Benjamin Lea Arnold was born October 29, 1839 in Mecklenburg, Virginia. He received his B.S. from Randolph Macon College and taught in North Carolina, Tennessee, and Virginia. After serving in the Confederate army under General Robert E. Lee, Arnold taught at colleges in Tennessee, North Carolina and Virginia. Benjamin L. Arnold became the second president of Oregon Agricultural College in 1872 and served in that capacity until his death on January 30, 1892.
The Benjamin L. Arnold Collection consists of newspaper clippings regarding Arnold's death, personal correspondence from Benjamin Arnold, and condolence letters upon his death to his wife, Minnie Arnold. It also includes two land deeds.
Benjamin L. Arnold Collection, Oregon State University Archives, Corvallis, Oregon
The materials were transferred to the University Archives from the Horner Museum in 1996.
Other materials relating to Benjamin L. Arnold and to past presidents of Oregon State University can be found in the Memorabilia Collection and in the President's Office Records (RG 13).