G. Dennis Cooke papers

May 4 Collection -- Box 11

Finding Aid

Prepared by Katie Panko and Virginia Dressler, August 16, 2006; Updated 2012; December 2016

Inclusive Dates: 1963-1970
Extent: 1.0 cubic foot (1 record storage box)
Physical Location: 12th floor; oversized materials are shelved in map case

Biographical Note: G. Dennis Cooke began his career at Kent State University in 1967 as a professor in the Department of Biological Sciences, and was teaching at the University during the time of the shootings on May 4, 1970. Cooke received his Bachelor of Science in Biology from Kent State, and a Master of Science and a Doctorate in Zoology from the University of Iowa. He retired from Kent State University as Emeritus Professor of Biological Sciences.

Scope and Content: The bulk of this collection dates from approximately the first three to four months after May 4, 1970. Included are letters sent by Kent State University faculty during the summer after the shootings, meeting minutes of the Faculty Senate and the University Commission to Implement a Commitment to Non-Violence, and reports created by the various task forces with which Cooke was involved. The collection also contains lists of the task forces and other internal bodies created in response to May 4. A significant portion of the materials pertain to the conflicting opinions surrounding the ROTC's continued presence on campus.

Restrictions on Access: Some information included in this collection is restricted due to the presence of information protected by privacy laws. This information has been redacted where present on documents in the collection. Un-redacted originals, in all cases, have been retained by Special Collections and Archives.

Sponsor: Digitization of this collection was funded by the National Historical Publications and Records Commission.

May 4 Collection: Box 11
Folder -- Contents

1. Agenda, Proposed Resolution, May 28, 1970
2. Agenda, regarding Commitment to Non-Violence, August 4, 1970
3. Booklet, The Changing Profession: Information for Counseling on Air Force ROTC, 1970
4. Correspondence, to Fine and Professional Arts Curriculum Committee from Murvin H. Perry, November 12, 1969
5. Correspondence, to Bernard Hall from Seymour H. Baron, regarding continuation of ROTC on campus, circa 1970
6. Correspondence, to University Commission to Implement a Commitment to Non-Violence from various task forces, circa 1970
7. Correspondence, to Faculty of the College of Arts and Sciences from Bruce Harkness, 1970
   Scope and Content: Position Papers on the ROTC written by faculty members at Kent State University, and sent by Bruce Harkness to all faculty in the College of Arts and Sciences.
8. Correspondence, to Students in GCI Environmental Pollution from Dennis Cooke and Eugene Wenninger, May 1970
9. Correspondence, to Students in Limnology from Dennis Cooke, May 13, 1970
10. Correspondence, to Dennis Cooke from students regarding grade options, May 1970
11. Correspondence, to Dennis Cooke from Robert G. Peterson, May 18, 1970
12. Correspondence, to Charles Kegley from President Robert I. White, May 27, 1970
13. Correspondence, to Charles Kegley from Jerry Warnement, May 28, 1970
14. Correspondence, to Commission (likely to the Commission to Implement a Commitment to Non-Violence from Charles Kegley), June 3, 1970
15. Correspondence, to Dennis Cooke from V. Edwin Bixenstine, June 9, 1970
16. Correspondence, to Vice-President and Provost Louis K. Harris from Bruce Harkness, July 3, 1970
17. Correspondence, to Kegley Commission from James W. McGrath, July 6, 1970
18. Correspondence, to Kegley Commission from Campus Security Task Force, July 10, 1970
19. Correspondence, to Kegley Commission from Student Contact Task Force, July 23, 1970
20. Correspondence, to Kegley Commission from Arvin Lubetkin, July 29, 1970
21. Correspondence, to Richard W. Skinner from Bruce Harkness, July 31, 1970
22. Correspondence, to Dennis Carey, July-August 1970
23. Correspondence, to Task Force on ROTC from Dennis Cooke, August 6, 1970
24. Correspondence, to James W. McGrath from William Stanton, August 11, 1970
25. Correspondence, to Kegley Commission from Wilbur Franklin, August 16, 1970
26. Correspondence, to Dennis Cooke from Bernard Hall, October 17, 1970
27. Correspondence, to Dennis Cooke from Richard Bredemeier, includes Student Body Referendum Results, October 27, 1970
28. Correspondence, to Members of the Educational Policies Council from Dennis Cooke, November 9, 1970
29. Correspondence, to Faculty Members from John A. Flower, December 11, 1969
30. List of Members of the University Commission to Implement a Commitment to Non-Violence, circa 1970
31. List of Task Forces, May 31, 1970
32. List of Task Forces, June 9, 1970
33. List of Groups Formed Concerning the Crisis at KSU, June 16, 1970
34. Memo on Emergency Arrangements, from the Office of the President, December 27, 1963
35. Minutes, Commissions and Committee Chairmen regarding Areas of Concern, July 8, 1970
36. Minutes, Curriculum Committee Meeting, March 18, 1970
37. Minutes, Faculty Senate, October 1970
38. Minutes, University Commission to Implement a Commitment to Non-Violence, May 1970
39. Minutes, University Commission to Implement a Commitment to Non-Violence, June 1970
40. Minutes, University Commission to Implement a Commitment to Non-Violence, July 1970
41. Minutes, University Commission to Implement a Commitment to Non-Violence, August 1970
42. Minutes, University Commission to Implement a Commitment to Non-Violence, September 1970
43. My Manifesto by Donald A. Thigpen Jr., and supporting documents, circa 1970
44. Newsletter, FYI #154, June 30, 1970
45. Newspaper, Kent State University Summer News, July 10, 1970
46. Newspaper, Daily Kent Stater, October 28, 1970
47. Notes, Task Forces and Commissions, 1970
    Physical Location: One item from this file is shelved in the map case.
48. Notes, ROTC Task Force Daily Meetings, June 1970
49. Order of Injunction, Court of Common Pleas, Portage County, May 2, 1970
50. Reader's Digest, "ROTC Under Attack," by Kenneth Y. Tomlinson, November 1969
51. Recommendations to University Commission to Implement a Commitment to Non-Violence, May-August 1970
52. Recommendation on Traffic Limitations and ID Checkpoints, circa 1970
53. Report, Aerospace Studies, Quadrennial Review, circa 1970
54. Report, Demurrer to a Minority Report from a Least Possible Minority, by R.D. Hill, undated
55. Report, Nine Weeks that Followed May 4, circa 1970
56. Resolution presented by the University Commission to Implement a Commitment to Non-Violence, June 5, 1970
57. Return and Re-opening of KSU post May 4, 1970
58. Report, Student Forum on ROTC, October 21-22, 1970
59. Report, Student Justice Task Force, circa 1970
60. Statement, Task Force on Peace-Keeping Activities, circa 1970
61. Report, Up-Dating ROTC, August 10, 1970
62. Review, Military Science Department, April 2, 1970
63. Survey Results, student opinions of ROTC on campus, undated