libraries--SCUA
1299 University of Oregon
Eugene OR
97403-1299
Telephone: 5413463068
spcarref@uoregon.edu
Access Restrictions

Collection is open to the public. Collection must be used in Special Collections and University Archives Reading Room. Collection or parts of collection may be stored offsite. Please contact Special Collections and University Archives in advance of your visit to allow for transportation time.

Additional Reference Guides

Paper finding aid with additional information is available in Special Collections & University Archives.

See the Current Collection Guide for detailed description and requesting options.

Languages
English
Sponsor
Funding for production of this finding aid was provided through a grant awarded by the National Historical Publications and Records Commission (NHPRC).

Historical NoteReturn to Top

Lewis R. Alderman (1872-1965) Lewis Alderman was born in Dayton, October and graduated from University of Oregon in 1898.

"In 1900 Alderman was back in Yamhill County, as principal of one of McMinnville's schools; at the end of the year he was their school superintendent. Then in 1904 he was elected county school superintendent for Yamhill County and he instituted one of the many innovative things that marked his life; a juvenile county fair, with more than 4,000 exhibits and 17,000 people attending. In 1906 he became Superintendent of Schools for Eugene, then a University of Oregon faculty member and in January, 1911 he became Superintendent of Schools for Oregon.

He resigned in 1913, to become Portland's Superintendent of Schools. Benson Tech and night schools for foreign and native born citizens were put into effect. Then a myriad of activities on the national level: working in an education program for our military left in Europe after the 1918 armistice, which resulted in his appointment as Director of Education of the enlisted men in the Navy; in 1924 a leave of absence from the U.S. Navy to assist in making a survey of New York City Schools, which developed into his becoming Chief of the Service Division in the USO Office of Education.

His lifetime of work included everything from assisting children in their learning habits to rehabilitative training of felons, concluding with an adult education program whereby over a million people learned to read and write.

Married to Alice Barber the year after university graduation, they had a daughter and two sons. Mrs. Alderman died when they were living in Washington DC in 1920. Four years later he married Lola Lake, then secretary to one of the U.S. Civil Service Commissioners. Dr. Alderman returned to Dayton in 1942. He died January 31, 1965."

[Source: City of Dayton Oregon Official Website: http://www.ci.dayton.or.us/index.asp?Type=B_BASIC&SEC={4A21CC8E-F897-4694-AA53-43F8F33F6A33}&DE={D40F22A9-0FFA-4ED5-B4E5-8A6C9480FDA6}]

Content DescriptionReturn to Top

The collection contains, scrapbooks, speeches, radio talks on education, correspondence and documents on adult education in the Navy, writings, manuscripts, and publications about adult education, and an autobiography.

The autobiography includes several versions and personal autobiographical data includes awards, certificates, commendations, appointments, news stories, family and personal scrapbooks, and letters.

The scrapbooks concern adult education in the southern highlands in the 1930s.

U.S. Navy material includes correspondence documents concerning the first adult education program within the Navy.

Writings include speeches, radio talks, and other addresses and mostly concern adult education.

Published works contain reports and articles on adult education. There is one manuscript/publication titled The History of Education in Portland, from a WPA adult education Project (1937).

Administrative InformationReturn to Top

Detailed Description of the CollectionReturn to Top

Names and SubjectsReturn to Top

Subject Terms

  • Adult education teachers--Oregon--Eugene
  • Adult education--Oregon
  • Adult education--United States
  • Continuing education--United States
  • Educators--Oregon
  • Educators--United States
  • Naval education--United States

Corporate Names

  • United States. Navy--Training administration

Form or Genre Terms

  • Autobiographies
  • Correspondence
  • Manuscripts for publication
  • Scrapbooks