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Archives 179
Genetics Program
Records, 1946-1972

The files of the Genetics Program were transferred to Washington State University Libraries in 1979. They were processed by Leslie J. Tevebaugh in February of 1985.

ORGANIZATIONAL HISTORY

A committee to explore work in instruction and research in genetics at Washington State College was first considered in 1946. By 1950 this had evolved into the Joint Committee on Genetics. Due to a desire to improve the status of Genetics at Washingt on State College the Inter-College Committee on the Teaching Program in Genetics was created in 1955. This standing committee included an inter-departmental Genetics Group to teach genetics courses.

In 1957 the Inter-College Committee petitioned for curricula leading to M.S. and Ph.D. degrees in Genetics. Approval of their curricula resulted in the Inter-College Committee evolving into two interdepartmental groups: the Staff in Genetics and the Executive Committee in Genetics, which functioned as a departmental graduate committee.

In 1963 a formal Genetics Program, with its own budget and administration, was proposed. The proposal became reality when Genetics was reorganized into a Special Program in 1965. Since that time, the Genetics Program has remained interdisciplinary, but has its own faculty, chairman, budget, and teaching assistants. In 1981 the name of the program was changed to Genetics and Cell Biology.

ARRANGEMENT AND DESCRIPTION

The program files are arranged in a single chronological series. The records consist of memoranda, minutes, correspondence, and reports.