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Ray P. Authement Collection

Collection 302

Authement, Ray P. (1928–2020). Collection, 1956–2008

6 ½ feet; 34 volumes

Ray Paul Authement grew up in Boudreaux Canal, a small fishing community in South Louisiana. His parents, Elias Lawrence Authement and the former Elphia Marie Duplantis, never advanced beyond a seventh grade education, but valued education and encouraged their son to excel.

Ray Authement entered Southwestern Louisiana Institute (today the University of Louisiana at Lafayette) in 1947 with a small scholarship. He majored in physics and began teaching as a lab instructor when he was a senior. After earning his master’s and doctoral degrees in mathematics from Louisiana State University, he taught at LSU and McNeese State University before returning to SLI as an associate professor of mathematics in 1957. Two years later, he was named a professor. He continued to teach until 1966, when he was promoted to academic vice president. By then, SLI had become the University of Southwestern Louisiana. In 1970, he was promoted to vice president, the position he held until President Clyde L. Rougeau took a year’s leave of absence before retiring in 1974.

Authement became president of USL in 1973. He served for 34 years, earning the distinction of being the longest-serving president of a public university in the United States. During his tenure, the University implemented academic admission standards, became a Doctoral II institution, competed in NCAA Division I athletics, increased its endowment from $500,000 to $150 million, and constructed more than 30 buildings. Throughout his career, Authement had an affinity for students who were the first in their families to attend a university. Authement retired as president in 2008.

This collection contains newspaper clippings from his working files, personal correspondence, programs, video tapes, books and artifacts from his various endeavors throughout the community.

Series:

A. Clipping Files (working files) Binders
B. Correspondence 1-01 through 1-02
C. Publicity 1-03
D. Programs 1-04
E. General Records 1-05 through 1-06
F. Media 1-07
G. Books Box 2
H. Artifacts Box 3 through Box 6
1. Framed Materials
2. Plaques
3. Miscellaneous Artifacts

Inventory:

A. Clipping Files (working files)
Binders:
1. August 1956 - December 1975
2. January 1975 - December 1976
3. July 1977 - June 1979
4. July 1979 - June 1981
5. July 1981 - June 1982
6. July 1982 - June 1983
7. July 1983 - June 1984
8. July 1984 - June 1985
9. July 1985 - June 1986
10. July 1986 - June 1987 (volumes 1 & 2)
11. July 1987 - June 1988 (volumes 1& 2)
12. July 1988 - June 1989 (volumes 1 & 2)
13. July 1989 - June 1990 (volumes 1 & 2)
14. July 1990 - June 1991 (volumes 1 & 2)
15. July 1991 - June 1992 (volume 1)
16. July 1992 - June 1993 (volumes 1 & 2)
17. July 1993 - June 1994 (volumes 1 & 2)
18. July 1994 - June 1995 (volumes 1 & 2)
19. July 1995 - June 1996 (volumes 1 & 2)
20. July 1996 - June 1997 (volumes 1 & 2)
21. July 1997 - June 1998 (volumes 1 & 2)
22. May - December 1998
23. July 1998 - June 1998 (volume 1)
24. July 1999 - June 2000 (volumes 1 & 2)
25. July 2000 - June 2001 (volumes 1 & 2)
26. July 2001 - June 2000 (volume 1)
27. July 2002 - June 2003 (volume 1)
28. July 2003 - June 2004 (volume 1)
29. 1981-1982 (volume 1)
30. 1980-1986 (volume 2)
31. 1987-1988 (volume 3)
Folders
32. Box 1: January - December 2004
33. Box 2: January - December 2005
34. Box 3: January - December 2006
35. Box 4: January - December 2007

Box 1
B. Correspondence
1-01 Personal Correspondence, Sept. 13, 1990 - Jan. 7, 1991
1-02 Personal Correspondence, Jan. 2 - July 16, 1990
C. Publicity
1-03 Times of Acadiana, Dec. 26, 2007: La Louisiane, Fall 2007, Authement on the cover of both
D. Programs
1-04 62nd Annual Convention Official Notice, National Collegiate Athletic Association, Jan. 8-10, 1968 Grand Finale, Louisiana Man & Woman of the Year, 2007 & 2008: Spring Gala honoring the indelible contributions of Dr. and Mrs. Ray Authement, March 15, 2008 along with contribution card: Evangeline Area Council Boy Scouts of America, Distinguished Citizen Luncheon, May 7, 2008
E. General Records
1-05 Thank you card for participation in the “United We Stand, 9/11 Remembered” with photographs, 9/11/2002; Folder with Dr. Authement name and title embossed on front
1-06 Misc. items: Man & Woman of the year, 2002
F. Media
2 CD’s Man & Woman of the Year, 2002; VHS Tape, Good Design Good Business, The American Institute of Architects/ The University of Louisiana at Lafayette, 2000

Box 2
G. Books
1. Signed copy of “The Sweep of American History” By: Robert R. Jones.
2. Signed copy of “Comprehension and Composition: An Introduction to the Essay” By: Ann B. Dobie
3. Signed by Author: “The Challenge to Higher Education: Expanding Our View of the University”, By: Sorensen, Andrew A., 2004
4. Signed by Author: “Disengagement and Disenchantment”: By: Nguyen van Vinh,1970
5. Signed by Author: “The Liberation of the Bonner Child”: By: Norman German, 1992
6. Signed by Author: “The Deeds of Louis the Fat”: By: Richard Cusimano and John Moorhead, 1992
7. Signed by Author: “Reconstructing the Vanished: The Baroness Pontalba and the Shaping of Urban New Orleans”: By: Barbara Allen and Lynda Frese, 1996
8. Signed by Author: “Crime of the Century: The Kennedy Assassination from a Historian’s Perspective”: By: Michael L. Kurtz, 1982
9. Signed by Victor V. Blackwell: Life-How Did it Get Here?: By Evolution or By Creation?: 1985
10. Signed by Author: “Greeks & Romans Bearing Gifts: How the Ancients Inspired the Founding Fathers”: By: Carl Richard, 2008
11. Signed by Author: “New Priorities in Training: A Guide for Industry”: By: Bernard J. Bienvenu, 1969
12. Signed by Author: “Technology and Creativity”: By: Subrata Dasgupta
13. Signed by Author: “Mosses of the Gulf South: From the Rio Grande to the Apalachicola”: By: William Dean Reese, 1984
14. Signed by Author: “Fundamentals of Computer Science” By Terry M. Walker,1975
15. Signed by Author: “Error-Control Coding for Computer Systems” By T.R.N. Rao and E. Fujiwara, 1989
16. Signed by Author: “Management Healthcare Organizations” By Kerry D. Carson, Paula Phillips Carson and C. William Roe,1995
17. Signed by Author: “Audubon” By James H. Dormon, 1990
18. Signed by Author: “Reminiscences of a Long and Happy Life” By E.B. Robert,1985
19. Thesis: Vesta R. Bourgeois: Her Life, Career and Professional Contributions; By: June H. Burkheiser, May, 1976; Signed by Vesta R. Bourgeois to Dr. Authement
H. Artifacts
1. Framed Material
1. Authement as King of Louisiana Dairy Festival with the Queen, 1975
2. Acadiana District Livestock Show 25th Anniversary Celebration, 01/31/2003
3. Dr. Authement with three men dressed in doctorial robes holding a framed degree, note attached from the Graduate School. 07/03/2002
4. Dr. Authement with name plaque, n.d.
5. En Avant 13th Anniversary invitation, n.d.
Box 3
6. Louis Stokes Louisiana Alliance for Minority Participation Resolution Presented to Dr. Authement, 03/27/2000
7. 2002 Acadiana Man & Woman of the Year Chairman
8. Cajun Club of Houston, 1978
9. Heyman Foundation Participation Award, 1992
10. Presented to Dr. Authement of the STS-100, Endeavour, 4/19/2001-5-01-2001

Framed Poster: copy 3 of 100; Cajun Music Festival; signed by Benny Graeff; Design and drawings by Benny Graeff photos by Phillip Gould, Rick Olivier and The Times of Acadiana; Sat. & Sun. Sept. 15 & 16, 1984 (Located in Cajun and Creole Music Collection)

Framed Poster: copy 1 of 88; Festival De Musique Acadienne; signed by photographer Elemore Morgan, Jr.; Printed by Benny Graeff, Mezzo tint by Lynn Craddick; Sept. 20 & 21, 1980 (Located in Cajun and Creole Music Collection)
2. Plaques
1. United Way of Acadiana, 2000
2. United Way of Acadiana, 2003
3. United Way of Acadiana, 2004
4. United Way of Acadiana, 2005
5. United Way of Acadiana: In Appreciation, 2001 & 2002
6. King of Louisiana Dairy Festival and Fair, 1977
7. Vocational Agriculture, FFA Honorary Chapter Farmer, n.d.
8. Member of the Commissioning Committee for the U.S.S. Louisiana, n.d.
9. Vocational Service Award Rotary Club of Lafayette South, 2003
10. Lafayette Civic Cup, 1991

Box 4
11. In appreciation, from Lafayette Economic Development Authority, 1988-91
12. In appreciation, from Jeanerette Senior High School, 1986
13. Acadiana Law Enforcement Training Academy Staff and Graduates, 1976
14. Powerful Voices of Children Gospel Concert Baritone Sponsor, 2006
15. Louisiana Cattlemen’s Association, 1977
16. Plaque/scrapbook; Barbara Authement President of En Avant 1981-82
17. International Relations Association of Acadiana, Outstanding citizen, 1991
18. LAHPERD, 1989
19. Greater Lafayette Chamber of Commerce, 1977-79
20. Greater Lafayette Chamber of Commerce, 1985

Box 5
21. Greater Lafayette Chamber of Commerce, 1971-73
22. Greater Lafayette Chamber of Commerce, 2007
23. Peking University, Beijing China, n.d.
24. Tập Doân Dâu Khí Việt Nam, Vietnam Oil and Gas Group, n.d.

3. Miscellaneous Artifacts
1. Acadian Flag
2. Glass paperweight, Greater Lafayette Chamber of Commerce
3. LEDA coaster
4. Trinity University congratulation certificate on Authement’s appointment as 5th President of USL, 10/1/1973
5. Framed Photograph of a missile or space shuttle, n.d.
6. Desk flag
7. Trophy: Cotton Festival 1975
8. Flag: U.S.A. Flag and metal object with note stating the flag was flown during a space shuttle mission, 2002
9. Southwest Louisiana Mardi Gras Association encased shovel ornament
10. 1974 Eisenhower Uncirculated Silver Dollar: includes envelope, information card and plastic chip
11. Glass etched bookend
12. Brick with photograph of USL Stadium, note states “from Dr. Authement”, brick blk box flower stand, n.d.
13. Wooden plaque: Quote - “There is no saturation point in education”
14. Mid-Winter Rodeo belt buckle
15. Wooden mask decoration

Box 6
16. Glass decoration: New Orleans Museum of Art Diamond Jubliee 1911-1986
17. Glass Plaque: Louisiana Restaurant Association, 2002
18. United Way of Acadiana, Campaign Chair, 1990
19. Broken trophy, King Cotton XXII
20. Statue: Representation of Concord Hymn by Ralph Waldo Emerson/ American
21. Plate from Petronas a Malaysian Petrochemical company, n.d.

Oversize
1. News clippings, 1972-1974 (loose single sheets)
2. Distinguished Citizen, Goodwill, 1992
3. Framed signed Poster: The Big Bang! State of LA Danse, 04/12/1997
4. Dr. Authement on Cover of Louisiana Business, Spring 1995
5. Calendar with caption “All the President’s” photograph of Authement and others, 1997
6. Shadow Box: Man and Woman of the Year, Micah Brown and Eleanor Serrett, 2003
7. Decorative vase with ceramic fruit, 5 pieces
8. Glass trophy: Lifetime Achievement Award in Technology Leadership, 2007