Leo George and Ruth Ann Kramer Papers, 1951-1982

Overview of the Collection

Creator
Kramer, Leo George, 1918-1984
Title
Leo George and Ruth Ann Kramer Papers
Dates
1951-1982 (inclusive)
1951-1952 (bulk)
Quantity
0.05 cubic foot, (1 box)
Collection Number
MSS Kramer
Summary
The Kramer Papers consist of materials generated and collected by the Kramers during the year that Leo George Kramer was a student at Oregon State College in 1951-1952. The Papers include letters written by his wife, Ruth Ann, to her family that describe various aspects of student life in Corvallis.
Repository
Oregon State University Libraries, Special Collections and Archives Research Center
Special Collections and Archives Research Center
121 The Valley Library
Oregon State University
Corvallis OR
97331-4501
Telephone: 5417372075
Fax: 5417378674
scarc@oregonstate.edu
Access Restrictions

Collection is open for research.

Languages
English

Biographical NoteReturn to Top

Leo George Kramer attended Oregon State College from the summer of 1951 through spring term of 1952 as a student in business and technology. His wife, Ruth Ann Kramer, worked for the Extension Service during the year they lived in Corvallis.

Leo Kramer (also known as "Lee" and "Dink") was born and raised in Cincinnati, Ohio, and served in the military during World War II. He and Ruth Ann, also a Cincinnati native, were married in 1946. In the years after the war, Lee Kramer attended evening classes at Salmon Chase College. In early 1951, the Kramers left Cincinnati and drove west to California. They spent some time in Los Angeles and then drove north to Oregon. Administrators at Oregon State College were willing to let Kramer take courses at OSC under probationary admission because Salmon Chase College was not accredited. He enrolled in summer 1951 and continued to take classes through spring term 1952. In June 1952, the Kramers returned to Cincinnati. Lee Kramer later enrolled at University of Cincinnati and completed a degree in Cincinnati.

During the period they were in Corvallis, Ruth Ann Kramer worked for the Extension Service offices on campus.

Content DescriptionReturn to Top

The Leo George and Ruth Ann Kramer Papers consist of materials generated and collected by the Kramers during the year that Leo (Lee) Kramer was a student at Oregon State College and include letters written by Ruth Ann, Lee's course notebook from summer 1951, and ephemera and memorabilia.

The letters were written by Ruth Ann to her family in Cincinnati between June and December 1951 and describe her job with the Extension Service, Lee's classes, concerts and plays on campus, the library, homecoming weekend activities, international students, and outings to nearby parks and towns. She also describes where they were living and various household activities.

The course notebook documents coursework taken by Kramer during the summer of 1951 and includes classes in psychology and business (insurance and salesmanship). It includes papers and essays, course outlines, examinations, handouts, and class notes. Faculty for the courses were C. Evan James; John Pfanner, Jr.; and Lawrence Coolidge.

The ephemera consists of programs, brochures, a bookstore bookcover, and a 1952 spring sports schedule for baseball, track, tennis, and golf. The collection also includes a 1982 visitor's parking permit for the Oregon State University campus.

Use of the CollectionReturn to Top

Preferred Citation

Leo George and Ruth Ann Kramer Papers, Oregon State University Archives, Corvallis, Oregon.

Administrative InformationReturn to Top

Acquisition Information

The materials were donated to the Archives by a family member in 2008.

Related Materials

The OSU Archives holdings include many collections that document student life and experience at Oregon State University, including the Jacquelin F. Holland Papers and Leone S. Johnson Papers. The Oregon State University Dames Club Records document the experience of wives and mothers of Oregon State students.

Names and SubjectsReturn to Top

Subject Terms

  • Business education--Oregon--Corvallis.
  • College environment--Oregon--Corvallis.
  • College students--Oregon--Corvallis.
  • Psychology--Study and teaching (Higher)--Oregon--Corvallis.
  • Student activities--Oregon--Corvallis.

Corporate Names

  • Oregon State College--Employees.
  • Oregon State College--Students.
  • Oregon State College. Federal Cooperative Extension Service.

Other Creators

  • Personal Names
    • Kramer, Ruth Ann. (creator)