Wesley College Records, 1890-1997

Wesley College Records

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Collection Overview

Title: Wesley College Records, 1890-1997

ID: UA063

Primary Creator: Wesley College

Extent: 8.25 Linear Feet

Date Acquired: 00/00/1961. More info below under Accruals.

Subjects: Education, Grand Forks - Education, University of North Dakota - Wesley College

Languages: English

Abstract

Contains correspondence, financial and other administrative materials, and faculty/student records of the former Wesley College, which was affiliated with the University of North Dakota.

Scope and Contents of the Materials

The Wesley College Records are organized into the following series: Presidential Papers, Administrative and Financial Records, Education, Programs and Publications, Assorted Materials, and Photographs.

The Presidential Papers are further divided into two subseries: Edward P. Robertson and Other Wesley College Presidents. These contain correspondence and related documents of the various presidents of the school. Robertson served as president for 32 years, retiring in 1931, and guided Wesley College during its affiliation with the University of North Dakota and subsequent relocation to Grand Forks. His correspondence spans most years of his presidency as well as his years as President Emeritus. Other presidents of Wesley College were Charles L. Wallace (1931-1939), T. Ross Hicks (1940-1946), Marcus J. Birrell (1947-1957), C. Maxwell Brown (acting president; 1957-1958), Phillips Moulton (1958-1963), and Wesley Sheffield (1963-1965).

The collection includes the former Orin G. Libby Manuscript Collection 18 (Wesley College) and records from the Wesley College buildings. Many financial records were destroyed according to the State Board of Higher Education Records Disposition Schedule.

Collection Historical Note

Wesley College, a school associated with the Methodist Episcopal Church, was established in 1891 as the Red River Valley University in Wahpeton, North Dakota. The school officially opened in October 1892 with Reverend M.V.B. Knox as president. In addition to preparatory and normal departments, it offered courses in business, languages, science, math, music, and art. Informal discussions began several years later, during the presidency of Edward P. Robertson, about the future of the school and its curriculum. Among the proposals was an alignment with the University of North Dakota (UND), initiated by UND president Webster Merrifield. After further discussions and meetings, the relocation to Grand Forks and affiliation with UND was approved at the North Dakota Methodist Conference in 1905. This was the first instance of a religious college officially joining with a state university in the United States.

The school acquired 80 acres of property just to the north of the UND campus. This addition was called University Place. Dr. Robertson chose names of leading institutions of higher learning (Columbia, Harvard, Oxford, Cambridge, etc.) for the streets of University Place. Hamline was included as one of the street names because Robertson was a graduate of Hamline University.

The school was renamed Wesley College and operated under the auspices of Red River Valley Corporation. For governance, Wesley College had its own board of trustees and executive committee. The initial programs were a conservatory of music, with courses in piano, voice, and violin, and a school of arts, with classes in religion and philosophy. A department of expression was added about 1914. The curriculum at Wesley College was designed to complement the course offerings available at UND. Students at either institution could earn credits toward a B.A. degree by taking classes at the other institution.

The affiliation of Wesley College with UND continued until 1965. In that year, following approval by the Wesley College trustees, Wesley College sold its buildings to UND and the name was officially changed to Wesley Center of Religion. It continued to fund one faculty position in the Department of Religious Studies at UND for several years and supported a student center program. Properties adjacent to UND that were still owned by Wesley were sold in 1968 and 1973 to the University. The Wesley Center then relocated to an office in Wesley United Methodist Church in Grand Forks and proceeds from its investments are used to support programs consistent with its mission and vision.

Subject/Index Terms

Education
Grand Forks - Education
University of North Dakota - Wesley College

Administrative Information

Repository: Elwyn B. Robinson Department of Special Collections

Accruals: Additional materials were deposited in April 1988 and by Carleton Green in August 1999. Other materials were added from University Publications.

Access Restrictions: Open for inspection under the Rules and Regulations of the Elwyn B. Robinson Department of Special Collections.

Acquisition Source: Wesley College

Acquisition Method: Deposit - the original materials constituted a collection in the Orin G. Libby Manuscript Collection before being transferred to University Archives Record Group 63 in the 1970s.

Separated Materials: Photographs relating to Wesley College are in the file cabinets for University Archives Photographs.

Related Publications:

Wesley Center of Religion (Formerly Wesley College). Sheffield, Wesley. Green, J. Carleton, joint author.; University of North Dakota. 1983 (LD3983 .S52 1983).

The story of the affiliation of Wesley College with the University of North Dakota. Robertson, Edward P. 1935 (LD5899.W42 R6x).

A good investment: the story of Wesley College and that of the mother institution - Red River Valley University - as well as the story of still earlier plans of the Methodist Church to promote educational work of college rank in North Dakota. Henry, George A. 1948 (LD5899.W42 H45x).

Preferred Citation: (Description of Item). Wesley College-Wesley Center of Religion Records. UA 63, Box #, Folder #. Elwyn B. Robinson Department of Special Collections, Chester Fritz Library, University of North Dakota, Grand Forks.

Finding Aid Revision History: Finding aid added to Archon in June 2016.

Box and Folder Listing

Browse by Series:

[Series 1: Presidential Papers],
[Series 2: Administrative and Financial Records],
[Series 3: Education],
[Series 4: Programs and Publications],
[Series 5: Assorted Materials],
[Series 6: Photographs],
[All]

Series 6: Photographs

Photograph 23067: Christmas Formal at Larimore Hall, 1960 (color)

Photograph 23068: Christmas Formal at Larimore Hall, 1960 (black and white)

2 8x10 prints, one print has a list of names on back

Photograph 23069: Sayre Hall Residents, 1959-1960

Photograph 23070: Sayre Hall Residents, 1961-1962

Photograph 23071: Sayre Hall Residents, 1962-1963

Photograph 23072: Gary Gran, 1964

Photograph 23073: Gary Lodon, 1964

Photograph 23074: Edward L. Bender, 1967

Photograph 23075: Larry (last name unknown), 1967

Photograph 23076: Unidentified, 1968

Photograph 23077: Two unidentifed graduates in front of Sayre Hall, undated

Photograph 23078: Falkins?, undated

Photograph 23079: Unidentified, undated

Photograph 25855: Dr. Pearson gets degree from Wesley College, June 4, 1955

Photograph 25856: Loehle B. Gast "Loehle", undated

Photograph 25857: Rev. Wesley Sheffield, undated

Photograph 25858: Colin (last name unknown), Admin Assistant

Photograph 25859: Dr. Carleton Green

Photograph 25860: Dr. Green and class, 1964

Photograph 25861: Arthur Tweet and Phillips Moulton

Photograph 25862: Phillips P. Moulton

Photograph 25863: Marilyn Larson

Photograph 25864: D.S. Holt

Photograph 25865: Leslie Burgman?

Photograph 25866: Bishop E.E. Voigt

Photograph 25867: David Bruce?

Photograph 25868: Mrs. Esther Fry, Registrar/Office Manager

Photograph 25869: David Reid (Head Solicitor of Financial Campaign 1959-62)

Photograph 25870: Dr. George W. Starcher

Photograph 25871: Dr. Fred S. Hultz

Photograph 25872: George G. Finlay

Photograph 25873: Dr. J. Carleton Green

Photograph 25874: Marcus J. Birrell, President of Wesley College

Photograph 25875: Mrs. Symington

Photograph 25876: Mr. and Mrs. William Julian, House parents - Sayre Hall

Photograph 25877: Mrs. Scothorn? and Dr. Moulton

Photograph 25878: Edward P. Robertson, President of Wesley College 1906-1931

Photograph 28879: Part of the refurnished lounge of Robertson Hall. Wesley Development Funds provided the new floors and plumbing improvements while private donors provided the new furniture.

Photograph 28880: New Service Building

Photograph 28881: Rebuilding of this condemned building was provided by the Wesley Development Program

Photograph 28882: Unidentified, undated

Photograph 28883: Wesley College located in the heart of the University campus

Photograph 28884: North Dakota Conference

Photograph 28885: Dormitories

Photograph 28886: Unidentified, undated

Photograph 28887: Unidentified, undated

Photograph 28888: Unidentified, undated

Photograph 28889: Unidentified, undated

Photograph 28890: Unidentified, undated

Photograph 28891: Unidentified, undated

Photograph 28892: Leaving for J'town Convo [Jamestown Convocation] - 12 Oct '56

L to R: Ron Anderson - Elmhurst, Ill., David Houre - Elmhurst, Ill., Betty Wood - Warwick, Mary Raney - Drayton, David Kruse - Hillsboro

Photograph 28893: Dr. Moulton with Mrs. Julian, housemother of Sayre Hall, and the late Mr. Julian

Photograph 28894: Worship in the Chapel

Photograph 28895: Worship in the Chapel

Photograph 28896: Scholarship trophies on display in the lounge of Sayre Hall

Photograph 28987: Unidentified, undated

Photograph 28898: Christian Worship

Photograph 28899: Friendly competition in the annual Sayre vs. Larimore hockey game, February 1961

Photograph 28900: Annual Sayre vs. Larimore hockey game, February 1961

Photograph 28901: Annual Hockey Game - Sayre vs, Larimore, March 1962

Photograph 28902: Unidentified, Undated

Photograph 28903: Unidentified, undated

Photograph 28904: Unidentified, undated

Photograph 28905: A scene in the Wesley Dining Club

Photograph 28906: Unidentified, 1964

Photograph 28907: Unidentified, undated

Photograph 28908: Richard Steffen and Mary Ann Mitchell

Photograph 28909: Unidentified, Undated

Photograph 28910: Unidentified, undated

Photograph 28911: Unidentified, undated

Photograph 28912: Unidentified, undated

Photograph 28913: Unidentified, undated

Photograph 28914: Mary Ann Mitchell

Photograph 28915: Commemorative plaque, March 1958

Photograph 28916: One of the neat rooms which makes dormitory life pleasant for the residents in our halls

Photograph 28917: David Kistler, Sylvia Snyder, [Jacqueline] Jackie Bessire

Photograph 28918: David Kistler, Sylvia Snyder, [Jacqueline] Jackie Bessire

Photograph 28919: David Knecht?, Roger Woodburn, Dorothy Thompson

Photograph 28920: Unidentified, undated

Photograph 28921: Students outside Robertson Hall

2 copies

Photograph 28922: Phillips Moulton and Class

2 copies

Photograph 28923: Unidentifed Professor in front of a class

Photograph 28924: Geo. Finlay and Class

Photograph 28925: "Lots of Fun at the Automobile Party"

Photograph 28926: Unidentified

Photograph 28927: Kathleen Pigotl-Antigua? and Mrs. Nelli Blackwelder

Photograph 28928: Students and housemother

Photograph 28929: Sylvia Snyder and Phillips Moulton

Photograph 28930: Freshman Open House, September 13, 1955

Photograph 28931: Freshman Open House, September 13, 1955

Photograph 28932: Sayre-Larimore Hall Homecoming Float

Photograph 28933

Photograph 28934: Group gathered in the Chapel for worship

Photograph 28935: Activities program through the Wesley Foundation

Photograph 28936: Committee preparing Wesley Foundation programs

Photograph 28937: Dean of Men Lewis presents Dormitory Scholarship Trophy to Sayre President Dave Kruse

Photograph 28938: L.F. Swanson, Director of Residence Services, presenting the traveling trophy to Sayre President, David Kruse of Fargo. Ed. Widruk receiving the traveling trophy for the Stadium from C.L. Lewis, Dean of Students.

Photograph 28939: Top Students Honored

Dr, Arthur Tweet, Wesley College Board of Trustees; Arlan Norman and Sylvia Snyder, Souer Achievement Award; Marilee Larson and Delrae Durgun, Henry Scholarship Award; Dr, George Henery, Dean Emeritus Wesley College

Photograph 28940: "Dining Club for 72" [1962]

1st Table: Vita Valdens, Robert Wililams, Robert Henry, Judy Christianson

2nd Table: Arlen Norman, Richard Fettig, (first name unknown) Hillman

Photograph 28941: "Pleasant Rooms" - Two students in a dorm room

Photograph 28942: Margaret Thompson and Mary Ann Czapiewski

Photograph 28943: Students singing

Becky Kirmis, Chuck Wendelbo, Jonathan Thompson, Richard Fettig, Judy Christianson, Evelyn Chase, Sylvia Snyder

Photograph 28944: Students kneeling at the altar during worship

Photograph 28945: Registration

Anne Anidell?, Dr. Green, Dr. Moulton

Photograph 28946: [Jacqueline] Jackie Bessire and Mary Ann Czapiewski

Photograph 28947: Students and children hauling wood

Betsy Birrell, Ruth Birrell

Photograph 28948: Standing outside of a bus

Photograph 28949: Dr Tweet, Chairman of the Board of Trustees, with Dr. Moulton, president of Wesly College

Photograph 28950: Phillips Mouton, Geo Finlay, and Esther H. Fry

Photograph 28951: Wesley Foundation

Mrs. Julian - Head Resident, Dr. Moulton - President, Mrs. Moulton Pouring

Photograph 28952: North Dakota Conference, Summer School for Ministry, Wesley College. August 8-23, 1922

Department of Special Collections
Digital Finding Aids