Case Western Reserve University Communication Office

Functions of the office included internal and external communications, publicity, public relations, publications (1938-2009).

The offfice was created by the Western Reserve University Board of Trustees Executive Committee in 1938.

Prior to the appointment of Blackwell, one person, the Publicity Secretary (Marie Kirkwood), was responsible for publicity. A study was done to determine how to strengthen the public relations effort by the coordination of all publicity efforts and their systematization under one leader. This resulted in the appointment of Blackwell and the beginning of a public relations office. In 1949 Donald Hagaman assumed responsibility of this office as well as the alumni office. He relinquished his duties as University publicity director 1/16/1951, but continued his position as Coordinator of Alumni Affairs.

• 1938 - 1939 : Public Information and Publicity
• 1939 - 1940 : Publicity and Continuous Program
• 1941 - 1947 : Office of Public Relations
• 1951 - 1955 : University News Bureau
• 1955 - 1962 : Office of Public Information
• 1963 - 1967 : Office of Public Relations
• 1968 - 1970 : Office of University Relations
• 1970 - 2004 : Office of University Communication
• 2004 - 2009 : Office of University Marketing and Communications

• 1938 - 1939 : Raymond E. Blackwell, Director of Public Information & Publicity
• 1939 - 1940 : Elliott J. Jensen, Director, Publicity and Continuous Program
• 1940: J. Myron Sharp, Acting Director
• 1940 - 1942 : Warren A. Guthrie, Director of Public Relations
• 1943 - 1944 : Edward D. Whittlesey, Director of Public Information
• 1944 - 1947 : Raymond A. Bruner, Director of Publicity
• 1949 - 1950 : Donald E. Hagaman, Director of Publicity & Alumni Activities
• 1950 - 1951 : Donald E. Hagaman, Coordinator of Alumni Affairs
• 1951 - 1955 : August W. Quattrochi, Director of University News Bureau
• 1955 - 1956 : August W. Quattrochi, Director of Public Information
• 1960: Robert D. Freeman, Director of Information
• 1960 - 1962 : Charles M. Davis, Director of Public Information
• 1962 - 1967 : Charles M. Davis, Director of Public Relations
• 1967 - 1968 : Georg Mann, Director of Public Relations
• 1968 - 1970 : Robert W. Morrison, Director of University Relations
• 1970 - 1976 : Richard E. Baznik, Director of University Communication
• 1976 - 1978 : James Castagnera, Director of University Communication
• 1978 - 1980 : Paula A. Slimak, Director of University Communication
• 1980 - 1981 : Suzanne Hartman, Director of University Communication
• 1981 - 1989 : Thomas R. Shrout, Director of University Communication
• 1989 - 2003 : Thomas R. Shrout, Assistant Vice President for Public Affairs & Director of University Communication

From the guide to the Case Western Reserve University Communication Office Press Releases, 1961-1988, 1961-1988, (Case Western Reserve University Archives)

Functions of the office included internal and external communications, publicity, public relations, publications (1938-2009).

The office was created by the Western Reserve University Board of Trustees Executive Committee in 1938.

Prior to the appointment of Blackwell, one person, the Publicity Secretary (Marie Kirkwood), was responsible for publicity. A study was done to determine how to strengthen the public relations effort by the coordination of all publicity efforts and their systematization under one leader. This resulted in the appointment of Blackwell and the beginning of a public relations office. In 1949 Donald Hagaman assumed responsibility of this office as well as the alumni office. He relinquished his duties as University publicity director 1/16/1951, but continued his position as Coordinator of Alumni Affairs.

• 1938 - 1939 : Public Information and Publicity
• 1939 - 1940 : Publicity and Continuous Program
• 1941 - 1947 : Office of Public Relations
• 1951 - 1955 : University News Bureau
• 1955 - 1962 : Office of Public Information
• 1963 - 1967 : Office of Public Relations
• 1968 - 1970 : Office of University Relations
• 1970 - 2004 : Office of University Communication
• 2004 - 2009 : Office of University Marketing and Communications

• 1938 - 1939 : Raymond E. Blackwell, Director of Public Information & Publicity
• 1939 - 1940 : Elliott J. Jensen, Director, Publicity and Continuous Program
• 1940: J. Myron Sharp, Acting Director
• 1940 - 1942 : Warren A. Guthrie, Director of Public Relations
• 1943 - 1944 : Edward D. Whittlesey, Director of Public Information
• 1944 - 1947 : Raymond A. Bruner, Director of Publicity
• 1949 - 1950 : Donald E. Hagaman, Director of Publicity & Alumni Activities
• 1950 - 1951 : Donald E. Hagaman, Coordinator of Alumni Affairs
• 1951 - 1955 : August W. Quattrochi, Director of University News Bureau
• 1955 - 1956 : August W. Quattrochi, Director of Public Information
• 1960: Robert D. Freeman, Director of Information
• 1960 - 1962 : Charles M. Davis, Director of Public Information
• 1962 - 1967 : Charles M. Davis, Director of Public Relations
• 1967 - 1968 : Georg Mann, Director of Public Relations
• 1968 - 1970 : Robert W. Morrison, Director of University Relations
• 1970 - 1976 : Richard E. Baznik, Director of University Communication
• 1976 - 1978 : James Castagnera, Director of University Communication
• 1978 - 1980 : Paula A. Slimak, Director of University Communication
• 1980 - 1981 : Suzanne Hartman, Director of University Communication
• 1981 - 1989 : Thomas R. Shrout, Director of University Communication
• 1989 - 2003 : Thomas R. Shrout, Assistant Vice President for Public Affairs & Director of University Communication

From the guide to the Case Western Reserve University Communication Office Faculty-Staff Newspapers, 1949-2009, 1949-2009, (Case Western Reserve University Archives)