Oregon State University History
Link to video transcreipt http://billy-newman.squarespace.com/projects/?SSScrollPosition=200
OregonState University is one of the oldest colleges to be built in Oregon. Founded in 1868, the original creation of the college makes it almost as old as the State of Oregon itself. The campus has expanded and changed very much during the past century here in Corvallis. In fact the Campus was originally just a single building under the name of Corvallis College. Several more name changes would occur before the school would come to be known as Oregon State University. In 1927 the name was changed to Oregon State Agricultural College; then changed again in 1937, when the college became Oregon State College. The university’s current title, Oregon State University, was adopted on March 6, 1961.
The education building.
This photo taken near the turn of the century shows two men duck hunting in a pond. Today this field no longer floods in the winter but students on living on the east end of campus walk through it almost every day. In the background of the photo we can see what today is the education building in its much earlier years. The education building and Benton hall were some of the first buildings constructed for the Corvallis College.
Benton Hall
What we know today as Benton hall was one of the early buildings constructed for the Corvallis College. The photo above was taken in 1905, at this time Benton hall was the administration building.
Other Buildings that we see on campus were built soon after the turn of the century. Including Kearny hall(now known as Apperson hall), Stag, and several others.
The Memorial Union
Often seen as the heart of campus, the Memorial Union was not constructed until 1928. Ground broke on the project in 1927 and it took nearly 2 years to complete. When the Memorial Union opened, Oregon State University (OSU) was known as Oregon Agricultural College (OAC) and the student body population was 3,490 (15% of its current size).
The Orangemen
In the early days of the institution, Oregon State University’s athletic teams were known as the Aggies. When orange uniforms replaced the drab sweatshirt gray and tan jerseys, the teams were referred to as the Orangemen. In 1916 the school yearbook was renamed “The Beaver” and the name Beaver became associated with the school. Benny Beaver, OSU’s current mascot, was introduced to the student body by the school’s rally squad on September 18, 1952, in an effort to pick up sagging school spirit
For more information about early history of OSU, Corvallis, and Benton county please visit