Joe O. Mattson Photograph Collection, 1923-1924

Overview of the Collection

Creator
Mattson, Joe O.
Title
Joe O. Mattson Photograph Collection
Dates
1923-1924 (inclusive)
Quantity
0.02 cubic foot, including 38 photographs, (1 box)
Collection Number
P 145
Summary
The Joe O. Mattson Photograph Collection consists of images taken and assembled by Mattson that document student life at Oregon Agricultural College in the mid-1920s. Mattson attended Oregon Agricultural College from the fall of 1923 through the fall of 1925.
Repository
Oregon State University Libraries, Special Collections and Archives Research Center
Special Collections and Archives Research Center
121 The Valley Library
Oregon State University
Corvallis OR
97331-4501
Telephone: 5417372075
Fax: 5417378674
scarc@oregonstate.edu
Access Restrictions

Collection is open for research.

Languages
English

Biographical NoteReturn to Top

Joe O. Mattson attended Oregon Agricultural College (OAC) for two academic years plus a term, from the fall of 1923 through the fall of 1925, as a student in Commerce. Mattson was born as Oliver Philip Mattson on November 17, 1903, in Los Angeles, California, and enrolled at OAC with that name. Most references to Mattson in student publications from his student years use the name Joe Mattson. He was using the name Joe O. Mattson when the photographs were donated to Oregon State in 1974. Mattson died in Chevy Chase, Maryland, on November 1, 1988.

Mattson was a member of the Beta Theta Pi fraternity and on the staff of the Barometer campus newspaper.

Content DescriptionReturn to Top

The Joe O. Mattson Photograph Collection consists of images taken and assembled by Mattson documenting student life at Oregon Agricultural College (OAC) in the mid-1920s. Most of the images date from Mattson's sophomore year at OAC in 1923-1924. The images depict the sophomore-rook tug of war, the homecoming bonfire, and football and basketball players. Detailed descriptions of the photographs and recollections of the events depicted in them were provided in a letter written by Mattson that accompanied the photographs. A copy of the letter is available with the photographs. The photographs are arranged in the order they are described in the accompanying letter.

Several of the images are available online; links to the online versions are available from the detailed description of the photographs.

Use of the CollectionReturn to Top

Preferred Citation

The Joe O. Mattson Photograph Collection (P 145), Oregon State University Special Collections & Archives Research Center, Corvallis, Oregon.

Administrative InformationReturn to Top

Arrangement

This collection is arranged in one series: I. Photographs, 1923-1924.

Custodial History

Mattson sent the photographs to the Oregon State University Alumni Association in 1974.

Acquisition Information

The Alumni Association transferred the photographs to the Archives in 1974 or later.

Processing Note

When the collection was received in the 1970s, the Archives assigned item numbers (P145:xx) to the photographs in a different order than that provided by the donor. In 2015, the photographs were re-arranged into the order in which they were described by the donor. Consequently, the images are not listed in this guide in numerical order by their P145:xx item number.

Related Materials

Mattson's original letter describing the photographs is part of the Memorabilia Collection (MC-Tradition). The Special Collections & Archives Research Center has many collections that document student life during the early-mid 1920s, including the George J. and Florence Badura Collection (MSS Badura), Claud L. Booth Photograph Album (P 300), and Bessie Brown Lawrence Photographs (P 258).

Detailed Description of the CollectionReturn to Top

Series I:  Photographs, 1923-1924Return to Top

Series I consists of photgraphs of student life at Oregon Agricultural College. The photographs are arranged in the order in which they were described by the donor in an accompanying letter, which is included with the photographs. Descriptions of the photographs as written by the donor and the numbers assigned by the donor to each image are provided with the description of each item.

Container(s) Description Dates
Sophomore-Rook Tug of War
A-series images.
1924
Box
1
P145:35: Group walking to Tug-of-War
Donor's description: "We had a girl as President of the Freshman class. (Who said we didn't have Women's Lib then) Evelyn Wall: she is the gal in the dark dress. Others in the picture that I can identify; The man in front is a professor, Mitchell I think his name was. Second row -Web Edwards with his arm raised. I am over Mitchell's left shoulder and Red Denman on my left. The fellow in the black shirt on right is Louie Parker who became a Lt. General in the Air Force in W.W.II." Labeled as A-1.
1
P145:33-P145:34: Group walking to Tug-of-War
Donor's description: "We have lost the gals and the prof somewhere. The front row. The two outside men I don't recognize but I'm in the middle with Web on my right and Kenny Denman on my left. How you like that late model racer. Pretty good mob too." Labeled as A-3 and A-2, respectively.
1
P145:32: Group walking to Tug-of-War, from behind
Donor's description: "Same from the rear." Labeled as A-4.
1
P145:31: Teams preparing for Tug-of-War
Donor's description: "Preparing for the fray. I recognize 'Hippo' Dickerson as the anchorman, next 'Swede' Wermark, then Geo. Craig (my best friend, ...) Then Wes Schulmerich, then Paul Peek. (I made a mistake its Hip, Swede, then Wes, then George then Paul)" Labeled as A-5.
1
P145:30: Tug-of-War underway
Donor's description: "The battle." Labeled as A-6.
1
P145:29: The losing team in the millrace
Donor's description: "The losers. That is Web just entering the water. I'm on the other side behind Web's right hand." Labeled as A-7.
1
P145:28: The losing team in the millrace
Donor's description: "Web coming up. I'm still trying to get out." Labeled as A-8.
1
P145:27: The losing team in the millrace
Donor's description: "I think I've made it." Labeled as A-9.
1
P145:26: The losing team in the millrace
Donor's description: "The losers again." Labeled as A-10.
1
P145:25: Tug of War participants, winners running in the distance
Donor's description: "The winners running for their lives." Labeled as A-11.
Homecoming Bonfire
B-series images.
Box
1
P145:08: Gathering fuel for the bonfire
2 prints
Donor's description: "The Gleaners." Labeled as B-1.
1
P145:10: Students posing in front of students constructing the bonfire
Donor's description: "Puttin it together. I'm on the left in the white(?) shirt." Labeled as B-2.
1
P145:09: Students preparing the bonfire
Donor's description: "I'm resting," Labeled as B-3.
1
P145:07: The bonfire at night
Labeled as B-4.
1
P145:06: The bonfire at night
Labeled as B-5.
Students and student activities
C-, D-, and E-series images.
Box
1
P145:01: Burning rook lids
2 prints
Donor's description: "Burning our Rook Lids" Labeled as C-1.
1
P145:02: Students fighting
Donor's description: "I don't remember what this was, but it was rough enough that they had to have a Doctor there" Labeled as D-1.
1
P145:03: Students fighting
Donor's description: "Whatever it was it took two of them to handle Sunny Sunstrum. Note the boots that were fairly common gear then." Labeled as D-2.
1
P145:04: Jousting
Donor's description: "I guess this is the same thing as it has the same photo number on the back." Labeled as D-3.
1
P145:11: Beta Theta Pi house members
Donor's description: "The members of the Beta house, Dan Poling is about in the middle of the next to last row, I'm on the left, back row." Labeled as E-1.
1
P145:12: Fred Bracher
Donor's description: "Fred Bracher. He was my roommate in the Beta house. The last I heard about him he was Professor of English and Chairman of Pomona College in Claremont, Calif. He was Editor of the 1926 Beaver yearbook. One day he gave me a camera and said "Go out and take some pictures for the Beaver. This next bunch are some of those - I think." Labeled as E-2.
Football and basketball players
F-series images and other athletics photographs.
Box
1
P145:05: Red Denman, Fritz Tebbs, Wes Schulmerich, Web Edwards
Donor's description: "Red Denman, Fritz Tebbs, Wes Schulmerich, Web Edwards" Labeled as F-1.
1
P145:22: Clyde "Cac" Hubbard
Donor's description: "Clyde 'Cac' Hubbard, Ass't Coach" Labeled as F-2.
1
P145:19: Michael "Dad" Butler
Donor's description: "Michael 'Dad' Butler, Trainer and Track coach. My friend" Labeled as F-3.
1
P145:23-P145:24: Corvallis
Donor's description: "General views of Corvallis from the hills back of town, probably built up now. Wes Schulmerich once shot a deer up here." Labeled as F-4 and F-5, respectively.
1
P145:20: Students sending off the football team
Donor's description: "Sending the team off for the Nebraska game." Labeled as F-6.
1
P145:21: Students after the rally
Donor's description: "After the rally. The girl in the group of five on the right and looks like she is carrying an envelope is a girl I dated a lot - Ruth Hahn" Labeled as F-7.
1
P145:18: Dal Ward, Wes Schulmerich, Web Edwards, and two unknown men
Donor's description: "Leaving for Nebraska - Dal Ward, Wes and Web ? ?" Labeled as F-8.
1
P145:13: Carlos Steele
1
P145:14 - P145:16: Harold "Red" Ridings
1
P145:17: Carlos Steele
1
P145:36: Rook (freshman) football team
Includes Coach "Spec" Keene.
1923

Names and SubjectsReturn to Top

Subject Terms

  • College sports--Oregon--Corvallis.
  • College students--Oregon--Corvallis.
  • Student activities--Oregon--Corvallis.

Corporate Names

  • Oregon Agricultural College--Football.
  • Oregon Agricultural College--Students.

Form or Genre Terms

  • Photographic prints.