Helen Julia Cowgill was born 1 December 1881 in Springfield, Illinois. Cowgill came to Oregon in 1890 and graduated in 1913 from Oregon Agricultural College with a BS degree in Domestic Science and Art. After teaching Domestic Science and Art at Harney County (Oregon) High School at Burns for one year, she began her career at OAC in 1914 as Assistant State 4-H Club Leader with the Extension Service. In 1916, she earned a second BS degree in Home Economics from OAC. In charge of the girls' 4-H work, Cowgill wrote many of the 4-H Circulars used by girls in their 4-H Projects. She became known as the "Mother of Oregon 4-H." Cowgill took a year's leave of absence to complete her Masters Degree, which she received from the University of Washington in 1931. She was a member of Phi Kappa Chi and the Epsilon Sigma Phi, serving as treasurer of the latter organization in 1943. Cowgill retired from Oregon State College in 1947 and was awarded emeritus status. In 1954 Cowgill was selected as a "Woman of Achievement" by Theta Sigma Phi, and the 1957 4-H Summer School publication 4-H Absolutely was dedicated to her. Cowgill died in Corvallis on 15 May 1959. In 1965 a tree and bench on the university campus were dedicated to her memory.
Nathan Fasten was born in Austria on December 4, 1887. He grew up in New York City, and graduated from the College of the City of New York in 1910 with a bachelor of science in chemical biology. Fasten studied at the University of Wisconsin as a graduate student from 1911 to 1914, earning a Ph.D. in 1914. Fasten came to Oregon Agricultural College in 1920 as an associate professor of zoology and physiology. The next year he was promoted to professor and department head; he served in that capacity until his resignation from Oregon State College in 1944. He later worked as Chief Scientist for the Washington State Water Pollution Commission in Seattle. Fasten authored many journal articles and books. He was a fellow in the American Association for the Advancement of Science. Fasten died in Seattle on September 19, 1953.
Home Game, The 1914 C. E. apprentice team was comprised of players from classes that an instructor taught. C. E. is undoubtedly for the Civil Engineering Association, a student group.
John Withycombe was a 1901 graduate of OAC and became a wheat rancher in eastern Oregon. James Withycombe, Experiment Station Director from 1908-1914 and Governor of Oregon from 1915-1919, was his uncle.
Left to Right: E. E. Grimm, Prof. of Ag; Mrs. Ida Callahan, Assist. in Prep; B. L. Arnold, President; B. J. Hawthorn, Professor of Languages, Dr. Joseph Emery, Prof. of Math and Natural Sciences; W. W. Briston. Benjamin L. Arnold served as the President of Oregon Agricultural College from 1872-1892. Arnold constructed a curriculum structure, dividing studies into two departments, Literary and Scientific. Each department contained specific corresponding schools.
Rev. and Mrs. William A. Finley. William A. Finley was the first president of Corvallis College from 1865-1872. Finley was a Methodist minister who helped alter the reputation of Corvallis College from a "pioneer high school" to a higher education institution.
Faculty group photo with President Gatch taken around 1904-1905. Front row: Helen V. Crawford, Ida B. Callahan, Thomas H. Crawford, Dennis Patrick Quinlan, Thomas Milton Gatch, Nicholas Tartar, George Coote, Emile F. Pernot, Margaret Constock Snell, ?. Middle row: Helen Louise Holgate, Ernest Chesney Hayward, Gordon Vernon Skelton, James Withycombe, Herald Taillandier, Arthur Burton Cordley, Abraham Lincoln Kinsley, Charles Leslie Johnson, Will Orian Trine, Richard Jeffery Nichols, ?, Frank E. Edwards. Back row: Thomas Bilyeu, Grant Adelbert Covell, Frederick Berchtold, Clarence Melville McKellips, Mark Clyde Phillips, Edward Ralph Lake, John Baptiste Horner, John Franklin Fulton.
Joseph Emery was a professor from 1867-1885 at Corvallis College. He taught mathematics, physics, geology, and physiology. He helped to raise the funds to purchase the original lands for the OSU campus. In 1885 Emery left Corvallis and became an agent for the U.S. Indian Agency at Klamath [Falls]. He died January 18, 1924 at Salinas, California.
The first KOAC radio transmitter (then KFDJ) was built in 1922 by physics professor Jacob Jordan and was located in Apperson Hall. Jordon is the second person from the left.
Margaret Comstock Snell became the first professor of Household Economy and Hygiene in 1889. Snell was known as the "Apostle of fresh air", for her love of walks and open windows, and taught courses in sewing, cooking, entertaining, and conversation. Snell expanded the Home Economics department and retired in 1908.