President's Office Records of Thomas Gatch, 1897-1907

By Finding aid prepared by Trevor Sandgathe

Collection Overview

Title: President's Office Records of Thomas Gatch, 1897-1907

ID: RG 013 - SG 05

Primary Creator: Gatch, Thomas M. (Thomas Milton) (1833-1913)

Extent: 0.15 cubic feet. More info below.

Arrangement: The President's Office Records of Thomas Gatch are composed of two series: I: Correspondence, 1903-1907; II: Reports, 1897-1907.

Languages of Materials: English [eng]

Abstract

The President's Office Records of Thomas Gatch contain correspondence and reports related to the operation of the Oregon Agricultural College and include detailed reports created by the OAC faculty and materials submitted to the Secretary of the Interior.

Scope and Content Notes

The President's Office Records of Thomas Gatch are comprised of correspondence, faculty-generated reports, and reports submitted to the Board of Regents and the Secretary of the Interior. All correspondence relates to the stationing of an Army Commandant at Oregon Agricultural College. The reports include statistics on student attendance, faculty performance, course offerings, campus improvements, and college finances.

In addition to the original paper documents, a partial, microfilmed copy of this collection is available upon request.

Biographical / Historical Notes

Thomas Milton Gatch was born in Milford, Ohio in 1833. He earned his A.B. degree in 1855 and his A.M. in 1860, both from Ohio Wesleyan University. Gatch then entered Lane Theological Seminary in Cincinnati. In 1856, he accepted a position at the University of the Pacific at Santa Clara, California. Later, he moved to Salem where he served simultaneously as President of Willamette University and mayor of the city of Salem. In 1887, Gatch became President of the University of Washington where he remained until 1895. From 1897 to 1907, Gatch served as the President of Oregon Agricultural College. During this time, OAC saw major growth including the construction of several new buildings and a sanitation system, the formation of new students groups, the admission of the college's first international students, the development of new curricula, and the creation of the first Branch Experiment Station. Following his retirement from OAC, Gatch returned to Seattle where he died on April 23, 1913 at the age of 81.

Administrative Information

More Extent Information: 1 box

Statement on Access: The collection is open for research.

Acquisition Note: These records were transferred to the University Archives by the OSU President's Office. The collection is now held by the Oregon State University Libraries Special Collections & Archives Research Center.

Related Materials: Reports from Gatch's presidency can be found in Subgroup 12 of the President's Office Records (RG 013). Additional materials relating to the presidents of Oregon State University include the President's Office Records (RG 013), Presidents of Oregon State University Photographic Collection (P 001), President's Office Photographs (P 092), President's Office Motion Picture Film and Videotapes (FV 092), Board of Regents Records (RG 008), Board of Trustees Records (RG 033), and the OSU Memorabilia Collection (MSS MC).

Preferred Citation: President's Office Records of Thomas Gatch (RG 013 - SG 05), Oregon State University Special Collections and Archives Research Center, Corvallis, Oregon.

Creators

Gatch, Thomas M. (Thomas Milton) (1833-1913)
Oregon State Agricultural College. Board of Regents
Oregon State Agricultural College. Office of the President
Quinlan, Dennis P.
United States. Bureau of Education
United States. War Department
Weatherford, James K. (1850-1935)

People, Places, and Topics

College presidents--Oregon--Corvallis.
Education, Higher--Oregon.
Gatch, Thomas M. (Thomas Milton), 1833-1913
Military education--Oregon--Corvallis.
Oregon Agricultural College
Universities and colleges--Curricula--Oregon--Corvallis.
Universities and colleges--Oregon--Corvallis--Administration.
Universities and colleges--Oregon--Corvallis--Finance.
University History

Box and Folder Listing

Series 1: Correspondence, 1903-1907

This series contains correspondence with Dennis P. Quinlan, personnel in the War Department, and J. K. Weatherford, the President of the Board of Regents, concerning a request that Quinlan be assigned as Commandant at Oregon Agricultural College. This series also contains a copy of War Department General Orders No. 65 detailing laws and regulations pertaining to officers of the Army at educational institutions.

Box-Folder 1.1: Correspondence, 1903-1907

Series 2: Reports, 1897-1907

This series is primarily comprised of faculty reports giving detailed accounts of individual faculty and department activities between 1897 and 1907. The series also includes a report to the Board of Regents summarizing the 1900-1901 academic year, and reports to the Secretary of the Interior for the years 1897-1907.

Box-Folder 1.2: Faculty Reports, 1900
Box-Folder 1.3: Faculty Reports, 1901
Box-Folder 1.4: Faculty Reports, 1902
Box-Folder 1.5: Faculty Reports, 1903
Box-Folder 1.6: Faculty Reports, 1904
Box-Folder 1.7: Faculty Reports, 1905
Box-Folder 1.8: Faculty Reports, 1906
Box-Folder 1.9: Report to the Board of Regents, 1901
Box-Folder 1.10: Reports to the Secretary of the Interior, 1897-1907

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