Clippings Concerning Purdue Graduates scrapbook

Collection — Box: 1

Identifier: MSP 261

Staff Only

Content Description

One scrapbook containing clippings related to Purdue graduates from 1907-1909. Contains index (in the front). Majority are newspaper clippings which cover news related to the lives of Purdue graduates and topics cover career advancements, death announcements, alumni gatherings/meetings, athletic achievements, talks, graduates moving out of the US to places like Philippines and Vietnam to work, etc. Other items include Commencement Program booklets for different schools (e.g. School of Medicine, School of Pharmacy, etc.) and namecards.

Some items of significance include the following newspaper clippings - Achievements of Purdue's first graduate, John B. Harper, and announcement of his death; Creation of the Purdue Alumni Ring as a symbol capturing the essence of Purdue.

Dates

Creation: July 27, 1898 - June 30, 1909
Creation: Majority of material found within June 5, 1907 - June 30, 1909

Language of Materials

Collection material is in English.

Access Information

Collection is open for research

Copyright and Use Information

Material in this collection is in the public domain. Consult with Purdue University Archives and Special Collections prior to reproduction of materials.

Biographical Information

John Bradford Harper was the single graduate (in chemistry) of Purdue's first graduating class, in 1875. Harper was born in Fort Madison, Iowa in August 1855. He came to Purdue as a junior with chemistry professor Harvey W. Wiley from Northwestern Christian University of Indianapolis, now known as Butler University. Though a graduate in chemistry, Harper is historically known as a pioneer in civil engineering. Harper's most notable work is the Zuni Dam (at the time, the largest of this type to be constructed), an irrigation project using high-pressure water hoses to blast away the hillsides on either sides of the Zuni River, and then filling the dam with the resulting debris. The dam was a prominent display of engineering skill in its time.