The Presidential Papers of Edwin G. Speir, Jr. (1982-1993)INTRODUCTIONThe Presidential papers of Edwin G. Speir, Jr. were processed by Brandon M. Prince in June 1999 at the Special Collections Department of Georgia College & State University. The collection of papers was transferred to the University Archives in 1999 by Mrs. Cecile H. Parker, the Administrative Assistant to the President. The papers in this collection date from 1982-1993, fill three and one-quarter Hollinger boxes and 398 folders. The collection is arranged into seven series as follows:
BIOGRAPHICAL NOTEDr. Edwin G. Speir, Jr., the eighth President of Georgia College & State University, was born on October 16, 1934, in Charlotte, North Carolina. He is married to the former Sue Purvis, who was born in Gainesville, Georgia and grew up in Cornelia, Georgia. Mrs. Speir, who is a graduate of Emory University, was once a school teacher in DeKalb County, Georgia. Dr. Speir has three daughters: Sarah, 36; Jennifer, 33; and Lynn, 31. Dr. Speir received his B.S. degree in Economics from Davidson College in 1956, his M.A. degree in International Relations from the University of Denver in 1963, and his Ph.D. from the same institution in International Relations in 1965. Before he was president of Georgia College & State University, Speir held the following positions: United States Army Educational Center, Orleans, France, from 1956 to 1958; Staff Accountant for Peat Marwick, Mitchell, & Company, Denver Colorado, from 1959 to 1960; Assistant to the Dean of Students and part-time instructor and lecturer at the University of Denver from 1962 to 1965; Administrative and Programming Training Office for the Peace Corps in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil from 1965 to 1967; Chairman of the Division of Social Sciences and Associate Professor of Economics at the University of North Carolina-Asheville, from 1967 to 1970; Professor of Political Economics at Coker College (South Carolina) from 1970 to 1975; Vice Chancellor, Dean of Faculties, and Professor of Economics at the University of Wisconsin-Whitewater from 1975 to 1980; Senior Planning Associate, Systems Administration, Office of the President, for the University of Wisconsin-Whitewater from July 1980 to July 1981. On May 13, 1981, Speir was elected President of Georgia College & State University by the Board of Regents, becoming President of the institution on July 1, 1981. During his tenure as President, Speir worked at establishing international exchange programs with universities in several countries, namely China. His tenure also witnessed the growth of the nursing program and the accreditation of the Business School by the AASCB, as well as its growth. It also witnessed the construction of a new Arts & Sciences building which opened in the Fall of 1996. Speir resigned from the presidency in May of 1996, but he continues to remain active in the Milledgeville community.SCOPE AND CONTENT NOTEThe Presidential papers of Edwin G. Speir, Jr. contain his professional correspondence dealing with academic affairs at Georgia College & State University. The collection includes correspondence to and from committees, departments on campus such as Arts and Sciences, Exchange Programs, and other organizations such as the American Association of University Presidents. The collection covers the years of 1982 to 1993, but the bulk of the collection covers the years of 1987 to 1991. There are notable gaps in the collection for the years 1984-1985 and 1986.The collection is organized into seven series and is arranged by subject and in chronological order. However, documents dealing with one particular subject over a period of time in a folder have been kept together. Series I, Ad Hoc Committees, contains correspondence from the years 1982 to 1992, such as the Fall Planning Committees, Distinguished Professor Awards, the Registration Committee, and the Search Committee for a new PBAC Commissioner in 1990. Series II, Administration Academic, contains Faculty Contract Information (1987-1990), Faculty Meeting Notes (1989), Faculty Status (1987, 1989), and Student Concerns (1988, 1990). Series III, Administrative Literature, contains Georgia College and State University Printing Policies, Student Rights and Responsibilities pamphlets, GC 101 material, and a Student Waiver of Responsibility. These documents date from the years 1982 to 1991. Series IV, Admissions, contains documents from the AASCU, such as the Chinese delegation visit (Nov. 1987) as well as Admissions Reports. In addition, this series contains documents pertaining to the Board of Regents during the late 1980's and early 1990's. Series V, Departments, contains correspondence to and from departments on campus such as Arts and Sciences, Education, Nursing, and Business from the year 1987 to 1990. It also contains correspondence to and from the Deans of the Schools of Business, Education, Arts and Sciences, and Nursing from the years 1987 to 1990. Series VI, Other Departments and Organizations, contains correspondence to and from the Vice President for Student Affairs and Business and Finance, Vice President and Dean of Faculties, and Dean of the Graduate School from the years 1987 to 1993. It also contains correspondence from organizations, such as the AAUP, AAUW, Boy Scouts, Financial Aid, Central State Hospital, IAUP, Macon Lions Club, Media Services, and Student Activities from 1987-1991. Series VII, Intercollegiate Athletics, contains correspondence to and from the PBAC, the Intercollegiate Athletic Association, NCAA Division II, and the Athletic Director of Georgia College & State University concerning the school's athletic programs from the years 1990 to 1993.
CONTAINER LISTINGSERIES I. AD HOC COMMITTEES (BOX 1, FOLDERS 1-27)SERIES II. ADMINISTRATION/ACADEMIC (BOX 1, FOLDERS 32-46) SERIES III. ADMINISTRATIVE LITERATURE (BOX 1, FOLDERS 47-50) SERIES IV. ADMISSIONS ( BOX 1, FOLDERS 51-121, BOX 2, FOLDERS 1-15) SERIES V. DEPARTMENTS (BOX 2, 16-45) SERIES VI. OTHER DEPARTMENTS AND ORGANIZATIONS (BOX 2, 46-126, BOX 3, 1-105) SERIES VII. INTERCOLLEGIATE ATHLETICS (BOX 4, 1-27) The complete finding aid to this collection is in Special Collections .
Special Collections GCSU Library and Instructional Technology Center CBX 043 Milledgeville, GA 31061 (478) 445-0988 scinfo@gcsu.edu |