Skip to main content Skip to search Skip to search results

Stewart, Robert Bruce

 Person

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-stewart

Found in 12 Collections and/or Records:

Ruth Freehafer collection on R.B. Stewart

 Collection — Multiple Containers
Identifier: MSF 513
Scope and Contents 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.
Dates: 1970 - 1983

Purdue University Office of Publications Oral History Program collection

 Collection — Multiple Containers
Identifier: MSO 2
Scope and Contents 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.
Dates: 1969 - 1989; Majority of material found within 1970 - 1972

Collection of Purdue University Related audio recordings

 Collection — Box: 1
Identifier: MSP 265
Scope and Contents 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.
Dates: May 7, 1953 - May 12, 1994; Majority of material found within 1971 - 1973

Purdue University Robert B. and Lillian V. Stewart Recognition Ceremony, June 9, 1972

 File — Box: 1, Reel: 8
Identifier: MSP 265, File 5
Scope and Contents 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.
Dates: June 9, 1972

R.B. and Lillian Stewart papers, addition 01

 Unprocessed — Multiple Containers
Identifier: 20120320.1

Stewart Center records

 Collection — Multiple Containers
Identifier: UA 110
Scope and Contents 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.
Dates: 1955 - 1980

Stewart, R. B., August 11, 1969 - March 28, 1977

 Sub-Series — Multiple Containers
Identifier: MSO 2, Series 1, Sub-Series 41
Scope and Contents Three oral history interviews with R. B. Stewart by Robert B. Eckles and one oral history interview with R. B. Stewart by Ruth Freehafer.
Dates: August 11, 1969 - March 28, 1977

R. B. and Lillian Stewart papers

 Collection — Multiple Containers
Identifier: 0000RBS1
Scope and Contents Papers of R.B. Stewart (Robert Bruce Stewart) and Lillian Stewart. For 36 years, R. B. Stewart served Purdue University as its chief business officer, obtaining a reputation for his financial prowess. Materials primarily relate to Purdue University, and include speeches, printed material, photographs, scrapbooks, artifacts, and documents on trusts and funds and financial matters, band trips, dedications of various Purdue buildings, development of Purdue Calumet, the Stewarts' contributions to...
Dates: 1886 - 2005; Majority of material found within 1930 - 1980

Stewart, R. B. Interview, September 29, 1969

 File — Multiple Containers
Identifier: MSO 2, Series 1, Sub-Series 41, File 3
Scope and Contents Interview consists of one final transcript and one audio reel recording on a Scotch 200 reel.
Dates: September 29, 1969

Stewart, R. B. Interview, March 28, 1977

 File — Multiple Containers
Identifier: MSO 2, Series 1, Sub-Series 41, File 4
Scope and Contents Interview consists of two parts of one draft transcript.
Dates: March 28, 1977

Stewart, R. B. Interview, August 11, 1969

 File — Multiple Containers
Identifier: MSO 2, Series 1, Sub-Series 41, File 1
Scope and Contents 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.
Dates: August 11, 1969

Stewart, R. B. Interview, September 24, 1969

 File — Multiple Containers
Identifier: MSO 2, Series 1, Sub-Series 41, File 2
Scope and Contents 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.
Dates: September 24, 1969