Skip to Main Content

Archer Library


 

 

Special Collections

Overview of Special Collections at Ashland University including Special Books and Archives

About

Ashland University Archives contains historical records from Ashland University and some related organizations. Although coverage varies we have some records from the early days through the present. 

Our Mission:

The purpose of the Ashland University Archives is to collect, organize, preserve, index, and make available for research use historical information related to the following organizations: Ashland University, the Ashbook Center, and the Brethren Church. 

 

Most of the collection is searchable online at https://ashland.pastperfectonline.com/. If you are looking for something specific and cannot locate it please reach out to the Curator (Jessica Byers). 

About Ashland University

The Ashland University Archives contains photographs, yearbooks, and institutional files from Ashland University as well as collections from the Ashbook Center and the Brethren Church. 

Our former longtime Archivist, Dave Roepke, has created some pages that are of interest about Ashland University.

On June 28, 1877, a town meeting was held in Ashland, Ohio, where the citizens of Ashland were to consider a proposal from members of the German Baptist Brethren Church to establish an institution of higher education. The Ashland Press reported that the citizens were promised the college would locate there if their city would raise $10,000.  

The church and community fund raising campaign proved to be a success and on Feb. 17, 1878, a meeting was held to add up campaign funds and make final plans. The success of the campaign was announced, the College was chartered on Feb. 20 and a church-related, co-educational institution was established.

In April of 1878, the board of trustees decided to purchase the “most desirable plot in town - 28 acres on the hill.” The first buildings to be constructed were Founders Hall and Allen Hall, constructed from bricks made on the site. Classes opened at Ashland College on Sept. 17, 1879, with around 60 students and eight faculty members.

The new institution grew slowly during its first few decades, but enrollment reached the 200 mark shortly after the turn of the century. By the 1950s, the College had added many new programs of study and experienced rapid growth from about 300 students to more than 2,500 in 1970. In 1989, college officials decided to change the name of the institution to Ashland University to reflect more accurately what the college had become – an institution almost evenly divided between graduate and undergraduate students.

Progress continued on campus during the 1990s and 2000s with the construction of several new academic buildings as well as a new Student Center, Recreation Center, and Athletic Complex. In 2010, the University acquired MedCentral College of Nursing in Mansfield and constructed the state-of-the-art Dwight Schar College of Nursing and Health Sciences facility in Mansfield, which opened for classes in 2012.

Today, situated on a beautiful 135-acre campus with trees, brick walkways and flower gardens, Ashland University affords close proximity to the big city while offering the advantages of an intimate campus experience in a small-town setting. Deeply rooted in tradition, yet always moving forward, AU provides unparalleled opportunities for students to learn, grow and find their place in the world.

The University has grown to 6,600 total students and is ranked in the top tier of the colleges and universities in U.S. News and World Report’s National Universities category. Ashland University continues to value the individual student by offering a unique educational experience that combines the challenge of strong, applied academic programs with a faculty and staff who build nurturing relationships with their students.

Louise - Eagle statue painted purple and white

The Ashland University eagle statue refers to the small 4-foot tall eagles which are placed around the Ashland campus.  The tradition of placing eagle statues on the campus dates to 1941 when the first eagle statue appeared through the effort of the student body.  Initially, the statues were the trademark for the Case Implement tractor company.  Local Case tractor dealers had the eagle statue located outside of their business.  Through the mischievous efforts of the Ashland student body these eagle statues began to appear on the campus.  In 1965 The Case Implement Company donated the rights to produce the statue along with a large 20-foot eagle statue known as “Old Abe” to Ashland University.
 

The Eagles of Ashland University campus

Our convocation of eagles is currently at 28:

Location

Eagle Name

Honoree & year placed

Archer Library

Marian

2021

Robert and Janet Archer

Archer Library

(Back entrance near Rinehart)

Charles

2000

Charles E. Parton

Director of the Ashbrook Center

Alpha Sigma House

Fletch or Simon

1968

Bixler - Center for the Humanities

Don

Don Castle

Clark- Kilhefner Basketball Court

Freedom

1991

Operation Desert Storm

Center for the Arts - Arts & Humanities

Oz

1985

Clayton Hall

Glenn

1965

Dr. Glenn Clayton

Ashland President

Schar College of Education

Dwight

Dwight Shar

Convocation Center 

Kem Hall

CK

1971

originally named Sam

later re-named CK for Circle K Club

Founders Hall

Nadine

1960

Nadine Golby, music major

Gill Center/ Welcome Center

Lucy

Dr. Lucille Ford

Hawkins-Conrad Student Center

Earl

1997

Earl Hawkins

Jack W. Liebert Military & Veteran Services Center Jack

2020

anonymous donation to honor all veterans

Jacobs Hall

Jake

1958

Dr. Edwin Jacobs

Ashland President

Kappa Sigma House

Van

1964

Kates Family Consumer Science Center

Ruth

1963

Ruth Davis

Manager of the Eagles Nest

Kettering

Milt

1963

Dr. Milton Puterbaugh

alias Charlie for Charlie Kettering

Myers Hall

Kate

1959

Kate Moor Myers

benefactor for Myers Hall

Patterson Technology Center

(former Library)

Dewey

1963

Phi Delta House

Fu

1966

Phi Psi House

Mr. C

2000

Don Cadley

Education Professor

Physical Education/ Recreation Center

Old Abe

1965

Point on Claremont Avenue

Amylene

1949

Recreation Center

Maxie

2006

Maxine Sheets Rybolt

Richard E. and Sandra J. Dauch

College of Business and Economics

Dick

2003

Richard E. Dauch

Schar College of Nursing and Health Science

Mansfield, Ohio campus

Martha

2012

Martha Schar

Stadium

(front)

Bob

2010

Bob Troop

Sadium

(end zone)

Fred

2009

Fred Martinelli

Physical Education Professor and Coach

TKE House

Apollo

1968

Formerly Sigma Nu/Fletch/Simon

 

Historical information regarding the campus and its buildings.

Buildings listed by year of construction

Founders Hall

Built 1878
Destroyed by fire in 1952.
Rebuilt in 1955
First building on the Ashland campus.

Memorial Chapel
Jack and Deb Miller Chapel

Built 1951
Groundbreaking on September 29, 1950
Dedicated August 22, 1952
Constructed with Monies raised by the Women’s Missionary Society of the Brethren Church.
Renovated 2006 with support from Jack and Deb Miller-building renamed in their honor.

Phyllis Jacobson Kates Center for Family and Consumer Sciences

Built 1953
Rededicated September 24, 1977.
Initially constructed as the student union in 1953.

Jacobs Hall

Built 1954
Groundbreaking October 23, 1954.
Corner stone laid June 1, 1955.
Named for Dr. Edwin Jacob’s, Ashland University president.

Myers Hall

Built 1958
Groundbreaking May 9, 1958.
Named for longtime Ashland University benefactor, Kate Moore Myers.

Bixler Hall
Center for the Humanities

Built 1965
Constructed originally with one floor; used as the Central Services building from 1965 to 1968.
1968 two additional floors added.
Renamed for Dr. Raymond Bixler, Ashland University president on November 1, 1970.
Building renovated and renamed the Center for the Humanities 2007.

Patterson Center

Built 1961
Used as the university library until 1972.
Renovated and renamed Patterson Student Center 1974
Converted into the Technology Center 1997.

Kettering Science Center

Built 1963
Groundbreaking October 5, 1962
Dedicated March 14, 1964
Renovated and expanded 2006
Named for local area inventor Charles F. Kettering.

Community Stadium

Built 1963
Groundbreaking June 5, 1963
Dedicated October 1964

Clayton Hall
Redwood Dining Hall

Built 1964
Groundbreaking September 23, 1964
Named for both Dr. Glenn L. Clayton, Ashland University president, and former
Redwood Stadium.

Maintenance Building
Claremont Avenue

Acquired 1964
Formerly the Pontiac Garage built in 1924.

Clark and Kilhefner Halls

Built 1966
Groundbreaking May 22, 1965
Dedicated October 30, 1966
Named for the families of J. L. Clark and Isaac Kilhefner, former members of the Ashland University board of trustees.
Buildings are located on the former site of Redwood Stadium.

Physical Education Center
Conard Field House

Built 1966
Groundbreaking May 22, 1965.
Conard Field House named for John and Pearl Conard.
Mr. Conard was a former member of the Ashland University board of trustees.

Andrews Hall

Built 1968
Named for Dr. May Pyle Andrews, professor of English.

Kem and Amstutz Halls

Built 1968-1970
Named for former trustees, Myron S. Kem and Harvey J. Amstutz.

Gill Center for Business and Economic Education
Welcome Center

Built 1933
Donated to Ashland University August 1968
Former home of R. C. Garettson.

Arts and Humanities Building
Center for the Arts

Built 1968
Groundbreaking February 24, 1968
Dedicated February 22, 1970

John C. Myers Convocation Center

Built 1969
Dedicated November 1, 1970
Named for John C. Myers longtime Ashland University benefactor.

Robert M. & Janet L. Archer Library

Built 1970
Completed & opened on January 1973                                       
Named for Robert M. & Janet L. Archer longtime Ashland University benefactors - May 6, 2021.

131 feet tall, it is the tallest building in Ashland County

Wurster Fitness Center

Built 1990
Groundbreaking December 11, 1989
Named for the family of Tom and Ann Wurster.
Tom Wurster graduated from Ashland University 1964.

Hawkins-Conard Student Center

Built 1995
Groundbreaking April 21, 1995
Dedicated October 12, 1996
Named for Earl and Betty Hawkins
John and Pearl Conard

Richard E. and Sandra J. Dauch
College and Business and Economics

Built 2002
Groundbreaking May 10, 2002
Dedicated November 14 and 21, 2003
Funded by Richard E. and Sandra J. Dauch family foundation Burton D. Morgan foundation

Senior Apartments

Completed 2002

Recreation Center
Rybolt Sports Sciences Center
Dwight Schar College of Education

Dedicated September 29, 2006

Schar Athletic Complex
Miller Stadium

Constructed 2009

Schar College of Nursing

Groundbreaking June 16, 2011

Jack W. Liebert Military & Veteran Resource Center

Built in 1942 (as Brethren Church headquarters and publishing company)

Renovation 2019

Dedicated October 19, 2020

 

 

Archer Library • Ashland University © Copyright 2023. An Equal Opportunity/Equal Access Institution.