G. Herbert Root Photograph Collection, circa 1891 - 1936

Overview of the Collection

Creator
Root, G. Herbert (George Herbert)
Title
G. Herbert Root Photograph Collection
Dates
circa 1891 - 1936 (inclusive)
circa 1902 - 1905 (bulk)
Quantity
0.20 cubic feet, including 71 photographs, (2 boxes, including 1 oversize box)
Collection Number
P 127
Summary
The G. Herbert Root Photograph Collection consists primarily of photographs of Oregon Agricultural College (OAC) students, athletes, and faculty. The images were acquired by Root, who attended OAC in the early 1900s and was captain of the 1905 football team. Images from this collection have been digitized and are available in Oregon Digital.
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

Biographical NoteReturn to Top

George Herbert Root was born in Hydesville, California, October 28, 1878 to Henry George Root and Harriet Ann Goodyear. Henry Root, who grew up herding cattle near Tulare, California, was farming his own ranch near Hydesville, California by the time he turned 29 in 1871. In 1873, he married Harriet Ann Goodyear, a schoolteacher; three years later, their third child, George Herbert Root was born. In 1881, the Root family traveled to The Dalles to meet Henry’s father, William, and two uncles, Irvin and John, with whom they planned to scout land for homestead claims. Henry eventually filed two claims, at 160 acres each, for a plot of land near Locust Grove, a small community four miles west of Wasco, Oregon. Here he would farm wheat, potatoes, and barley.

George Root worked on his father’s farm until he was in his early twenties. He matriculated at OAC in 1902 as a student in Mechanical Engineering, but switched his major to Agriculture his sophomore year. As a student, Root was described as “prince of good fellows” and, as Captain of the 1905 football team, “fast, fierce…irresistible in a line buck, and very swift at end running.” Root graduated in 1907; in the winter of that same year he married Amelia Christina Kaseberg (1882–1966) at Walla Walla, Washington.

On September 27, 1909 their only child, Herbert Floyd Root, was born in Wasco. George and Amelia lived with George’s parent for a time after Herbert’s birth. By 1920, however, George had purchased his own plot of land in Locust Grove, where he too farmed wheat. In 1948, George retired from ranching, and he and Amelia relocated to The Dalles. George Herbert Root passed away on March 24, 1971.

George’s son, Herbert Floyd Root (1909–1984), also played football for OSC, graduating in 1932 with a degree in Commerce. True to his family’s wheat ranching roots, he was instrumental in the founding of the National Association of Wheat Growers, and from 1960 to 1962 was president of the Western Wheat Association, a group established to market Oregon wheat internationally. Herbert’s two sons – Robert Floyd Root (Agricultural Economics) and William Herbert Root (Food Technology) – graduated from OSU with Bachelor of Science degrees in Agriculture in 1960 and 1961, respectively.

Content DescriptionReturn to Top

The G. Herbert Root Photograph Collection consists of photographs acquired by George Herbert Root, who attended OAC in the early 1900s and was captain of the 1905 football team. The photos are primarily of students, athletes (football, men and women's basketball, track) and faculty members, taken between 1891 and 1936.

Of particular interest in the collection are twenty-six of what are likely cigarette cards, a type of card-mounted photograph – similar to cabinet cards and cartes de visite – popular in the mid-1880s to mid-1890s, and which again came into vogue in the first few decades of the 20th century. Only four of subjects featured in the cigarette cards are identified. All of the prints are black and white; most are mounted on grey paperboard.

A significant portion of the images in the collection center on athletics at OAC. Of note are images of the women’s basketball team of 1904 and 1905; the men’s basketball team of 1905; and of the 1902 football team, including Will Abraham, Bert Bower, Lyman Bundy, and team captain John Gault. Players and staff of the 1905 football team featured include Bert Pilkington, Floyd Williams, Rod Nash, and Percy Cupper, and Manager Fred C. Stimson. Another series of images features Bert Bower, Floyd Williams, Claude Swann, and Merrill Moores competing in track and field events in 1905.

Many of the photographs were taken by William G. Emery, a Corvallis studio photographer and 1883 Oregon State graduate. All of the prints are black and white; most are mounted on grey paperboard. Images from this collection have been digitized and are available in Oregon Digital.

Use of the CollectionReturn to Top

Preferred Citation

G. Herbert Root Photograph Collection (P 127), Oregon State University Special Collections and Archives Research Center, Corvallis, Oregon.

Administrative InformationReturn to Top

Arrangement

The G. Herbert Root Photograph Collection is comprised of one series: 1. Photographs, 1891 - 1936. The photographs are arranged numerically by image number (P127:1-71).

Acquisition Information

Photographs P127:1-66 were donated to the Horner Museum in 1985 by Randi M. Root, great-granddaughter of G. Herbert Root. The photographs were transferred to the University Archives in August 1996 and combined with the existing G.H. Root Photograph Collection, which was received by the University Archives in the 1960s.

Related Materials

The OSU Special Collections and Archives Researcher Center holdings contain numerous collections documenting the student experience at Oregon Agricultural College in the late 1800s and early 1900s, including The William C. Bryant Collection (MSS Bryant)Emile Pernot Photographs (P 230), the Frank E. Hall Collection (MSS Hall), the Leroy G. Mattley Papers (MSS Mattley), and the Walter R. Baker Photographs (P 018).

Additional collections relating to men's and women's sports at Oregon Agricultural College, including men's and women's basketball, football, and track and field, include the Harriet Moore Photograph Collection (P 150), the Intercollegiate Athletic Records (RG 007), the Jerry D. Belcher Collection of Oregon Agricultural College Track Photographs (P 128), the Football Photograph Collection (P 004), the Women's Recreation Association Photographic Collection (P 171), and the Women's Athletics Photographs Collection (P 009).

Detailed Description of the CollectionReturn to Top

Series 1:  Photographs, circa 1891 - 1936Return to Top

The G. Herbert Root Photograph Collection consists primarily of photographs of Oregon Agricultural College (OAC) students, athletes, and faculty. The images were acquired by Root, who attended OAC in the early 1900s and was captain of the 1905 football team. The current name of buildings pictured in the photographs is included in brackets.

Description Dates
P127:01: Portrait of Walter E. Boggs as a child
Produced by: Winter Photo Company in Eugene, Oregon
circa 1891
P127:02: Portrait of Norval Niel
Produced by: Kennell Ellis Photo Company in Marcola, Oregon
circa 1925
P127:03: Portrait of Asa Robley
Produced by: Kennell Ellis Photo Company in Marcola, Oregon
circa 1930
P127:04: Asa and Evelyn Robley
"Bride and groom in front of their Corvallis cottage where we had lunch"
1936
circa 1905
P127:06: Portrait of Essie Adams
circa 1902
P127:07: Portraits of Essie Adams
"Souvenir of our school days." Produced by: Emery in Corvallis, Oregon
circa 1902
P127:08: Portrait of Floyd Williams
Produced by: Emery in Corvallis, Oregon
circa 1905
P127:09: Portrait of George von der Hellen
Produced by: Emery in Corvallis, Oregon
circa 1905
P127:10: Portrait of David Gellatly
Produced by: Emery in Corvallis, Oregon
circa 1905
P127:11: Portrait of Frederick Stimson
Produced by: Emery in Corvallis, Oregon
circa 1905
P127:12: Portrait of Eva Applegate
produced by: Emery in Corvallis, Oregon
circa 1905
P127:13: Portrait of James McMan
Produced by: Emery in Corvallis, Oregon
circa 1905
P127:14: Portrait of Zaphod Thorpe
Produced by: Emery in Corvallis, Oregon
circa 1905
P127:15: Portrait of Edna Irvine
Produced by: Emery in Corvallis, Oregon
circa 1905
P127:16: Portrait of Edna Buster Bumpskie
Produced by: Gardner's in Corvallis, Oregon
circa 1905
P127:17: Portrait of John Buster
Produced by: Gardner's in Corvallis, Oregon
circa 1904
P127:18: Portrait of Kenneth L. Cooper
Produced by: Gardner's in Corvallis, Oregon
circa 1905
P127:19: Portrait of Joseph Ringo in his cadet uniform
Produced by: Gardner's in Corvallis, Oregon
circa 1906
P127:20: Portrait of Thomas Willard Espy
G. Herbert Root's roommate in Cauthorn Hall [Fairbanks Hall], produced by: Gardner's in Corvallis, Oregon
circa 1904
P127:21: Portrait of Harvey Earle "Rat" Rinehart
Produced by: Gardner's in Corvallis, Oregon
circa 1905
P127:22: Portrait of Bert Pilkington
Produced by: Gardner's in Corvallis, Oregon
circa 1905
circa 1905
P127:24: Bertie Webber
Mounted, 2.5 x 2.75 inch, portrait photograph; may be a cigarette card
circa 1905
P127:25: Bessie Smith
Mounted, 2.5 x 2.75 inch, portrait photograph; may be a cigarette card
circa 1905
P127:26: Ben Miller
Mounted, 2.5 x 2.75 inch, portrait photograph; may be a cigarette card
circa 1905
P127:27: "Mr. Wovels"
Mounted, 2.5 x 2.75 inch, portrait photograph; may be a cigarette card
circa 1905
P127:28: Two unidentified women
Mounted, 2.5 x 2.75 inch, portrait photograph; may be a cigarette card
circa 1905
P127:29: Unidentified man
Mounted, 2.5 x 2.75 inch, portrait photograph; may be a cigarette card
circa 1905
P127:30: Unidentified man
Mounted, 2.5 x 2.75 inch, portrait photograph; may be a cigarette card
circa 1905
P127:31: Unidentified man
Mounted, 2.5 x 2.75 inch, portrait photograph; may be a cigarette card
circa 1905
P127:32: Unidentified man
Mounted, 2.5 x 2.75 inch, portrait photograph; may be a cigarette card
circa 1905
P127:33: Unidentified man
Mounted, 2.5 x 2.75 inch, portrait photograph; may be a cigarette card
circa 1905
P127:34: Unidentified man
Mounted, 2.5 x 2.75 inch, portrait photograph; may be a cigarette card
circa 1905
P127:35: Unidentified man
Mounted, 2.5 x 2.75 inch, portrait photograph; may be a cigarette card
circa 1905
P127:36: Unidentified man
Mounted, 2.5 x 2.75 inch, portrait photograph; may be a cigarette card
circa 1905
P127:37: Unidentified man
Mounted, 2.5 x 2.75 inch, portrait photograph; may be a cigarette card
circa 1905
P127:38: Unidentified woman
Mounted, 2.5 x 2.75 inch, portrait photograph; may be a cigarette card
circa 1905
P127:39: Unidentified woman
Mounted, 2.5 x 2.75 inch, portrait photograph; may be a cigarette card
circa 1905
P127:40: Unidentified woman
Mounted, 2.5 x 2.75 inch, portrait photograph; may be a cigarette card
circa 1905
P127:41: Unidentified woman
Mounted, 2.5 x 2.75 inch, portrait photograph; may be a cigarette card
circa 1905
P127:42: Unidentified woman
Mounted, 2.5 x 2.75 inch, portrait photograph; may be a cigarette card
circa 1905
P127:43: Unidentified woman
Mounted, 2.5 x 2.75 inch, portrait photograph; may be a cigarette card
circa 1905
P127:44: Two unidentified women
Mounted, 2.5 x 2.75 inch, portrait photograph; may be a cigarette card
circa 1905
P127:45: Unidentified woman
Mounted, 2.5 x 2.75 inch, portrait photograph; may be a cigarette card
circa 1905
P127:46: Unidentified woman
Mounted, 2.5 x 2.75 inch, portrait photograph; may be a cigarette card
circa 1905
P127:47: Unidentified woman
Mounted, 2.5 x 2.75 inch, portrait photograph; may be a cigarette card
circa 1905
P127:48: Unidentified woman
Mounted, 2.5 x 2.75 inch, portrait photograph; may be a cigarette card
circa 1905
P127:49: Unidentified woman
Mounted, 2.5 x 2.75 inch, portrait photograph; may be a cigarette card
circa 1905
P127:50: Class of 1904
In front of Mechanical Hall [Kearney Hall]
circa 1904
circa 1903
P127:52: Football players
Pictured: William G. Abraham, Gault, Burnough, Albert B. Bower, and Lyman Bundy
1902
P127:53: Football players
Pictured: Bert Pilkington and Harley Laughlin
1902
P127:54: Football players
Pictured: Rod Nash, Ted Gellatly, Thorpe, and Percy A. Cupper
1902
P127:55: Portrait of Floyd Williams in track uniform
circa 1905
circa 1905
circa 1905
circa 1905
P127:59: Portrait of the OAC women's basketball team
1905
1905
1904?
P127:62: Portrait of OAC men's basketball team sitting on the steps of the OAC Gymnasium and Armory [Valley Gymnastics Center]
Pictured: Karl Steiwer, Merrill Moores, Will Trine, Frederick Stimson, Grover Cate, Hamon Bilyeu, Harvey Rinehart, Claude Swann, and Francis Stokes
1905
P127:63: OAC vs. University of Oregon track and field
"Bowers in shot put, record 37 feet"
1905
P127:64: Floyd Williams running in a track meet
Produced by: Emery in Corvallis, Oregon
circa 1905
circa 1905
circa 1905
P127:67: OAC cadets with artillery in basement of Armory
Pictured: G. Herbert Root
1904
P127:68: OAC football team backfield
Pictured: G. Herbert Root, Bert Pilkington, Harley Laughlin, and Floyd Williams. Produced by: Emery in Corvallis, Oregon
1902
P127:69: OAC football team seated on steps of Mechanical Hall [Kearney Hall]
Pictured: Percy Cupper, Bill Abraham, Bert Bower, Lyman Bundy, Ted Galatley, Harley Laughlin, G. Herbert Root, Floyd Williams, Bert Pilkington, and Rod Nash
1902
P127:70: OAC vs Washington Agricultural College in Corvallis
First game of the series. Produced by: Emery in Corvallis, Oregon
1903
P127:71: G. Herbert Root in football uniform
In the playing field near the Armory [2 photographic prints]
circa 1903

Names and SubjectsReturn to Top

Subject Terms

  • Basketball for women--Oregon--Corvallis.
  • College sports--Oregon--Corvallis.
  • College students--Oregon--Corvallis.
  • Football--Oregon--Corvallis.

Corporate Names

  • Oregon Agricultural College--Basketball.
  • Oregon Agricultural College--Faculty.
  • Oregon Agricultural College--Students.

Form or Genre Terms

  • Cabinet photographs.
  • Photographic prints.

Other Creators

  • Personal Names
    • Emery, W. G. (creator)