Language of Material: English

Contributing Institution: Special Collections Research Center

Title: Norman Baxter

Identifier/Call Number: UA.1092

Physical Description: .83 Linear Feet 2 Hollinger boxes

Date (bulk): 1970-1980

Abstract: This collection contains documents relating to Norman Baxter's time as President of Fresno State University.

From Fresno State News: "Dr. Norman A. Baxter, Fresno State's fifth president, served the University during its name change from Fresno State College to California State University, Fresno when it joined the CSU system. Dr. Baxter, who was president from 1970 to 1980, died on May 5 in Washington state. Fresno State President Joseph I. Castro ordered all University flags to be flown at half-staff on May 14. Born in New York in 1926, Dr. Baxter earned two bachelor's degrees — one from Taylor University in Indiana and the other from New York Theological Seminary. He received a doctorate from Harvard University in 1954. Dr. Baxter specialized in Greek and church history. He moved up through the ranks of administration at the New York Theological Seminary, then at Little Rock University in Arkansas before coming to Fresno State in 1969. Dr. Baxter was academic vice president at Fresno State for one year before he became president, overlapping with a period of political and social unrest on campus. One of his main goals as the University's top leader was to build Fresno State into a major institution that the community could look up to and use as a community resource. "We want people in the community to think of this facility as a resource. We wanted our campus to be responsive to the needs of the community," Dr. Baxter said in a story that appeared in The Fresno Bee in 1973. He worked to raise money for the construction of Bulldog Stadium, which opened on Nov. 25, 1980, with the help of local philanthropists. The University was using Ratcliffe Stadium on the Fresno City College campus for football games at the time. Dr. Baxter stepped down as president in 1980 and later retired to the Sierra Foothills with his wife, Wilda."

Some other noteable events during Dr. Baxter's presidency include: the firing of the chair of the English department, Dr. Eugene Zumwalt, with plainclothes policemen in December 1970; the cancellation of the La Raza studies program; the firing of Business Dean William Buzic (partially over the use of the newly built Thomas building); and votes of no confidence or disapproval made by both the Student Senate and a poll by faculty, respectively.

The Norman Baxter collection measures 1.67' and features material about Dr. Norman Baxter.

Series one, Agendas, includes his schedule and agenda in yearly administrative calendars. These agendas appear professional, not personal, and do not include much information related to events of campus unrest during his administration.

The second series, regarding campus unrest, as yet only includes newspaper clippings related to conflict with faculty centered on his firing of Business Dean Dr. William Buzik.

The biographies section includes three short biographical summaries.

In Correspondance there are 2 invitations to apply for jobs at other Universites; there is also an interesting packet of student evaluations of a presentation he gave in 1977, along with a complimentary note from the same Buzik he fired a year later.

The remainder of the collection is made up of news clippings and news releases related to Dr. Baxter's appointment as President of Fresno State, and his later dismissal.

Campus Unrest collection

W. Donald Albright Papers

Collection open for research.