Raymond A. Pearson Papers, Finding Aid

RS 2/7

IOWA STATE UNIVERSITY Special Collections Department 403 Parks Library Ames, IA 50011-2140 515 294-6672 http://www.lib.iastate.edu/spcl/index.html

RS 2/7 Raymond A. Pearson (1873-1939) Papers, 1892-1983

RS 2/7

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Descriptive summary creator:

Pearson, Raymond A. (1873-1939)

title:

Papers

dates:

1892-1983, n.d.

extent:

8.82 linear ft. (7 document boxes)

collection number:

RS 2/7

repository:

University Archives, Special Collections Department, Iowa State University Library.

Administrative information access:

Open for research

publication rights:

Consult Head, Special Collections Department

preferred citation:

Raymond A. Pearson Papers, RS 2/7, Special Collections Department, Iowa State University Library.

SPECIAL COLLECTIONS DEPARTMENT

IOWA STATE UNIVERSITY

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Biographical note The son of an Indiana railroad executive, Pearson was a Cornell University graduate in dairy industry, did government and commercial dairy laboratory work, and in 1903 returned to Cornell to organize a department of dairy industry. He headed the New York Department of Agriculture for four years prior to his appointment as president of Iowa State College (University) (1912-1926). Pearson completed the divisional organization of undergraduate programs; strongly promoted the graduate program, which was given divisional status in 1915; broadened extension service; and gave wholehearted support to "big-time" goals in athletics. While at Iowa State College (University) he served as Assistant Secretary of Agriculture during the war emergency period of 1917-18. Campus construction during his administration surpassed that of any other era prior to the post-World War II boom; 14 academic buildings in service during the 1970s were constructed during Pearson's term. He resigned to become president of the University of Maryland (1926-1935). Collection Description This collection contains biographical information, correspondence, addresses and speeches, newspaper clippings, family and professional photographs, reports, and printed materials. Of particular interest is Pearson’s communications with the State Board of Education as well as its Buildings and Business Committee. A number of blueprints submitted to the Buildings and Business Committee (State Board of Education) have been removed for conservation work.

Organization This collection is unarranged.

SPECIAL COLLECTIONS DEPARTMENT

IOWA STATE UNIVERSITY

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Container List

SPECIAL COLLECTIONS DEPARTMENT

IOWA STATE UNIVERSITY

RS 2/7

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Box

Folder

Title

Dates

1

1

Biographical information

1912-1968

1

2

Obituaries, testimonials, letters of condolence

1939

1

3

Agreements

1915-1920

1

4

Correspondence with the Board of Education

1913,

1

5

Correspondence

1926 1913-1926

1

6

Committee on Education and Special Training

1918

1

7

Correspondence

1917-1918

1

8

Clippings

1917-1918

1

9

Itinerary and map

1917

1

10

Association of Land-Grant Colleges and Universities

1933-1937

1

11

correspondence and resolution McKinley inauguration

1901

1

12

Final Report by Dr. Pearson and responses

19126

1

13

Addresses

n.d.

1

14

Addresses and speeches

1907-1911

1

15

Addresses and speeches

1913-1917

2

1

Photographs (7)

1889-1900

2

2

Photographs (12)

1905-1910

2

3

Photographs (13)

1912-1917

2

4

Photographs (10)

1919-1929

2

5

Correspondence with Mrs. Pearson in regards to Ross’

1953-1958

2

6

“History of Iowa State” State Board of Education meeting

1922

2

7

State Board of Education meeting

1919

2

8

State Board of Education reports

1922

2

9

(mostly relating to the State Teachers’ College) State Board of Education ISC capital improvements

1925-1926

3

1

Clippings-letters and speeches

1918-1925

3

2

Addresses and speeches

1918-1925

3

3

Addresses and clippings

1926-1938

3

4

“An Answer to Criticisms”

Ca. 1915

SPECIAL COLLECTIONS DEPARTMENT

IOWA STATE UNIVERSITY

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SPECIAL COLLECTIONS DEPARTMENT

IOWA STATE UNIVERSITY