August and Mollie Strand Oral History Interview

Interviewee: August Strand and Mollie Strand
Interviewer: Unidentified
Interview Date: ca. 1975
Location: Corvallis, Oregon
Duration: 0:21:57
 

In this interview, former Oregon State College President August Strand and his wife Mollie discuss their life at OSC. They note that they first came to Oregon State in 1942, during World War II. They moved to Oregon from Montana, and traveled with their children via train. August Strand succeeded Francois Gilfillan as president of Oregon State. He discusses some of the early administrative problems he encountered in his position, including struggles in the science and business schools. Dr. Strand also notes that he wished the students were a bit more rebellious during the 1950s, although his wife disagrees with him on this point.

From there, the Strands talk about what it was like to live in Corvallis, with Mrs. Strand describing her experience of hosting dinners for professors and other colleagues. August Strand then discusses some of the changes that occurred at Oregon State during his presidency, including building repairs and the creation of a Faculty Senate. The session concludes with a conversation about how Dr. and Mrs. Strand feel about Oregon State University as it existed at the time of this interview.

August Strand was born on February 12, 1894 in Victoria, Texas. He later moved to Montana, where he earned a Bachelor of Science in entomology at Montana State College, before then going on to earn his M.S. and Ph.D. at the University of Minnesota. He returned to Montana State College to work as a professor, serving in that position for six years before being appointed as the college’s president. In 1942, Strand and his family moved to Corvallis, where he had been hired as the new president of Oregon State College. He held that position until his retirement in 1961, and continued to live in Corvallis until he passed away on April 27, 1980, at age 86.

Mollie (Allen) Strand was born in Galway, Ireland on September 4, 1894. She studied Home Economics at Montana State College, where she met and, in 1919, married August Strand. The mother of three children, Mrs. Strand was central to many civic and social activities during her twenty years as First Lady of Oregon State College. She passed away in Corvallis on August 27, 1983.

Dublin Core

Title

August and Mollie Strand Oral History Interview

Description

In this interview, former Oregon State College President August Strand and his wife Mollie discuss their life at OSC. They note that they first came to Oregon State in 1942, during World War II. They moved to Oregon from Montana, and traveled with their children via train. August Strand succeeded Francois Gilfillan as president of Oregon State. He discusses some of the early administrative problems he encountered in his position, including struggles in the science and business schools. Dr. Strand also notes that he wished the students were a bit more rebellious during the 1950s, although his wife disagrees with him on this point.

From there, the Strands talk about what it was like to live in Corvallis, with Mrs. Strand describing her experience of hosting dinners for professors and other colleagues. August Strand then discusses some of the changes that occurred at Oregon State during his presidency, including building repairs and the creation of a Faculty Senate. The session concludes with a conversation about how Dr. and Mrs. Strand feel about Oregon State University as it existed at the time of this interview.

August Strand was born on February 12, 1894 in Victoria, Texas. He later moved to Montana, where he earned a Bachelor of Science in entomology at Montana State College, before then going on to earn his M.S. and Ph.D. at the University of Minnesota. He returned to Montana State College to work as a professor, serving in that position for six years before being appointed as the college’s president. In 1942, Strand and his family moved to Corvallis, where he had been hired as the new president of Oregon State College. He held that position until his retirement in 1961, and continued to live in Corvallis until he passed away on April 27, 1980, at age 86.

Mollie (Allen) Strand was born in Galway, Ireland on September 4, 1894. She studied Home Economics at Montana State College, where she met and, in 1919, married August Strand. The mother of three children, Mrs. Strand was central to many civic and social activities during her twenty years as First Lady of Oregon State College. She passed away in Corvallis on August 27, 1983.

Creator

August Strand and Mollie Strand

Source

Oregon Pioneers Oral History Collection (OH 01)

Publisher

Special Collections and Archives Research Center, Oregon State University Libraries

Date

ca. 1975

Format

Digitized Audiocassette

Language

English

Type

Oral History

Identifier

oh01-strand-august-and-mollie-1975

Oral History Item Type Metadata

Interviewer

Unidentified

Interviewee

August Strand and Mollie Strand

Location

Corvallis, Oregon

Original Format

Digitized Audiocassette

Duration

0:21:57

OHMS Object

Interview Format

audio