Archives West Finding Aid
Table of Contents
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)18851933
- 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
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
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.
