November 13, 1961
Shamrock-Hilton Hotel
Houston, Texas

The tradition of this lecture was originated to explore the historic antecedents of what is now called public relations. From these antecedents, it was hoped that principles or parallels might be drawn to instruct and inspire present-day practitioners. Dr. Frank E. Vandiver delivered this initial lecture as an address at the national conference of the Public Relations Society of America.

Dr. Vandiver has been professor of history at Rice University, Houston, since 1958, and is widely recognized for studies of the Civil War. His books on this period include: "Plowshares into Swords: Josiah Gorgas and the Confederate Ordinance" (1952); "Rebel Brass: the Confederate Command System" (1956); "Mighty Stonewall" (1957); "Fields of Glory" (with W. H. Nelson, 1958); and "Jubal's Raid" (1960).

Born in Austin, Texas, in 1925, Dr. Vandiver graduated from the University of Texas and received his Ph.D. from Tulane University. He has been the recipient of research grants or fellowships from the Rockefeller Foundation, the American Philosophical Society, the Guggenheim Foundation and the Huntington Library. Currently, Dr. Vandiver is President of the Texas Institute of Letters, which honored him with its Carr P. Collins Award in 1957.