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Oregon State University Campus Maps, 1894-1994

Overview of the Collection

Title
Oregon State University Campus Maps
Dates
1894-1994 (inclusive)
1900-1970 (bulk)
Quantity
2.5 cubic feet, 187 maps, (5 map folders and 1 oversize box)
Collection Number
MAPS OSUCampus
Summary
The Oregon State University Campus Maps document the development of the Oregon State campus from the 1890s through the 1990s. The collection includes campus guides and visitor maps; detailed surveys; campus plans; and maps showing buildings, roads, and walkways. The inital land for the current Oregon State University campus in Corvallis, Oregon, was purchased in 1871.
Repository
Oregon State University Libraries, Special Collections and Archives Research Center
Special Collections and Archives Research Center
121 The Valley Library
Oregon State University
Corvallis OR
97331-4501
Telephone: 5417372075
Fax: 5417378674
scarc@oregonstate.edu
Access Restrictions

Collection is open for research.

Languages
English
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Historical Note

In 1871, the Corvallis College Board of Trustees purchased a 35-acre farm west of downtown Corvallis which served initially as the College's Experimental Farm and was the beginning of Oregon State University's Corvallis campus. By the late 1880s, a building (Benton Hall) had been built on the property. Additional land was purchased and buildings were constructed for teaching, research, and student housing. The Corvallis campus now encompasses 400 acres.

From the early 1900s until 1932, Gordon V. Skelton was responsible for campus surveys and maps and supervised roads, walks, and fire protection for campus buildings in addition to his role as a Professor of Highway Engineering and Chair of the Department of Civil Engineering. In 1932, Skelton was appointed Superintendent of Surveys, Maps, Roads and Walks, and Fire Protection, a position he held until 1940.

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Content Description

The Oregon State University Campus Maps document the development of the Oregon State campus from the 1890s through the 1990s. The collection includes campus guides, visitor and parking maps, and pictorial maps. Maps documenting campus planning in the 1920s through 1970s are part of the collection. Information about the ownership of lands purchased or acquired by the University is available. Detailed survey maps and plans for sewers and utilities, roads, and walkways prepared during the 1900s-1920s are part of the collection. Many of the campus guides include descriptive information about the campus and Corvallis. Maps showing the locations of fraternities and sororities are also available in the collection.

The collection also includes several maps of Oregon State facilities and lands beyond Corvallis. Of note is a map showing the federal land granted to Oregon for support of the agricultural college per requirements of the Morrill Act.

Many of the maps are original ink drawings on vellum; Gordon V. Skelton drew many of the detailed plans and maps. A.D. Taylor prepared the 1926 and 1945 campus plans. The early survey maps of campus were prepared by students in surveying classes. Students also prepared several of the pictorial maps.

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Use of the Collection

Preferred Citation

Oregon State University Campus Maps (MAPS OSUCampus), Oregon State University Special Collections & Archives Research Center, Corvallis, Oregon.

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Administrative Information

Arrangement

The Oregon State University Campus Maps are arranged into four series: I. Oregon Agricultural College Maps, 1894-1930; II. Oregon State College Maps, 1930-1960; III. Oregon State University Maps, 1962-1994; and IV. Oregon State University Maps outside of Corvallis, 1933 - circa 1980s. The items in each series are arranged chronologically.

Custodial History

About 35 of the maps were originally received by the Library as part of the E.E. Wilson Papers in the 1960s. At that time, they were separated from the Papers and cataloged individually as part of the OSU Libraries' map collection.

Acquisition Information

This collection consists of materials that were transferred from the Oregon State University Libraries' maps collection as well as the Special Collections & Archives Research Center's Memorabilia Collection in 2012-2014.

Related Materials

The Facilities Services Records (RG 193) include campus, farm, and property maps. Campus maps were included in the General Catalog for Oregon State beginning with the 1919/1920 volume. The catalogs are available online.

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Detailed Description of the Collection

Names and SubjectsReturn to Top

Subject Terms

  • Campus parking--Oregon--Corvallis.
  • Campus planning--Oregon--Corvallis.
  • College buildings--Oregon--Corvallis.
  • College facilities--Oregon--Corvallis.
  • Greek letter societies--Oregon--Corvallis.

Corporate Names

  • Oregon Agricultural College--Buildings.
  • Oregon Agricultural College--Maps.
  • Oregon State Agricultural College--Maps.
  • Oregon State College--Maps.
  • Oregon State University--Maps.

Geographical Names

  • Corvallis (Or.)--Maps.
  • Oregon--Maps.

Form or Genre Terms

  • Blueline prints.
  • Manuscript maps.
  • Maps.

Other Creators

  • Personal Names

    • Skelton, G. V. (Gordon V.) (creator)
    • Taylor, Albert D. (Albert Davis), 1883-1951. (creator)

Finding aid prepared by Elizabeth Nielsen and Anna Stewart.
2014

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

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