Harriet Moore was Oregon State University's first archivist, a position she held from 1961 to 1966, and an avid local historian. One of the largest photograph collections held by the Special Collections & Archives Research Center is named Harriet's Collection in her honor.
Harriet Forest Moore trained as a physical therapist at Reed College and worked as a physical therapist in the U.S. Army Reconstruction Aid Program before enrolling at Oregon Agricultural College (OAC) in 1920. She completed B.S. (1922) and M.S. (1924) degrees in vocational education at OAC. In 1955, Moore became a Library Assistant in the Oregon State College Library. Her attention to detail and experience with local history research led to her appointment as Archivist in 1961. After her retirement in 1966, she worked part-time on special projects in the Archives until 1970. Moore received awards from the Oregon Historical Society and the Benton County History Society and Museum for her work to promote local history. Harriet Moore died in 1992.
The Harriet Moore Photograph Collection consists of images assembled by Moore documenting Oregon State students, faculty, and campus scenes. The collection includes images of sorority and fraternity members and events; football games and players; women's physical education instructors; and campus buildings and scenes. Of special note are two photographs of the motion picture filming of a pageant on campus in the mid 1910s; flooding on lower campus; and an interior view of the Gymnasium (now Valley Gymnastics Center) showing a balcony. A studio portrait of the 1909 CPS (perhaps Corvallis Public School) basketball team is part of the collection.
Several of the photographs were given to Moore by colleagues and friends including Lena B. Tartar, Peggy Walker Allworth, and Beulah Gilkey.
Photographers include Ball Studio and Howells Studio.
Collection is open for research.
This collection is arranged in one series: I. Photographs, 1890-1962.
Harriet Moore Photograph Collection (P 150), Oregon State University Special Collections & Archives Research Center, Corvallis, Oregon.
We acknowledge that materials in SCARC collections and the language that describes them may be harmful. We are actively working to address our descriptive practices; for more information please see our
The archivist-prepared description of this collection uses the phrase "Civil War" to refer to the long-standing athletic rivalry between Oregon State University and the University of Oregon. A history of this athletic rivalry, and use of the phrase "Civil War" to describe it, is available
In June 2020, Oregon State University President Edward J. Ray
We acknowledge the racism represented by the use of this phrase and the harm it may cause our users. In order to provide historical context and to enable standardized searching and access across our collections, we have retained the use of this phrase in the collection description.
[Date of acknowledgement: November 2021]
The photographs were donated to the University Archives by Moore in several accessions in the 1970s-1980s.
The Special Collections & Archives Research Center holds numerous collections depicting Oregon State University students and faculty and the Oregon State campus. The
Series I consists of photographs assembled by Harriet Moore depicting Oregon Agricultural College students, faculty, and campus scenes.
Campus mail carrier for many years; photograph from Lena B. Tartar.
Band in foreground; Pharmacy building in background.
Portrait photographs published in the 1926
Head of women's physical education.
Portrait photograph published in the 1926
Composite of individual portraits of sorority members.
Group photograph of fraternity members.
Snapshots of individuals and groups; removed from an album assembled by Peggy Walker Allworth.
Composite of individual portrait photographs of sorority members.
Portrait photograph.
Holding a trumpet; portrait photograph that may have been taken by Sydney Trask (Moses' brother-in-law).
Waldo and Langton Halls in background
Waldo Hall in background.
Waldo and Langton Halls in background
Heating plant and smokestacks in background.
On Multnomah Field in Portland?
OAC vs University of Oregon (civil war) on November 21, 1914; score 3-3.
OAC vs University of Oregon (civil war) on November 21, 1914.
Waldo and Langton Halls in the background.
Film maker with motion picture film camera.
Studio portrait photograph of football players "Butts" Reardon, "Darkhorse" Newman, and Lee Bissett wearing their letter sweaters.
Class of 1912 50th reunion on steps of Memorial Union.
Graduation portrait photograph in cap and gown; photograph by Howells Studio.
Later named Apperson Hall; now Kearney Hall.
Studio portrait; includes Fred Cate (coach?), George Musgrave, Harry Sprague, Ralph Legley, Alex Hayes, Clyde Starr, and Ralph Morgan. Perhaps Corvallis Public School team.
In Corvallis.
This photograph was from the estate of Helen Gilkey and was given to Harriet Moore by Helen's sister, Beulah Gilkey.
First nursery school.
Legislators ("notables"), standing at the corner of 9th and Madison, were visiting campus on May 5, 1921.
Print affixed to album or scrapbook page.
Group photo of attendees in front of the Men's Gymnasium (Langton Hall). Attendees include Charles D. Byrne, Wallace L. Kadderly, Frank L. Ballard, Fred Shideler, Edwin T. Reed, John C. Burtner, and others from Oregon State. Photograph by Howells Studio.
Portrait image; Black was a member of the Class of 1922.
Photograph probably made from north wing of Agriculture Hall looking to the west.
View to west of flooding on lower campus with a canoe on the water; print affixed to album page.
On lower campus; print affixed to album page.
Snapshot affixed to album page.
Walkway on lower campus; print affixed to album page.
Interior of gymnasium with balcony (now Valley Gymnastics Center); photograph by Ball Studio.