By Finding aid prepared by Elizabeth Nielsen and Anna Stewart.
Title: Oregon State University Campus Maps, 1894-1994
Predominant Dates: 1900-1970
ID: MAPS OSUCampus
Primary Creator: Skelton, Gordon V.
Extent: 2.5 cubic feet. More info below.
Arrangement: The Oregon State University Campus Maps are arranged into four series: I. Oregon Agricultural College Maps, 1894-1930; II. Oregon State College Maps, 1930-1960; III. Oregon State University Maps, 1962-1994; and IV. Oregon State University Maps outside of Corvallis, 1933 - circa 1980s. The items in each series are arranged chronologically.
Languages of Materials: English [eng]
The Oregon State University Campus Maps document the development of the Oregon State campus from the 1890s through the 1990s. The collection includes campus guides and visitor maps; detailed surveys; campus plans; and maps showing buildings, roads, and walkways. The inital land for the current Oregon State University campus in Corvallis, Oregon, was purchased in 1871.
Maps from this collection have been digitized and are available online in Oregon Digital.
The Oregon State University Campus Maps document the development of the Oregon State campus from the 1890s through the 1990s. The collection includes campus guides, visitor and parking maps, and pictorial maps. Maps documenting campus planning in the 1920s through 1970s are part of the collection. Information about the ownership of lands purchased or acquired by the University is available. Detailed survey maps and plans for sewers and utilities, roads, and walkways prepared during the 1900s-1920s are part of the collection. Many of the campus guides include descriptive information about the campus and Corvallis. Maps showing the locations of fraternities and sororities are also available in the collection.
The collection also includes several maps of Oregon State facilities and lands beyond Corvallis. Of note is a map showing the federal land granted to Oregon for support of the agricultural college per requirements of the Morrill Act.
Many of the maps are original ink drawings on vellum; Gordon V. Skelton drew many of the detailed plans and maps. A.D. Taylor prepared the 1926 and 1945 campus plans. The early survey maps of campus were prepared by students in surveying classes. Students also prepared several of the pictorial maps.
Maps from this collection have been digitized and are available online in Oregon Digital.
In 1871, the Corvallis College Board of Trustees purchased a 35-acre farm west of downtown Corvallis which served initially as the College's Experimental Farm and was the beginning of Oregon State University's Corvallis campus. By the late 1880s, a building (Benton Hall) had been built on the property. Additional land was purchased and buildings were constructed for teaching, research, and student housing. The Corvallis campus now encompasses 400 acres.
From the early 1900s until 1932, Gordon V. Skelton was responsible for campus surveys and maps and supervised roads, walks, and fire protection for campus buildings in addition to his role as a Professor of Highway Engineering and Chair of the Department of Civil Engineering. In 1932, Skelton was appointed Superintendent of Surveys, Maps, Roads and Walks, and Fire Protection, a position he held until 1940.
More Extent Information: 187 maps; 5 map folders and 1 oversize box
Statement on Access: Collection is open for research.
Acquisition Note: This collection consists of materials that were transferred from the Oregon State University Libraries' maps collection as well as the Special Collections & Archives Research Center's Memorabilia Collection in 2012-2014.
Related Materials: The Facilities Services Records (RG 193) include campus, farm, and property maps. Campus maps were included in the General Catalog for Oregon State beginning with the 1919/1920 volume. The catalogs are available online.
Preferred Citation: Oregon State University Campus Maps (MAPS OSUCampus), Oregon State University Special Collections and Archives Research Center, Corvallis, Oregon.
Skelton, Gordon V.
Taylor, Albert D. (Albert Davis) (1883-1951)
Campus parking--Oregon--Corvallis.
Campus planning--Oregon--Corvallis.
College buildings--Oregon--Corvallis.
College facilities--Oregon--Corvallis.
Corvallis (Or.)--Maps.
Greek letter societies--Oregon--Corvallis.
Local History
Oregon--Maps.
Oregon Agricultural College--Buildings.
Oregon Agricultural College--Maps.
Oregon State Agricultural College--Maps.
Oregon State College--Maps.
Oregon State University--Maps.
University History
Blueline prints.
Manuscript maps.
Maps (documents)