Collection inventory

Summary
Creator:	Dickens, Milton.
Title:	Milton C. Dickens Papers
Dates:	1929-1942
Size:	1 box (1 linear foot) and 10 lacquer discs
Abstract:	Scrapbooks, programs, and sound recordings from Dickens' time directing debates at Syracuse University
Language:	English
Repository:	University Archives, Special Collections Research Center Syracuse University Libraries 222 Waverly Ave., Suite 600 Syracuse, NY 13244-2010 https://library.syracuse.edu/special-collections-research-center/university-archives

Biography

Milton Clifford Dickens (born 1908) was an assistant professor of speech at Syracuse University and the director of the University's debate activities.

Dickens came to Syracuse University in 1929, when he was brought on to teach a few sections of the Introductory Course in Speech and to develop intramural and freshman debates. His involvement with both teaching and debating would grow during his time at the University. He was promoted from instructor to assistant professor of public speaking in 1939, by which time he had also been made the director of the University's debate activities. While Dickens was teaching others at Syracuse University, he was also continuing his own education there. He received a Masters (1931) and Ph.D. (1939) in psychology from Syracuse.

In addition to his involvement with Syracuse University, Dickens also stayed active with other professional pursuits. He was a member of a number of professional and honorary organizations, including the Delta Sigma Rho national debate fraternity, for whom he served as vice president from 1937 to 1942. He wrote several published articles, which appeared in journals such as the Journal of Expression and Quarterly Journal of Speech. He conducted research into group discussion, for which the Social Science Research Council awarded him a grant in 1939.

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Scope and Content Note

The Milton C. Dickens Papers contains programs, a discussion transcription, scrapbooks, and sound recordings related to debates with which Dickens was involved.

The programs, dating from 1934 to 1941, detail events featuring the Syracuse University Debaters. The discussion transcription captures a "Discussion Contest" on Inter-American affairs, which took place on April 16, 1942 as part of the "Pan-American Week" event held by Syracuse University. The collection's six scrapbooks, covering material from 1929 to 1941, perhaps offer insight into what Dickens most valued about his time at the University. The scrapbooks recount debate team events and activities through newspaper clippings, programs, and bits of correspondence. The audio materials comprise ten 16" discs of Dickens having discussions with students.

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Restrictions

Access Restrictions

Please note that the collection is housed off-site, and advance notice is required to allow time to have the materials brought to the Reading Room on campus.

Access to sound recordings requires advance notice to produce a use copy.

Use Restrictions

Written permission must be obtained from University Archives,
Special Collections Research Center
Syracuse University Libraries and all relevant rights holders before publishing quotations, excerpts or images from any materials in this collection.

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Related Material

The Archives holds a clipping file and a portrait file for Milton Dickens.

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Selected Search Terms

Names

Subjects

Types of material

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Administrative Information

Preferred Citation

Preferred citation for this material is as follows:

Milton C. Dickens Papers,
University Archives,
Special Collections Research Center
Syracuse University Libraries

Acquisition Information

The Archives has no information about how the Milton C. Dickens Papers were obtained.

Processing Information

Items were placed in acid-free folders and an acid-free box.

Finding Aid Information

Created by: Kyle C. Wilson and Meg Mason
Date: 2007
Revision history: Processed and converted to EAD by Sean Molinaro, 2013; updated to add sound recordings, MAM 2018

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Arrangement

The items are arranged in alphabetical order.

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Inventory

	Papers
Box 1		Debate team programs 1934-1941
		Media
			Milton Dickens: group V, March 16, part 1, Milton Dickens: group V, March 16, part 2 circa early 1940s - The recording is part of Dicken’s group discussions with students. Additional note by the audio engineer RJH reads: “WW2 discussion - Foreign Policy Towards England (1940).” (Lacquer discs/acetates) (ID#: sua_dickens_mc_009)
				Side 1: Milton Dickens: group V, March 16, part 1; Side 2: Milton Dickens: group V, March 16, part 2
			Milton Dickens: group VI, April 16, part 3, Milton Dickens: group VI, April 16, part 4 circa early 1940s - The recording is part of Dicken’s group discussions with students. (Lacquer discs/acetates) (ID#: sua_dickens_mc_010)
				Side 1: Milton Dickens: group VI, April 16, part 3; Side 2: Milton Dickens: group VI, April 16, part 4
			Milton Dickens: series C, group I, part 1; Milton Dickens: series C, group I, part 2 circa early 1940s - The recording is part of Dicken’s group discussions with students. (Lacquer discs/acetates) (ID#: sua_dickens_mc_001)
				Side 1: Milton Dickens: series C, group I, part 1; Side 2: Milton Dickens: series C, group I, part 2
			Milton Dickens: series C, group I, part 3; Milton Dickens: series C, group I, part 4 circa early 1940s - The recording is part of Dicken’s group discussions with students. (Lacquer discs/acetates) (ID#: sua_dickens_mc_002)
				Side 1: Milton Dickens: series C, group I, part 3; Side 2: Milton Dickens: series C, group I, part 4
			Milton Dickens: series C, group II, part 1; Milton Dickens: series C, group II, part 2 circa early 1940s - The recording is part of Dicken’s group discussions with students. Additional note by the audio engineer RJH reads: “Foreign Policy w/ England. Group discussion.” (Lacquer discs/acetates) (ID#: sua_dickens_mc_003)
				Side 1: Milton Dickens: series C, group II, part 1; Side 2: Milton Dickens: series C, group II, part 2
			Milton Dickens: series C, group II, part 3, Milton Dickens: series C, group II, part 4 circa early 1940s - The recording is part of Dicken’s group discussions with students. Additional note by the audio engineer RJH reads: “Discussion - Foreign Policy Towards England.” (Lacquer discs/acetates) (ID#: sua_dickens_mc_004)
				Side 1: Milton Dickens: series C, group II, part 3; Side 2: Milton Dickens: series C, group II, part 4
			Milton Dickens: series C, group III, part 1, Milton Dickens: series C, group III, part 2 circa early 1940s - The recording is part of Dicken’s group discussions with students. Additional note by the audio engineer RJH reads: “Discussion - Foreign Policy Towards England.” (Lacquer discs/acetates) (ID#: sua_dickens_mc_005)
				Side 1: Milton Dickens: series C, group III, part 1; Side 2: Milton Dickens: series C, group III, part 2
			Milton Dickens: series C, group III, part 3, Milton Dickens: series C, group III, part 4 circa early 1940s - The recording is part of Dicken’s group discussions with students. Additional note by the audio engineer RJH reads: “Discussion - Foreign Policy Towards England.” (Lacquer discs/acetates) (ID#: sua_dickens_mc_006)
				Side 1: Milton Dickens: series C, group III, part 3; Side 2: Milton Dickens: series C, group III, part 4
			Milton Dickens: series C, group IV, part 1, Milton Dickens: series C, group IV, part 2 circa early 1940s - The recording is part of Dicken’s group discussions with students. Additional note by the audio engineer RJH reads: “Discussion - Foreign Policy Towards England.” (Lacquer discs/acetates) (ID#: sua_dickens_mc_007)
				Side 1: Milton Dickens: series C, group IV, part 1; Side 2: Milton Dickens: series C, group IV, part 2
			Milton Dickens: series C, group IV, part 3, Milton Dickens: series C, group IV, part 4 circa early 1940s - The recording is part of Dicken’s group discussions with students. Additional note by the audio engineer RJH reads: “Discussion - Foreign Policy Towards England.” (Lacquer discs/acetates) (ID#: sua_dickens_mc_008)
				Side 1: Milton Dickens: series C, group IV, part 3; Side 2: Milton Dickens: series C, group IV, part 4
Box 1		"Pan-American Week" discussion contest April 1942
Box 1		Scrapbooks 1929-1941 (6 items)

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