Presidents of Oregon State University Photographic Collection, circa 1865-1999

Overview of the Collection

Title
Presidents of Oregon State University Photographic Collection
Dates
circa 1865-1999 (inclusive)
1910-1970 (bulk)
Quantity
0.5 cubic foot, including 300 prints, 7 film negatives, 6 slides, and 1 oil painting , (4 boxes, include 3 oversize boxes)
Collection Number
Consult repository.
Summary
The Presidents of Oregon State University Photographic Collection consists of images of Oregon State University presidents from W. A. Finley through Paul Risser from a variety of sources and in various formats, primarily b/w prints. The collection includes multiple images for William Jasper Kerr, George W. Peavy, August L. Strand, and James H. Jensen.
Repository
Oregon State University Libraries, Special Collections and Archives Research Center
Special Collections and Archives Research Center
121 The Valley Library
Oregon State University
Corvallis OR
97331-4501
Telephone: 5417372075
Fax: 5417378674
scarc@oregonstate.edu
Access Restrictions

Collection is open for research.

Languages
English
Sponsor
Funding for encoding this finding aid was provided through a grant awarded by the National Endowment for the Humanities.

Historical NoteReturn to Top

Since its designation as a land-grant institution of higher learning in 1868, Oregon State University has had 19 presidents, including 5 acting (or interim) presidents. They have been William A. Finley, 1865-1872 (Finley was appointed president of the university's predecessor institution, Corvallis Academy, in 1865); Joseph Emery, acting, 1872; Benjamin L. Arnold, 1872-1892; John D. Letcher, acting, 1892; John M. Bloss, 1892-1896; H. B. Miller, 1896-1897; Thomas M. Gatch, 1897-1907; William Jasper Kerr, 1907- 1932; George W. Peavy, acting, 1932-1934, president, 1934-1940; Frank L. Ballard, 1940-1941; Francois A. Gilfillan, acting, 1941- 1942; August L. Strand, 1942-1961; James H. Jensen, 1961-1969; Roy A. Young, acting, 1969-1970; Robert W. MacVicar, 1970-1984; John V. Byrne, 1984-1995; Paul G. Risser, 1996-2002; Timothy P. White, interim, 2002-2003; and Edward J. Ray, 2003-.

The president is the chief executive officer of the university. From 1868 to 1929 the president reported to the college's Board of Trustees/Regents. Since the creation of the Oregon University System (formerly the Oregon State System of Higher Education) in 1929, the president has reported to the System's chancellor.

Content DescriptionReturn to Top

The Presidents of Oregon State University Photographic Collection consists of images of most of OSU's presidents and acting presidents. The majority of the images are black and white prints. Several images have multiple prints. A few of the 19th century portraits are albumen prints, and others are copies. The collection also includes 5 camera negatives, 6 color slides, and an oil painting; these are indicated in the detailed description of the collection.

Use of the CollectionReturn to Top

Preferred Citation

Presidents of Oregon State University Photographic Collection (P 1), Oregon State University Archives, Corvallis, Oregon.

Administrative InformationReturn to Top

Arrangement

The photographs are arranged in 17 series, primarily by president: I. William A. Finley; II. Benjamin Lee Arnold; III. John M. Bloss; IV. H.B. Miller; V. Thomas M. Gatch; VI. William Jasper Kerr; VII. George W. Peavy; VIII. Frank Llewellyn Ballard; IX. A.L. Strand; X. James H. Jensen; XI. John D. Letcher; XII. Francois A. Gilfillan; XIII. Multiple Presidents; XIV. Robert W. MacVicar; XV. John V. Byrne; XVI. Paul Gillan Risser; and XVII. Roy A. Young.

All images have been assigned individual numbers (P001:001-P001:114).

Future Additions

Additions to the collection are expected.

Related Materials

Other photographic collections containing substantial numbers of presidential photos include Harriet's Collection and the Alumni Association (P 17), Historical (P 25), Faculty and Staff (P 46), News and Communication Services (P 57), Gwil Evans (P 82), President's Office (P 92), Robert W. Henderson (P 98), and Agricultural Communications (P 120) Photographic Collections.

Albumen prints of early 1890s protraits of John M. Bloss and John D. Letcher are available in the Emile Pernot Photographs (P 230).

Detailed Description of the CollectionReturn to Top

Series I:  William A. Finley, circa 1865-1870Return to Top

W.A. Finley served as the first President of Corvallis College from 1865 until 1872. He was appointed in 1865 as President of the University's predecessor institution, Corvallis College, by the Methodist Episcopal Church South and was president at the time the College was chosen as the agricultural college for Oregon under the provisions of the 1862 Morrill Act.

Container(s) Description Dates
Box
1 circa 1865
P001:002: Portrait
circa 1870
Box
1
8 prints
2
apx 12x17 in.
1 oversize print

Series II:  Benjamin Lee Arnold, circa 1875Return to Top

Benjamin Lee Arnold was named president by the bishops of the Methodist Episcopal Church South in the summer of 1872 and arrived in Corvallis in September. Arnold continued as president until his death on January 30, 1892, at the age of 52.

Container(s) Description Dates
Box
1
P001:003: Portrait made in Winona, Mississippi
Photograph by L. Goldson.
1 carte de visite and 1 print

Series III:  John M. Bloss, circa 1895Return to Top

John McKnight Bloss served as the third President of Oregon Agricultural College from 1892 until 1896. He was the first OAC president hired directly by the Board of Regents.

Container(s) Description Dates
P001:004: Portrait
Box
1
2 prints
2
apx 12x17 in.
1 oversize print

Series IV:  H.B. Miller, circa 1890-1920Return to Top

A successful Oregon businessman and politician, Miller served as president of Oregon Agricultural College for only eleven months in 1896-1897.

Container(s) Description Dates
Box
1
P001:005: Portrait
3 prints
circa 1920
1
P001:006: Seated portrait
5 prints
circa 1915
1
P001:007: Portrait
Made by Eugene photographer Sue Dorris.
circa 1890s
1
P001:112: Portrait
circa 1915

Series V:  Thomas M. Gatch, circa 1907Return to Top

Gatch was appointed as president of Oregon Agricultural College because of his vast experience in higher education, having previously presided over Willamette University (1860-1865 and 1870-1880) and the University of Washington (1887-1895). He retired from the OAC presidency in July 1907 (at the age of 74), but remained at the College as Professor of Political and Mental Science until the end of 1907.

Container(s) Description Dates
P001:008: Portrait
Box
1
3 prints
2
apx 12x17 in.
1 oversize print

Series VI:  William Jasper Kerr, circa 1905-1940Return to Top

William Jasper Kerr was chosen as President of Oregon Agricultural College in 1907 and lead the College through a 25-year period of tremendous growth in numbers of students and faculty, academic and research programs, and physical facilities. Kerr's influence on Oregon higher education continued as he served as the first Chancellor of the Oregon State System of Higher Education from 1932 until his retirement in 1935.

Container(s) Description Dates
Box
1
P001:009: Portrait
By Kay-Hart, New York.
15 prints
1940
P001:010-P001:011: Standing on campus
circa late 1920s
Box
1
Perhaps by John Burtner.
1
P001:011: On Memorial Union steps
By John Burtner.
Box
1
P001:012-P001:021: Seated at desk
circa 1930
Box
1
1
6 prints
1
9 prints
1
3 prints
1
By Ball Studio.
10 prints
1
3 prints
P001:022-P001:024: In cap and gown
1931
Box
1
3 prints
1
2 prints
1
4 prints
Box
1
P001:025: Pen drawing
By A.J. Stover.
circa 1925
1
P001:026: Portrait
By Salt Lake City (Utah) photographer C.R. Savage.
7 prints
circa 1905
1
P001:027: Portrait
By Ball Studio.
1913
1
P001:028: Portrait
By Rockwood, New York City.
2 prints
circa 1910
1
P001:029: Standing portrait
By Harris and Ewing, Washington, DC
circa 1910
P001:030-P001:032: Portraits
By Bushnell (Frank?), Portland.
1923
Box
1
2 prints
1
4 prints
Box
1
P001:033-P001:038: Portraits
circa 1925
Box
1
By Ball Studio.
2 prints
1
P001:034: Seated portrait.
By Harris and Ewing, Washington, D.C.
1
By Ball Studio.
3 prints
1
2 prints
1
By Ball Studio.
1
By Ball Studio.
7 prints
1
P001:039: Walking across campus with Lincoln Steffins
1 duplicate print
Steffins was a speaker at the College Convocation on October 22, 1913; photograph published in 1915 Orange, p. 129 and in the 1969 Beaver, p. 60. The original print is at P25:289.
1913
P001:040-P001:043: Portraits
circa 1930
Box
1
7 prints and 1 copy negative
1
By Harris and Ewing, Washington, D.C.
2 prints
1
By Harris and Ewing, Washington, D.C.
2 prints
1
By Bushnell (Frank?), Portland.
5 prints
1930
Box
1
P001:044: Seated portrait
By Harris and Ewing.
1930
1
P001:045-P001:046: Portraits
By Harris and Ewing
5 prints
1930
P001:047-P001:049: Portraits
circa 1934
Box
1
5 prints and 1 copy negative
1
12 prints
1
5 prints
Box
1
P001:050-P001:054: Portraits
circa 1926
Box
1
By Ball Studio.
4 prints
1
By Steffens-Colmer Studio.
5 prints
1
By Steffens-Colmer Studio.
5 prints
1
By Ball Studio.
4 prints
1
2 prints
P001:108: William Jasper Kerr and family
Standing (l to r): Ralph Reynolds, Vesta Kerr Reynolds, Horace Kerr, Adma Green Kerr, Lynette Kerr McGinnis, Genieve Kerr Henry. Seated (l to r): Leona Kerr Shinn, Leonora Deseret Hamilton Kerr, Robert Marion Kerr, William Jasper Kerr.
circa 1920

Series VII:  George W. Peavy, circa 1890-1955Return to Top

George Peavy, Dean of Forestry, was appointed Acting President of Oregon State College in 1932 when President Kerr was chosen as the first Chancellor of the Oregon State System of Higher Education. In January 1934 he was designated President of the College and also continued as Dean of Forestry, positions he held until his retirement in 1940.

Container(s) Description Dates
Box
1
P001:055: Portrait
By Ball Studio.
2 prints
circa 1925
1
P001:056: Seated in Library's McDonald Room
4 prints
1934
1
P001:057: Portrait
3 prints
1938
1
P001:058: Holiday greetings letter
1935
P001:059-P001:061: At Peavy Arboretum
1935
Box
1
4x5 negatives and 7 prints
1
2 4x5 negatives and 2 prints
1
1 print
Box
1
P001:062: With students outdoors
3 prints
Color reproduction of a painting by Fred Ludekens. The painting of Peavy with a group of students, made posthumously by the Weyerhauser Timber Company, was used extensively in advertisements in trade journals and the popular press, including The Saturday Evening Post.
circa 1955
P001:063-P001:065: Portraits
1938
Box
1
By Continental Studio, New York.
2 prints
1
2 prints
1
7 prints
Box
1
P001:103: Cabinet card portrait
By Randall of Ann Arbor, Michigan.
early 1890s
1
P001:105: Dressed in field gear
circa 1920s

Series VIII:  Frank Llewellyn Ballard, circa 1940-1950Return to Top

After a distinguished career with the Oregon State College Extension Service, Ballard was appointed president in 1940. He served less than a year because of illness and returned to the Extension Service administration. Ballard was the first OSC alumnus to serve as president.

Container(s) Description Dates
Box
1
P001:066: Portrait
circa 1950
1
P001:067: Portrait
circa 1945
1
P001:068: Portrait
2 prints
circa 1950
1
P001:069: Seated portrait at table
2 prints
1940

Series IX:  A.L. Strand, circa 1945-1970Return to Top

A.L. Strand was appointed President of Oregon State College in the fall of 1942 and led the College through World War II and the post- war period of extensive growth in students and facilities until his retirement in 1961.

Container(s) Description Dates
Box
1
P001:070-P001:071: Portraits
1947
Box
1
9 prints
1
4 prints
1
P001:072: Seated at table smoking a cigar
By Robert W. Henderson.
color slide
1965
1
P001:073: Making speech (at Bell Field?)
circa 1945
1
P001:074-P001:075: Portraits
circa 1950
1
P001:077-P001:078: In cap and gown
By Howells Studio, Corvallis.
circa 1950
1
P001:079: Portrait
11 prints
1961
1
P001:080: Machine show, looking at GE airplane engine
1951
P001:081 and P001:083: Seated at desk
circa 1945
Box
1
4x5 negative and 2 prints
1
P001:083: Cropped version of P001:081.
2 prints
Box
1
P001:082: Seated at desk (copy of drawing by Ralph Iligan)
undated
1
P001:084: Making speech
circa 1948
1
P001:085: Portrait
circa 1970

Series X:  James H. Jensen, circa 1965Return to Top

An internationally respected scientist, educator, and administrator, Jensen served as Oregon State University president from 1961 until 1969 and led the institution's first steps toward becoming a University in fact as well as name by expanding degree programs in the liberal arts as well as scientific research programs.

Container(s) Description Dates
Box
1
P001:086: Smoking pipe
By Robert W. Henderson.
color slide
1
P001:087: Seated at desk
By Fred Zwahlen
4 prints
P001:088-P001:089: Portraits
Box
1
3 prints
1
2 prints
Box
1
P001:090-P001:098: Seated at desk
8 prints and 1 contact sheet

Series XI:  John D. Letcher, circa 1892-1931Return to Top

Senior Professor John D. Letcher was chosen unanimously by the Board of Regents as the acting president after B.L. Arnold's sudden death in January 1892. According to their report, he was "better acquainted with the duties of the president and the working of the college than any other man living". He held the position in addition to his teaching duties for 4 months until the arrival of John McKnight Bloss in early June.

Container(s) Description Dates
Box
1
P001:099: Modern print of published portrait
See also P077:036.
circa 1892
3
P001:111: Painting
apx 25x30 in.
Painting by W. Maurice Ball of John D. Letcher made in 1931 from a photograph provided to Oregon Agricultural College by Letcher. The original photograph was made during the time that Letcher was affiliated with OAC (1888-1894).
1931

Series XII:  Francois A. Gilfillan, circa 1940Return to Top

F.A. Gilfillan was officially appointed as Acting President of Oregon State College in September 1941 after the resignation of President Ballard. However he had been serving as chair of the Administrative Council and carrying out the president's campus duties since October 1940. He lead the University through the uncertain months of the beginning of World War II until A.L. Strand's arrival in October 1942.

Container(s) Description Dates
Box
1
P001:100: Portrait
By Howells Studio.
3 prints
circa 1940

Series XIII:  Multiple Presidents, circa 1920Return to Top

Container(s) Description Dates
P001:101: Composite of Presidents
Includes William A. Finley, Benjamin A. Arnold, John M. Bloss, H.B. Miller, Thomas M. Gatch, and William J. Kerr.
Box
1
5x7 negative
4
apx 16x20 in.
Oversize print

Series XIV:  Robert W. MacVicar, 1942 and early 1970sReturn to Top

MacVicar came to Oregon State University in 1970 from Southern Illinois University, where he had been a vice president and chancellor since 1964. President MacVicar was a staunch proponent of the land-grant university concept and built close ties during his years as president between OSU and the people of Oregon. He retired in 1984.

Container(s) Description Dates
Box
1
P001:102: 2nd Lt. Sanitary Corps, U.S. Army
1942
1
P001:104: OSU's champion hog caller; on Eastern Oregon tour (?)
By Robert W. Henderson (12898).
color slide
circa early 1970s

Series XV:  John V. Byrne, 1985-1995Return to Top

Byrne assumed the presidency in November 1984 and served for 11 years until the end of 1995.

Container(s) Description Dates
Box
1
P001:106: Seated at desk
3 color slides
circa 1994
1
P001:107: Portrait
circa 1985
1
P001:109: John and Shirley Byrne
Taken by Mark Floyd, News and Communications Services
News and Communications file no. 254, neg. no. 9.
1987

Series XVI:  Paul G. Risser, 1996-1999Return to Top

On November 2, 1995, the Oregon State Board of Higher Education named Paul G. Risser to succeed John Byrne as President of Oregon State University. He served as OSU president from 1996 to 2002.

Container(s) Description Dates
Box
1
P001:110: Portrait
By Ball Studio.
3 prints
1996
1
P001:114: Paul and Les Risser (two views)
2 prints
before August 1999

Series XVII:  Roy A. Young, circa 1970Return to Top

Young, Professor of Plant Pathology, was appointed in 1966 as the University's first Dean of Research with responsibility for campus-wide research coordination. He served as Acting President for one year until the arrival of MacVicar in July 1970, when he resumed responsibility for research coordination as Vice President for Research and Graduate Studies, a position he held until 1976.

Container(s) Description Dates
Box
1
P001:113: Portrait

Names and SubjectsReturn to Top

Subject Terms

  • College presidents--Oregon--Corvallis.

Personal Names

  • Arnold, B. L. (Benjamin Lea), 1839-1892.
  • Ballard, Frank Llewellyn.
  • Bloss, John McKnight, 1839-
  • Byrne, John Vincent, 1928-
  • Finley, W. A. (William Asa), 1839-1912.
  • Gatch, Thomas M.
  • Gilfillan, F. A. (Francois Archibald), 1893-1983.
  • Jensen, James H.
  • Kerr, William Jasper, 1863-1947.
  • Letcher, John D.
  • MacVicar, Robert William, 1918-
  • Miller, H. B.
  • Peavy, George Wilcox, 1869-1951.
  • Risser, Paul G.
  • Strand, A. L. (August Leroy), 1894-
  • Young, Roy A. (Roy Alton), 1921-

Form or Genre Terms

  • Albumen prints.
  • Cabinet photographs.
  • Cartes de visite.
  • Film negatives.
  • Oil paintings.
  • Photographic prints.
  • Slides.

Other Creators

  • Personal Names
    • Burtner, John C. (John Cole), 1895- (creator)
    • Goldson, L. (creator)
    • Henderson, Robert W. (Robert Wesley), 1914- (creator)
    • Savage, C. R. (Charles Roscoe), 1832-1909. (creator)
    • Zwahlen, Fred C., 1924- (creator)
    Corporate Names
    • Ball Studio. (creator)
    • Harris & Ewing. (creator)
    • Howell's Studio. (creator)
    • Oregon State University. (creator)