William A. Finley Scrapbook, 1861-1898
Finley, W.A. (William Asa), 1839-1912
.1 cubic feet (1 volume)
Scope and Content Note
Scrapbook of clippings, letters received from family and friends,
sermon notes, pamphlets, and other memorabilia pertaining to Finley's
association with Corvallis College; Pacific Methodist College
of Santa Rosa, California; and the Methodist Episcopal Church-South.
Noteworthy items include the 1872 commencement program of Corvallis
College, the 1864 commencement program of Pacific Methodist College,
and notes of Finley's first sermon, delivered in December 1861.
Access and Condition of Materials
Use of the scrapbook is restricted due to its fragile condition.
With the exception of 4 letters to W.A. Finley (dated 20 March
1864 through 9 February 1866) and a pamphlet of the Archanian
Society, all pages of the scrapbook have been photocopied on pH-neutral
paper. This photocopy of the scrapbook is available for use in
the Archives. All loose items have been removed from the scrapbook
and the most fragile have been encapsulated.
Biographical Note
College president and minister, W.A. Finley served as the first
President of Corvallis College from 1865 until 1872.
Finley was appointed in 1865 as President by the Methodist Episcopal
Church South. During his presidency, Corvallis College was chosen
as the agricultural college for Oregon under the provisions of
the 1862 Morrill Act. Finley resigned in June 1872 due to his
wife's health and returned to Santa Rosa, California where he
served as the second president of Pacific Methodist College (beginning
in late 1876) and later as president of the Santa Rosa Young Ladies
College.
Finley was born in 1839 and came west to California from Missouri
in 1852. He attended the University of the Pacific in Santa Clara
for three years and then attended Pacific Methodist College for
one year and received his A.M. degree in 1864. He was awarded
an honorary D.D. degree in 1871 by Wofford College of Spartanburg,
South Carolina. In 1884, Finley returned to Corvallis College
to participate in commencement ceremonies and give the baccalaureate
sermon. He died in 1912 in California.
Related Materials
President's
Office Records (RG 13); Edwin T. Reed
Papers (correspondence with Finley's widow, Sarah Elizabeth
Finley).
Shelf Locations:
Scrapbook: SR 4/2/4/h (8x10 flat box)
Photocopy and Loose Items: 7/1/4/l (12x17 oversize box)
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http://osulibrary.oregonstate.edu/archives/archive/mss/finley.html
Last updated: Monday, 11-Aug-2008 13:07:06 PDT