Oregon State University - Beaver Yearbook (Corvallis, OR)

Page 28 text:

Students of Corvallis College gather in front of the campus. This building was the built in the late 1800‘s on today's Madison Avenue and Fifth Street. OSU Archives photo Students harvest hay in the fields behind campus. Fairbanks hall appears in the background. Construction work used the power of horses for the building of Shepard Hall in 1908. OSU Archives photo OSU Archives photo P90 S9 24 •UNIVERSITY HISTORY 1894 1994

Page 27 text:

THE PRESIDENTS OSU Archives photo A prominent president surrounded by controversy One of OSU’s most prominent presidents was surrounded by controversy. William Jasper Kerr, the namesake of OSU’s library, was a confirmed polygamist. A devout Mormon, following the practices of the religion led him into two marriages, and perhaps a possible third. Newspaper articles and historical documents support the accusations. According to a Benton County newspaper in 1910, E.J. MacEwan an author and acquaintan.ee of Kerr claimed, “He (Kerr) had five children by wife number one, and two by the other one living in Logan. MacEwan added, “He was commonly reported to have a third wife in Ogden, whom he married, supposing her rich; finding to the contrary, abandoned her and she got a divorce on the grounds of non-support.” WAV. Hill, Professor of English at State University Reno, Nevada, also wrote to the same newspaper insisting on Kerr's Polygamy, in addition to his falsified credentials. Kerr claimed that he attended Cornell University, where he earned a doctorate degree. However, in 1910, David F. Hoy, Registrar of Cornell University demanded that Kerr was never awarded any degree from that institution. MacEwan wrote that Kerr was indeed granted a doctorate degree through the Mormon Church. His title was printed D. ScB., which signified the church degree. Kerr then began to drop the B. from the title thus leaving his degree a Doctorate of Science. Although Kerr faced severe accusations, he managed to serve the educational system for 50 years, m Traci Kctclwm • p R E S I D l; 1894 1994 William J. Kerr and some of his supporter stand for a photo. Kerr enjoyed documenting his presidency with many photos. S • 23

Page 29 text:

UNIVERSITY HISTORY Some residents of Waldo Mall gather ost7 Ph‘ 0 .J6 in front of the dorm in the late 1920‘s. Corvallis College: The Birth of Oregon State University More than 100 years have passed since the birth of Oregon State University. Many name changes have taken place since its beginning in 1858, when it was known simply as Corvallis College. Corvallis College was originated by a group of citizens wanting to better the education currently offered only at primary and “high school levels offered at the Corvallis Academy, which was conducted by supporters of the Baptist Church. The trustees chartered Corvallis College on January 20, 1858. The men that originated Corvallis College sought “no religious affiliation, and no organic relation to any earlier school. Construction of a two story Corvallis College building began in 1858 on Fifth street between Madison and Monroe Avenues. The estimated cost of the project was $5,000 and was completed in 1859. Due to financial difficulties, the building and land of Corvallis College was sold at a sheriffs’ auction to satisfy a mechanic's lien. Reverend Orceneth Fisher, an agent of California Southern Methodists, purchased the land and building for $4,500. The college reopened in November of I860, with Reverend W.M. Culp as principal. In 1865, the ownership and control of Corvallis College was granted to the Columbia Conference of the Methodist Episcopal Church. That same year Reverend William A. Finley, A.M., D.D. was appointed the first president of Corvallis College. Finally, a Collegiate Department offering a four year, college level, liberal arts curriculum was added to the prior departments of the College. These changes led to the beginning of one of the west coast's finest universities. «• Jennifer Phelps • u N I V E R SITY 1894 1994 M I S TORY 25