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University Archives
Center for Middletown Studies Records
RG 5/2/10 / UAV 572
7 boxes; 5 cu. ft.
History
In order to capitalize on the attention generated within the academic community by
Robert and Helen Lynd’s massively influential sociological studies Middletown (1929) and
Middletown in Translation (1937), Ball State University established the Center for Middletown
Studies in 1980. Professor of history Dwight Hoover was the Center’s founding director,
expanding the Center’s influence and reputation throughout the country and even internationally.
Hoover retired in 1991 and Dr. E. Bruce Geelhoed became the new director. In 2004 Dr. James
Connolly took over Geelhoed’s role as the Center’s newest director.
According to the Center’s mission statement, “The mission of the Center for Middletown
Studies is to promote research on the history of ‘Muncie as Middletown’ according to the
scholarly tradition of Robert and Helen Lynd. It promotes research and scholarship on
Middletown, conducts public programs on Middletown topics for the benefit of the local
community, and encourages visits to Muncie and Ball State University by scholars, journalists,
and students from around the world.”
Since the Center was founded, it has sponsored a wide range of research. It has assisted
scholars in conducting the Middletown IV project, which resulted in the publication of The First
Measured Century (2001) by Theodore Caplow, Lewis Hicks, and Ben J. Wattenburg, along
with its accompanying PBS broadcast series. Other recent Center for Middletown Studies
scholarship includes Middletown Jews: The Tenuous Survival of an American Jewish Community
(1997) and The Other Side of Middletown: Exploring Muncie’s African American Community
(2004).
Scope and Content
This collection consists of records of the Center for Middletown Studies, dating roughly
from 1979 to 2004. Included are Administrative Records for the Center comprising financial
statements, annual reports, and advisory board meeting minutes. Grant proposals, funding
options, and research documents for the Center are also included. Correspondence of Directors
Dwight Hoover and Bruce Geelhoed are included in the Directors’ Files, along with their
research on various projects. Documents pertaining to visiting scholars to the Center are
included, along with their respective research and publications.
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Container List
Box
1
Folder
Administrative Records, Board Meetings, Minutes 1979-2000
Planning Documents
Grants
Creation of CMS
CMS Bylaws
CMS Dedication
Related Activities
Advisory Board
Annual Reports, 1985-86
1986-87
1987-88
1988-98
1989-90
1990-91
1991-92
1992-93
Financial Records, Budget, 1988-89
1989-90
1990-91
1991-92
1992-93
1993-94
1994-95
1995-96
1996-97
1997-98
1998-99
Statements, 1988-89
1989-90
1990-91
1991-92
1992-93
1993-94
1994-95
1995-96
1996-97
1997-98
Grants, Application for Research
Endowment Proposal
“Finding Liz” Proposal
Minnetrista Grant 1992-95
Teaching Collaborative
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Miscellaneous Grant Proposals
Brochures/Newsletters/Funding
University Relations, Applications
Research Policies
Directors’ Files, Correspondence, Hoover, Incoming,
1985-86
1987
1988
1989
1990-91
Outgoing,
1987
1988
1989
1990
Box
2
Folder
Directors’ Files, Correspondence, Hoover, Outgoing, 1991
Geelhoed, Incoming, 1991
1992
1993
1994
1995
2000-2004
Outgoing, 1991
1992
1993
1994
1995
Hoover, Research, Kids/Sports
Distribution of Power
Manuscript
Automobility
Unpublished Mss
Social Order and Disorder in Middletown
Box
3
Folder
Directors’ Files, Hoover, Research
Social Order and Disorder in Middletown
Geelhoed, Research
Flyers and Flying
Maxon Corporation
Middletown Oral History
Visit to Yorktown Middle School
Programs, Lectures, Academy for Educational Development
Conferences, American Studies
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NBC News
Eisenhower Fellow Program
“Safe Swallowing”
Heartland Stage Company
University of Leipzig
Nancy II Exchange
NAFSA Fulbright
“Class XLI” Project
Visiting Scholars
Braeman, Dean
Bender, Briggs, Buddenbaum
Conzan, Gilligan, Nye
Punnet, Seward
Macmillan, Van Holthoon
Van Elteren
Goodall
Misc. Visiting Scholars Information
Box
4
Folder
Publications, CMS Goals and History 1990-1992
Social Change Report
Research, “Study of Middletown” – Lynd
“Non-Stop to Nowhere” – Knarr
Auto Dealership Survey – Kerr
Single-Parenting – Stevenson
“Crossing the Tracks” Knarr
Small Town – Terpstra
WFYI – Titusrush
“They Paid Me To Do It” – Knarr
“Improved Version”
“Middletown” – Schnurman
Phil Ball Book
“Amhempco” – Lucien
“Middletown’s Favorite Movies” – Lane
Documentary – Wattenberg
Articles – Walsh
MAS Variable Index
Warner Gear Project
Oral History Project
Manuscript
Box
5
Folder
Knarr/Hoover Research
“They Paid Me To Do It” – Knarr
Social Order and Disorder in Middletown – Hoover
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Box
6
Folder
Warner Gear Statistics
Historical Review (Binder)
Box
7
Folder
Computer Disks
UAV 572
DVD “Change in Muncie”