Rodney Theodore Fox was born to Buel K. and Eva (Farrington) Fox on December 24, 1907, in Arlington, Iowa. He received his B.S. (1930) in economic history from Iowa State College (University) and his M.S. (1941) in journalism from Northwestern University. He also took summer graduate courses from University of California, Berkeley for five years.

Following his graduation from Iowa State, Fox spent several years working as a reporter and editor for local newspapers in Mason City, Des Moines, and Iowa Falls. During World War II, Fox joined the U.S. Army as a member of a field artillery unit earning the rank of Sergeant. He served nearly four years, including European campaigns in Normandy, Northern France, the Ardennes, the Rhineland, and Central Germany.

Fox joined the staff at Iowa State in 1936 initially working for the Iowa State Information Service. He was soon hired as an Instructor (1937-1945) in the Department of Technical Journalism (now the Greenlee School of Journalism and Communication). Fox was promoted to Assistant Professor (1945-1947), Associate Professor (1947-1949), and Professor (1949-1978). Fox was named Professor Emeritus (1978-1991) upon his retirement.

Fox excelled at teaching and his classes were often the favorites of journalism students. He received the Outstanding Teacher Award (1971) and the Faculty Citation (1972). He was also an author of several books on journalism and photography, including Agricultural and Technical Journalism (Archives call no. PN4784.A3 F6) and 1,000 Ideas for Better News Pictures (call no. PN4784.P5 Si13o), a book he co-wrote with Iowa State alum Hugh Sidey.

Rodney T. Fox died on December 29, 1991, in Ames, Iowa. He never married.

This collection (1945-1992, n.d.) contains biographical information and lecture notes for a class taught by Fox on the history of American journalism. The biographical information contains newspaper clippings, Iowa State faculty information, and his obituary. The lecture notes offer insight into his light-hearted, but knowledgeable approach to teaching that made him popular with his students and respected by his peers.