Martin Nurmi May 4 papers, 1970-71

May 4 Collection -- Box 111

Finding Aid

Prepared by Carolyn A. Svetz, August 5, 1995; Revised October 2016
1 letter-sized document case, .33 cubic foot, 12th floor

Biographical Note
Martin Nurmi was a Professor of English at Kent State University from 1955 until his retirement in 1984. He received his doctoral degree in English from the University of Minnesota in 1954. While at Kent, Professor Nurmi also served as chairman of the English department, was a member of the Faculty Senate, serving as its chairman in 1970-71, and also served as the head of the graduate school for four years. He has held visiting professorships at the University of Washington, University of Minnesota, Michigan State University, the University of British Columbia and Aristotle University in Thessaloniki, Greece. Nurmi died in 2008.

Scope and Content
The Martin Nurmi May 4th papers include items relating to both his teaching activities in the English department and his non-teaching activities with the University's Faculty Senate. During the Spring quarter of 1970, Nurmi was teaching the Shakespeare II course. After the shootings on May 4, 1970, the University was closed by a court injunction and arrangements were made between professors and their students to complete the course work as best as possible. Dr. Nurmi corresponded with his students several times during May and June, 1970, and he held some review sessions at his home. The first series of this collection includes copies of the letters he sent to his students and their responses.

The other major series in this collection relates to Nurmi's activities with the Faculty Senate. This series includes minutes of regular, special, and executive meetings, correspondence, and items relating to the faculty observers program in May 1971. The correspondence consists of letters sent to all faculty, personal memos and letters between Nurmi and President White, and copies of correspondence that were forwarded to Nurmi, in his capacity as chairman of the Faculty Senate. Other items of interest in the collection to researchers include notes on the Kent in Exile demands, reports submitted by various May 4th commissions, and numerous miscellaneous proposals and statements relating to May 4th.

Related Materials
Please see also Martin Nurmi's faculty papers collection for additional information on his work and career at Kent State University.

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.

Statement of Arrangement

• Series 1: Materials relating to Nurmi's Shakespeare II class, Spring Quarter, 1970
• Series 2: Faculty Senate Materials
• Series 3: Commissions, Proposals, and Publications

May 4 Collection -- Box 111

Folder -- Contents 

Series 1: Materials relating to Martin Nurmi's Shakespeare II class, Spring Quarter, 1970

1. Correspondence to faculty regarding course completion, May 1970
2. Correspondence from Martin Nurmi to students, 1970
3. Correspondence from students to Martin Nurmi regarding course completion, 1970
4. Final exam, English 397, 1970
5. Study questions for Antony and Cleopatra and Julius Caesar, undated

Series 2: Faculty Senate Materials

6. Correspondence, Faculty Senate, 1970
7. Correspondence, Faculty Senate, 1971
8. Drafts and Notes, Faculty Senate, undated
9. Minutes, Faculty Senate Executive Committee meetings, 1970-1971
10. Minutes, Faculty Senate meetings, 1970-1971
11. Observers, Faculty Senate, 1970-1971
12. Ombudsman Report, 1970
13. Reopening of University for Fall Quarter, 1970
14. Reports, Ohio Faculty Senate, 1970-1971
15. Resolutions, Faculty Senate, 1970
16. Roster, Faculty Senate Membership, 1970
17. Rumor Control Center, Telephone Logs, 1971

Series 3: Commissions, Proposals, and Publications

18. Articles and publications, 1970
19. Commission on Commemorative Recognition, undated
20. Committee for Political Education, undated
21. Faculty Association Program, 1970
22. Flyers, undated
23. Good Will Coalition, 1971
24. Kent State Students at Case Western Reserve University, undated
25. Kent State University in Exile at Oberlin, 1970
26. Kent State University Life Center, 1970
27. Office of the President materials and proceedings, 1971
28. Position Papers on ROTC: College of Arts and Sciences faculty, undated
29. Statements of Martin Nurmi, undated 
30. University Commission to Implement a Commitment to Non-Violence, 1970