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Title: Homer Maris Collection, 1918-1946

ID: MSS Maris

Primary Creator: Maris, W. Homer

Extent: 0.1 cubic feet. More info below.

Languages of Materials: English [eng]

The Homer Maris Collection contains correspondence and manuscripts relating to the Oregon State University alma mater, Carry Me Back, which was written and composed by Maris. Also included in the collection are photographs and an Oregon Agricultural College student handbook.

The Homer Maris Collection consists of materials pertaining to Homer Maris and the Oregon State University alma mater, Carry Me Back, written and composed by Maris. Of especial note are letters from Ida A. ("Mother") Kidder to Maris, to whom the alma mater is dedicated. The collection also includes annotated manuscript copies of Carry Me Back, documents pertaining to its copyright, the original drawing for the cover of the published sheet music, and a receipt for production of the printing plate by  Salter Brothers, an engraver in San Francisco.  A 1934 Barometer article about the origins of the alma mater, an obituary for Maris written by E.T. Reed, a 1920-21 Oregon Agricultural College student handbook, and three photographs are also part of the collection. The photographs are an image of the Trysting Tree (circa 1918), a portrait photograph of Ida A. Kidder (circa 1915), and a portrait photograph of Homer Maris (circa 1925).

Alumnus Homer Maris earned an M.S. degree in Agriculture from Oregon Agricultural College in 1918. In 1914, Maris began composing the words to a song that he felt would gather the spirit of Oregon Agricultural College, which became Carry Me Back, the College's alma mater. In 1918, Maris dedicated the piece to "Mother Kidder", the much-loved College librarian. Maris died in 1933 in a bicycle accident.

Author: Elizabeth Nielsen

More Extent Information: 3 photographs; 2 boxes, including 1 oversize box

Statement on Access: Collection is open for research.

Acquisition Note: The materials that comprise this collection were donated to the Oregon State University Library by Maris' daughter, Marjorie Maris Peterson, in 1968, 1982, and 1993.  The materials donated in 1968 were used as part of the University's centennial celebration.  While the intent of the Library in 1982 was to transfer the materials received at that time to the University Archives, the transfer was not completed until 1997.  Additional materials (perhaps some of the materials received in 1993) were transferred from the Oregon State University Libraries Special Collections to the Archives in 2001. All of the materials are now considered part of the holdings of the Special Collections and Archives Research Center.

Related Materials: Materials relating to Homer Maris and Oregon State University's alma mater can be found in the OSU Memorabilia Collection (MSS MC). The Special Collections and Archives Research Center holdings also include the papers of Maris' wife, Buena, in the Buena Maris Mockmore Papers (MSS Mockmore).

Preferred Citation: Homer Maris Collection (MSS Maris), Oregon State University Special Collections and Archives Research Center, Corvallis, Oregon.

Finding Aid Revision History: The 2006 finding aid was updated in 2018 to incorporate additional materials and bring the finding aid into compliance with current descriptive practices and standards.

Maris, W. Homer
Kidder, Ida A. (Ida Angeline) (1857-1920)
Reed, Edwin Thomas (1872-1948)

Kidder, Ida A. (Ida Angeline), 1857-1920
Maris, W. Homer
Oregon Agricultural College--Songs and music.
Oregon State University--Songs and music
Reed, Edwin Thomas, 1872-1948
Students' songs--Oregon--Corvallis.
University History

Photographic prints.
Sheet music.