Inventory of the Joseph C. Wetherby papers, 1930 - 1976
[top]Descriptive Summary
TitleJoseph
C. Wetherby papers,
1930 - 1976.
Creator
Wetherby, Joseph C.,
1910-1976.
Extent
4.6 Linear Feet,
5500 Items
Repository
5500 Items
University Archives, Duke
University
Abstract
Joseph Cable Wetherby served as Associate
Professor of English at Duke University from 1947-1976. The
papers consist of correspondence, printed matter, speeches,
clippings, minutes, memoranda, teaching aids and other
teaching materials, student papers, photographs, research
notes, and writings. Major subjects include the teaching of
English to international students at Duke, broadcasting and
the development of the WDBS radio station at Duke
University, and the Duke University Debate Team, which
Wetherby coached for over 20 years.
Language
English.
[top]
Administrative Information
Access RestrictionsPatrons must sign the Acknowledgement of Legal Responsibility and Privacy Rights form before using this collection.
In off-site storage; 24 hours advance notice is
required for use.
Use Restrictions
Copyright for Official University records is
held by Duke University; all other copyright is retained by
the authors of items in these papers, or their descendants,
as stipulated by United States copyright law.
Preferred Citation
[Identification of item], Joseph C. Wetherby
papers, University Archives, Duke University.
Provenance
The Joseph C. Wetherby papers were received by
the University Archives as a transfer in 1977.
Processing Information
Processed by G. Edwin Southern, Jr. in July 1980
and updated by Jill Katte in July 2002.
Encoded by Jill Katte, July 2003
This finding aid is NCEAD compliant.
[top]
Biographical Note
| 1910 | Born 2 May, Bellingham, Washington |
| 1930-1936 | Student, Wayne State University, Detroit, Michigan; B.A., Speech, 1934; M.A., Speech, 1936 |
| 1936 | Married Carol Van Sickle |
| 1936-1942 | Assistant Professor of Speech, Oklahoma State University |
| 1942-1946 | Active Duty, U.S. Navy, as Lieutenant |
| 1946-1947 | Director of Radio, Wayne State University |
| 1947-1976 | Associate Professor of English, Duke University |
| 1948 | Published "In the Realm of Radio", in Southern Speech Journal |
| 1952-1976 | Regional Governor, Delta Sigma Rho Tau Kappa Alpha (forensic honorary), reelected 1976 |
| 1953 | Graduate study in Speech and Psychology, University of Florida |
| 1957 | Summer, Guest Professor of Speech, Wake Forest University |
| 1960 | President, Southern Speech Association |
| 1960-1967 | Temporary Action Duty, U.S. Navy, as Lieutenant Commander; Head of English Dept., U.S. Naval Preparatory School, Naval Enlisted Scientific Education Program |
| 1961 | Published "Academic Status Seekers", in Southern Speech Journal |
| 1963 | Published "Debate 1984", in The Speaker |
| 1967 | Director Producer for Durham Savoyards Ltd. (Gilbert and Sullivan Shows): Iolanthe (1967); Gondoliers (1974) |
| 1976 | April: Debate Team wins National Championship |
| 1976 | Distinguished Service Award of Delta Sigma Rho Tau Kappa Alpha |
| 1976 | Died 12 October, Duke University |
Wetherby was active in many professional organizations during his career, including the Speech Association of America, Educational Theatre Association (Honorary Life Member), Southern Speech Association, Delta Sigma Rho Tau Kappa Alpha, Sigma Alpha Eta (Speech and Hearing Honorary), American Forensic Association, North Carolina Speech Association (President), and Association of Teachers of English to Speakers of Other Languages.
[top]Collection Overview
The Wetherby Papers contain printed material
(including pamphlets, brochures, flyers, programs,
speeches, and clippings), correspondence, minutes,
memoranda, teaching aids and other teaching materials,
student papers, photographs, research notes, writings, and
other papers. Inclusive dates for the collection are ca.
1930 to 1976, with the bulk of material from 1947 to
1976.
These papers chiefly reflect Wetherby's interest
in three major areas: teaching English as a foreign
language, broadcasting, and debating. In the first category
falls material on grammar and enunciation (including
numerous exercises, tests, and other teaching aids), speech
and hearing pathology, and a small number of administrative
papers dealing with the teaching of English to
international students at Duke University. In the area of
broadcasting, there are clippings, course descriptions,
lecture material, and printed material on the history of
radio and television; its methods, principles, and
policies; legal status; government policies affecting
broadcasting; and audience and market research. Wetherby
also kept clippings, printed matter, and copies of speeches
on communications and broadcasting in general, as well as
on specialized topics such as TV violence and cigarette
advertising.
Files concerning the history of Duke University
include materials on a proposed FM station for the campus
(1957-1968), as well as selected student papers on such
topics as broadcasting at Duke, the Vigil of 1968, and the
Associated Students of Duke University in a conflict with
WDBS. There are also a number of selected student papers on
various aspects of communications, broadcasting, and the
persuasive speaking.
There is a card file on members of the Debate
Team with their records by opponent and tournament, and a
small amount of material (correspondence, records,
circulars, a telegram) on the West Point National
Tournament for 1962 to 1964.
Useful information regarding a significant
incident early in Wetherby's tenure as debate coach will be
found in William King,
"Not fit to debate? National
debate topic on Communist China gets hackles up,"
in
the
Duke Alumni Register,
vol. 65, no. 2, Nov.- Dec. 1978. The article deals with
Wetherby's defense of the right of collegiate debaters to
argue this sensitive topic in 1954, at the height of the
McCarthy era. Wetherby appeared on the
"See It Now"
program of
Edward R. Murrow on CBS Television.
Wetherby coached three teams from Duke University
which appeared on national television on the
"College Bowl"
series,
in 1955, 1960, and 1968. Some materials in the collection
deal with the logistics of these teams' travel and
appearances, and on the operation of the telecasts.
Gathered in separate folders as well as scattered
throughout the collection is a large amount of printed
material in the form of brochures, handbooks, pamphlets,
newsletters, and copies of speeches. Included is material
from organizations like the National Association of
Broadcasters, the Federal Communications Commission, the
Southern Speech Association (later the Southern Speech
Communication Association), and the Speech Communication
Association. The collection from the Southern Speech
Association and its successor organization includes a
consecutive run of programs for annual conventions from
1951 to 1976. The material on the Speech Communication
Association includes consecutive issues from 1968 to 1976
of
Free Speech, a
newsletter of this organization's Commission on Freedom of
Speech.
During the 1960s, Wetherby frequently was sent to
regional high schools to promote Duke University to
prospective students.
[top]
Subject Headings
These and related materials may be accessed under
the following subject headings in the Duke University
Libraries online catalog.
- Broadcasting--Study and teaching.
- College radio stations--United States.
- Debates and debating--Study and teaching.
- Duke University. Debate Team.
- Duke University. Dept. of English.
- English language--Study and teaching--Foreign speakers.
- Radio broadcasting.
- Students, Foreign.
- WDBS Radio (Radio station : Durham, N.C.)
- Wetherby, Joseph C., 1910-1976.
- Clippings.
- Photographs.
- Speeches.
Related Material
Debate Team records.
University Archives, Duke
University.
WDBS records.
University Archives, Duke
University.
 | List of Series in Collection | |||||||
 |  | Teaching Activities, ca. 1930-1976 | ||||||
| | Non-Teaching Activities, 1951-1976 | ||||||
 | | 1977 Addition, circa 1930-1976 | ||||||
Detailed Description of the Collection
Teaching Activities, ca. 1930-1976
Memoranda, correspondence, cards, reports,
lists, newsletters, brochures, pamphlets, tests, exercises,
minutes, clippings, speeches, plays, manuals, student
papers, magazines, and other papers. The bulk of the
materials dates from Wetherby's years at Duke University,
1947-1976. See also related materials in the 1977
Addition.
Box 1
English as a Foreign Language (English 100).
Administrative,
1954-1970
Blank certification
forms
Testing,
1959-1970
Exercises
Essays by foreign
students
Language lab. English medical
tapes. Contents
Ball Committee (Committee on
Teaching of English as a Foreign Language),
1973
Correspondence on request to send
English medical books to Hungary,
1965-1966
English instruction. Statistical
profile and other papers.
Includes minutes of one meeting in 1964 of
International Students Advisory Committee, ca.
1964
Speech for Foreign and Bilingual
Studies of the Speech Association of America,
1959-1967
TESOL (Teachers of English to
Speakers of Other Languages),
1964-1970
TOEFL (Testing of English as a
Foreign Language),
1960-1968
NAFSA (National Association for
Foreign Student Affairs), Visitation,
1970
Teaching exercises and tests.
Articulation
Box 2
Announcers' tests
Includes further material on articulation
and some material on speech pathology
Grammar and
composition
Includes exercises, tests, manual
Broadcasting.
English 160-170 (Broadcasting).
Blank questionnaires
Broadcasting Notes binder,
1950-1969
"Broadcasting History" tape table
of contents [tape not in this collection]
University of Akron Television
Instructor's Reference Handbook,
1962
TV Violence,
1968
Cigarette advertising,
1968
Federal Communications Commission,
1963-1969
Broadcast seminar,
1970
"Measurement" (binder). Audience
research,
1969-1972
Box 3
National Association of
Broadcasters,
1964-1970
Association for Professional
Broadcasting Education,
1964-1970
Broadcasting: Notes, speeches
etc.,
1952-1972 [2
folders]
American Research Bureau, Channel
One,
1964-1968
Drama, poetry, oratory, persuasive speech, and public speaking.
Drama: script form, stage plays
for TV, plays, censorship of plays,
1910-1959
Poetry recital (story)
English 118. Persuasive speech,
Exam,
1950
Barnwell, Robert.
Oratory
Aristotle on Youth
Clichs
Notes on parliamentary
procedure
Box 4
Discussion
Speech and hearing pathology.
Tests, exercises,
papers
Stuttering
Proposed educational psychology
program,
1966-1968
Manuals: hearing test,
audiometer.
Bibliographical file (See also
card file boxes)
Student papers.
Topics concerning Duke
University
Arena, R.
"Broadcasting at
Duke University."
1969.
Armstrong, W.L.
"Head Cheerleader
Campaign: On the Road to '76."
ca.
1975.
Fader, B.
"The Duke Football
Network."
No date.
Hall, S.T.
"Media and the Duke
Student."
1968.
Klein, R.P.
"Analysis of
Persuasive Speaking Techniques in a College
Demonstration."
1970.
Regan, P.
"The Life and Times
of a College Radio Station: Some Views and Thoughts on the
Recent Controversy between WDBS and ASDU."
No
date.
Robbins, J.
"The Duke Vigil and
the Creation of a Psychological Mob."
ca.
1968.
Schwartz, A.D.
"The Duke Sports
Network."
1971.
Box 4-5
Student papers on broadcasting and
persuasive speaking
Box 6
Language Lab Committee,
1964-1969
Speech, general
Educational organizations.
Institute of International
Education. Overseas Magazine,
1963
National Education Association,
Project English,
1963-1964
Other Teaching.
Navy,
1967-1968
American Institute of Banking.
Durham chapter,
1967-1973
Non-Teaching Activities, 1951-1976
Pamphlets, brochures, correspondence,
clippings, programs, newsletters, lists, bills, photos,
application forms, clippings, and other papers. See also
related materials in the 1977 Addition.
Speech associations.
North Carolina Speech Association,
1950-1957
Southern Speech Association (SSA,
later Southern Speech Communication Association) Radio
Television Film Interest Group, ca.
1960-1969
SSA Programs and other printed
material,
1951-1976
Speech Association of America,
Correspondence,
1966-1970
Speech Association of America,
Committee of Fifty,
1964-1965
Printed material,
1962-1963
Speech Communication Association,
1968-1976
Includes the
Free Speech
newsletter for same years.
Debate Team.
West Point National Tournament,
1962-1964
Miscellaneous, ca.
1958-1976
College Bowl teams, Correspondence
and other papers,
1955-1969
College Bowl teams, Sample
questions, instructions,
1955-1967
Radio at Duke.
Proposed FM station,
1957-1968
Radio honorary fraternity, Alpha
Epsilon Rho,
1963-1973
Student Contacts Committee,
1960-1967
Long Wetherby Research Grant
Request,
1968
1977 Addition, circa 1930-1976
J.C. Wetherby. Writings, Notes.
Elocution, Rhetoric, "Executive's Guide," ca.
1930-1970
Some of these writings may date from
Wetherby's time as a student.
Photos, clippings, ca.
1950-1975
Miscellaneous correspondence,
1963,
undated
Obituary clippings,
1976
Box 8
Debate Team Records,
1948,
1953-1976
Box 9
Course material
Some course materials mixed; each folder
should be examined for specific course material
English
100,
1959-1975
139,
1941-1975
140S,
1959-1967
150,
1943-1976
Contains press clippings on Terry
Sanford campaign for the U.S. Presidency, 1976
151,
1957
160,
1973
Broadcasting
171-172,
1953-1974
171,
1949-1969
172 Letters,
1959-1970
Contains letter from Jesse R. Helms
172 Quiz,
1956-1976
Box 10
American Forensic Association,
1951-1976
Broadcast Education Association,
1963-1976
Broadcast Music Inc.,
1968-1970
Broadcast Pioneers,
1971-1976
Broadcasting Magazine,
1963-1976
International Studies Institute,
1964-1975
Campus Studies Institute,
1974-1976
CATV,
1969-1973
Miscellaneous Correspondence,
1948-1968
Miscellaneous Correspondence,
1968-1976
Cultural Arts Committee,
1974
Debate,
1976
Foreign Broadcasting,
1970-1972
Friday Luncheon Group,
1970-1976
Guidelines Committee,
1969-1971
Louisburg,
1968
Ted Minah Committee,
1972-1976
NCFA,
1976-1977
Positions Open, Assistantship
Applications,
1973-1975
Psychological Tests
Remedial Reading
Rev. Paul Seitz--Jolo (Smith),
1972-1976
Southern Speech Association,
1948-1963
Southern Speech Communication
Association
Ex Presidents' Club,
1969-1976
Luncheon,
1974-1975
Radio-TV-Film,
1960,
1970
1973
WDBS
1971-1975
1973-1976
1974-1976
Management Board
WDBS Binders,
1971-1974
Include budget, correspondence, clippings,
FCC application, minutes of Management Board
Outlines for Speech in Schools,
1936
Notebooks
3 binders and 1 notebook contain notes on
speech, persuasive speaking, semantics, speech pathology;
tests; syllabi; outlines of books; lessons; and other
papers. These are either lecture notes or class notes made
by Wetherby as a student.
Unfoldered material
Loose sheets now grouped in a folder: lesson
plans, bibliographies, diagrams, tests, notes on various
phases of speech and speech pathology. Some of these
materials may stem from Wetherby's time as a student.
