Author: WUpedia Contributor
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Charles E. Lambert
Written by Monte Remer, Class of 2026 At the end of the 1879 school year, Willamette’s President Thomas Gatch resigned along with his entire faculty.1 The school’s debt was ever-increasing, its expenses were constantly insurmountable, and the Board of Trustees refused to alter its operations to meet its budget. The Board decided that if Gatch… Read more
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George Whitaker
Written by Monte Remer, Class of 2026 As newly-appointed president, George Whitaker arrived at Willamette demanding complete and rigid control over the university. He didn’t stay for long. Whitaker’s two-year presidency was defined by the school’s financial disarray, bitter interpersonal conflict, and the 1891 fire which consumed part of what is now Waller Hall. At… Read more
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Martha Springer Garden
Written by Lilly Thies, Class of 2026 Tucked behind Sparks Athletic Center, The Martha Springer Botanical Garden is an idyllic yet easily overlooked corner of campus. Newly revitalized in Summer 2025, it is home to many species of interesting and beautiful plants, many of which are native to Oregon. The garden is a lush and… Read more
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Phi Delta Theta
Written by Lilly Thies, Class of 2026 The role of sororities and fraternities in the context of a liberal arts education has been frequently debated in recent years, especially when it comes to small private schools like Willamette. The history of Greek life at Willamette is one that spans more than 100 years, and has… Read more
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WU Literary Magazines, 1965-Present
Written by Lilly Thies, Class of 2026 In Spring of 2025, Willamette’s literary magazine The Mill launched their annual publication with a reading in the Writing Center, where writers, artists, editorial staff, and friends were invited to be in community, hear writers read their work, and celebrate the 60th year since the founding of Willamette’s… Read more
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Willamette University Medical College
Written by Lilly Thies, Class of 2026 Willamette students are all aware of the stately red-brick Art building that stands on the Northwest corner of campus. Fewer, however, are aware that this same building once was home to the Willamette College of Medicine, a department which endured a rollercoaster of changes during its operation, whether… Read more
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Mt. Hood Summit Trip of 1894
Written by Juliette Burns, Class of 2026 “At the dawn of the fourteenth day of August a party of professors, students and friends of Willamette University; twenty in all, left Salem with loaded wagons and upright alpen-stocks plying the college colors, the baggage wagon heaped high”1 So begins the six chapter chronicle in the Collegian… Read more
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Hawai’i Club
Written by Juliette Burns, Class of 2026 The Hawai’i Club at Willamette University has a long history of providing a space for students from Hawai’i on campus, while opening up dialogue and sharing experiences about Hawaiian culture. The club’s origins trace back to the Hawaiian Student Union (HSU), which was formed in 1968. Their stated… Read more
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The Native and Indigenous Student Union at Willamette University
Written by Juliette Burns, Class of 2026 Throughout Willamette University’s history, the school has been undeniably tied to the Indigenous populations in the Willamette Valley region. The very begining of the university was as the Oregon Indian Mission Manual Labor School, started by the Methodist missionary Jason Lee in the 1830s.2 Indigenous children at the… Read more
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The Moores Sisters
Written by Juliette Burns Class of 2026 The Moores family was a staple of mid-19th century Willamette University. John Moores was a trustee of the school, and all of his children (Albert, Charles, Althea, Bertha) attended the University from the primary department available for children’s schooling before moving up to the preparatory and collegiate levels.… Read more