Office of Public Information collection on the 1968 Student Disturbances
Scope and Content
The Office of Public Information collection on the 1968 Student Disturbances contains newspaper clippings and public statements documenting the student disturbances and following events of May 1968 at Ohio University (OU) and throughout Athens, Ohio.
The public statements were issued by OU President Vernon Alden. The newspaper clippings focus mainly on OU student disturbances and the following negotiations, but there are also clippings on other national student demonstrations and on the flooding of the Hocking River in Athens. Included in the newspaper clippings are editorial opinions on student riots and letters to the editor from students.
The collection looks like it was originally in a book created and arranged by the OU Office of Public Information. Press clippings are grouped by date.
Dates
- Creation: 1968
Creator
Language of Materials
The records are in English.
Biography of Office of Public Information collection on the 1968 Student Disturbances
In May 1968, a group of students of Ohio University (OU) rioted. Newspaper accounts state that the riots occurred because a strike was voted against by the non-teaching staff of OU and the students were disappointed about not being able to leave early for summer vacation. Incidents during this included the students stoning OU President Vernon R. Alden's house, fires being set, bricks thrown and multiple injuries sustained. The Ohio National Guard (ONG) was sent to Athens, but remained off-campus on stand-by. The ONG was in Athens for three days and were never called in from the stand-by location. During the riots and negotiations, the Hocking River flooded which exacerbated the tension in Athens.
Extent
0.25 cubic feet
Abstract
The 1968 Student Disturbances collection contains newspaper clippings and public statements documenting the events of May 1968 at Ohio University (OU) and throughout Athens, Ohio.
Statement of Arrangement
This collection remains in its original arrangement.
Description Note
Original, legacy collection inventories may contain inaccuracies or be incomplete. Collection descriptions may change or be updated as they are verified. Please contact Mahn Center staff if you note any errors or discrepancies.
Subject
- Ohio University. Office of Public Information (Organization)
- Ohio University -- Riot, 1968 (Organization)
- Title
- Finding aid for the Office of Public Information collection on the 1968 Student Disturbances
- Author
- Finding aid prepared by Ohio University Archives Staff
- Date
- 2020
- Language of description
- English
- Script of description
- Latin
- Language of description note
- Finding aid written in English
- Sponsor
- The finding aid was converted into EAD with funding support from the National Historical Publications and Records Commission.
Revision Statements
- 5 January 2024: Subjects and other notes added from ALICE MARC records and Mahn Center Microsoft Office finding aids by Ohio University Libraries Metadata Services Department Python scripts.
Repository Details
Part of the Mahn Center for Archives and Special Collections Repository
