Archives West Finding Aid
Table of Contents
Pacific University President Miller Ritchie Records, 1954-2001
Overview of the Collection
- Creator
- Ritchie, M. A. F. (Miller Alfred Franklin), 1909-
- Title
- Pacific University President Miller Ritchie Records
- Dates
- 1954-2001 (inclusive)19542001
- Quantity
- 3.0 cubic feet, (3 boxes)
- Collection Number
- RG.3.112
- Summary
- Dr. Miller A.F. Ritchie (1909-2000) was president of Pacific University from 1959-1907. Included in this collection are his personal papers, memorabilia and office records.
- Repository
-
Pacific University, Archives
Pacific University Archives
2043 College Way
Forest Grove, OR
97116
Telephone: 5033521400
archives@pacificu.edu - Access Restrictions
-
Collection is open for research.
- Languages
- English
- Sponsor
- Sponsored by a grant from the National Historical Publications and Records Commission
Biographical NoteReturn to Top
Dr. Miller A.F. Ritchie (1909-2000) was president of Pacific University from 1959-1907. Ritchie grew up in Churchville VA. He attended Roanoke College where he graduated with honors in English in 1932. He went on to earn his masters from the College of William and Mary and his Doctor of Education from New York University. Ritchie started his career teaching high school English prior to returning to Roanoke College to work in the administrative offices. There he met and married Josephine Barnett. The Ritchies eventually had three children, Jon, Jo Ann, and Elizabeth (Betsy). During World War II, Ritchie joined the Navy. After the war and his completion of service, Ritchie accepted a teaching position at the University of Florida. In 1953, Ritchie became president of Hartwick College in Oneota New York. When his youngest daughter, Betsy, developed a respiratory condition, the Ritchies were forced to look for an alternative, which they found at Pacific.
At first Ritchie was unsure if Pacific would be the right option for him and his family. When considering the Pacific offer, he took a careful look both at the campus and at the annual reports, concluding that “Pacific’s institutional illness chronic, not acute” and that the financial state of the college was one of “lethargy and defeatism.” He summarized that “the almost continuous deficits for many years past, the lamentable condition of the buildings, the obvious inadequacy of the faculty and administrative staff, numerically and otherwise, were eloquently persuasive in the negative direction.” Despite this assessment, Ritchie ultimately decided to take the job. In doing so, he made it his mission to upgrade and modernize Pacific University.
Under President Ritchie’s tenure, more construction occurred on campus in 10 years than the previous 100 years. Included in the additions and renovations were: Washburne Hall (aka the University Center), 1963; Clark Hall (a coed residence hall), 1966; Jefferson Hall, Bromback Wing (College of Optometry), 1967; Harvey W. Scott Memorial Library, 1967; Aquatic Center (jointly with the city of Forest Grove), 1968; Adult Student Housing (100 apartments), 1969; Pacific Athletic Center, 1970. Enrollment, tuition cost, operating budgets, and faculty salary all increased, helping to bring Pacific up to date and competitive as a desirable university.
Ritchie was not only known for campus development but for his effective leadership. This leadership helped him to navigate the turbulent ‘60s on a college campus. When the inevitable cries of a communication gap between students and faculty went up, Ritchie resisted the temptation to be confrontational and adopted a radical stance for university presidents of the time: he listened. Ritchie’s presidency also saw the increase of African American enrollment as well as participation in university life.
Ritchie dealt with internal unrest in the same way, by listening. While not always able to meet student demands, he did take them seriously. This resulted in some changes to Pacific’s academic system. The ‘60s saw the initiation of course credit examination, a pass/fail grading system, and Black Studies. When, in 1969, the students demanded open dormitories, the administration responded by allowing students over 21 to live off-campus and by establishing less restrictive hours for those living on campus. Even the rules for smoking were relaxed, though drinking on campus remained forbidden.
After seeing the college through the most active period in the university’s history, Miller Ritchie left in 1970 to accept a position at the University of Miami, Florida, returning to Oregon in 1975. He and his wife, Josephine, remained active in campus affairs and activities, serving on various committees and volunteering time and expertise to support such campus groups as Friends of the Library, Friends of Music, and Friends of Old College Hall. Ritchie remained an active alumnus until his death in 2000 at the age of 91.
Most of the biographical information above has been adapted from Splendid Audacity: The Story of Pacific University (Gary Miranda and Rick Read, 2000).
Content DescriptionReturn to Top
Personal papers and office records of Pacific University President Miller Richie, who served from 1959-1970. Includes reports, notes, letters, photographs, articles, memorabilia, Pacific University publications, miscellaneous personal papers, and other material.
Use of the CollectionReturn to Top
Restrictions on Use
Pacific University owns the copyright to some, but not all, of the materials housed in its archives. Copyright for materials authored or otherwise produced as official business of Pacific University is retained by Pacific University and requires its permission for publication. Copyright status for other collection materials varies. Transmission or reproduction of materials protected by U.S. Copyright Law (Title 17, U.S.C.) beyond that allowed by fair use requires the written permission of the copyright owners. Works not in the public domain cannot be commercially exploited without permission of the copyright owners. Responsibility for any use rests exclusively with the user.
Preferred Citation
Pacific University President Miller Ritchie Records, Pacific University Archives, Forest Grove, Oregon.
Administrative InformationReturn to Top
Detailed Description of the CollectionReturn to Top
Writings, 1960-1991Return to Top
Container(s) | Description | Dates |
---|---|---|
Box | ||
1 | Are the Churches Worth Saving? |
1969 |
1 | Beyond the Law |
1965 |
1 | Business and the Campus: An Interpretation Gap |
1967 |
1 | A College Degree for Women: Door to Frustration or Fruition |
1964 |
1 | Decade of Development: an informal ten-year report, 1959-1969 |
1969 |
1 | Dedication Remarks Harvey Clarke Hall |
1966 |
1 | Emeritus, Thank God! |
1971 |
1 | Faith for our Day |
1991 |
1 | The High Road in College Athletics |
1965 |
1 | Hooked on Libraries |
1990 |
1 | Intellect is Not Enough |
1960 |
1 | Keeping Faith with the Founders |
1961 |
1 | The Kid in the Middle: What Should the College do? |
1968 |
1 | Optometry at Pacific |
1965 |
1 | President's Address Pre-College Conference |
1964-1969 |
1 | President's Opening Convocation Address (1963-1969) |
1963-1969 |
1 | Re: Who's Pouring |
Circa 1970 |
1 | A Residential Community Can Mean Enrichment for the Senior Years |
1988 |
1 | Selected Addresses, Vol. I
Section I (Convocation Addresses): Development Unlimited!; Constructive Creativity; What Kind of Man for Moon Travel?; The University: A Cultural Leaven in the Community; Needed: A Pro-Leadership Vaccine, What Could College Mean?; Broadening Horizons; If I Were A Freshman Again. -- Section II (Pre-Session Faculty Conference Addresses): "...And Gladly Teach"; Winds of Change in Higher Education; The Present Challenge to College Teaching; A Framework for Instruction; The Best Defense; To Make a Good University Great; Ideas for Possible Consideration by the Faculty: "Cracker Barrel" and the Committee on Long-Range Goals. -- Section III (Other Campus or University Related Addresses): Intellect is Not Enough; Keeping Faith With the Founders; Formal Dedication Statement, Washburne Hall; Keystone of the Arch; Tribute to Harvey W. Scott and Judith Scott Walter; A College Degree for Women: Door to Frustration or Fruition; Welcome Address - Portland Area Literary Conference; Optometry at Pacific; The Small College in a Changing Society; Education and Freedom; Oregon Optometrists Testimonial Dinner for Dr. William R. Baldwin, Dean; A Task for Courage and Daring; Retirement Statement to the Board of Trustees and Faculty of Pacific University; To dream the impossible dream: Remarks at a Farewell Community Dinner Prior to Retirement.
|
1960-1969 |
1 | Selected Addresses, Vol. II
Section IV (Memorial Addresses): Three of Our Own; Tribute to Martin Luther King; The Essence of a University - Irving C. Story; Greenfield Memorial Service; Beatrice Young Memorial Service; D. Otis Smith Memorial Service; Thomas K. Sammons Memorial Service; Clifford P. Rowe Memorial Service; Burt Brown Barker - You Can Go Home Again; John R. Roberts - A Commitment to Undergraduate Teaching; Clifford Wolfe: Friend to Pacific Generations; "A Healing Presence" - Lucile Higby. -- Section V (Addresses of General Interest): Basic Questions for Citizens; The Social Challenge to the Christian College; Beyond the Law; Dynamics of Change; The Small College: A Partial Answer to Berkeley; Business and the Campus: An Interpretation Gap; The Kid in the Middle: What Should the Colleges Do?; Are the Churches Worth Saving?; Daddy's Little Girl Grows Up; Forest Grove is Not What it Seems.
|
1960-1970 |
1 | Services for Dr. D. Otis Smith |
1966 |
1 | The Small College: A Partial Answer to Berkeley |
1966 |
1 | Speech Notes |
Circa 1965 |
1 | Statement for the Commission of Higher Schools |
Circa 1968 |
1 | Statement for the Education Editor of the Oregon Journal on 70s in Higher Education |
1969 |
1 | Three of our Own |
1968 |
1 | "... To Dream the Impossible Dream" |
1970 |
1 | Tribute to Harvey W. Scott and to the Judith Scott Walter Trust |
1967 |
1 | Welcome Address |
1960 |
1 | What's Going on at our Pea-size Colleges? |
Circa 1965 |
1 | You Can Go Home Again |
1969 |
Correspondence, 1958-1997Return to Top
Container(s) | Description | Dates |
---|---|---|
Box | ||
1 | A - B |
1959-1989 |
1 | C - D |
1958-1990 |
1 | F - K |
1959-1999 |
1 | Langton, Ruth |
1970-1974 |
1 | L - N |
1959-1986 |
1 | Miller, James |
1970-1993 |
1 | Optometry |
1970-1971 |
1 | P - R |
1953-1997 |
1 | Rossman, George |
1959 |
1 | S - U |
1958-1989 |
1 | Whalley, Joe |
1972-1988 |
1 | W - Z |
1960-1982 |
Personal and Business Documents, 1954-2001Return to Top
Container(s) | Description | Dates |
---|---|---|
Box | ||
2 | Awards, certificates, guestbooks and framed photographs (oversized) |
1960-1999 |
3 | Awards and Certificates |
1960-1991 |
3 | Business Documents |
1954-1989 |
3 | Business Documents, Legal Documents Concerning Adult Student Housing |
1969-1975 |
3 | Event Programs |
1959-2001 |
3 | Event Programs, M.A.F. Ritchie's Pacific Presidential Inauguration |
1960 |
3 | Event Programs, Parsons College |
1960 |
3 | Josephine Ritchie |
1960-1986 |
3 | Newspaper Clippings |
1959-2000 |
3 | Pacific Trustee Reports |
1960-1963 |
3 | Pacific Trustee Reports |
1964-1965 |
3 | Pacific Trustee Reports |
1966-1967 |
3 | Pacific Trustee Reports |
1967-1968 |
3 | Pacific Trustee Reports |
1969 |
3 | Pacific Trustee Reports |
1970 |
3 | Pacific University Promotional Material |
Circa 1960-2000 |
3 | Pacific University Promotional Material, Greek Promotional Material |
1962-1968 |
3 | Pacific University Promotional Material, Pacific Published News Flyers |
1963-1970 |
3 | Pacific University Promotional Material, The Pacific University Alum News/Pacific Today |
1959-1970 |
3 | Research |
1954-1966 |
Photographs, 1959-1996Return to Top
Container(s) | Description | Dates |
---|---|---|
Box | ||
3 | Publicity and Other Large Format |
1959-1970 |
3 | Snapshots |
1960-1996 |
Names and SubjectsReturn to Top
Subject Terms
- Pacific University
- Universities and colleges--Oregon
Form or Genre Terms
- Correspondence
Occupations
- Education administrators, postsecondary