Samuel H. Graf Collection, 1903-1964

Title: Samuel H. Graf Collection, 1903-1964

ID: MSS Graf

Primary Creator: Graf, S. H. (Samuel Herman) (1887-1966)

Extent: 0.65 cubic feet. More info below.

Arrangement: Organized into 5 series: I. Family Letters, 1903-1920; II. A Course in Mechanical Drawing, 1909; III. Typescript, 50 Years of Mechanical Engineering at OSC, circa 1945; IV. Ephemera, 1933-1961; and V. Scrapbook, 1954-1964.

Languages of Materials: English [eng]

The Samuel H. Graf Collection consists of materials created and assembled by Graf during the course of his years as a student and faculty member at Oregon State College. The materials include letters written to his family during his student years and early years on the faculty from 1903 to 1918; a text in mechanical drawing co-written by Graf; a history of mechanical engineering at Oregon State; and a scrapbook. The scrapbook consists primarily of notes and letters written to Graf by former students and colleagues on the occasion of his retirement in 1954. The collection also includes two photographic prints of Graf receiving an honorary degree from Linfield College in 1959. Also of note is a reprint of a 1933 article in The Architect and Engineer on Graf's recently constructed home in Corvallis.

An addtion to the Graf Collection (Accession 2011:048) is made up of technical drawings and notes generated and collected by mechanical engineering Professor Samuel Graf. Primarily consisting of machinery blueprints produced off campus by the Tennessee Valley Authority (General Engineering Division Hydraulic Laboratory), South Bend Lathe Works, and the Case School of Applied Science, the drawings were found together with handwritten notes on parts completed for a "shear apparatus" and a consolidometer. Some of the notes also contain "material from Horning" on them. Depicted on the hand rendered drawings are designs for a "bell-mouthed orifice" and a consolidometer. The drawings and notes were housed in an envelope addressed to Graf.

Born at Portland, Oregon, in August 1887, Samuel H. Graf entered Oregon Agricultural College in 1903 to study engineering. He received five engineering degrees from the college - B.S., Electrical Engineering (1907); E.E., Electrical Engineering (1908); B.S., Mechanical Engineering (1908); M.E., Mechanical Engineering (1909); and M.S., Electrical Engineering (1909). Between 1909 and 1954 Graf held several faculty appointments in engineering at Oregon State. From 1909-1912 he was an instructor in mechanical engineering; from 1912-1920 he was the head of experimental engineering; head of the Department of Mechanics and Materials (1920-1934) and of the Department of Mechanical Engineering (1934-1954); director of engineering research (1928-1944); and director of the Engineering Experiment Station (1944-1954).

Graf participated in several professional organizations, including the State Board of Engineering Examiners, the American Society for Metals, the American Society for Testing Materials, and the American Society of Mechanical Engineers. He also served on the Board of Trustees of Linfield College from 1954 to 1966 and was a member of several honorary societies, including Phi Kappa Phi, Sigma Xi (General Science), Eta Kappa Nu (Electrical Engineering), Sigma Tau (General Engineering), and Tau Beta Pi (General Engineering). Among his publications were Gas Appliance Testing Code, the Gas Engineers' Handbook, and several Engineering Experiment Station research bulletins.

Graf was married three times and had four children. He died in July 1966; Graf Hall on the OSU campus and Graf Hall at Linfield College are named for him.

More Extent Information: 2 photographs; 2 boxes, including 1 oversize box

Statement on Access: Collection is open for research.

Related Materials: Additional biographical information on Graf can be found in the OSU Memorabilia Collection (MSS MC) file MC-Graf, Samuel H. and in the biographical files of the News and Communication Services Records (RG 203). Photographs of Graf are located in Harriet's Photograph Collection (P HC), the Oregon State University Historical Photograph Collection (P 025), the Faculty and Staff Photograph Collection (P 046); and the John Garman Photograph Collection (P 095). The Engineering Experiment Station Records (RG 100) and the Mechanical Engineering Department Records (RG 213) include materials from Graf's tenure with those programs. The Engineering Experiment Station Bulletins (PUB 8-34a) include several reports written by Graf. The Beulah Gilkey Collection (MSS GilkeyB) includes correspondence between Graf and others regarding opportunities for engineering faculty with universities in India.

Preferred Citation: Samuel H. Graf Collection (MSS Graf), Oregon State University Special Collections and Archives Research Center, Corvallis, Oregon.

Graf, S. H. (Samuel Herman) (1887-1966)
American Society of Mechanical Engineers
Phillips, Mark Clyde (1877-1965)

College environment--Oregon--Corvallis.
College sports--Oregon--Corvallis.
College students' writings, American--Oregon--Corvallis.
College students--Oregon--Corvallis--Economic conditions.
College students--Oregon--Corvallis--Social conditions.
Engineering--Study and teaching--Oregon--Corvallis.
Engineering students--Oregon--Corvallis.
Graf, S. H. (Samuel Herman), 1887-1966
History of Science
Oregon Agricultural College--Students.
Oregon Agricultural College. School of Engineering
Oregon State College--Alumni and alumnae.
Oregon State College--Faculty.
Oregon State College. Department of Mechanical Engineering--History.
University History

Mechanical drawings (tool-aided drawings)
Photographic prints.
Scrapbooks.