Robert L. Ketter speeches and remarks

Collection — Multiple Containers

Identifier: 4-11-581

Staff Only

Scope and Contents

File of speeches, remarks, introductions and other public statements delivered by State University of New York at Buffalo President Robert L. Ketter, 1970-1982, arranged in chronological order. Ketter was President from 1970-1982. In addition to drafts of speeches, the file also includes background information, comments and suggestions of the speeches by members of the University administration.

Also includes subject files kept by Harry Jackson, on various topics in higher education, likely used as source material in Ketter’s speeches. The files include notes, pamphlets, reports, newspaper clippings, and other printed items, and some original correspondence and memoranda of Harry Jackson, President Ketter and other University administrators.

Dates

1970-1982

Creator

Ketter, Robert L., 1928-1989 (Person)

Language of Materials

English

Terms of Access and Use

The Robert L. Ketter, Presidential Speeches, 1970-1982 are open to researchers.

Copyright

Copyright of papers in the collection may be held by their authors, or the authors' heirs or assigns. Researchers must obtain the written permission of the holder(s) of copyright and University Archives before requesting photocopies and/or publishing quotations from materials in the collection. Once permission is obtained, most papers may be copied in accordance with the library's usual procedures unless otherwise specified.

Biographical Note

Robert Lewis Ketter was born in 1929 in Welch, West Virginia; earned a B.S. in Civil Engineering from University of Missouri, Columbia in 1950; earned an M.S. in Civil Engineering from Lehigh University in 1952 and a Ph.D., also in civil engineering, at Lehigh in 1956, where he taught as associate professor.

In 1958 he came to the University of Buffalo to act as chair of the Civil Engineering Department, and in 1965 was named Dean of the graduate School. In 1967 Ketter became Vice President of Facilities Planning, where he would be responsible for much of the planning, design and construction of UB's new Amherst Campus.

In 1971 Ketter was made President of the University, a post he held until 1982 in addition to teaching civil engineering. In 1985 he was named Director of UB's Earthquake Engineering and Systems Dynamics Laboratories, and in 1986 Ketter was instrumental in obtaining a grant from the National Science Foundation to found the National Center for Earthquake Engineering Research, of which he was also Director. In 1986 the University named a building after Ketter (home to the Department of Civil, Structural and Environmental Engineering). He was recipient of several honorary degrees, including a Doctor of Engineering form Lehigh University, 1986, and a Doctor of Science from Kyoungpook University, S. Korea, 1973. Ketter died in 1989.

Extent

10 Linear Feet (15 manuscript boxes, 3 record cartons)

Additional Description

Abstract

File of speeches, remarks, introductions and other public statements delivered by State University of New York at Buffalo President Robert L. Ketter, 1970-1982. In addition to drafts of speeches, the file also includes background information, comments and suggestions of the speeches by members of the University administration. Ketter was President from 1970-1982.

Arrangement

Boxes 1-15 are arranged chronologically; Boxes 16-18 are arranged alphabetically by topic.

Acquisition Information

Robert L. Ketter speeches and remarks was transferred to University Archives in two accessions: by the Office of the President via Judy Hobbs on September 29, 1981, and by the Office of Public Affairs, via Harry Jackson on April 23, 1982 as accession 82-039.