A variety of offices and individuals have assumed responsibility for public relations, alumni affairs, and institutional advancement at Eastern Kentucky University through the years. Initially, all campus publicity including composition of college publications was handled through the president's office, with assistance from a faculty advisory committee.

With the creation of the Extension Division in 1918 under the direction of James R. Robinson, some publicity, placement of students into teaching positions, and alumni activities were assumed by the extension office. In 1936 President Herman L. Donovan appointed recent graduate Sam Beckley to the position of Assistant Director of Extension and Public Relations. Beckley performed a variety of tasks including alumni secretary, promoting athletic and academic events through press releases, editing college publications, and recruiting students. Beckley entered the military in 1942. Miss Mary Frances McKinney assumed the post of alumni secretary, with all other public relations functions handled through the president's office. In 1946 President W.F. O'Donnell wanted Beckley to return to Eastern to "revitalize the school's publicity." Beckley, however, took a position with the United States Veterans Affairs Department.

Finally, in late 1947 D.J. Carty was hired as Director of Public Relations and in addition served as defacto Director of Extension. By 1950 the Extension Division and Placement Bureau reported to the Office of Public Relations. Paul Duncan assisted with sports publicity from 1950 to 1952. Student Donald R. Feltner directed sports publicity from 1952 to 1956. In 1956 Feltner accepted the position of Director of Publicity and Publications. From that time, except for a two-year hiatus 1957-1959, to the present Mr. Feltner has directed Eastern's public relations and institutional advancement activities in increasingly more responsible administrative positions--Director (1959-1965), Dean (1965-1970), and Vice President (1970-1983) of Public Affairs.

In 1983 the office was reorganized into the Vice President for University Relations and Development. Currently, the offices of Alumni Affairs, Development, and Public Information report to the vice president. Responsibilities of the vice president's office include coordination of alumni and development programs, media relations, planned institutional marketing, the university's official publications program, and planned institutional public relations and promotional activities. The records in the inventory document selected special events, including the inauguration of President Hanly Funderburk in 1985, coordinated by the vice president's office from 1971 to 1987. The Subject Series reflects a small portion of the office's central subject files.