Stewart, Robert Bruce
Dates
- Existence: March 31, 1896 - June 11, 1988
Biographical Information
R. B. Stewart joined the staff of Purdue University in 1925 as the controller. At that time, Purdue enrolled 3,000 students, the physical plant was worth $3 million, and the endowment totaled $340,000. Twenty years later, Stewart was named Vice President and Treasurer. When he retired in 1961, enrollment had grown to 22,000, the physical plant was valued at $160 million, and yields from the $25 million endowment were producing funds for research, scholarships, and grants.
Stewart’s pioneering ways of financing expansion through trust gifts and interest-free bonds enabled Purdue to grow, and our University became the benchmark for every university in the country. Stewart was known as a, “Father of the G.I. Bill,” the post-World War II training programs that brought thousands of returning veterans to campuses across the country and fueled national growth and prosperity.
In 1971, Stewart made a planned gift to Purdue by donating his home, Westwood. It has served as the home of Purdue’s President ever since.
The campus building Stewart Center was named, in part, in his honor.
Citation:
Cemetery, M., America, N., County, T., Township, W. and Cemetery, M. (2017). Robert Bruce Stewart (1896-1988). https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/8752498/robert-bruce-stewartFound in 12 Collections and/or Records:
Ruth Freehafer collection on R.B. Stewart
The Ruth Freehafer collection on R.B. Stewart contains Freehafer's drafts of her 1983 book "R.B. Stewart and Purdue University" as well as the notes she compiled while researching Stewart, some of the sources she used, the transcript from a 1977 interview with Stewart, notes from two other interviews with Stewart and his oral history transcript, and notes from interviews conducted with Stewart's colleagues.
Purdue University Office of Publications Oral History Program collection
The Purdue Office of Publications Oral History Program collection documents Purdue University history through oral history interviews with Purdue University professors and administrators. Types of materials include: printed material, cassette tapes, reel-to-reel tapes, compact discs, and digital materials. Interview topics include Purdue history and changes in administration and academic departments.
Collection of Purdue University Related audio recordings
The Collection of Purdue University Related Audio Recordings include audio reel and audio cassette recordings of addresses given by Purdue University professors, administrators, and staff members. Types of materials include: printed material, cassette tapes, reel-to-reel tapes, and digital materials.
Purdue University Robert B. and Lillian V. Stewart Recognition Ceremony, June 9, 1972
File consists of one audio reel recording on Purdue University's Recognition Ceremony for Robert B. and Lillian V. Stewart on a Scotch 150 reel.
R.B. and Lillian Stewart papers, addition 01
Stewart Center records
The Stewart Center records contain floor plans and materials related to the building's construction and correspondence between Dr. John H. Moriarty and various distinguished groups and individuals invited to the dedication ceremony. A program from the first student play held in Loeb Playhouse is also contained within the collection as well as several library documents.
Stewart, R. B., August 11, 1969 - March 28, 1977
Three oral history interviews with R. B. Stewart by Robert B. Eckles and one oral history interview with R. B. Stewart by Ruth Freehafer.
R. B. and Lillian Stewart papers
Stewart, R. B. Interview, August 11, 1969
Interview consists of one final transcript, one audio reel recording on a Scotch 200 reel, and one audio copy of the reel recording on an audio cassette.
Stewart, R. B. Interview, September 24, 1969
Interview consists of one final transcript, one audio reel recording on a Scotch 200 reel, and one audio copy of the reel recording on an audio cassette.
Stewart, R. B. Interview, September 29, 1969
Interview consists of one final transcript and one audio reel recording on a Scotch 200 reel.
Stewart, R. B. Interview, March 28, 1977
Interview consists of two parts of one draft transcript.