President's Office General Subject and Correspondence Files, 1910-1974

Title: President's Office General Subject and Correspondence Files, 1910-1974

Predominant Dates: 1950-1969

ID: RG 013 - SG 11

Primary Creator: Oregon State University. Office of the President

Extent: 2.7 cubic feet. More info below.

Arrangement: The President's Office General Subject and Correspondence Files are arranged in 3 series: 1. Organizations, 1940-1972; 2. Oregon State College / University, 1910-1974; and 3. Oregon State Board / System of Higher Education, 1940-1972.

Languages of Materials: English [eng]

Abstract

Scope and Content Notes

The President's Office General Subject and Correspondence Files consist of microfilmed records documenting the administration and functioning of Oregon State University -- primarily during the 1950s and 1960s. These records were created and maintained by both the Presdient's Office and the Dean of Administration.

The records provide extensive documentation of the relationships with other colleges and universities, state and federal agences, and associations and organizations. Records documenting the instruction and research programs of the University, student life, institutional services and administration, and the financial functioning of the institution comprise Series 2.

The functioning of the Oregon State System of Higher Education and the Oregon State Board of Higher Education and Oregon State University's role in that system are documented in Series 3.

Biographical / Historical Notes

Since its designation as a land-grant institution of higher learning in 1868, Oregon State University has had 21 presidents, including 6 acting presidents. They have been William A. Finley, 1865-1872 (Finley was appointed president of the university's predecessor institution, Corvallis Academy, in 1865); Joseph Emery, acting, 1872; Benjamin L. Arnold, 1872-1892; John D. Letcher, acting, 1892; John M. Bloss, 1892-1896; H. B. Miller, 1896-1897; Thomas M. Gatch, 1897-1907; William Jasper Kerr, 1907- 1932; George W. Peavy, acting, 1932-1934, president, 1934-1940; Frank L. Ballard, 1940-1941; Francois A. Gilfillan, acting, 1941- 1942; August L. Strand, 1942-1961; James H. Jensen, 1961-1969; Roy A. Young, acting, 1969-1970; Robert W. MacVicar, 1970-1984; John V. Byrne, 1984-1995; and Paul G. Risser, 1996-2002; Timothy P. White, 2002-2003 (acting); Edward John Ray, 2003-2020; F. King Alexander, 2020-2021; Rebecca L. Johnson, 2021-2022 (acting).

The president is the chief executive officer of the university. From 1868 to 1929 the president reported to the college's Board of Trustees/Regents. Since the creation of the Oregon University System (formerly the Oregon State System of Higher Education) in 1929, the president has reported to the System's chancellor.

Administrative Information

More Extent Information: 180 microfilm boxes

Statement on Access: Collection is open for research.

Acquisition Note: These materials were transferred to the University Archives in the 1960s and 1970s and microfilmed by the Archives.

Related Materials:

SCARC's holdings include myriad collections documenting the work of past OSU presidents and the President's Office as an entity, in a wide variety of formats.

Photographs of OSU presidents are available in the Presidents of Oregon State University Photographic Collection (P 001) and the President's Office Photographs (P 092) as well as many other photographic groups. Moving images of the presidents are available in the President's Office Motion Picture Film and Videotapes (FV 092). SCARC's manuscripts collections include the personal papers of several OSU Presidents; these include the William A. Finley Scrapbook (MSS FinleyWA), John McKnight Bloss Collection (MSS Bloss), F. A. Gilfillan Papers (MSS Gilfillan), George W. Peavy Papers (MSS Peavy), Roy A. Young Papers (MSS YoungRA), the Robert W. MacVicar Papers (MSS MacVicar), and the Paul G. Risser Papers (MSS Risser). The largest extant group of William Jasper Kerr's papers can be found in the Edwin T. Reed Papers (MSS Reed). Materials pertaining to August L. Strand and James A. Jensen are included in the Fred M. Shideler Papers (MSS Shideler).

President's Office publications (PUB 247) are also available in the Special Collections and Archives Research Center. Various files in the OSU Memorabilia Collection (MSS MC) also contain information on the OSU presidents.

Additional collections documenting the Oregon State Board/System of Higher Education include theOregon State Board of Higher Education Records (RG 130), the Contract Administration Records (RG 212), theOregon Higher Education Oral History Collection (OH 046), the Finance and Administration Records (RG 131), the Associated Students of Oregon State University (ASOSU) Records (RG 011), and the Registrar’s Office Records (RG053 - SG 1).

See also: The OSU Presidents Online Exhibit, featuring images and biographical sketches of OSU Presidents from 1865 to the present.

Preferred Citation: President's Office General Subject and Correspondence Files (RG 013 - SG 11), Oregon State University Special Collections and Archives Research Center, Corvallis, Oregon.

Creators

People, Places, and Topics

Agricultural Experiment Station
American Council of Education
Association of State Universities and Land-Grant Colleges
Corvallis (Or.)
Ford Foundation
KOAC (Radio station : Corvallis, Or.)
KOAC (Television station : Corvallis, Or.)
National Association of State Universities and Land Grant Colleges
National Science Foundation (U.S.)
Northwest Association of Secondary and Higher Schools
Oregon Agricultural College
Oregon State Agricultural College
Oregon State Agricultural College--Administration.
Oregon State Board of Higher Education
Oregon State College
Oregon State College--Administration.
Oregon State College. Lower Division
Oregon State College. Physical Plant
Oregon State System of Higher Education
Oregon State University
Oregon State University--Administration.
Oregon State University--Students.
Oregon University System
United States Government
University History