Description: Dated June 18, 1868, this is a diploma for Emma Ford from the Western Female Seminary in Oxford, Ohio. The document is signed by Principal Helen Peabody, President Henry Little, and Secretary G.Y. Rootz. Founded in 1853, the Western Female Seminary was a daughter school of Mount Holyoke College in Massachusetts. After over 100 years as a women's collection, Western became part of Miami University. View on Ohio Memory.
Image ID: OVS5558
Subjects: Diplomas; Legal documents; Cultural Ohio--Education; Women
Places: Oxford (Ohio); Butler County (Ohio)
 

Description: Reverse reads: "Presser Hall Western College Oxford Ohio - 1936." Photograph of Presser Hall on the Western College for Women campus. Presser Hall has a combination gable-and-valley and hipped roof and appears to be made of stone. Its front entrance way has three Tudor arches in from the of doors. In the foreground is a stone retaining wall which is separated from the building by a quadrangle area. Presser Hall was built in 1931 to be used as a music hall and auditorium. As of 2011, it was still in use for classes and lectures by Miami University. View on Ohio Memory.
Image ID: SA1039AV_B14F09_004_001
Subjects: Western College for Women; Oxford (Ohio)--History--Pictorial works; Buildings--1930-1950
Places: Oxford (Ohio); Butler County (Ohio)
 

Description: This photograph shows the front of the William Holmes McGuffey House, located in Oxford, Ohio. William Holmes McGuffey (1800-1873) was a Miami University faculty member in 1836 when he compiled the first edition of the McGuffey Eclectic Reader in this house. His Reader taught lessons in reading, spelling, and civic education by using memorable stories of honesty, hard work, thrift, personal respect, and moral and ethical standards alongside illustrative selections from literary works. The six-edition series increased in difficulty and was developed with the help of his brother Alexander Hamilton McGuffey. After the Civil War the Readers were the basic schoolbooks in thirty-seven states. By 1920 an estimated 122 million copies had been sold, reshaping American public school curriculum and becoming one of the nation's most influential publications. McGuffey built this brick home in 1833. In 1958, Miami University purchased it from the Wallace P. Roudebush family, and it was endowed by Emma Gould Blocker to serve as a museum of University history in honor of McGuffey's legacy. The museum opened to the public in 1960, and the house was designated a National Historic Landmark in 1966. This image of the McGuffey House was among the photographs produced by the Federal Works Progress Administration (WPA) between 1935 and 1943. View on Ohio Memory.
Image ID: AL06390
Subjects: McGuffey, William Holmes, 1800-1873; Architecture--Ohio; Oxford (Ohio); McGuffey readers; United States. Work Progress Administration; National Historic Landmarks Program (U.S.)
Places: Oxford (Ohio); Butler County (Ohio)
 

Description: Dated 1936, this photograph shows a large building on the Western College for Women campus, with a note on the reverse which reads "Western College for Women at Oxford Ohio 1936 Butler County." The building appears to be made of sandstone, and has a hipped roof and round arch doorway. The building is three stories tall on one half and two stories tall on the other half; the side that is three stories tall has a front porch with ionic columns and round archways. Western College for Women was a women's college in Oxford, Ohio between 1855 and 1974. In 1974, Western College became part of Miami University. This photograph is one of the many visual materials collected for use in the Ohio Guide. In 1935, President Franklin D. Roosevelt established the Works Progress Administration by executive order to create jobs for the large numbers of unemployed laborers, as well as artists, musicians, actors, and writers. The Federal Arts Program, a sector of the Works Progress Administration, included the Federal Writers’ Project, one of the primary goals of which was to complete the America Guide series, a series of guidebooks for each state which included state history, art, architecture, music, literature, and points of interest to the major cities and tours throughout the state. Work on the Ohio Guide began in 1935 with the publication of several pamphlets and brochures. The Reorganization Act of 1939 consolidated the Works Progress Administration and other agencies into the Federal Works Administration, and the Federal Writers’ Project became the Federal Writers’ Project in Ohio. The final product was published in 1940 and went through several editions. The Ohio Guide Collection consists of 4,769 photographs collected for use in Ohio Guide and other publications of the Federal Writers’ Project in Ohio from 1935-1939. View on Ohio Memory.
Image ID: SA1039AV_B14F09_001_001
Subjects: Western College for Women; Universities and colleges; College campuses; Women--Education
Places: Oxford (Ohio); Butler County (Ohio)
 

Description: Hepburn and McGuffey Hall at Miami University in Oxford, Ohio. Miami University was founded in 1809, the 10th university in the United States. It was the second in Ohio. View on Ohio Memory.
Image ID: AL06210
Subjects: Miami University (Oxford, Ohio)--History; Universities and colleges Ohio
Places: Oxford (Ohio); Butler County (Ohio)
 

Description: This image shows a classroom scene at Miami University in Oxford, Ohio. The founding of Miami University was by Act of Congress and signed by President George Washington. It stated that a university was to be build North of the Ohio River in the Miami Valley. Miami is a co-educational public research university, founded in 1809. It the 10 oldest in the United States and the second oldest in Ohio. View on Ohio Memory.
Image ID: AL06423
Subjects: Miami University (Oxford, Ohio)--History; Oxford (Ohio); Education, Higher--Ohio--History
Places: Oxford (Ohio); Butler County (Ohio)
 

Description: This engraving illustrates the campus of Miami University, located in Oxford, Ohio. Miami University is one of the oldest and best-known universities in the state of Ohio. It was founded in 1809, and named after the Miami Indian tribe who once resided in Ohio. Although chartered in 1809, Miami University did not open its doors to students until 1823. View on Ohio Memory.
Image ID: AL05145
Subjects: Education--Ohio; Miami University (Oxford, Ohio)--History; College buildings; Universities and colleges--Pictorial works
Places: Oxford (Ohio); Butler County (Ohio)
 

Description: Image of a dormitory at Miami University in Oxford, Ohio. Miami University was founded in 1809, the 10th university in the United States. It was the 2nd university in Ohio. It was established as a public research university. View on Ohio Memory.
Image ID: AL06208
Subjects: Universities and colleges Ohio; Miami University (Oxford, Ohio)--History; Universities and colleges Ohio
Places: Oxford (Ohio); Butler County (Ohio)
 

Description: Original description reads: "Butler County near Oxford, Ohio. Laying foundation for one story frame building. Girls Field House for girls of Miami University." View on Ohio Memory.
Image ID: SA1039AV_B09F02_005_001
Subjects: Miami University (Oxford, Ohio); Building--Ohio--Oxford
Places: Oxford (Ohio); Butler County (Ohio)
 

Description: Dated 1936, this photograph shows an unknown building at Miami University in Oxford, Ohio, with a bell tower and clock. The original description for the photograph reads "Building at Miami University at Oxford, Ohio 1936." Miami University is one of the oldest and best-known universities in the State of Ohio. Miami University was founded and chartered in 1809, but did not open its doors to students until 1823. It became known as the “Yale of the West.” This photograph is one of the many visual materials collected for use in the Ohio Guide. In 1935, President Franklin D. Roosevelt established the Works Progress Administration by executive order to create jobs for the large numbers of unemployed laborers, as well as artists, musicians, actors, and writers. The Federal Arts Program, a sector of the Works Progress Administration, included the Federal Writers’ Project, one of the primary goals of which was to complete the America Guide series, a series of guidebooks for each state which included state history, art, architecture, music, literature, and points of interest to the major cities and tours throughout the state. Work on the Ohio Guide began in 1935 with the publication of several pamphlets and brochures. The Reorganization Act of 1939 consolidated the Works Progress Administration and other agencies into the Federal Works Administration, and the Federal Writers’ Project became the Federal Writers’ Project in Ohio. The final product was published in 1940 and went through several editions. The Ohio Guide Collection consists of 4,769 photographs collected for use in Ohio Guide and other publications of the Federal Writers’ Project in Ohio from 1935-1939. View on Ohio Memory.
Image ID: SA1039AV_B09F02_007_001
Subjects: Miami University (Oxford, Ohio)--Buildings, structure, etc.; Architecture; Colleges and universities; College campuses; Ohio Federal Writers' Project
Places: Oxford (Ohio); Butler County (Ohio)
 

Description: This image shows two buildings on the campus of Miami University in Oxford, Ohio. Miami University was founded 1809, and it was named after the Miami Indians who once resided in Ohio. Three national fraternities originated at Miami University: Phi Delta Theta, Beta Theta Pi, and Sigma Chi. A famous graduate was Benjamin Harrison who later became President of the United States. Benjamin Harrison attended Farmers' College in Cincinnati, Ohio, before transferring to Miami University in Oxford, Ohio. He graduated from Miami University in 1852. View on Ohio Memory.
Image ID: AL06492
Subjects: College buildings; Miami University (Oxford, Ohio)--History; Universities and colleges; Education
Places: Oxford (Ohio); Butler County (Ohio)
 

Description: Portrait of Major General Robert C. Schenck in uniform. Robert Cumming Schenck (October 4, 1809 – March 23, 1890) was born in Franklin, Ohio and graduated from Miami University, Oxford, Ohio, in 1827. He was a professor of that university between 1827 and 1829. He began studying law and was admitted to the bar in 1833, commencing practice in Dayton, Ohio. He was a member of the State house of representatives (1843-1851, 1863-1871) as well as a Union Army general in the American Civil War and an American diplomatic representative to Brazil and the United Kingdom. He was at both battles of Bull Run, took part in Jackson's Valley Campaign of 1862 and in the Battle of Cross Keys. View on Ohio Memory.
Image ID: AL07540
Subjects: Ohio History--Military Ohio; United States--History--Civil War, 1861-1865; Ohio Government; Generals--United States; Miami University (Oxford, Ohio)--History
Places: Franklin (Ohio); Oxford (Ohio); Dayton (Ohio)