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James Cole Skaine Papers

 Collection
Identifier: 14/07/02/03

Scope and Contents

These papers consisted of:

  • memoranda, minutes, and correspondence relating to his academic department (initially the Department of Speech, later named the Department of Communication and Theatre Arts, and finally named the Department of Communication Studies);
  • examinations, notes, handouts, and other material relating to the courses that Professor Skaine either took himself or taught; and
  • records relating to faculty evaluation, tenure, and promotion.
There is also a significant amount of material relating to collective bargaining for University of Northern Iowa faculty in the late 1970s and early 1980s.

The material relating to Professor Skaine's academic department provides an exceptionally thorough look at the department's day-to-day operations from 1966 through 1998. Likewise, files relating to the courses that Professor Skaine taught give an excellent picture of both the subject matter and pedagogical techniques of a faculty member in speech during the last third of the twentieth century.

When this collection arrived in the University Archives, it was arranged by subject in alphabetical order. With a few changes to improve clarity and consistency, the processor kept this arrangement. Researchers should be aware that material on similar subjects may be located in several locations within the collection. For example, researchers interested in Professor Skaine's work in Tennessee may wish to look at material under Tennessee, Rutherford County, Middle Tennessee State College, and specific courses that he taught while teaching there.

Most of this collection is open for research use. However, access to material relating to faculty and student evaluation and grievances are restricted.

Dates

  • Creation: 1960-1998

Creator

Language of Materials

Materials entirely in English.

Conditions Governing Access

Most materials are open for research. Materials related to the confidentiality of personnel, student, medical, and other legally protected records are CLOSED to researchers for 70 years from the date of creation. Consult the archivist with any questions or concerns.

General Use, Reproduction, and Copyright Policies

Many items housed in the Rod Library Special Collections & University Archives, including unpublished images and manuscripts, may be protected by copyright, publication rights, trademarks, or model release rights which the library does not own and for which the library cannot grant permission or licensing. Materials currently under copyright are usually still available for research and limited reproduction under Fair Use laws. However, it is the sole responsibility of the patron to determine whether or not their use of a given material falls within Fair Use guidelines and to obtain permission for said use from the rightful copyright owner. If you are unsure where to begin, please consult the Copyright LibGuide. Please note that it is not the library's responsibility to locate or contact copyright holders for a patron, and neither the library nor library employees are responsible for copyright violations of the materials to which they facilitate research access.

Please see our full General Use and Service Policies for more information.

Sensitive Materials Statement

Manuscript collections and archival records may contain materials with sensitive or confidential information that is protected under federal or state right to privacy or similar laws, and the Iowa Open Records Law (see Iowa Code ยง 22.7). Researchers are advised that the disclosure of certain information pertaining to identifiable living individuals represented in this collection without the consent of those individuals may have legal ramifications (e.g., a cause of action under common law for invasion of privacy may arise if facts concerning an individual's private life are published that would be deemed highly offensive to a reasonable person) for which the University of Northern Iowa assumes no responsibility.

Biographical / Historical

James Cole Skaine (b. January 3, 1936) received his Bachelor of Arts degree in speech from Sioux Falls College in 1957. He received his Master of Arts degree in speech from the University of South Dakota in 1958. He then pursued Ph.D. work at Cornell University (1958-1966) and the University of Iowa (1968-1978).

James Skaine was a graduate assistant at the University of South Dakota (1957-1958) and Cornell University (1958-1960). He taught junior high school English and mathematics in Freeville, New York, in the spring of 1960. He served as an instructor and Director of Forensics at Ithaca College from 1960 through 1963, and then served in a similar capacity at Middle Tennessee State College from 1963 through 1965. James Skaine was appointed to the faculty of the University of Northern Iowa as an assistant professor of speech in the fall of 1965. He retired from the UNI faculty in the spring of 1998.

Professor Skaine taught courses relating to speech, rhetoric, debate, group processes, communication, and voice and diction. He was involved in curricular matters in those areas and was also an important participant in the collective bargaining process for University of Northern Iowa faculty.

Extent

15.21 Linear Feet (13 boxes)

Immediate Source of Acquisition

Professor Skaine sent a large collection of papers to the University of Northern Iowa Archives shortly after his retirement.

Processing Information

Papers processed and finding aid prepared by Gerald L. Peterson, Special Collections Librarian and University Archivist, July 2007. Updated July 12, 2007 (GP). Updated by Library Associate Dave Hoing, January 2018 and April 2018. Linear feet updated on September 14, 2017. Updated by Jaycie Vos, November 2020, to comply with restricted materials procedures.

Title
James Cole Skaine Papers
Language of description
Undetermined
Script of description
Code for undetermined script

Repository Details

Part of the University Archives Repository