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A Photographic History of Oregon State University

Professor John Letcher and Calculus Students, ca. 1892

Professor John Letcher and calculus students, ca. 1892. Letcher (1853-1938, front row center) came to OAC in 1888 and taught mathematics, engineering and military science and tactics. He graduated from Virginia Military Institute in 1873 with a degree in civil engineering, and was the son of Virginia’s Confederate governor. Letcher served as acting president in 1892 after Benjamin Arnold’s sudden death and before John Bloss arrived later that year. Letcher was one of the candidates for the position of president, but Bloss had an edge because of his experience as an education administrator. Letcher left OAC in 1894 to teach mathematics at the University of Oregon. (P25:1554)

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1. Professor John Letcher and Calculus Students, ca. 1892 Professor John Letcher and calculus students, ca. 1892. Letcher (1853-1938, front row center) came to OAC in 1888 and taught mathematics, engineering and military science and tactics. He graduated from Virginia Military Institute in 1873 with a degree in civil engineering, and was the son of Virginia’s Confederate governor. Letcher served as acting president in 1892 after Benjamin Arnold’s sudden death and before John Bloss arrived later that year. Letcher was one of the candidates for the position of president, but Bloss had an edge because of his experience as an education administrator. Letcher left OAC in 1894 to teach mathematics at the University of Oregon. (P25:1554)
2. William Arthur Jensen, ca. 1930 William Arthur Jensen, ca. 1930. Jensen (1881 -1945) served as executive secretary for presidents Kerr and Peavy and was a member of the college’s administrative council. He came to OAC in 1907. After President Kerr was in an auto accident and needed nearly a year to recover, Jensen served as the de facto president of OAC during Kerr’s hiatus. The campus gates were dedicated to Jensen for his strong support of WPA art projects on campus during the 1930s. (HC 258)
3. M. Ellwood Smith, ca. 1932
4. Francois Gilfillan and His Family at Home, ca. 1940
5. Dean of Forestry Paul M. Dunn Observing a Pinecone, 1950 Dean of Forestry Paul M. Dunn observing a pinecone, November 1950. Dunn (1898-1988) was OSC’s dean of forestry from 1942 to 1955. He was instrumental in OSC obtaining the 6,200 acre Adair Tract from the federal government after World War II. A large portion of this tract became the Paul M. Dunn Research Forest. Prior to coming to OSC, he had been dean of forestry at Utah State College from 1931 to 1938. After leaving Oregon State, Dunn worked for the St. Regis Paper Company until 1968. He was a 1975 recipient of the Society of American Foresters’ Gifford Pinchot Award. (HC 200)
6. Fred Burgess at the Corvallis Wastewater Treatment Plant, ca. 1960 Fred Burgess at the Corvallis wastewater treatment plant, ca. 1960. Burgess came to OSU in 1953 as an instructor, and served as department chair of civil engineering from 1966 to 1971 and dean of engineering from 1970 to 1989. He specialized in environmental engineering, waste treatment and water pollution control. Burgess was instrumental in securing funding for the Electrical and Computer Engineering Building (Owens Hall), the last building constructed at OSU entirely with state funds. He became a member of the OSU Engineering Hall of Fame in 1998. (P82:510)
7. OSU administration, 1973 OSU administration, 1973. OSU’s top administrators gathered by this Rolls Royce outside of Education Hall (now Furman Hall). From left: Milosh Popovich, Dean of Administration; Robert W. Chick, Dean of Students; Robert W. MacVicar, President; Stuart E. Knapp, Dean of Undergraduate Studies; David B. Nicodemus, Dean of Faculty; and Roy A. Young, Vice-President for Research and Graduate Studies. The car may have belonged to G. Burton Wood, director of the Agricultural Experiment Station and a collector of classic cars. (HC 1496)

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1. Judy Spoelstra, 1982 Judy Spoelstra in action against Montana State, 1982. Spoelstra played at OSU for two seasons, 1982 and 1983, earning Kodak All-American second team honors in 1983. She led the team to the 1982 Women’s NIT title and an appearance in the 1983 NCAA tournament. Spoelstra returned to OSU in 1995 to inherit basketball head coaching duties from her former coach, Aki Hill. She coached the team for ten seasons, compiling an overall record of 133 wins and 158 losses. Her teams played in the 1996 NCAA tournament and in the WNIT from 2001 to 2004. Spoelstra received the John R. Wooden Pac-10 conference coach of the year in 2000, and was named to the OSU Sports Hall of Fame in 1994. (P57:6979)
2. Larry Bielenberg, ca. 1975
3. Portrait of Sarah Latimer Finley, ca. 1874 Portrait of Sarah Latimer Finley, ca. 1874. Finley was the daughter of a minister in the Methodist Episcopal Church, South. Despite her health concerns that precipitated the Finleys’ return to California in 1872, she lived to be 89 years old, passing away in 1937. Finley was a leader of the suffrage movement in Sonoma County, California. Thomas Houseworth & Co. was one of the leading photography studios in San Francisco in the 1870s and 1880s. (HC 225)
4. Dean of Forestry Paul M. Dunn Observing a Pinecone, 1950 Dean of Forestry Paul M. Dunn observing a pinecone, November 1950. Dunn (1898-1988) was OSC’s dean of forestry from 1942 to 1955. He was instrumental in OSC obtaining the 6,200 acre Adair Tract from the federal government after World War II. A large portion of this tract became the Paul M. Dunn Research Forest. Prior to coming to OSC, he had been dean of forestry at Utah State College from 1931 to 1938. After leaving Oregon State, Dunn worked for the St. Regis Paper Company until 1968. He was a 1975 recipient of the Society of American Foresters’ Gifford Pinchot Award. (HC 200)
5. Coach Walker & Amy Klever, 2003
6. Jenna Leavitt, ca. 1993 Jenna Leavitt dribbles the ball against an opponent, ca. 1993. Leavitt led the Beavers in goals and total points in 1992 and 1993. She holds the OSU record for points (nine) in one game, scoring nine against Gonzaga on Sept. 27, 1993. In that game she scored four goals, an OSU record she shares with Val Wiliams. She also holds the OSU record for career assists with twenty-three. Leavitt garnered first team All-NCSC honors in 1990 and 1992. She was also first team Pac-10 All-Academic in 1994. (Photo by Mike Shields, courtesy of OSU Athletic Communications)
7. Mary Graham, Rose Russell, Fannie Irwin, and Mattie Graham, ca. 1868
9. Shirley Lagastee, Winter 1975 Shirley Lagastee drives around a defender to the basket, winter 1975. Lagastee was OSU’s leading scorer that season. OSU split its two game series with the Oregon Ducks, winning the second contest in 97-32 blowout. Basketball became an intercollegiate sport for women at OSU in 1972. Lagastee was a four-sport athlete at OSU – she also played field hockey and softball, and was on the track and field team. (P57:4937)
10. Married students at Adair Village housing for veterans, ca. 1946 Married students at Adair Village housing for veterans, ca. 1946. The large number of returning veterans after World War II created a severe shortage of student housing at OSC. As a temporary measure to alleviate part of the shortage, the college utilized part of the former Camp Adair military training cantonment to house returning veterans, many of whom were married. The Adair Village housing, which consisted of 326 units, opened in the fall of 1946. (HC 816 #13)
11. Celebrating OSC's Victory over NYU, 1928 Coach Paul Schissler (left) and football team member Howard Maple receiving a trophy from Portland Mayor George Baker, celebrating OSC's victory over New York University, 1928. Oregon State concluded an up-and-down season in 1928 by traveling 3,000 miles to play the much heralded New York University Violets in Yankee Stadium on Thanksgiving Day, November 29. The 25-13 Beaver victory, considered one of college football's biggest upsets of the season, was called "one of the prettiest games of the year to watch" by a New York sportswriter. On the team's return trip, crowds at LaGrande, Pendleton, The Dalles, Portland and Corvallis greeted the victors. The trophy awarded by Mayor Baker was inscribed, "To Oregon State College by the citizens of Portland presented in commemoration of the football victory, Oregon State College over New York University Yankee Stadum, New York O.S.C. 25 - N.Y.U. 13 November 29, 1928 (HC 918)
12. Helen Gilkey and Assistants in the Herbarium, ca. 1945 Helen Gilkey and assistants in the Herbarium, ca. 1945. Gilkey, who received her bachelor's and master's degrees from OAC (1907 and 1911), was curator of the herbarium from 1918 to 1951. In 1915 she was the first woman to earn a Ph.D. in botany from the University of California, Berkeley. She also served as professor of botany at Oregon State and was an accomplished botanical illustrator and author, best known for her research on truffles. OSU’s Herbarium was established in the early 1880s. At the time of this photo, the Herbarium was located on the third floor of what is now Strand Agriculture Hall. Today it is located in Cordley Hall, contains more than 405,000 vascular plant, bryophyte, algal and fungal specimens, and is comprised of collections from OSU, the University of Oregon, and Willamette University. (HC 1252)
13. Associate Registrar Eva Blackwell Prepares Diplomas for Commencement, 1963
14. Physics Professors David Nicodemus and Richard R. Dempster Work with OSC’s Cyclotron, ca. 1954 Physics Professors David Nicodemus and Richard R. Dempster work with OSC’s cyclotron, ca. 1954. Nicodemus joined the Oregon State faculty in 1950 after receiving his doctorate at Stanford, where he worked on establishing its cyclotron. During World War II he worked on the Manhattan Project at Los Alamos, and participated in the detonation of the first nuclear device at the Trinity site in 1945. Dempster came to Oregon State in 1944 after earning his doctorate at the University of California, Berkeley, in 1942. While at Cal, Dempster worked in Ernest O. Lawrence’s Radiation Lab. Lawrence developed the first cyclotron at the University of California in 1932. (P25:2888)
15. Art Student Making a Lithograph in a Print Making Class, Fall 1969
16. Biochemist Wil Gamble in the Lab, ca. 1965
17. State Agricultural College Student Body, ca. 1888 State Agricultural College student body, ca. 1888. This image shows many of the students posed on the side of the college building – probably one of the last photos taken prior to the college moving to its new location on the college farm. The photo was made by Corvallis photographer Winfield S. Gardner, who took many photos of OAC students during the twenty-seven years he operated his studio in the city (1886 to 1913). (HC 1344)
18. Brent Barry Against the Ducks, 1995 Brent Barry in action against the Ducks, 1995. Barry played at OSU from 1991 to 1995. He was an All Pac-10 selection in 1995, and was second in scoring in the conference that year at 21 points per game. He is on nine of OSU’s top 10 career lists. Barry played professionally from 1995 to 2009, including stints with the Los Angeles Clippers, Seattle Supersonics and the San Antonio Spurs. (P3, Accession 96:005)
19. Oregon Governor Tom McCall confers with OSU symphony conductor Bernard Gilmore, Feb. 12, 1969
21. Portrait of James K.P. Currin, ca. 1870
22. Portrait of W. W. Bristow, ca. 1894
23. Fred Burgess at the Corvallis Wastewater Treatment Plant, ca. 1960 Fred Burgess at the Corvallis wastewater treatment plant, ca. 1960. Burgess came to OSU in 1953 as an instructor, and served as department chair of civil engineering from 1966 to 1971 and dean of engineering from 1970 to 1989. He specialized in environmental engineering, waste treatment and water pollution control. Burgess was instrumental in securing funding for the Electrical and Computer Engineering Building (Owens Hall), the last building constructed at OSU entirely with state funds. He became a member of the OSU Engineering Hall of Fame in 1998. (P82:510)
24. Portrait of Elizabeth Hoover, Class of 1901
25. Portrait of George F. Burkhart, ca. 1871
26. OSU administration, 1973 OSU administration, 1973. OSU’s top administrators gathered by this Rolls Royce outside of Education Hall (now Furman Hall). From left: Milosh Popovich, Dean of Administration; Robert W. Chick, Dean of Students; Robert W. MacVicar, President; Stuart E. Knapp, Dean of Undergraduate Studies; David B. Nicodemus, Dean of Faculty; and Roy A. Young, Vice-President for Research and Graduate Studies. The car may have belonged to G. Burton Wood, director of the Agricultural Experiment Station and a collector of classic cars. (HC 1496)
27. Senior Portrait of Harold A. Wilkins, Class of 1907
28. Class of 1872
29. John H. Hall, ca. 1949 John H. Hall, ca. 1949. Hall (1899-1970) graduated from OAC in 1923 with a bachelor’s degree in business administration. He later graduated from law school and entered politics with his 1932 election to the Oregon House of Representatives. He became speaker of the house in 1947. After the death of Governor Earl Snell and two other officials in a plane crash in 1947, Hall was next in line in succession, and took the oath of office of governor on October 30, 1947. He was challenged in the 1948 Republican primary by another Oregon Stater, Douglas McKay, who had been a close friend of Snell. McKay defeated Hall and went on to win the general election in fall 1948. He later served as a district court judge. (HC 527)
30. William Arthur Jensen, ca. 1930 William Arthur Jensen, ca. 1930. Jensen (1881 -1945) served as executive secretary for presidents Kerr and Peavy and was a member of the college’s administrative council. He came to OAC in 1907. After President Kerr was in an auto accident and needed nearly a year to recover, Jensen served as the de facto president of OAC during Kerr’s hiatus. The campus gates were dedicated to Jensen for his strong support of WPA art projects on campus during the 1930s. (HC 258)
31. Zoology Lab with Museum Collection, ca. 1892
32. Political Scientist Bill Lunch, Spring 1996 Political scientist Bill Lunch, spring 1996. Lunch was well known for his political commentaries and analysis on Oregon Public Broadcasting, which began in 1988. He was often heard on OPB’s Oregon Considered radio program and the Seven Days television program. He was a faculty member in OSU’s Political Science Department from 1984 to 2011, and served as department chair his last eight years. (P57, Accession 2006:046)
33. M. Ellwood Smith, ca. 1932
34. Surveying Class, 1907
35. OAC Professor of Bacteriology Theodore Beckwith in His Lab, ca. 1913 OAC Professor of Bacteriology Theodore Beckwith in his lab, ca. 1913. The Bacteriology Department worked closely with other departments, such as Dairy Husbandry and Poultry Husbandry, on Experiment Station research projects. Beckwith was a member of the OAC faculty and chair of the Bacteriology Department from 1912 to 1919. He authored several Extension and Experiment Station publications. He later served as chair of UCLA’s Department of Bacteriology. (HC 949)
36. Francois Gilfillan and His Family at Home, ca. 1940
37. Women’s track coaches Will Stephens & Joni Huntley, 1981
38. Karl Van Calcar, ca. 1985 Karl Van Calcar running against Washington State, ca. 1985. Van Calcar, who ran at OSU from 1984-1988, was a five time All-American for Oregon State – three times in track and twice in cross-country. The 1500 and 5000 meter runs and the 3000 meter steeplechase were his specialties. He won the steeplechase at the 1988 NCAA Championships – the last Beaver to win an individual national title before track and field was eliminated. (Photo by Mike Shields, courtesy of OSU Athletic Communications)
39. Bernard Malamud at Home With His Cat, 1960 Bernard Malamud at home with his cat, 1960. Novelist Bernard Malamud was an English professor at Oregon State College from 1949 to 1961. During this time he wrote three novels: The Natural (1952), The Assistant (1957), and A New Life (1961) as well as a collection of short stories, The Magic Barrel (1959) for which he received the National Book Award. He was presented OSU's Distinguished Service Award in 1969. (P222:8)
40. Professor John Letcher and Calculus Students, ca. 1892 Professor John Letcher and calculus students, ca. 1892. Letcher (1853-1938, front row center) came to OAC in 1888 and taught mathematics, engineering and military science and tactics. He graduated from Virginia Military Institute in 1873 with a degree in civil engineering, and was the son of Virginia’s Confederate governor. Letcher served as acting president in 1892 after Benjamin Arnold’s sudden death and before John Bloss arrived later that year. Letcher was one of the candidates for the position of president, but Bloss had an edge because of his experience as an education administrator. Letcher left OAC in 1894 to teach mathematics at the University of Oregon. (P25:1554)
41. Professor Earl L. Packard Examining a Fossilized Sea Turtle Skull, ca. 1935. Professor Earl L. Packard examining a fossilized sea turtle skull, ca. 1935. Packard was a paleontologist who came to OSC from the University of Oregon in 1932 as a part of the consolidation of the School of Science at Oregon State. He served as the Dean of Science from 1932 to 1938, as chair of the geology department from 1932 to 1950, and as director of OSC’s Research Council from 1932 to 1946. (HC 1038)
42. Rockne at OAC Summer Session Coaching School, ca. 1927
43. Joaquin Miller Visiting OAC, Winter 1897-1898
44. Dean Ava Milam and Graduate Student Caroline Chen, ca. 1927 Dean Ava Milam and graduate student Caroline Chen, ca. 1927. Chen, who was from Peking (now Beijing), was one of the first home economics graduate students from China to attend Oregon State. Milam developed strong relationships with many Pacific Rim countries, including China, Korea, and Japan, and many students came to Oregon State because of her work in those countries. (MSS – Ava Milam Clark Papers)
Contents of this tag:
1. Administration Building, ca. 1895
2. Cadets in Front of Benton Hall, ca. 1892 Cadets in front of Benton Hall, ca. 1892. What is now known as Benton Hall was the first building constructed on the original college farm, and has been the centerpiece of the eastern side of campus ever since. The cadet corps is in formation in front of the building in this photograph, perhaps to welcome the college's new president, John Bloss. In 1872 the college became the first in the Pacific Northwest to offer military instruction. (HC 38)
3. Mechanical Hall fire aftermath, September 1898 Mechanical Hall fire aftermath, September 1898. The fire that destroyed Mechanical Hall the night of September 26, 1898 was a devastating, but temporary, setback for OAC. Though classrooms, shops, athletic facilities, and electrical generating facilities were destroyed, the college persevered. The new gymnasium and armory, already under construction, was completed in early 1899. Through the efforts of regent and former legislator John Apperson, state funds quickly were approved for a new mechanical hall. A new powerhouse was completed in 1900, providing a stable source of electricity for the campus. (P101:517)
4. Zoology Lab with Museum Collection, ca. 1892
5. OAC Cadets, ca. 1895
6. Portrait of W. W. Bristow, ca. 1894
7. Students Haying on the College Farm, ca. 1890 Students haying on the college farm, ca. 1890. One aspect of student life at OAC in the late 19th century was the requirement that agriculture students work five hours per week on the farm or in the garden during fall and spring terms. According to the 1890-91 college catalog, students received no pay for this work, but the “labor will be made instructive as far as possible.” During winter term, students worked in the mechanical shops. This photo was taken along the southern boundary of the original college farm. Sitting on the farm implement and holding a haying fork is E.E. Wilson, Class of 1889, who was enrolled as a post-graduate student in 1890-91. (P25:1288)
8. Joaquin Miller Visiting OAC, Winter 1897-1898
9. Professor John Letcher and Calculus Students, ca. 1892 Professor John Letcher and calculus students, ca. 1892. Letcher (1853-1938, front row center) came to OAC in 1888 and taught mathematics, engineering and military science and tactics. He graduated from Virginia Military Institute in 1873 with a degree in civil engineering, and was the son of Virginia’s Confederate governor. Letcher served as acting president in 1892 after Benjamin Arnold’s sudden death and before John Bloss arrived later that year. Letcher was one of the candidates for the position of president, but Bloss had an edge because of his experience as an education administrator. Letcher left OAC in 1894 to teach mathematics at the University of Oregon. (P25:1554)