John B. Horner Papers, 1885-1933

Overview of the Collection

Creator
Horner, John B., 1856-1933.
Title
John B. Horner Papers
Dates
1885-1933 (inclusive)
Quantity
1 cubic foot, (The Horner Papers are housed in one document box; one half-size document box; one 16x20 oversize box; and one 20x24 oversize box.)
Collection Number
Consult repository.
Summary
The Horner Papers consist of materials written or assembled by John B. Horner as an Oregon Agricultural College history professor and writer on Oregon history and literature.
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
Languages
English
Sponsor
Funding for encoding this finding aid was provided through a grant awarded by the National Endowment for the Humanities.

Biographical NoteReturn to Top

John B. Horner taught English and history at Oregon Agricultural College from 1891 until his death in 1933; founded the college museum; and wrote extensively on Oregon history and literature.

John B. Swadelnack was born on August 4, 1856 in central Texas to Frank and Mary Anna Swadelnack. He took the surname Horner after his widowed mother married Elias Horner in Walla Walla (Washington Territory). After attending Whitman College, Horner enrolled in Philomath College, receiving the BS degree (1877) and the MS degree (1879). He also attended Willamette University and received AB (1885) and MS (1887) degrees. In the 1880s, he taught school at several places in Oregon, including Buena Vista, Union, Brownsville, Roseburg, and Albany. He married Isabelle Skimpton on September 5, 1880; they had two daughters, Vera Delle and Pearl Alicia.

In 1891, he began a teaching career at Oregon State that lasted for more than 40 years. He taught English from 1891 to 1902 and history from 1902 until 1933. In 1925, Horner formally established the museum at Oregon State that was later named for him. He wrote several books on Oregon history and literature as well as numerous articles. Horner died on September 14, 1933 in Corvallis.

Content DescriptionReturn to Top

Series I contains publications authored by Horner and includes Horner's annotated copy of Oregon: Her History, Her Great Men, Her Literature (1919), individual lecture texts for A Vacation on the Mediterranean (1906 and 1907), a typescript copy of "History of Oregon State College, 1865-1907," a typescript of Horner's autobiography (1926), Outlines for Study of Oregon History (ca. 1927), and Days and Deeds in the Oregon Country, 1929. Series II consists of 2 volumes of maps of Europe drawn by Horner's history students in 1902 and 1905. Series III is a collection of pioneer stories written by school children around 1918. Series IV consists of letters of condolence written to Mrs. Horner after John B. Horner's death in 1933.

Series V contains a variety of programs, announcements, invitations, diplomas, and other ephemera. Included are booklets pertaining to the Cauthorn Hall and Alpha Hall dormitories, which the Horners were in charge of early in the 1900s; OAC commencement programs and invitations; a program to the memorial service held for B. L. Arnold on June 29, 1892; programs pertaining to musical, dramatic and literary productions and church, Masonic and educational organizations; and Horner's diplomas from Willamette University.

Series VI consists of three letters written by Horner. Series VII includes six photographic prints of Horner, J. R. N. Bell, and others in Egypt.

Use of the CollectionReturn to Top

Preferred Citation

John B. Horner Papers, Oregon State University Archives, Corvallis, Oregon.

Administrative InformationReturn to Top

Arrangement

The Horner Papers consist of seven series: I. Publications; II. Maps of Europe Prepared by Horner's Students; III. Pioneer Stories by School Children; IV. Letters of Condolence; V. Ephemera; VI. Correspondence; and VII. Photographs.

Custodial History

Most of the materials were originally donated to the Horner Museum and then transferred to the University Archives beginning in 1996. Several of the publications were transferred from the Archives' Faculty Author Collection and Memorabilia Collection.

Related Materials

The John B. Horner Photographic Collection (P 100) includes photographs assembled by Horner. The Horner Museum Records (RG 199) include extensive documentation of the museum and its collections.

Detailed Description of the CollectionReturn to Top

Series I:  Publications, 1902-1931Return to Top

Container(s) Description Dates
Box
1
Oregon: Her History, Her Great Men, Her Literature
Includes Horner's hand written annotations and typed revisions tipped in throughout the volume.
1919
1
Oregon History and Early Literature, 4th edition
1931
1
A Vacation on the Mediterranean, individual illustrated lecture texts
Box
1
" A Day in Rome"
December 1906
1
" The Appian Way"
December 1906
1
" City of Pompeii"
February 1907
1
" Athens"
February 1907
1
" Egypt"
February 1907
1
" Palestine"
February 1907
1
Advertisement
1
" History of Oregon State College, 1865-1907" (typescript)
1
" The OAC Historic and Reminiscent"
ca. 1909
1
Outlines for Study of Oregon History (published by the OAC Extension Service)
ca. 1927
1
The Million Mystery Mounds of Tenino
undated
1
" Madame Dorion, Holy Rainbow of the Sioux'" "
undated
1
" John B. Horner's Autobiography Dictated at the Good Samaritan Hospital in Portland for his Daughters, Vera and Pearl, June 28, 1926"
1
" Oregon Woods"
Poem
undated
1
Advertisement for Oregon Literature
1902
1
Narcissa Prentiss Whitman - tribute and biography
undated
1
" The Santiam Pass" in the Albany High School Whirlwind
1926
1
Wi-Ne-Ma, Heorine of the Modoc War
undated
1
Legend of Chintimini
undated
1
Days and Deeds in the Oregon Country
1929

Series II:  Maps of Europe Prepared by Horner's Students, 1902-1905Return to Top

Container(s): Box 1

Container(s) Description Dates
Box
2
Supplementary Work in General History by Horner's Students
1902
3
Class Work in History (Volume II)
apx 20x24 in.
1905

Series III:  Pioneer Stories by School Children, 1918 and undatedReturn to Top

Container(s): Box 2

Series IV:  Letters of Condolence, 1933Return to Top

Container(s): Box 2

Series V:  Ephemera, 1885-ca. 1930Return to Top

Container(s) Description Dates
Box
2
Cauthorn and Alpha Hall booklets
1900-1905
2
OAC Commencement invitations and programs
1889-1904
2
Corvallis schools commencement programs
1902-1904
2
B.L. Arnold Memorial Service program
June 29, 1892
2
Musical, dramatic, and literary productions programs
1890-1904
2
Presbyterian church, Masons, Oregon State Teachers Association, Willamette University
1895-1899
2
Willamette University Certificate
1929
2
Certificate from Governor Norblad
ca. 1930
3
Willamette University diplomas
apx 20x24 in.
1885 and 1888
3
State of Oregon certificates
apx 20x24 in.
1911-1914
3
Questions for University and College Examinations for State Diplomas and State Life Diplomas
apx 20x24 in.
1893

Series VI:  Correspondence, 1907-1919Return to Top

Container(s): Box 2

Series VII:  Photographs, ca. 1910Return to Top

Container(s): Box 4

apx 16x20 in.

Names and SubjectsReturn to Top

Subject Terms

  • History--Study and teaching (Higher)--Oregon.
  • Universities and colleges--Oregon--Corvallis--History.

Personal Names

  • Arnold, Benjamin L.
  • Bell, J. R. N. (John Richard Newton), 1846-1928.
  • Horner, John B., 1856-1933.

Corporate Names

  • Oregon Agricultural College.

Geographical Names

  • Corvallis (Or.)
  • Europe--Maps.
  • Mediterranean Region--Description and travel.
  • Oregon--Biography.
  • Oregon--History.

Form or Genre Terms

  • Ephemera.
  • Maps.
  • Photographs.

Other Creators