John Wesley Johnson
Encyclopedia
John Wesley Johnson was the first President
of the University of Oregon
, serving from 1876 to 1893.
with his family, arriving at Marysville
in 1850. On the journey along the Oregon Trail
he drove a team of oxen and buried both his mother and sister on the way. At age seventeen he received his first formal education at the local public schools. Johnson then borrowed money in order to further his education and set out by ship to the Eastern Seaboard. He worked for his passage from Panama
to New York City
and then began at Yale University
at the age of 24. In 1862 he graduated and returned to Oregon. Johnson graduated sixth out of his class of 100 at Yale. In Oregon he served as a teacher and administrator. He taught at McMinnville College
(now Linfield College) from 1863–1867, eventually becoming president, and as the principal of Portland
High School. After six years as principal at the high school he was then hired by the University of Oregon in 1873 as a professor of Latin. On 26 July 1876, the University of Oregon Board of Regents met (immediately upon the state land board's official acceptance of Deady Hall
) and elected Johnson president. Thomas Condon
, Mary Spiller, and Mark Bailey were also elected to the faculty.
at the University, he taught Greek
and Latin
, and served not only as president, but as registrar
, business officer, provost
, dean of students, and secretary. His seventeen years as president saw great expansion of the University, including the construction of Villard Hall
in 1886, and the dormitory (now Friendly Hall) in 1893. Throughout his tenure, he was a statewide advocate of the University, attempting to overcome Oregonians' objection to higher education.
.
President
A president is a leader of an organization, company, trade union, university, or country.Etymologically, a president is one who presides, who sits in leadership...
of the University of Oregon
University of Oregon
-Colleges and schools:The University of Oregon is organized into eight schools and colleges—six professional schools and colleges, an Arts and Sciences College and an Honors College.- School of Architecture and Allied Arts :...
, serving from 1876 to 1893.
Early years
At the age of fourteen Johnson immigrated to Oregon TerritoryOregon Territory
The Territory of Oregon was an organized incorporated territory of the United States that existed from August 14, 1848, until February 14, 1859, when the southwestern portion of the territory was admitted to the Union as the State of Oregon. Originally claimed by several countries , the region was...
with his family, arriving at Marysville
Corvallis, Oregon
Corvallis is a city located in central western Oregon, United States. It is the county seat of Benton County and the principal city of the Corvallis, Oregon Metropolitan Statistical Area, which encompasses all of Benton County. As of the 2010 United States Census, the population was 54,462....
in 1850. On the journey along the Oregon Trail
Oregon Trail
The Oregon Trail is a historic east-west wagon route that connected the Missouri River to valleys in Oregon and locations in between.After 1840 steam-powered riverboats and steamboats traversing up and down the Ohio, Mississippi and Missouri rivers sped settlement and development in the flat...
he drove a team of oxen and buried both his mother and sister on the way. At age seventeen he received his first formal education at the local public schools. Johnson then borrowed money in order to further his education and set out by ship to the Eastern Seaboard. He worked for his passage from Panama
Panama
Panama , officially the Republic of Panama , is the southernmost country of Central America. Situated on the isthmus connecting North and South America, it is bordered by Costa Rica to the northwest, Colombia to the southeast, the Caribbean Sea to the north and the Pacific Ocean to the south. The...
to New York City
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
and then began at Yale University
Yale University
Yale University is a private, Ivy League university located in New Haven, Connecticut, United States. Founded in 1701 in the Colony of Connecticut, the university is the third-oldest institution of higher education in the United States...
at the age of 24. In 1862 he graduated and returned to Oregon. Johnson graduated sixth out of his class of 100 at Yale. In Oregon he served as a teacher and administrator. He taught at McMinnville College
Linfield College
Linfield College is an American private institution of higher learning located in McMinnville, Oregon, United States. As a four-year, undergraduate, liberal arts and sciences college with a campus in Portland, Oregon, it also has an adult degree program located in eight communities throughout the...
(now Linfield College) from 1863–1867, eventually becoming president, and as the principal of Portland
Portland, Oregon
Portland is a city located in the Pacific Northwest, near the confluence of the Willamette and Columbia rivers in the U.S. state of Oregon. As of the 2010 Census, it had a population of 583,776, making it the 29th most populous city in the United States...
High School. After six years as principal at the high school he was then hired by the University of Oregon in 1873 as a professor of Latin. On 26 July 1876, the University of Oregon Board of Regents met (immediately upon the state land board's official acceptance of Deady Hall
Deady Hall
Deady Hall is a historic building located in Eugene, Oregon, United States. It was the University of Oregon's first building, and remained the university's only building for almost ten years after its construction...
) and elected Johnson president. Thomas Condon
Thomas Condon
Thomas Condon was an Irish Congregational minister, geologist, and paleontologist who gained recognition for his work in the U.S. state of Oregon....
, Mary Spiller, and Mark Bailey were also elected to the faculty.
University president
During his tenureTenure
Tenure commonly refers to life tenure in a job and specifically to a senior academic's contractual right not to have his or her position terminated without just cause.-19th century:...
at the University, he taught Greek
Greek language
Greek is an independent branch of the Indo-European family of languages. Native to the southern Balkans, it has the longest documented history of any Indo-European language, spanning 34 centuries of written records. Its writing system has been the Greek alphabet for the majority of its history;...
and Latin
Latin
Latin is an Italic language originally spoken in Latium and Ancient Rome. It, along with most European languages, is a descendant of the ancient Proto-Indo-European language. Although it is considered a dead language, a number of scholars and members of the Christian clergy speak it fluently, and...
, and served not only as president, but as registrar
Registrar (academic)
In education outside the United Kingdom, a registrar or registrary is an official in an academic institution who handles student records. Typically, a registrar processes registration requests, schedules classes and maintains class lists, enforces the rules for entering or leaving classes, and...
, business officer, provost
Provost (education)
A provost is the senior academic administrator at many institutions of higher education in the United States, Canada and Australia, the equivalent of a pro-vice-chancellor at some institutions in the United Kingdom and Ireland....
, dean of students, and secretary. His seventeen years as president saw great expansion of the University, including the construction of Villard Hall
Villard Hall
Villard Hall is a historic building located in Eugene, Oregon, United States. Completed in 1886, it is the second-oldest building on the University of Oregon campus after Deady Hall. The Second Empire-style building was listed on National Register of Historic Places in 1972.Deady and Villard Halls...
in 1886, and the dormitory (now Friendly Hall) in 1893. Throughout his tenure, he was a statewide advocate of the University, attempting to overcome Oregonians' objection to higher education.
Legacy
In 1918, the Administration Building (completed in 1915) was renamed Johnson Hall in honor of John Wesley Johnson. In 1985, the building was added to the National Register of Historic PlacesNational Register of Historic Places
The National Register of Historic Places is the United States government's official list of districts, sites, buildings, structures, and objects deemed worthy of preservation...
.
External links
- Official History Site - at the University of Oregon President's Office]