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William P. Ehling Papers

An inventory of his papers at the Syracuse University Archives


Finding aid created by: Emily Banach
Date: 2021



Biography

Photograph of William P. Ehling

William P. Ehling (1920-2014) was a professor and founder of the public relations department in the School of Journalism (now called the S.I. Newhouse School of Public Communications) at Syracuse University. Ehling was born in Bechtelsville, Pennsylvania. He first attended Syracuse University from 1939 to 1943 and received his bachelor's degree in journalism and political science. Upon graduation, Ehling joined the 28th Infantry of the United States Army and served in Europe and the Pacific as a writer-photographer during World War II. After the war was over, Ehling returned to New York and worked for the Middletown Times-Herald for a few years before returning to Syracuse University to receive his master's degree in journalism in 1952 and his PhD in political science in 1954. Ehling was then appointed director of the Syracuse University News Bureau and assistant professor of public relations in the School of Journalism. In 1963, Ehling became a full-time associate professor and was named chairman of the newly established public relations department in that school. He gained tenure and was named a full professor in 1971. He primarily taught courses in public relations theory, communication theory, operations research, and organization management. Ehling retired in 1990 as a professor emeritus.

Ehling was active in the Public Relations Society of America, which named him their Outstanding Educator of the Year in 1988, Syracuse Press Club, Society for the Advancement of Education, Association for Education in Journalism, American College Public Relations Association (ACPRA), and many other professional societies. In 1968, Ehling established the Syracuse University chapter of the Public Relations Student Society of America, which is now named after him.


Scope and Content Note

The William P. Ehling Papers contains various writings by Ehling and materials he used when teaching courses at Syracuse University. There are research reports, journal articles, reading lists, assignments, and a study guide he composed for the ACPRA Institute on Public Relations.


Restrictions

Access Restrictions:

Please note that the collection is housed off-site, and advance notice is required to allow time to have the materials brought to the Reading Room on campus.

Use Restrictions:

Written permission must be obtained from the Syracuse University Archives and all relevant rights holders before publishing quotations, excerpts or images from any materials in this collection.


Related Material

The University Archives holds portrait and clippings files on William P. Ehling.


Selected Search Terms

Names

Ehling, William P. (William Philip), 1920-
Syracuse University -- History.
Syracuse University.

Subjects

Communication models.
Public relations.
College teachers.
Higher education.

Types of Material

Articles.
Reading lists.
Reports.

Administrative Information

Preferred Citation

Preferred citation for this material is as follows:

William P. Ehling Papers,
University Archives,
Special Collections Research Center
Syracuse University Libraries

Acquisition Information

Gift of Mordecai Lee in 2017.

Processing Information

Materials were placed in acid-free folders and an acid-free box.


Arrangement

The collection is arranged alphabetically.


Table of Contents

Papers


Inventory