Ernest B. O'Byrne Papers

Collection

Identifier: MS-0383

Staff Only

Scope and Contents

The collection consists of meeting minutes, correspondence, library information, Education Opportunity Program information, and research.

Dates

Creation: 1952-1975

Creator

O'Byrne, Ernest B. (Ernest Barbour O'Byrne) (Person)

Conditions Governing Access

This collection is open for research.

Conditions Governing Use

The copyright interests in some or all of these materials have not been transferred to San Diego State University. Copyright resides with the creator(s) of materials contained in the collection or their heirs. The nature of archival collections is such that multiple creators are often applicable and copyright status may be difficult or even impossible to determine. In any case, the user must assume full responsibility for any use of the materials, including but not limited to, obtaining publication rights and copyright infringement. When requesting images from Special Collections & University Archives for publication, we require a signed agreement waiving San Diego State University of any liability in the event of a copyright violation.

Biographical Note

Ernest Barbour O'Byrne, a native of Santa Fe, NM, was born May 18, 1920. He was educated in Colorado public schools, graduating from Greeley High in 1938. He received his AB in English from Colorado State College of Education in December 1941, and taught in the Crook and Boulder Public Schools until 1944, when he entered the U.S. Army Infantry as a Combat Medic, serving in Italy, where he sustained wounds that eventually cost him his leg.

He was discharged in 1947, whereupon he pursued a master's degree in Secondary Education at Colorado State. After receiving this degree in 1948 he entered Stanford University, emerging three years later with a Ph.D. in Higher Education. During this period he was elected to membership in Blue Key, Kappa Delta Phi (Education), Pi Kappa Delta (Education), and Phi Delta Kappa (Speech.)

In 1954 he joined the San Diego State administration as Dean of Educational Services and Summer Sessions, replacing Dr. Charles Lambden, who had been appointed Chairman of Business Administration. Dr. O’Byrne remained as dean of Educational Services until 1957, when he became vice-president of administration, a position he held until 1975. He helped establish KPBS, and supervised the operation of the Education Opportunity Program.