View XML QR Code

State College of Washington Office of the President: Ernest O. Holland Records, 1890-1950

Overview of the Collection

Creator
State College of Washington. Office of the President
Title
State College of Washington Office of the President: Ernest O. Holland Records
Dates
1890-1950 (inclusive)
Quantity
162.5 Linear feet of shelf space, (325 Boxes)
Collection Number
Archives 159 (collection)
Summary
Records of the Office of the President of the State College of Washington (later Washington State University), related to the presidency of Ernest O. Holland.
Repository
Washington State University Libraries' Manuscripts, Archives, and Special Collections (MASC)
Manuscripts, Archives, and Special Collections
Terrell Library Suite 12
Pullman, WA
99164-5610
Telephone: 509-335-6691
mascref@wsu.edu
Access Restrictions

This collection is open and available for research use.

Languages
English
Return to Top

Historical Note

The functions and duties of the Washington State University President are defined in University Faculty Manual, edition of 1987, as:

In addition to being designated as secretary ex officio of the Board of Regents, the President as general agent of the Board is the chief executive officer of Washington State University. The President administers the policies approved by the Board of Regents, serves as advisor to the Board on policies and operations and is the agent through whom representations to the Board are regularly made. Other functions of the chief executive officer include: Leadership in developing policies and organization for teaching, research, and extension programs. Public administration of the University, including representation before the Legislature and other state agencies. Responsibility for the general welfare of students; the development, operation and maintenance of buildings, lands and equipment; financial matters pertaining to development, operation and maintenance of University; and the administration of regulations adopted by the Board of Regents. Responsibility, delegated by the Board of Regents, for all appointments, promotion, salaries, leaves, resignations, and dismissals. Presiding at meetings of the general faculty.

Return to Top

Biographical Note

Ernest Otto Holland was born in Bennington, Indiana on February 4, 1874. He received an A.B. degree from Indiana University in 1895. From 1895 to 1900 he taught English at various Indiana high schools, and then became Head of the English Department at Louisville Male High School in Kentucky. In 1900 Holland became Associate Professor of Education at Indiana University. He progressed from Associate Professor in 1905 to Professor by 1908. In 1908 he took a leave of absence to further his education at the Teachers' College of Columbia University. In 1910, with funding from the Carnegie Foundation, Holland undertook a study of public education in Pennsylvania that ultimately became his doctoral dissertation. After receiving his Doctor of Philosophy degree, Holland became Superintendent of Louisville Schools.

In January 1916 Holland became the fourth President of the State College of Washington. In 1917, President Holland initiated a reorganization of the institution, creating five colleges and four schools, a key step toward eventual university status. Holland encouraged recruitment of national fraternities and sororities to the Pullman campus, with 22 new Greek chapters established during his presidency. , Holland became the longest-serving president of WSU, retiring in 1945.

The University’s then new central library, completed in 1950, was named Holland Library in his honor. The University’s Museum of Art houses the E. O. Holland Collection, primarily nineteenth and early twentieth century American and European paintings that Holland collected and donated to WSU. E. O. Holland died in May 1950.

For information on Holland's administration and his other interests see: William Landeen, E. O. Holland and The State College of Washington: 1916-1944.

Return to Top

Content Description

The bulk of the collection is made up of correspondence files which is divided into 2 series, Correspondence Files (Series 1) and Alphabetical Correspondence (Series 3). The remaining series cover subjects such as: his Art Collection (Series 2); Articles and Speeches (Series 4); Commencement Files (Series 5); European Trip (Series 6); Family and Personal (Series 7); Graduate Study (Series 8); Memoranda to Faculty (Series 9); Notes and Notebooks (Series 10); Reference Materials (Series 11); Scrapbooks and Clippings (Series 12); University of Washington Controversy (Series 13); Washington State College Appointment (Series 14); and Awards, Diplomas, Honors (Series 15).

The records employ the filing notations that were used by the President's office staff. In some cases organizations are referred to by familiar names, especially in the case of institutions of higher education. People are often identified with some type of title, such as "regent".

Return to Top

Use of the Collection

Restrictions on Use

Copyright restrictions may apply.

Preferred Citation

[Item description]

State College of Washington Office of the President: Ernest O. Holland Records, 1890-1950 (Archives 159)

Manuscripts, Archives, and Special Collections, Washington State University Libraries, Pullman, WA.

Return to Top

Administrative Information

Arrangement

Organized in fifteen series, arranged chronologically and alphabetically within each series.

Acquisition Information

The records were transferred to the Washington State University Libraries sometime prior to 1970 (WSU 159).

Processing Note

This collection was reprocessed by Leslie J. Tevebaugh, Kerry Bartels, Kathleen Dondanville, Patricia Gourd, Carmen Petersen and John Swindal from May, 1985 to January, 1986.

Related Materials

State College of Washington Office of the President: Guest Book, 1940 August-1945 October 16 (Cage 1638)

State College of Washington Office of the President: Letters from Prominent Correspondents, 1897-1951 (Cage 1616)

Washington State University Office of the President Media, 1937-2006 (Archives 328)

Ernest O. Holland Radio Speech Cassette Recording, 1940 (CT 8)

Holland Family Papers, 1898-1972 (Cage 4822)

Return to Top

Detailed Description of the Collection

Names and SubjectsReturn to Top

Subject Terms

  • College presidents -- Washington (State) -- Pullman

Personal Names

  • Holland, Ernest Otto, 1874-1950 -- Records and correspondence

Corporate Names

  • State College of Washington -- Presidents -- Records and correspondence
  • State College of Washington. Office of the President -- Records and correspondence

Finding aid prepared by Leslie J. Tevebaugh, Kerry Bartels, Kathleen Dondanville, Patricia Gourd, Carmen Petersen and John Swindal
2022

CC Attribution
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.

About Creative Commons Licenses in Archives West

Loading...
Loading...