Donald Gilmore Decker records, 1938 - 1971, bulk: 1964 - 1971
Subseries Scope and Contents
Donald Gilmore Decker served as Dean of the College, 1959-1967, and then served as Provost from 1970-1971. This subseries comprises records from Donald Decker's tenure as Dean of the College and Provost. Most materials document staffing issues for faculty, instructors, and other teaching positions. This material includes: position descriptions, appointment and non-appointment lettters, forms and charts to determine staffing (e.g. Staffing Formula for Course Scheduling), data reflecting number of faculty per department as well as credit hours and courses, correspondence, memos, and reports about staffing issues, recruitment letters, faculty salaries, and teaching loads. Also includes one letter to Winfield Dockery Armentrout, who served as Vice-President of the College from 1931-1955. In addition, there are minutes from the Council of Division Chairmen from March-July 1966, discussing important changes to curriuculum, programs, and wider campus issues.
Dates
- 1938 - 1971
- Majority of material found within 1964 - 1971
Creator
- From the Collection: University of Northern Colorado (Organization)
- From the Collection: Colorado State College of Education (Organization)
- From the Collection: Colorado State College (Greeley, Colo.) (Organization)
- From the Collection: University of Northern Colorado. Office of the Provost (Organization)
Conditions Governing Access
All materials and subseries within Series 1 are open for access.
Biography
Emeritus Professor Donald Gilmore Decker (1914-1984) held a number of positions at the University from 1937 until his retirement in 1975, including Instructor and Assistant Professor of Science; Associate Professor of Science; Professor of Science; Director of Instruction; Director of Instruction/Professor of Science/Director of Summer Sessions; and Dean of College/Director of Summer Sessions.
Dr. Decker was born on January 7, 1914 to Nellie Sidney and Nellie (Gilmore) Decker in Elizabeth, Colorado. He married Doris Ritter in Michigan on December 23, 1937. After his wife's death in May 1953, he married Doris Stricklan in Greeley.
Decker received a bachelor's degree from Eastern Michigan University, a master's degree from Colorado State College (now the University of Northern Colorado); and a doctorate from Columbia Teachers College, Columbia University. He also receiveed an honorary doctorate in science from Michigan State Normal University in 1951.
While a graduate student at Colorado State College, Decker taught science in the Laboratory School. He served as chairman of the Division of Science and developed the science education program. He also served as an advisor at the Oak Ridge Institute of Nuclear Studies in Oak Ridge, Tennessee.
Donald Gilmore Decker served as Dean of the College, 1959-1967. The tile of Dean of the College was "comparable with what many schools term academic dean of the college."
He served as provost during 1970-1971 and retired on March 1, 1975.
Decker served as president of the National Association of the Teacher of Science, served on several national advisory committees, the Educational Policies Commission, the board of editors of the L. W. Singer Science Series, and the International Council on Elementary Education. He created innovative programs such as the School of Experimental Studies and the School of Educational Change and Development and co-authored "The Singer Science Series" textbooks.
Dr. Decker passed away on April 15, 1984 in Greeley, Colorado.
Extent
1.80 Linear Feet (3 boxes, approximately)
Language of Materials
From the Collection: English
Sources for Biography
Repository Details
Part of the University of Northern Colorado Repository
University Libraries
James A. Michener Library L119
Campus Box 48
Greeley CO 80639
library.archives@unco.edu