Archives West Finding Aid

In 1834, Jason Lee and fellow missionaries came to the Oregon territory to establish a Methodist mission for Kalapuya Indians living in the Willamette Valley. By the early 1840s, the mission was failing, thus the educational focus for the school turned to white settlers. On February 1, 1842, Lee, fellow missionaries, and members of the growing Salem community decided to establish an institution of learning called the "Oregon Institute." The Institute's constitution was adopted in March 1842, and the first day of class was held on August 13, 1844. The Institute began as a boarding school to educate young students. Chloe Clark Willson, an early member of the missionary group was the first teacher.

In 1853, focus changed to an older set of students and the name was officially changed to Willamette University. Emily York was the first graduate of the University in 1859. By that time, enrollment had reached 320 students and a new building was needed to house a growing student population. Thus began the construction of Waller hall, made possible by the support of Reverend Alvan Waller. In addition to the College of Liberal Arts, Willamette University established a medical school in 1867, the College of Law in 1883, the Kimball School of Theology in 1906, the Atkinson Graduate School of Management in 1974, and the Graduate School of Education in 1995. The Medical School merged with the University of Oregon in 1913, the Kimball School closed in 1930, and the Graduate School of Education closed in 2014.

The campus has continued to grow and change throughout the history of the institution, and the campus photograph collection provides visual evidence of those changes. Many buildings and spaces that no longer exist on campus are documented throughout the collection along with those that continue to persist and be repurposed.