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President's Office Records of William Jasper Kerr, 1907-1964

By Finding aid prepared by Trevor Sandgathe

Collection Overview

Title: President's Office Records of William Jasper Kerr, 1907-1964

Predominant Dates: 1907-1940

ID: RG 013 - SG 07

Primary Creator: Kerr, William Jasper, 1863-1947

Extent: 1.75 cubic feet. More info below.

Arrangement: The President's Office records of William Jasper Kerr are arranged into eleven series: I: General Reference File, 1922-1940; II: Correspondence, 1907-1935; III: Clippings, 1908-1935; IV: Oregon State Board of Higher Curricula, 1925-1941; V: Resolutions Adopted by the State Board of Higher Education, 1935; VI: Biography of William Jasper Kerr; VII: Publications, 1908-1964; VIII: The OSC - U of O Controversy, 1937; IX: Reports to the Board of Regents, 1909-1929; X: Reorganization, 1931-1932; XI: College Surveys, 1928-1930. Materials within series are arranged alphabetically and chronologically.

Languages of Materials: English [eng]

Abstract

The President's Office Records of William Jasper Kerr document Kerr's presidency of Oregon Agricultural College between 1907 and 1932 and include materials from his tenure as Chancellor of Oregon's higher education system. The collection includes general reference files, correspondence, newsclippings, assorted reports and publications, and materials generated for the Oregon State Board of Higher Education and the Board of Regents. The collection contains materials relating to the college's educational mission, organizational structure, budget, attendance, and curricular offerings, the state of education in Oregon, and the reorganization of the Oregon educational system.

Scope and Content Notes

The President's Office Records of William Jasper Kerr are comprised of materials from Kerr's tenure as President of Oregon Agricultural College. The collection include a general reference file, correspondence, newspaper clippings, communications with the Oregon State Board of Higher Education, publications, reports to the Board of Regents, survey materials, and biographic materials. The collection contains extensive material relating to the physical and curricular growth of the college, the controversial reorganization of OAC and the University of Oregon, and the state of higher education in Oregon in the early 20th century.

Biographical / Historical Notes

William Jasper Kerr was born November 17, 1863 in Richmond, Utah. At a young age, Kerr dropped out of school in favor of a position on his father's railroad construction crew. He later returned to school, earning a B.S. in mathematics from the University of Utah in 1885. Following graduation, Kerr accepted a position teaching in Smithfield, Utah. Shortly thereafter, he was promoted to Superintendent of the Smithfield district. Between 1887 and 1894, Kerr taught mathematics at Brigham Young College and the University of Utah. In 1894, Kerr was appointed President of Brigham Young, a position he held until 1900 when he became President of Utah State Agricultural College. In 1907, Kerr resigned his position at Utah and became President of Oregon Agricultural College.

Kerr's presidency at OAC was defined by a period of prolonged and aggressive growth. During his tenure, the college constructed more than twenty buildings, including the Memorial Union, and more than doubled the total size of the campus to 555 acres. He tightened admissions requirements, expanded curricular offerings, and added talented staff to the college's ranks. Kerr resigned from his post in 1932, ending the longest reign of any OSC president.

After leaving the college, Kerr became the first Chancellor of Oregon's system of higher education. He held this position for three years before retiring. William Jasper Kerr died in 1947 at the age of 83.

Administrative Information

More Extent Information: 5 boxes, including 1 oversize box; 5 microfilm reels

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: Content related to the Kerr presidency can be found in the Edwin T. Reed Papers (MSS Reed) 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 William Jasper Kerr (RG 013 - SG 07), Oregon State University Special Collections and Archives Research Center, Corvallis, Oregon.

Creators

Kerr, William Jasper, 1863-1947
Oregon State Agricultural College. Board of Regents
Oregon State Agricultural College. Office of the President
Oregon State College. Office of the President
Reed, Edwin Thomas (1872-1948)
United States. Bureau of Education

People, Places, and Topics

Association of American Universities
College presidents--Oregon--Corvallis.
Education, Higher--Oregon.
Kerr, William Jasper, 1863-1947
Oregon Agricultural College
Oregon State Agricultural College
Oregon State Board of Higher Curricula
Oregon State College. Office of the President
Oregon State System of Higher Education
Universities and colleges--Curricula--Oregon--Corvallis.
Universities and colleges--Law and legislation--Oregon.
University History


Box and Folder Listing