President's Office Records of John M. Bloss, 1892-1897

Title: President's Office Records of John M. Bloss, 1892-1897

ID: RG 013 - SG 03

Primary Creator: Bloss, John M. (John McKnight) (1839-1905)

Extent: 0.25 cubic feet. More info below.

Arrangement: The President's Office Records of John M. Bloss are arranged into four series: I: Correspondence, 1892-1897; II: Marriage Announcement, 1893; III: Speeches, 1894; Reports, 1893-1894. All correspondence is arranged chronologically.

Languages of Materials: English [eng]

Abstract

The President's Office Records of John M. Bloss are comprised of correspondence and reports related to the management and operation of the Oregon State Agricultural College between 1892 and 1897. The collection also contains an announcement from the Corvallis Gazette of Bloss' marriage to Mary A. Woods and a transcript of a speech given by Bloss to the Oregon State Horticultural Society.

The microfilmed components of this collection have been digitized and made available online through the links provided below. Additional paper correspondence in Series 1 has been digitized and is available upon request.

Scope and Content Notes

The President's Office Records of John M. Bloss contains correspondence from Bloss' presidency, a bound volume of correspondence from the Arnold, Letcher, and Bloss presidencies, a microfilmed copy of a Corvallis Gazette article announcing Bloss' marriage to Mary A. Woods, the transcript of a speech on pollination given by Bloss, two reports to the Secretary of Agriculture and the Secretary of the Interior describing the state of the college, and information on students, faculty, and course offerings compiled for President Bloss.

In addition to the original paper documents, a partial, microfilmed copy of this collection has been digitized and made available online. The correspondence in Series 1 has been digitized and is available upon request.

Biographical / Historical Notes

John McKnight Bloss was born in 1839 in New Philadelphia, Indiana. After graduating from Hanover College in 1860, he joined the 27th Indiana Volunteer Infantry Regiment and fought in several battles including the Battle of Antietam. Bloss resigned his commission in 1864 and enrolled in the Ohio Medical College in Cincinnati where he attended school through 1865. Bloss served first as a teacher and then an administrator for a number of public schools in the midwest until, in 1892, he was simultaneously appointed President of the State Agricultural College of Oregon, director of the Experiment Station, and professor of Mental and Moral Science. During his tenure as President, Bloss introduced football to the college, established a school color and mascot, oversaw the construction of several new campus buildings, and established new course offerings including the Farmer's Short Course. Bloss resigned from his post in 1896 as a result of failing health and returned to Hamilton Township in Indiana. There, he established Royerton, the first consolidated school west of the Allegheny Mountains. John M. Bloss died on April 26, 1905.

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: Related content from Bloss' presidency can be found in the John McKnight Bloss Collection (MSS Bloss) and 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 John M. Bloss (RG 013 - SG 03), Oregon State University Special Collections and Archives Research Center, Corvallis, Oregon.

Creators

Bloss, John M. (John McKnight) (1839-1905)
Arnold, Benjamin L. (Benjamin Lea) (1839-1892)
Letcher, John D. (John Davidson) (1853-1938)
Nash, W. Gifford (Wallis Gifford) (1867-1920)
Oregon State Agricultural College. Board of Regents
Oregon State Agricultural College. Office of the President

People, Places, and Topics

Bloss, John M. (John McKnight), 1839-1905
College buildings--Oregon--Corvallis.
College presidents--Oregon--Corvallis.
Education, Higher--Oregon.
Oregon State Agricultural College
Oregon State Agricultural College. Agricultural Experiment Station
United States. Bureau of Education
United States. Department of Agriculture
Universities and colleges--Curricula--Oregon--Corvallis.
Universities and colleges--Law and legislation--Oregon.
Universities and colleges--Oregon--Corvallis--Administration.
Universities and colleges--Oregon--Corvallis--Finance.
University History
World's Columbian Exposition (1893 : Chicago, Ill.)