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Title: William F. Herrin Papers, 1872-1910

Predominant Dates: 1872-1873

ID: MSS Herrin

Primary Creator: Herrin, William F. (William Franklin) (1854-1927)

Extent: 0.01 cubic feet. More info below.

Languages of Materials: English [eng]

The William F. Herrin Papers consist of an essay and several orations written and delivered by Herrin.  William Franklin Herrin graduated from Corvallis College in 1873 with a B.S. in Agriculture.

The William F. Herrin Papers consist of an essay and three orations written and delivered by Herrin.  The essay, "Success: The Result of Application and Perseverance" was prepared by Herrin for Corvallis College Entertainment on June 25, 1872.  Two of the orations were prepared and delivered by Herrin during his student years at Corvallis College.  The oration titled "Liberty" was delivered in 1872.  Herrin's oration "Lessons from History" was delivered as the Valedictory Address at the 1873 Corvallis College commencement. The third speech, "Public Duties of Educated Men," was delivered on June 14, 1910 during the Quarter Centennial Jubilee Celebration at Oregon Agricultural College.

William F. Herrin graduated from Corvallis College in 1873 with a B.S. degree in Agriculture.  Herrin was born in Jacksonville, Oregon, on August 7, 1854 and was only 18 at the time of his graduation from Corvallis College.  Herrin became an attorney and, at the time of his death in 1927, was Vice-President and Chief Counsel of the Southern Pacific Railroad in San Francisco.  In addition to his work as a lawyer, Herrin was known as a banker, businessman and real estate developor.  The San Francisco Examiner  described him as someone who "controlled the political destinies of California."

Herrin was elected the first Secretary of the Corvallis College Alumni Association at the time of his graduation in 1873.  He maintained ties with the College and was invited to be the chief speaker for the Quarter Centennial Jubilee Celebration held in 1910

Author: Elizabeth Nielsen

More Extent Information: 1 oversize box

Statement on Access: Collection is open for research.

Acquisition Note: Details about the acquisition of these materials is not available; however, it is likely they were received by the former University Archives in the 1960s or 1970s.

Related Materials: The Memorabilia Collection includes materials pertaining to Herrin, the Class of 1873, and the 1910 Quarter Centennial Jubilee celebration.  More information about Corvallis College during the 1870s is available in the Board of Trustees Records (RG 033) and the General Catalogs (available online in Oregon Digital).  Correspondence from Herrin is available in the George Stewart Nixon Papers held at the Nevada Historical Society.

Preferred Citation: William F. Herrin Papers (MSS Herrin), Oregon State University Special Collections and Archives Research Center, Corvallis, Oregon.

Finding Aid Revision History: This finding aid replaces information about the collection that was placed online in 2013.

Herrin, William F. (William Franklin) (1854-1927)

College students--Oregon--Corvallis.
Commencement ceremonies--Oregon--Corvallis.
Corvallis College
Corvallis College--Students.
Oregon Agricultural College--Alumni and alumnae.
University History