https://caspercollege.cvlcollections.org/files/original/5bde63aa73a55a028b64fbbcf9e11725.pdf 21b54704a083049207b966e910f506c6 PDF Text Text 1 Experiential Learning & Curriculum Mapping The Charles "Chuck" Morrison Photographs and Papers collection would provide an exceptional foundation for a college student gaining experiential learning as an archives correspondent for a student newspaper like Casper College's student newspaper, the Chinook, as well as being able to see real examples of its use in Oil City News and other publications or media productions. Morrison’s background as a professional photographer and writer for the Casper StarTribune makes his collection an ideal case study for student journalism, directly connecting archival research to journalistic output. Experiential Learning Skills Gained The collection’s multi-faceted content allows a student correspondent to practice skills directly applicable to real-world publishing: 1. Source Identification and Selection (The Reporter’s Eye) • Skill: Developing an eye for newsworthy archival content. • Morrison Collection Application: The student must move beyond general historical interest to find content that is relevant to a current college or community topic. For example, the student could search through the "Political Papers Series" for historical comments on state legislation that is currently being debated, or use a photograph of an old community building to contrast with current construction. • Journalistic Output: Writing short "From the Archives" segments, selecting a historical photograph for a feature article, or providing historical context for contemporary news. 2. Rights and Reproduction Management (The Publisher’s Responsibility) • Skill: Understanding copyright, publication rights, and citation ethics—a critical professional skill. • Morrison Collection Application: The student would learn to navigate the collection's access and rights statements (e.g., how the repository is making materials created by Morrison available but observing publication policies until a Casper College Goodstein Foundation Library Western History Center 125 College Drive, Casper, WY 82601 �2 certain date). They must formally request, cite, and obtain permission for reproduction, simulating the real-world process of using copyrighted material in a publication. • Journalistic Output: Producing a legally and ethically sound, fully cited photograph or document for the Oil City News or another student publication. 3. Multimodal Content Creation (Visual and Textual Storytelling) • Skill: Synthesizing disparate primary source types (photos, letters, official documents) into a cohesive narrative. • Morrison Collection Application: The student can combine Morrison’s professional photographs with his personal WWII correspondence or his District Court correspondence to tell a rich, layered human story about a historical event or figure. This simulates the integration of visuals and text common in modern newspaper feature writing. • Journalistic Output: Creating a multimedia story package that includes a scanned document, an analyzed photo, and original text written by the student correspondent. 4. Community and Institutional Documentation • Skill: Recognizing the role of the press in documenting local and institutional history. • Morrison Collection Application: Since Morrison documented many facets of Casper and the surrounding area (e.g., New York Oil Company, local politics, community life), the student correspondent uses the archives to connect the student experience to the larger community history. The student can use Morrison's records of earlier Casper College events or faculty (if present) to write stories about the college's legacy for the student body. By actively working with the collection, the student transitions from a passive history consumer to an active creator of historical content for a public audience, achieving the core goal of experiential learning. Media and Strategic Communications Use of the Charles "Chuck" Morrison Photographs and Papers would strongly support students in the Media Communication and Strategic Communication Program at Casper College, as it provides real-world historical context and practical material for key Casper College Goodstein Foundation Library Western History Center 125 College Drive, Casper, WY 82601 �3 assignments, directly addressing several of the college's Individual Student Learning Outcomes (ISLOs). Morrison’s background as a local journalist/photographer and politician makes the collection a perfect bridge between historical research and contemporary communication practices. Programmatic Support: Media and Strategic Communication The collection provides material and context relevant to both emphasis areas: Media Communication Emphasis Students in Media Communication need to develop skills in journalism, writing, multimedia production, and photography. • Journalistic Analysis: Students can analyze Morrison's news photographs and accompanying articles or photo bylines for the Casper Star-Tribune to study historical photojournalism ethics, framing, and narrative construction. • Media Context: The collection provides original primary sources for writing historical feature articles or producing multimedia projects (print, video, web) about Wyoming's political or community history, offering content for the Chinook student newspaper or class portfolios. • Photography: Students can study Morrison’s original prints and negatives to understand historical photographic techniques and the evolution of visual media, connecting to courses like Intro to Photography. Strategic Communication Emphasis Students in Strategic Communication focus on public relations, advertising, and reputation management. • Reputation and Messaging: Morrison's dual role as a public figure (State Representative) and a media professional provides a complex case study in personal and institutional reputation. Students can compare his political messaging (e.g., in speeches or official papers) with his personal correspondence to analyze authenticity and image management. • Historical Public Relations: Students can analyze records related to the Cole Creek Wreck or the New York Oil Company to study how local institutions Casper College Goodstein Foundation Library Western History Center 125 College Drive, Casper, WY 82601 �4 managed crises and maintained public trust in the mid-20th century. This provides tangible examples for assignments on crisis communication and historical PR campaigns. Alignment with Casper College ISLOs The use of this archive specifically addresses multiple Individual Student Learning Outcomes (ISLOs) at Casper College, fostering a holistic educational experience: • Demonstrate Effective Communication: o • Solve Problems Using Critical Thinking and Creativity: o • Support: Working with primary sources requires students to evaluate conflicting evidence (Morrison’s public versus private papers), fill historical gaps using contextual knowledge, and creatively interpret visual material to develop a compelling narrative or solve a communication challenge. Demonstrate Knowledge of Diverse Cultures and Historical Perspectives: o • Support: Students must translate complex, often messy archival evidence (handwritten notes, cryptic memos) into clear, concise journalistic or strategic communication outputs (e.g., a news story, a historical brief, or a PR analysis report). This demonstrates proficiency in adapting written and oral communication for different professional audiences. Support: The collection includes records documenting various facets of Wyoming life (political, economic, social). By analyzing these, students gain a deeper, nuanced understanding of local history and culture, avoiding simplistic historical assumptions and embracing diverse perspectives (e.g., understanding the life of a WWI veteran through his personal letters). Use Information to Conduct Research (Information Literacy): o Support: This is a direct ISLO application. Students learn to effectively navigate the archival finding aid and container list to retrieve specific primary sources, demonstrating advanced information literacy skills beyond simple database searching. They also learn to properly cite and attribute original sources, ensuring academic and journalistic integrity. On Secondary Sources Supporting Use of the Primary Casper College Goodstein Foundation Library Western History Center 125 College Drive, Casper, WY 82601 �5 The Charles "Chuck" Morrison Photographs and Papers are rich in content, spanning political, journalistic, military, and local history from roughly the 1920s through the mid1900s. To properly analyze and contextualize these primary sources, a student requires secondary sources that provide background information across these themes. Here is a breakdown of the types of secondary sources that would support the collection's use and understanding: Historical Context: Casper and Wyoming History (1920s–1970s) These sources establish the environment in which Morrison lived, worked, and served, providing essential context for his political papers and photographs. • • Local and Regional Histories: o Comprehensive Casper Histories: Books like Irving Garbutt’s History of Casper and Natrona County or the various volumes of the "Casper Chronicles" (published by groups like the Zonta Club or the Cadoma Foundation) provide timelines, major events, and institutional histories.1 They help identify the people, places, and organizations Morrison documented. o Wyoming State History: T. A. Larson’s History of Wyoming is the definitive academic overview, providing context for state politics, industry (oil, ranching), and demographic shifts that shaped Morrison's political service. Specific Event and Industry Histories: o Oil Industry in Casper: Secondary sources on the history of the oil industry's boom and bust cycles in the mid-20th century would contextualize Morrison’s business-related papers and the economic backdrop of his political decisions. o Transportation History: Secondary accounts of major events like the Cole Creek Wreck (if those exist, they would be highly specific) or broader histories of the railroad in Central Wyoming would provide essential details for analyzing the primary source material related to that disaster. o The Rescue Mission for Kevin Dye on Casper Mountain (likelihood of support high): The Morrison collection is known to contain documentation related to the high-profile 1971 search for nine-year-old Kevin Dye, who was lost on Casper Mountain. As the collection holds records from a Casper Star-Tribune photographer and local public figure, this major community event is well-represented. Casper College Goodstein Foundation Library Western History Center 125 College Drive, Casper, WY 82601 �6 Relevance for Media & Strategic Communication Program Strategic Communication Media Communication Supported Documentation & Learning Crisis Communication and Public Trust. Students can analyze the records (which include photographs of the rescue team's arrival and potentially articles/clippings) as a case study in mid-century crisis communication. They can assess how local agencies (police, rescue groups, National Guard) strategically managed public information, coordinated messaging, and maintained community trust during the intense, prolonged search. Breaking News Photojournalism. The images offer a primary source view of how a local news photographer (Morrison) covered a human-interest emergency. Students can analyze the ethical choices made in photographing the search, the mood captured, and how the visuals shaped the community's emotional investment in the story. Media and Photojournalism Context Since a large part of the collection is tied to Morrison's work for the Casper Star-Tribune, these sources provide the professional framework. • History of the Casper Star-Tribune: Any historical article or book detailing the newspaper's ownership, political leanings, key editors, and its overall role in Casper during the decades Morrison worked there is critical. This context helps students analyze bias and editorial decisions in his photography and writing. • History of Photojournalism: Academic texts on 20th-century American photojournalism would help students understand the conventions of the era (e.g., flash photography techniques, photo layout, and the ethical standards of news photography), allowing for a deeper visual analysis of Morrison’s images. Political and Institutional Context These sources are vital for understanding Morrison's time as a State Representative and his involvement in WWII. • Wyoming Legislative History: o Wyoming Blue Books: These official publications (often found at the Wyoming State Archives) contain lists of legislators, committee assignments, and Casper College Goodstein Foundation Library Western History Center 125 College Drive, Casper, WY 82601 �7 sometimes historical overviews of sessions, which would identify the specific years, sessions, and committees in which Morrison served. o • Academic Articles/Books on Wyoming Politics (1930s–1950s): Secondary sources detailing the impact of the Great Depression and the New Deal in Wyoming would contextualize his political votes and correspondence. (The Wyoming Almanac and articles from Annals of Wyoming are great places to start.) Casper Army Air Base / WWII Homefront: o Secondary sources detailing the history of the Casper Army Air Base and the broader WWII home front experience in Natrona County are necessary to contextualize Morrison's WWII-related correspondence and photographs, especially for students studying military history or home front life. The combination of these secondary sources provides the scholarly framework necessary to move beyond mere description of the primary sources to their informed interpretation and analysis. An Exceptional Anchor Collection The Charles "Chuck" Morrison Photographs and Papers is an exceptional anchor collection because it touches on so many aspects of mid-20th century Casper history: journalism, local politics, industry (oil), and major events. College-level students (especially those in Media Communication, Strategic Communication, and History) can gain significant value by using the collection to corroborate, contextualize, and expand upon the Morrison materials: Corroboration and Context: Media and Journalism These collections provide a direct institutional and public-facing counterpart to Morrison's private papers and professional photographs. • Casper Star-Tribune Photographs and Negatives: o Relation to Morrison: Morrison worked for the Casper Star-Tribune. This collection is critical for direct comparison. o Student Use: Casper College Goodstein Foundation Library Western History Center 125 College Drive, Casper, WY 82601 �8 ▪ • Media/Strategic Comm: Students can compare Morrison's personal photographic style and chosen subjects (in his collection) to the published photos in the newspaper's archives. They can analyze how the newspaper's editors selected, cropped, and captioned his work, which is a key exercise in understanding journalistic control and strategic communication messaging. Casper Star-Tribune Print and Microfilm: o Relation to Morrison: Provides the actual published newspaper issues from the time Morrison was active. o Student Use: Essential for contextualization. If Morrison's papers mention a political fight or community event, students can read the corresponding front pages to understand the public mood, the newspaper's official stance, and the depth of coverage. Expansion and Context: Casper College and Local Institutional History These records provide context for the local community and the institution hosting the collection. For instance, Morrison was an emergency contact for the Wyoming Mountaineers at Casper College and was friends with past instructors like Norman Weiss. • Casper College Archives (General Institutional Records): o o Student Use: ▪ • Relation to Morrison: Morrison was a prominent local figure; his collection may contain occasional photos or references to the college. Media/Strategic Comm: Students can analyze historical college records (meeting minutes, official statements) to see how the institution's public image and strategic messaging evolved over time, potentially contrasting it with how local journalists like Morrison covered the college. Casper College Yearbooks (Thunderbird): o Relation to Morrison: Provides the popular, student-level view of the college during Morrison’s lifetime. o Student Use: Provides a pop culture and social history perspective. Students can compare the formal photographs of Casper College faculty and buildings in Casper College Goodstein Foundation Library Western History Center 125 College Drive, Casper, WY 82601 �9 Morrison’s collection with the student-created content and captions in the yearbooks for a multi-layered view of campus life. • Dana Van Burgh Casper Buildings Project, Downtown Casper Photographs, or collections Morrison himself researched and used like the Bruce H. Thompson and Connie Bryant Collection: o Relation to Morrison: Morrison's photos are part of a larger visual record of Casper. These collections provide different angles and time periods. o Student Use: Enables students to conduct a comprehensive visual survey of Casper's urban development, industry, and main streets, comparing Morrison's professional photojournalistic view with the perspectives of other local photographers or community organizations. References Charles "Chuck" Morrison Photographs and Papers, NCA 01.v.1998.01 WyCaC US. Casper College Archives and Special Collections (Western History Center). Google. (2025). Gemini (2.5 Pro) [Large Language Model]. https://gemini.google.com/app/30ca229f60e659e3?utm_source=app_launcher&ut m_medium=owned&utm_campaign=base_all Casper College Goodstein Foundation Library Western History Center 125 College Drive, Casper, WY 82601 � Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource Chuck Morrison Experiential Learning and Curriculum Mapping Rights Information about rights held in and over the resource <a href="https://rightsstatements.org/vocab/InC-EDU/1.0/">http://rightsstatements.org/vocab/InC-EDU/1.0/</a> Date Created Date of creation of the resource. 2025-11-09 Description An account of the resource This document goes over how the Charles "Chuck" Morrison Photographs and Papers can support experiential learning and potential opportunities to map use of the collection to areas of study in Communications and History. Type The nature or genre of the resource Text Creator An entity primarily responsible for making the resource Hanz Olson Language A language of the resource ENG Extent The size or duration of the resource. 9 pages