New Collections in the Shippensburg University Archives

Karen Daniel

The Shippensburg University Archives has recently received transfers of three important collections.

The Office of University Communications/Marketing sent us a large collection of materials.  Many of these were from the Director of Sports Information.  This transfer includes statistics, game reports, media guides, news clippings and much more for a variety of SU’s athletic teams.  We also received photographs and slides, as well as files, from the Office of Publications / Advertising, documenting student life, athletics, special events, and campus buildings.  Thanks to Melanie Reed’s hard work, with the help of student assistant Evan Fucci, these new additions are being integrated into our records and will provide information for time periods for which we previously had little documentation.  We have already sent scans of photos from this collection for a presentation President Ruud made to the SU Foundation.

We have also received a valuable collection of materials documenting the early days of our institution when we were known as the Cumberland Valley State Normal School (CVSNS).  These papers were found in crates in a stable loft, part of the estate of Jean Johnston, a Shippensburg resident and financial supporter of SU, who died in 2006.  Her great-uncle by marriage was John Augustus Colwell McCune, an attorney, one of the founders of CVSNS, a member and officer of the original board of trustees, and a leader who helped our institution survive some tough times in its first 25 years.  These documents, which were sold at auction, came into our possession through the efforts of history professor emeritus Charles Loucks, who spearheaded a drive to secure donors to pay for the materials.  Charles then spent a huge amount of time and energy sorting through the documents to determine which should go to the Shippensburg Historical Society and which to the SU Archives.  He wrote detailed descriptions of what he found, which will profoundly aid the further processing of the collection.  Researchers will find rich primary sources of information about the early history of our institution.

Dean Koontz, best-selling author, is an alumnus of Shippensburg State College.  English professor emeritus O. Richard Forsythe, was his teacher and friend.  They have stayed in touch over the years, with Koontz sending him letters, emails, and publications.  Forsythe has begun donating these materials to the SU Archives.  The O. Richard Forsythe/Dean Koontz Collection will serve as a unique source of material for scholars doing research on Koontz’ works.