Guide to the Records of the Colorado Science and Engineering Fair

Prepared by Holley R. Lange


Colorado State University Archives and Special Collections
Morgan Library, Fort Collins, Colorado 80523-1019 USA


Copyright 2005 Colorado State University. All rights reserved.
Colorado State University logo
Finding aid encoded in EAD Version 2002 by Holley R. Lange, 2005.

TABLE OF CONTENTS

Collection Summary

Restrictions

Index Terms

History

Scope and Contents

Arrangement

Administrative Information

Series Descriptions

Inventory


Collection Summary

Creator: Colorado State Science Fair, Inc.
Title: Records of the Colorado Science and Engineering Fair
Dates: 1954-2005
Quantity: 6 linear feet
Identification: MCSF
Abstract: The Colorado Science and Engineering Fair had its beginnings in 1955, when a committee was formed to investigate the possibility of holding an annual state-wide science fair. The first fair was held April 28, 1956, and known both as the Annual Regional Science Fair and the Colorado-Wyoming Science Fair. In 1970 the name was changed to the Colorado State Science Fair when Wyoming ended its participation in the fair. In 1993 the name was changed again to the Colorado Science and Engineering Fair. Materials in the collection include programs, entrant and winner lists, planning information and correspondence about annual fairs, and photographs and slides of fairs, participants and projects. Also included is information on some regional fairs, as well as on the International Science and Engineering Fair.
Contact Information: Archives and Special Collections
Morgan Library
Colorado State University
Fort Collins, Colorado 80523-1019 USA
Phone: 970-491-1844
Fax: 970-491-1195
Email: specialcollections@library.colostate.edu
URL: http://lib.colostate.edu/archives

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Restrictions

Restrictions on Access

There are no access restrictions on this collection. However, the collection is stored off-site, so advanced notice is required.

Restrictions on Use

Not all of the material in the collection is in the public domain. Researchers are responsible for addressing copyright issues.

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Index Terms

This collection is indexed under the following headings in the Colorado State University Libraries online catalog. Researchers seeking materials about related subjects, persons, organizations or places should search the catalog using these headings.
Subjects:
Science--Exhibitions.
Science--Study and teaching (Secondary)--Colorado.
Science--Study and teaching (Middle School)--Colorado.
Persons:
Bernath, Elemer.
Organizations:
Colorado State Science Fair, Inc.
Colorado Science and Engineering Fair.
International Scieince and Engineering Fair.
Colorado State Science Fair.
Colorado-Wyoming Science Fair.
Places:
Colorado.
Wyoming.
Special Document Types:
Photographs.
Slides (Photographs).
Negatives.

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History

The Colorado Science and Engineering Fair had its beginnings in 1955, when a committee was formed to investigate the possibility of holding an annual state-wide science fair. Frederick W. Brown and Charles L. Bragaw, both at the National Bureau of Standards, Boulder Laboratories, were instrumental in establishing the fair. They approached members of the Colorado-Wyoming Academy of Science and the Colorado Engineering Council about the idea as there were several local fairs in the state, and a state-wide fair seemed a natural move to build on the nationwide interest in science at that time. The first fair was held April 28, 1956, and known both as the Annual Regional Science Fair and the Colorado-Wyoming Science Fair. The fair included approximately 125 entries from junior and senior high school students. Although Wyoming students did not participate in the first fair, they were involved in succeeding fairs through 1969. In 1970 when the fair became an all-Colorado event, its name changed to the Colorado State Science Fair.

The National Bureau of Standards remained involved with the fairs for a number of years, as Bragaw chaired the fair committee from 1956 to 1967, and fairs were held at the Bureau and nearby schools. The Bureau provided support and staffing for the fair until 1968 when budget cuts forced a reduction in support, and when Charles Bragaw retired. The Colorado Medical Society then provided office and management support and moved the fair headquarters to Denver. Fair headquarters returned again to Boulder in 1978, this time through the National Institute for Telecommunication Sciences. From 1972 to 1980 the fairs were held at the Cinderella City Shopping Center, but moved in 1981 to Colorado State University.

In 1977 the Colorado State Science Fair, Inc. was incorporated to organize and operate the Colorado State Science Fairs. A Board of Directors controlled and managed the corporation with representatives of certain sponsoring organizations forming the Board. While the official name of the corporation remains, the current name of the fair, the Colorado Science and Engineering Fair, was adopted in 1993.

From the beginning, the fair depended on and received support from Colorado and Wyoming professional associations and industries, and that type of support remains essential. Early sponsors included the Colorado Engineering Council, the Colorado State Medical Society, the Colorado-Wyoming Academy of Science, and the Wyoming State Medical Society. Awards for student winners have been donated by various businesses and associations over the years.

From the early years of the fair, Colorado student winners at the state level were supported in taking their projects to the national level. Colorado's Samuel Newman, a surgeon and Colorado Medical Society member, was involved with the National Science Fair (later the International Science and Engineering Fair) and in 1957 encouraged the Colorado fair to become affiliated with it. Beginning in 1958, the two top senior high school winners were sent to the national competition.

Elemer Bernath, long-time science teacher in Fort Morgan, Colorado, and science fair supporter has been deeply involved in both the Morgan/Washington Bi-County Science Fair and the Colorado Science and Engineering Fair since their founding, and has attended all state fairs to date. He has been honored in a number of ways over the years, including a 1975 service award from the Colorado-Wyoming Bi-State Fair, and recognition from the International fair in 1975 and 1977. In 1981 he received the University of Colorado Medal for his involvement in sparking science interest in students. He was also recognized in 1995 at the 40th Colorado Science and Engineering Fair for his long-time involvement with the fair and dedication to the students of Colorado.

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Scope and Contents

The Records of the Colorado Science and Engineering Fair consists of documents dated 1954-2005. The collection contains information about annual fairs, including programs, winner lists, related planning materials, and newspaper clippings. Also included are some programs and material from several of the Colorado regional fairs, as well as information, programs and others materials from the International Science and Engineering Fair. The collection consists primarily of print materials, but also includes a number of photographs and slides of fairs, participants, and entries. There are three reel-to-reel tapes, two videocassettes, one plaque, one ribbon, and one t-shirt.

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Arrangement

Materials are arranged by material type, with the majority of the the records arranged chronologically by year of the science fair.

The collection consists of three series in four boxes:

Series I: Records, 1954-2005
Subseries A: Annual science fairs, 1956-2005
Subseries B: Science fair board, director and committees, 1987-2001
Subseries C: Miscellaneous, 1954-1961, n.d.
Series II: Visual and audio materials, 1957-2003
Subseries A: Photographic material, 1957-2003
Subseries B: Other material, 1971-2002
Series III: Artifacts, 1995, 2005, n.d.

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Administrative Information

Preferred Citation

Records of the Colorado Science and Engineering Fair, Archives and Special Collections, Colorado State University.

Acquisition

The Records of the Colorado Science and Engineering Fair was acquired from the Colorado Science and Engineering Fair, Inc. in 2002. Additional materials were received in April 2003 and April 2005 from Elemer Bernath.

Processing

Processing of the collection was completed in April 2005. Materials were placed in acid-free folders and metal fasteners removed. Newspaper clippings were inserted between sheets of acid-free paper. Photographs and negatives were separated to Series II and inserted in archival sleeves, envelopes, or folders. The original chronological order was maintained, and some materials were interfiled, as appropriate. Duplicates beyond two were discarded. Forms containing student names and home addresses were destroyed.

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Series Descriptions

Series I: Records, 1954-2005

This series consists of materials about the annual fairs, some regional Colorado fairs, and the International Science and Engineering Fair. Also included are bylaws, procedures handbook, minutes and correspondence of the fair, its Board of Directors, the Fair Director, and various committees and officers. This series is divided into three subseries.
Subseries A: Annual science fairs, 1956-2005
This subseries contains materials about the annual fairs, some regional Colorado fairs, and the International Science and Engineering Fair. Included are programs, entrants and winner lists, rules, and some correspondence concerning the fairs. Materials are arranged chronologically.
Subseries B: Science fair board, director, and committees, 1987-2001
This subseries contains bylaws, policy handbook, Board minutes and correspondence. Materials are arranged chronologically within category.
Subseries C: Miscellaneous, 1954-1961, n.d.
This subseries contains materials on non-Colorado fairs, some undated newspaper clippings, and planning material on the Pueblo Regional Fair.

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Series II: Visual and audio materials, 1957-2003

This series consists primarily of photographs of entrants and projects, but also includes slides, three reel-to-reel sound recordings, and two videocassettes. This Series is divided into two subseries.
Subseries A: Photographic material, 1957-2003
This subseries contains photographs and some negatives, primarily of entrants and their exhibits. There are also slides of the science fairs, and some of the National Science Fair. Materials are arranged chronologically by material type.
Subseries B: Other materials, 1971-2002
This series consists of three reel-to-reel sound recordings from the Bi-County Fair, and two ISEF videocassettes. Materials are arranged by type.

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Series III: Artifacts, 1995, 2005, n.d.

This series consists of three artifacts, a plaque, a blue ribbon, and a t-shirt. Materials are arranged by type.

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Inventory

Note: Title information supplied by the archivist is bracketed, and estimated pagination is preceded by an "e".

Series I: Records

Box Folder
Subseries A: Annual science fairs.
1 1 1956 1st [Annual Colorado-Wyoming Science Fair]. 1956. 8pp.
1 2 1957 2nd. 1957. 26pp.
1 3 1958 3rd [Annual Colorado-Wyoming Bi-State Science Fair]. 1958. 33pp.
1 4 1959 4th [Annual Colorado-Wyoming Science Fair]. 1959. 55pp.
1 5 1960 [5th] CSSF and Wyo. 1960. 45pp.
1 6 1961 6th [Annual Colorado-Wyoming Science Fair]. 1961. 41pp.
1 7 1962 7th [Annual Colorado-Wyoming Science Fair]. 1962. 28pp.
1 8 [Annual Colorado-Wyoming Science Fair]. 1963. 6pp.
1 9 1964 9th [Annual Colorado-Wyoming Science Fair]. 1964. 14pp.
1 10 1965 10th [Annual Colorado-Wyoming Science Fair]. 1965. 32pp.
1 11 1966 11th [Annual Colorado-Wyoming Science Fair]. 1966. 32pp.
1 12 1967 12th Colo.-Wyo. Bi State Fair [Annual Colorado-Wyoming Science Fair]. 1967. 69pp.
1 13 1968 13th [Annual Colorado-Wyoming Science Fair]. 1968. 40pp.
1 14 1969 14th Colorado State Science Fair [Annual Colorado-Wyoming Science Fair]. 1969. e65pp.
1 15 1970 15th [Annual Colorado State Science Fair]. 1970. e60pp.
1 16 1971 16th [Annual Colorado] State Science Fair. 1971. 27pp.
1 17 1972 17th [Annual Colorado] State Science Fair. 1972. 39pp.
1 18 1973 18th [Annual Colorado] State [Science] Fair. 1973. 29pp.
1 19 1974 19th [Annual Colorado State] Science Fair. 1974. 56pp.
1 20 1975 20th [Annual] Colorado State [Science] Fair. 1975. e150pp.
1 21 1976 21st [Annual] Colorado State Science Fair. 1976. e170pp.
1 22 1977 22nd [Annual Colorado] State [Science] Fair. 1977. 95pp.
1 23 1978 [23rd Annual Colorado] State [Science] Fair. 1978. e140pp.
1 24 1979 24th [Annual Colorado] State Science Fair. 1979. e120pp.
1 25 1980 25th [Annual Colorado] State Science Fair. 1980. e150pp.
1 26 1981 26th CSSF [Annual Colorado State Science Fair]. 1981. 45pp.
1 27 1982 27th [Annual Colorado State Science Fair]. 1982. 84pp.
1 28 1983 28th [Annual Colorado State Science Fair]. 1983. e75pp.
1 29 1984 [29th Annual Colorado State Science Fair]. 1984. e125pp.
1 30 1985 30th CSSF [Annual Colorado State Science Fair]. 1985. 29pp.
1 31 1986 31st [Annual Colorado State Science Fair]. 1986. e110pp.
1 32 1987 [32nd Annual Colorado State Science Fair]. 1987. e55pp.
1 33 1988 [33rd Annual Colorado State] Science Fair, CSSF. 1988. 26pp.
1 34 1989 34th [Annual Colorado] State Science Fair. 1989. 48pp.
1 35 1990 [35th Annual Colorado State Science Fair]. 1990. e100pp.
1 35 1991 [36th CSSF Annual Colorado State Science Fair]. 1991. e200pp.
2 1 1992 [37th CSSF Annual Colorado State Science Fair]. 1992. e190pp.
2 2-3 1993 [38th CSSF Annual Colorado State Science Fair]. 1993. e195pp.
2 4-5 1994 [39th CSEF Annual Colorado Science and Engineering Fair]. 1993-1994. e180pp.
2 6 1995 [40th CSEF Annual Colorado Science and Engineering Fair]. 1995. e75pp.
2 7-8 [1996 41st CSEF Annual Colorado Science and Engineering Fair]. 1995-1996. e205pp.
2 9-10 [1997 42nd CSEF Annual Colorado Science and Engineering Fair]. 1996-1997. e220pp.
2 11-12 1998 [43rd CSEF Annual Colorado Science and Engineering Fair]. 1997-1998. e250pp.
2 13-14 1999 [44th CSEF Annual Colorado Science and Engineering Fair]. 1998-1999. e240pp.
2 15-17 2000 [45th CSEF Annual Colorado Science and Engineering Fair]. 1999-2000. e330pp.
2 18-20 [2001 46th CSEF Annual Colorado Science and Engineering Fair]. 2000-2001. e500pp.
3 1-3 [2002 47th CSEF Annual Colorado Science and Engineering Fair]. 2001-2002. e350pp.
3 4-5 [2003 48th CSEF Annual Colorado Science and Engineering Fair]. 2002-2003. e295pp.
3 6 [2004 49th CSEF Annual Colorado Science and Engineering Fair]. 2004. e110pp.
3 7 [2005 50th CSEF Annual Colorado Science and Engineering Fair]. 2005. 32pp.
Subseries B: Science fair, board, director, and committees.
3 8 Bylaws of Colorado State Science Fair. 1992-2001. 31pp.
3 9 Colorado Science and Engineering Fair Board of Directors. 1997-1999. e70pp.
3 10 [Colorado Science and Engineering Fair Board of Directors]. 1994-1997. e85pp.
3 11 Colorado State Science Fair Board of Director's handbook. 1998. e100pp.
3 12 [CSEF correspondence]. 1993. 10pp.
3 13 [CSEF correspondence]. 1994. 21pp.
3 14 [CSEF correspondence]. 1995. e60pp.
3 15 [CSEF correspondence]. 1996. e165pp.
3 16 [CSEF correspondence]. 1997. e165pp.
3 17 [CSEF correspondence]. 1998. e95pp.
3 18 [CSEF correspondence, e-mail]. 1998. e155pp.
3 19 [CSEF correspondence]. 1999. e110pp.
3 20-21 [CSEF correspondence, e-mail]. 1999. e210pp.
3 22 [CSEF correspondence]. 2000. e160pp.
3 23 [CSEF correspondence, e-mail]. 2000. e100pp.
3 24 [CSEF correspondence]. 2001. e75pp.
3 25 Director search. 1998. e45pp.
3 26 Job applicants [fair director]. 1999. 19pp.
3 27 Minutes of the Board of Directors. 1987-1991. e100pp.
3 28 Minutes of the Board of Directors. 1992-1994. e90pp.
3 29 Minutes [of the Board of Directors]. 1995-1996. e70pp.
3 30 [Minutes of the Board of Directors]. 1997-1999. e170pp.
3 31 [Policy handbook of the Colorado State Science Fair]. 1999-2001. 48pp.
Subseries C: Miscellaneous.
4 1 Previous fair publicity [non-Colorado fairs]. 1954-1961. e136pp.
4 2 Regional/local science fairs, clippings. n.d.. e30pp.
4 3 Science fair programs [primarily Pueblo Regional Fair]. 1957-1961. e35pp.

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Series II: Visual and audio materials

Box Folder
Subseries A: Photographic materials.
4 4 Series I: Subseries A: Records. 1957 2nd--photographs. 1957. 6 photographs
4 5 Series I: Subseries A: Records. 1966 11th [Annual Colorado-Wyoming Science Fair]--photographs. 1966. 5 photographs
4 6 Series I: Subseries A: Records. 1967 12th Colo.-Wyo. Bi State Fair [Annual Colorado Wyoming Science Fair]--photographs. 1967. 4 photographs
4 7 Series I: Subseries A: Records. 1973 18th [Annual Colorado] State [Science Fair]--photographs. 1973. 2 photographs
4 8 Series I: Subseries A: Records. 1975 20th [Annual] Colorado State [Science] Fair--photographs. 1975. 2 photographs
4 9 Series I: Subseries A: Records. 1976 21st [Annual] Colorado State Science Fair--photographs. 1976. 3 photographs
4 10 Series I: Subseries A: Records. 1977 22nd [Annual Colorado] State [Science] Fair--photographs. 1977. 1 photograph
4 11 Series I: Subseries A: Records. 1978 [23rd Annual Colorado] State [Science] Fair--photographs. 1978. 3 photographs
4 12 Series I: Subseries A: Records. 1979 24th [Annual Colorado] State Science Fair--photographs. 1979. 2 photographs
4 13 Series I: Subseries A: Records. 1980 25th [Annual Colorado] State Science Fair--photographs. 1980. 3 photographs
4 14 Series I: Subseries A: Records. 1981 26th CSSF [Annual Colorado State Science Fair]--photographs. 1981. 1 photograph
4 15 Series I: Subseries A: Records. 1990 35th [Annual Colorado State Science Fair]--photographs. 1990. 3 photographs, 6 strips negatives
4 16 Series I: Subseries A: Records. 1993 [38th CSEF Annual Colorado Science and Engineering Fair]--photographs. 1993. 1 photograph
4 17 Series I: Subseries A: Records. 1994 [39th CSEF Annual Colorado Science and Engineering Fair]--photographs. 1994. 29 color photographs, 9 strips negatives, 1 sheet contact prints, 12 black and white photographs
4 18 Series I: Subseries A: Records. 1995 [40th CSEF Annual Colorado Science and Engineering Fair]--photographs. 1995. 1 sheet contact prints, 6 strips negatives
4 19 Series I: Subseries A: Records. [1996 41sth CSEF Annual Colorado Science and Engineering Fair]--photographs. 1996. 38 color photographs, 1 sheet contact prints, 10 strips negatives
4 20 Series I: Subseries A: Records. [1997 42nd CSEF Annual Colorado Science and Engineering Fair]--photographs. 1997. 1 sheet contact prints, 3 strips negatives, 62 color photographs
4 21 Series I: Subseries A: Records. 1998 [43rd CSEF Annual Colorado Science and Engineering Fair]--photographs. 1998. 39 color photographs, 6 black and white photographs, 4 strips negatives
4 22 Series I: Subseries A: Records. 1999 [44th CSEF Annual Colorado Science and Engineering Fair]--photographs. 1999. 30 color photographs
4 23 Series I: Subseries A: Records. 2000 [45th CSEF Annual Colorado Science and Engineering Fair]--photographs. 2000. 30 color photographs
4 24 Series I: Subseries A: Records. [2001 46th CSEF Annual Colorado Science and Engineering Fair]--photographs. 2001. 64 color photographs
4 25 Series I: Subseries A: Records. [2002 47th CSEF Annual Colorado Science and Engineering Fair]--photographs. 2002. 51 color photographs
4 26 1959 4th [Annual Colorado-Wyoming Science Fair] photographs. 1959. 1 photograph
4 27 [Science fair photographs]. 1960s. 16 photographs, 9 strips negatives
4 28 1965 10th [Annual Colorado-Wyoming Science Fair photographs]. 1965. 1 photograph
4 29 1974 19th [Annual Colorado State] Science Fair photographs. 1974. 2 photographs
4 30 1984 [29th Annual Colorado State Science Fair] photographs. 1984. 3 photographs, 3 sheets contact prints, 10 strips negatives
4 31 1986 31st [Annual Colorado State Science Fair] photographs. 1986. 10 photographs
4 32 [2003 48th Annual Colorado Science and Engineering Fair photographs]. 2003. 8 strips negatives
4 33 [Bernath photographs]. 2003. 2 photographs, 1 sheet contact prints, 1 strip negatives
4 34 CSSF photographs. n.d.. 12 photographs
4 35 1957 National Science Fair. 1957. 12 slides
4 36 1957 senior division. 1957. 25 slides
4 37 1957 and 1958 Science Fair junior division. 1957-1958. 9 slides
4 38 1961 National Science Fair. 1961. 36 slides
4 39 National Science Fair exhibits. n.d.. 29 slides
4 40 Science Fair '57 and '58, Pueblo. 1957-1958. 24 slides
4 41 [Science fair]. 1964-1976. 17 slides
4 42 [Science fair]. 1965-1985. 17 slides
4 43 [Science fair]. 1976-1977, n.d.. 6 slides
4 44 [Science fair]. 1992. 12 slides
Subseries B: Other materials.
4 45 Bi-County Science Fair. 1971. Sound recording, 2 reels
4 46 Bi-County Science Fair. 1973. Sound recording, 1 reel
4 47 Your window to the world, Intel ISEF promotional video. 1998. 1 videocassette
4 48 Intel ISEF overview: Intel ISEF excellence in teaching award. 2002. 1 videocassette

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Series III: Artifacts

Box Folder
4 49 Series I: Subseries A: 1956 1st--artifact. n.d.. 1 ribbon
4 50 40th Colorado Science and Engineering Fair, Elemer Bernath. 1995. 1 plaque
4 51 Morgan-Washington Bi-County Science Fair. 50th anniversary. 2005. 1 t-shirt

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