Title: Paul H. Boase Papers, 1939-2000 (span)

ID: RG 30/248

Extent: 4.8 Linear Feet

Paul H. Boase served in many capacities as a professor of speech and rhetoric, an active lay minister and guest speaker in the Methodist Church, a scholar, and a well-respected leader in his field. He was born July 13, 1915, in Topeka, Indiana, the son of Herbert and Mary McLaughlin Boase. Boase earned a Bachelor's degree from Manchester College in North Manchester, Indiana, also studying at the Central School of Speech Training and Dramatic Art at various locations throughout England. He went on to work as a high school teacher at several schools in Indiana before serving in the military. During World War II he served in the Army Air Forces as an air traffic controller for fighter planes protecting the Panama Canal, and achieved the rank of Captain.

Following the war, he earned Masters and Doctorate degrees from the University of Wisconsin-Madison in 1947 and 1952, and married his first wife, Marjorie Brigham, to whom he was married for 47 years until her death in 1994. Boase taught at Oberlin College from 1948 to 1964, moving through the ranks of Instructor, to Associate Professor, and then becoming the Chairman of the Department of Speech. Throughout his time at Oberlin, Boase became well-known and well-respected by those in his field and he created many ties, both professional and personal.

Having established himself as a scholar, Boase took a position as Professor and Director of Interpersonal Communication at Ohio University where he served from 1964 to 1980. Following his initial retirement in 1980, he returned to serve as Director of Graduate Studies, 1982-1985, and taught part time from 1985-1992. Boase’s legacy at Ohio University was lasting, and the School of Communication in 2003 established the Paul H. Boase Prize for Scholarship, which continues to be awarded to scholars advancing the study of interpersonal communication. He was also the recipient of various awards and received the Speech Communication Association of Ohio's Distinguished Service Award in 1975, and its Winans-Wichelns Award for Distinguished Scholarship in Rhetoric and Public Address in 1981 for the book The Rhetoric of Protest and Reform. In 1978, he was elected to Phi Kappa Phi, and in 1980 received the Elizabeth G. Andersch Award. He was inducted into the Ohio High School Speech League Hall of Fame in 1986. Boase received the Distinguished Alumni Award from Delta Sigma Rho-Tau Kappa Alpha in 1988.

Boase was also an accomplished writer, and published five books and dozens of articles, including "A Short History of Methodism: John Wesley to Athens, Ohio," twenty-seven short essays used by Athens First United Methodist Church for its bicentennial celebration. The topics of Boase’s writings ranged from speech and rhetoric, academics and teaching, politics, and religion. Among his most significant writings were his books in the field of Speech, including Basic Speech (several editions), The Rhetoric of Protest and Reform, and Speech Communication: Principles and Contexts. His writings on academics and teaching included topics such as optimal facilities, the graying of the academy, and teaching speech. His political writings included subjects such as various presidents and presidential campaigns. His most prolific area of scholarship, which dovetailed with his personal commitment to the Methodist Church, was in the area of religion. His religious works include a book entitled The Rhetoric of Christian Socialism, as well as many articles on Methodism. Of particular interest to Boase were the Methodist Circuit Riders on the Ohio Frontier, which was the topic of his PhD dissertation, and he wrote many articles that examined different aspects of the history and rhetoric of these itinerant preachers. Some of these topics included the education of Circuit Riders, slavery and circuit riders, romance on the Circuit, and interdenominational polemics and forensics.

Dedication to Methodism also influenced his community service, and he served as a lay leader and guest speaker at Methodist Churches throughout his life, including the Oberlin First United Methodist Church. He served on the Oberlin School Board, as a Kiwanis President in Athens, Ohio, and provided support to the Oberlin Summer Theatre. His involvement with professional associations included serving the National Communication Association as founder and head of the Emeritus/Retired Member Section, and editor of the newsletter. He served the Central States Speech Association in various leadership positions from 1963 to 1969, culminating in a term as President from 1968 to 1969. He served the Speech Association of America almost continuously from 1960 until his death in positions as varied as committee member, secretary, and editor. He also served in the leadership of Delta Sigma Rho and DSR-TKA, and was a member of the American Association of University Professors, Ohio Retired Teachers Association, the International Communication Association, OU Emeriti Association, and Oberlin Men's City Club.

Boase retired from Ohio University in 1992, and in 1993 he moved into the new Kendal at Oberlin Retirement Community. His wife Marjorie died in 1994. On July 28, 1996, at the age of 81, Boase married Constance Weil Flanigan, an Oberlin College graduate and former teacher. Boase died at age 85 on Wednesday, Dec. 13, 2000 from natural causes, leaving behind Constance, as well as his three children Catherine Schuler, Terri Hughes and Brian Boase; his brother Edward Boase; five stepchildren; and 11 grandchildren.

SOURCES CONSULTED

Paul H. Boase Papers (RG 30/248), Oberlin College Archives

Author: Wendy Bromfield

Forms of Material (links to similar genres)

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Scope and Contents:

The Paul H. Boase Papers primarily document the his professional career as a professor of speech at Oberlin College, Ohio University and other institutions, a dedicated lay minister in the Methodist church, a leader in various professional organizations, and a scholar of speech and rhetoric, particularly around topics related to the Methodist church. The collection consists of a small amount of biographical materials related to his personal life, family, and his time as a student. The majority of the collection is related to his professional life.

The correspondence series is the largest, and consists of professional correspondence, both to and from Dr. Paul Boase. The majority of these communications are with fellow faculty in the field of speech and rhetoric, ministers and church lay leaders of various denominations, and members of various professional associations. Topics broached by the correspondence include his PhD dissertation, his new appointment to Oberlin as Assistant Professor of Speech, speech contests, presentations, and correspondence with former students and colleagues. Also present are offers of employment, requests to lead devotionals or for assistance or guidance at churches of various denominations, letters written to parents from the position of an academic advisor, communication related to publications, and letters related to his roles in professional associations.

The second largest series are files related to Boase’s many writings. Topics include academics and teaching, politics, and religion. Of particular interest in the area of academic and teaching are writings on academic freedom, planning academic classrooms, and the philosophy and psychology of speech and communication. His political works span many topics including various political campaigns, presidents, and political correctness. A significant part of his political writings include a rhetorical critique of Newton Minow’s “The TV Wasteland,” a 1961 speech by the Chairman of the U.S. Federal Communications Commission, which remains influential to this day. His writings about religion, an obvious passion of his, are significant in their volume. A member of the Methodist Church, as well as an active lay minister and guest preacher, the focus of his scholarship was likewise on Methodism, and its intersection with speech and rhetoric. A focus of his work was on the Circuit Riders- pioneering preachers on the Ohio Frontier. The collection contains a large number of published articles, and writings that could be unpublished articles or speeches, on different aspects of Circuit Riders and the Ohio Frontier, including romance on the circuit, polemics, and interdenominational forensics. A small collection of research files, mostly on religious topics support his writings.

The remainder of the collection is comprised of materials highlighting different aspects of his professional life, Course materials contained in the collection relate mostly to his time at Ohio University, and include topics such as religious rhetoric, protest and reform, the Social Gospel, and the bibliography of American public address. Topics related to Oberlin include Sylvester Graham and Charles Grandison Finney. The Professional Associations series provides and insight into his involvement in the Central States Speech Association Program, the Methodist Historical Society, the Ohio Area of the Methodist Church-Norwalk District, the Speech Communication Association, and Tau Kappa Alpha Speaker of the Year. Sought after for service in these organizations, Boase was also asked to consult with different institutions, such as Heidelberg College, Hiram College, and Macalaster College, in improving their speech departments.

The Paul H. Boase Papers are organized into eight series: Series I. Biographical and Family; Series II. Correspondence; Series III. Course Materials; Series IV. Professional Associations; Series V. Professional Consultancy Files; Series VI. Research Files; Series VII. Service to Oberlin College; and, Series VIII. Writings.

SERIES DESCRIPTIONS

Series I. Biographical and Family, 1939-2000 (span) (0.4 l.f.)

This series includes biographical information about Paul Boase including photographs of him and his family, a small amount of family correspondence, his coursework as a graduate student at the University of Wisconsin, and the Central School of Speech Training and Dramatic Art, honors and awards. It also contains materials related to his retirement.

Series II. Correspondence, 1948-1994 (2.4 l.f.)

This series contains professional correspondence both to and from Paul Boase. Topics span publications, speeches and presentations, coursework, consultation with other schools and churches, and job offers. Correspondence is with colleagues in the field, former students, and often with church members at various Methodist churches where Boase was a frequent guest lecturer, preacher, and lay minister.

Series III. Course Materials (Ohio University), 1968-93 (0.4 l.f.)

These materials include courses taught by Boase as a Professor of Speech and Director of the School of Interpersonal Communication at Ohio University. Topics include politics and religion, and reflect his scholarly research and writing, in such areas as Protest and Reform and the Social Gospel. Topics related to Oberlin include Charles Grandson Finney and Sylvester Graham.

Series IV. Professional Associations, 1955, 1963-92 (0.2 l.f.)

Boase was involved with many professional associations, both related to speech and rhetoric, and his interest and involvement in the Methodist Church. This series contains materials, mostly correspondence, related to his involvement in organizations such as the Central States Speech Association Program, the Methodist Historical Society, the Ohio Area of the Methodist Church, The Speech Communication Association, and Tau Kappa Alpha Speaker of the Year.

Series V. Professional Consultancy Files, 1961, 1974-76 (0.1 l.f.)

Boase was sought out as a consultant to various schools wishing to improve their speech programs. This series contains consultancy materials, including correspondence and proposals, for Heidelberg College, Hiram College, and Macalester College.

Series VI. Research Files, 1956-68, 1971, 1989-90, n.d. (0.1 l.f.)

Much of Boase’s research focused on religion, particularly the Methodist Church and Methodist Circuit Riders on the Ohio Frontier. This series contains some research files, mostly articles, related to these topics as well as Christian Socialism, Temperance, and his Sabbatical in England.

Series VII. Service to Oberlin College, 1950-64 (0.2 l.f.)

Boase both started his college teaching career and retired in Oberlin. This series includes a small amount of materials related to his service to Oberlin College--both the college administration, and the summer theatre. Also included are restricted files with recommendations for Oberlin faculty and former students.

Series VIII. Writings and Speeches, 1950s-90s (1.0 l.f)

This series contains works written or edited by Boase and some limited correspondence and editorial files related to the publication process. Included are correspondence related to, and chapters from books written and edited by Boase, book reviews written by Boase about other scholars’ work, and manuscripts for both speeches and unpublished articles (in some cases not easily discernible). The main topics covered include academics and teaching, politics, and religion.

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