The Alva Aitken Photograph Collection consists of photographs and postcards depicting OAC campus scenes and individuals - mostly students - from the early 20th century.
Images from this collection have been digitized and are available in Oregon Digital.
Biographical / Historical Notes
Frances Alva Aitken, who went always by Alva, was born to Alvord and Carrie Aitken September 29, 1889 in Portland, Oregon. Carrie Aitken (1860–1947) was born Carrie Johnson in Butteville, Oregon. From 1876 to 1879 she attended Mills Seminary in Benicia, California, and in 1880 she went with her mother to Arizona and taught in mining camps. In 1886 she married Alvord Aitken, a businessman in Prescott, Arizona. Alvord died in 1890 while the family, including Alva's sister Geraldine, was visiting Carrie's mother in Portland, Oregon.
Alva graduated from Portand High School, and enrolled at Oregon Agricultural College in 1908; she graduated with the class of 1910 with a B.S. in Domestic Science and Art. While enrolled at OAC, Aitken was a member of the Pierians Literary Society, and the Portland High School Alumni Association. She was a close friend of classmate Emily Rodgers, and Emily is featured in a number of the photographs in this collection.
After graduation, Alva taught home economics in junior high and grade schools in Salem, Oregon until 1917, and taught at Woodmere Elementary School in Portland, Oregon until 1918. She eventually left teaching to work with the Army Corps of Engineers, retiring in 1961. Frances Alva Aitken passed away March 18, 1970 in Portland, Oregon.
Author: Rachel Lilley
