Horace A. Page papers

May 4 Collection - Box 69

Finding Aid
Prepared by John S. Skutnik, May 6, 1991. Updated by Penny White, December 2011. Updated September 2016

Inclusive Dates: 1968-1974
Extent: 0.33 cubic feet (1 document case)
Physical Location: 12th floor

Biographical/Historical Note: Horace A. Page was an instructor in the Psychology Department and Director of the department's clinical program in May 1970. Prior to the Kent State shootings on May 4, 1970, Page gave a presentation on campus unrest and the generation gap to a Kent State University class studying contemporary issues. He gave a revised version of this speech, which incorporated comments on the events of May 4, to the Eastern Division of Managers who met in Alliance, Ohio in June 1970. This speech and associated research materials are included in the papers.

Following the May 4 incident, the Psychology Department faculty undertook to solve the problems that attended the closing of the University. A procedure for grading unfinished courses was implemented. Information relevant to this is included in memos between faculty and administrative staff. Students concerned with the closure of the University for the remainder of the Spring Quarter sent letters to "Concerned Kent State Student" at a post office box in Ravenna, Ohio. Some of these letters were apparently forwarded to Page. These letters are arranged alphabetically by the student's last name.

Various internal groups were formed in response to the Kent State shootings. This collection contains announcements, reports, resolutions, and statements from the University Commission to Implement a Commitment to Non-Violence, the Commission on Commemorative Recognition, the Commission on KSU Violence, and the Committee for Political Education. Additionally, there are minutes from a meeting of the Academic Administrative Advisory Council and a resolution on a commitment to non-violence passed by the University Faculty Senate.

When the University opened in the fall of 1970, the administration implemented a number of procedures to prevent further unrest on the campus. Information related to the reopening of the University can be found in the KSU Position Papers, a schedule for Think Week, and an announcement regarding third party service of marshals on campus.

Scope and Content: Page collected a number of documents that were produced or published after May 4, 1970. Each of these is retained in a separate folder. Of note is a National Guardsman's unsigned and undated eyewitness account of the events leading to and concluding with the shootings. The collection provides insight into the decision-making that took place at the University in the days and months following May 4.

Acquisition Information: Horace A. Page donated his materials to the Kent State University Archives on October 31, 1986. Page has also kindly donated to the Kent State University Archives whatever property and literary rights that he possesses in this collection.

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.

Box 69
Folder -- Contents

1. Speech on student unrest and the generation gap by Horace Page, 1969-1970
2. Great Contemporary Issues class prospectus, 1969
3. Correspondence: from Laura Fridrich to Mrs. Page, undated
   Scope and Content: Possibly related to Horace Page's speech on student unrest and the generation gap.
4. Flyer: Students for a Democratic Society, undated
5. Flyer: Student Government election, undated
6. Reopening University, memo from Bruce Harkness, Dean of Arts and Sciences, May 11, 1970
7. Reopening University, memo from group of junior faculty from the Psychology Department, May 7, 1970
8. Memo to Seymour Baron and Horace Page, from Larry R. Killian, regarding the Kent State shootings, May 11, 1970
9. Memo from Donald Halter, Registrar, regarding registration and grades for the Spring Quarter, May 21, 1970
10. Psychology Department correspondence regarding Psych 483, May 1970
11. Student response, regarding Psych 483, May-June 1970
12. List of "People who phoned in," possibly to a Concerned Kent State Student telephone line, undated
13. Concerned Kent State Student letter, May 1970
14. Concerned Kent State Student letter, May 12, 1970
15. Concerned Kent State Student letter, Christopher Block, May 7, 1970
16. Concerned Kent State Student letter, Virginia Bookwalter, May 6, 1970
17. Concerned Kent State Student letter, May 8, 1970
18. Concerned Kent State Student letter, Christine M. Dorko, May 7, 1970
19. Concerned Kent State Student letter, Malcolm Fairweather and Kathe Goldenbaum, May 6, 1970
20. Concerned Kent State Student letter, Beverly Galida, May 7, 1970
21. Concerned Kent State Student letter, William R. Hanna, May 10, 1970
22. Concerned Kent State Student letter, J.E.K, May 8, 1970
23. Concerned Kent State Student letter, Jan Kronick, May 8, 1970
24. Concerned Kent State Student letter, Jeffrey R. Liber, May 12, 1970
25. Concerned Kent State Student letter, Paula Marx, May 12, 1970
26. Concerned Kent State Student letter, Connie May, May 7, 1970
27. Concerned Kent State Student letter, May 6, 1970
28. Concerned Kent State Student letter, Diane Morrissey, May 12, 1970
29. Concerned Kent State Student letter, Wayne A. Ollila, May 1970
30. Concerned Kent State Student letter, Julie Pontones, May 9, 1970
31. Concerned Kent State Student letter, Gerald Scott, May 6, 1970
32. Concerned Kent State Student letter, May 11, 1970
33. Concerned Kent State Student letter, Mr. and Mrs. Fred Schwartz, May 9, 1970
34. Concerned Kent State Student letter, Linda Schwartz, May 9, 1970
35. Concerned Kent State Student letter, Frank Skala, May 7, 1970
36. Concerned Kent State Student letter, Kathy and Shirley Whiteleather, May 13, 1970
37. Concerned Kent State Student letter, Betty Windle, May 7, 1970
38. Concerned Kent State Student letter, Michael Zembala, May 6, 1970
39. Faculty Senate Resolution on Commitment to Non-Violence, May 5, 1970
40. Commission on KSU Violence, report by Harold M. Mayer, chairman, circa 1970
41. University Commission to Implement a Commitment to Non-Violence, minutes, September 2 and September 4, 1970
42. University Commission to Implement a Commitment to Non-Violence, Report and Recommendations by the Task Force on Communication, 1970
43. Commission on Commemorative Recognition, statement, circa 1970
44. Academic Administrative Advisory Council, minutes, October 20, 1970
45. Committee for Political Education, announcement, 1970
46. KSU Position Papers, September-October 1970
47. Information concerning third party service of marshals on campus, fall 1970
48. Think Week schedule, September-October 1970
49. Eyewitness account by anonymous National Guardsman, undated
50. Correspondence from John D. Millett, Chancellor, Ohio Board of Regents to University President White, August 20, 1970
51. Comments by Harold Kitner on a portion of the Portage County Grand Jury Report, November 6, 1970
52. Correspondence from Executive Committee, College of Arts and Sciences to Professor Glenn Frank, Geology, October 27, 1970
53. Kent Community "Statement of Intent," Record Courier, July 30, 1970