Title: Paul Boswell Papers, 2004-2006

ID: OGLMC1603

Extent: 0.25 Linear Feet

Date Acquired: 06/05/2012

Subjects: Native Americans, University of North Dakota - Academic Departments, University of North Dakota - Faculty

Languages: English

The Paul Boswell Papers were acquired as a three ring binder of documents relating to the events surrounding his involvement in the conflicts in the School of Communications (SCOMM) and the controversy over his death. The documents in the binder were gathered and assembled by members of SCOMM (presumably those listed in Folder 10 under contact information) to provide Boswell’s parents with a better explanation of the events surrounding his death. The collection was conceived of and presented as a complete book and this arrangement was retained in processing of the collection.

Folder one contains the title page, while folder two explains the purpose via a letter written to Boswell’s parents.

Folder three contains the first chapter which sets out the job description and terms under which Boswell was hired as the Director of the Native Media Center.

Folder four, “Paul’s Voice,” builds on the previous chapter as it is a collection of his monthly activity logs and correspondence. The majority of the letters relate to conflict with his supervisor.  These documents are organized chronologically and date from spring 2005 to February 17, 2006. Often log pages precede the correspondence for each month.

Folder five, “Support,” contains letters written in support of Boswell.

The sixth folder, “SCOMM Background," explores the conflict greater detail. This chapter contains documents relating to the university’s investigation of SCOMM.

Folder seven, entitled “Paul’s Grievance,” contains documents that relate to his grievance against his supervisor.

The eighth folder, “Administrative leave,” contains: “Documents submitted by his accusers to the Harassment Investigation Team. After two months investigation, it was concluded that Paul was innocent” of any threatening conduct during Communicator’s Day.

Folder nine, “Investigation,” concludes the information portion of the book as it contains contact information for the members of SCOMM and a note encouraging his parents to contact them with any questions.

“Investigation,” the final folder in the collection, contains documents relating to Boswell’s death, including the autopsy report, officers report and witness statements.

Remembering Paul Boswell

Paul Boswell, director of the Native Media Center, died Feb. 19 at Altru Hospital of injuries sustained in an automobile accident. He was 46. He was born May 2, 1959, in Mahnomen, Minn., to Paul A. (Bud) and Maxine (McDougall) Boswell. A member of the Mississippi Band of the White Earth Tribe of the Ojibwa Nation, he attended Naytahwaush Elementary School on the White Earth Indian Reservation and graduated from Waubun High School in 1977 with honors. He attended Bemidji State University and was president of Theta Tau Epsilon, editor of the Northern Student and graduated with a bachelor’s degree in mass communication in 1981. He became staff writer and later editor of the Grant County Herald in Elbow Lake, Minn., from 1981 to 1987. He was staff writer, photographer and managing editor of the International Falls Daily Journal from 1987 to 1990, when he moved to Fargo, and became a media liaison for Trice newspaper, a joint publication of Moorhead State, Concordia and North Dakota State Universities. In 1997, Paul became the director of multicultural student services at NDSU. He moved to Grand Forks in 2004 to direct the Native Media Center in the UND School of Communication. Paul enjoyed the outdoors, including hunting, trapping, leeching in the spring and harvesting wild rice in the fall. He enjoyed music, movies, theatre, and reading. He often wrote short fiction stories, scripts for plays, and sketched people in character. He was the family biographer, keeping track of family member lives and their flow through time. Paul was a generous man with a giving spirit. He had a real passion for education and worked closely with students to help them be more successful in life. He was a humble and caring individual who put others before himself, he truly cherished the times spent with friends and family. “Paul Boswell’s death is a huge loss for the University of North Dakota,” said UND President Charles Kupchella. “He was passionate about his work and the ability to help shape the lives of his students at UND and beyond the university.” Paul is survived by a son, Ryan; and daughters, Ashley and Kari, all of Fargo; his parents, Bud and Maxine Boswell, Waubun, Minn.; a brother, Mark, and nephew, Eli, of St. Paul; close friend, Peg Furshong, St. Cloud; many aunts and uncles and extended family from the White Earth Indian Reservation; and colleagues from NDSU and UND campus communities. A wake is set for 7 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 23, and a celebration of life will take place at 11 a.m. Friday, both in St. Anne’s Church in Naytahwaush. Friends are encouraged to wear colorful clothing as a remembrance of how Boswell touched people’s lives. An on-campus service will be held at 10 a.m. Monday, Feb. 27, at Christus Rex Lutheran Center, 3012 University Ave. – Jan Orvik, editor, with information from the Grand Forks Herald

Source: University Letter: UND's Faculty/Staff Newsletter. Volume 43, Number 25: February 24, 2006

http://www.und.edu/dept/our/uletter/02242006.html#1 retrieved, Wednesday, August 29, 2012

Native Americans
University of North Dakota - Academic Departments
University of North Dakota - Faculty

Repository: Elwyn B. Robinson Department of Special Collections

Access Restrictions: Open for inspection under the Rules and Regulations of the Elwyn B. Robinson Department of Special Collections.

Acquisition Source: Malika Carter, UND Multicultural Student Services

Acquisition Method: Donation; 2012-3169

Preferred Citation: (Description of Item). Paul Boswell Papers. OGLMC 1603, Box #, Folder #. Elwyn B. Robinson Department of Special Collections. Chester Fritz Library. University of North Dakota Grand Forks.

Processing Information: Processed by Sonja Hathaway, Special Collections intern, in August 2012.