| When
approval for the construction of a new library at Western
Oregon University was received in 1997, then President
Betty Youngblood authorized a major fund-raising effort
to supplement the large private donation already received
as well as state funding and bonding authority. As part
of that fundraising effort, a proposal was developed
to honor former Oregon Governor Robert W. Straub, at
that time a resident of West Salem in Polk County. After
discussions with the Governor and Mrs. Straub, family
members, friends and former colleagues, and other interested
parties, it was decided to raise money for a Robert
W. Straub Archives and Special Collections area in the
new library. The architects for the building developed
a plan for a complex of rooms that included a gallery
and exhibit area, reading/conference room, staff workroom,
and climate and humidity-controlled storage room. This
project developed late in the design process and was
aided by concerns expressed by President Youngblood
about the main entrance and facade of the building.
The architect's response was to add a large portico
to the West face of the building, and that gave us the
opportunity to propose the large reading/conference
room and the nearby spaces.
A special fundraising effort was set
up with Loren Wyss, a retired Portland investor, as
the chair of the committee to raise funds for the construction
of the Straub Archives and Special Collections area.
The goal for the effort was to raise $500,000. In the
end, donors gave over $300,000, and that was enough
to ensure the completion of the suite of rooms that
would not only house papers relating to Governor Straub's
career but also accommodate the University Archives
collection. For the opening of the Library, an exhibit
was developed with selected items from the Straub family
collections. As time went by, more Straub materials
were placed on loan by the family, a Straub Archives
Advisory Board was established with semi-annual meetings,
an archivist was hired on a temporary appointment, and
an oral history program was established to document
the accomplishments of Governor Straub, his administration,
and his programs. Funding came from grant monies, foundations,
private donations, and Western Oregon University. Donations
of other papers and collections have come from associates
of Governor Straub.
During the years since the new
library was dedicated, Library and Media Services staff
have worked to process the Straub family materials.
Some items have been digitized, others have been preserved
in acid-free containers, and some cataloging work has
been done. In addition to the oral history project,
the Straub Archives Advisory Board has directed the
development of a new concept, the Oregon Leadership
Project (see the White Paper attached). Another focus
of activity is to gain stability for the funding of
a professional archivist to lead the development of
the Straub Archives collection.
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