Samuel W. Beyer served as instructor, professor and dean at Iowa State (1891-1931). He worked in the fields of geology and mining engineering and was also involved in campus athletics. He received a B.S. (1889) in science from Iowa State and his Ph.D. (1895) from Johns Hopkins University. He returned to Iowa State (1891) as an Assistant in Geology and Zoology. He later (1898) became an Assistant Professor of Geology and Minerology. His published works detail Iowa's unique geology. The collection contains his correspondence, publications, biographical information, and several news clippings.

Samuel W. Beyer was born in Clearfield, Pennsylvania on May 15, 1865. His parents, Abraham and Barbara Ann Beyer, moved to Iowa shortly after his birth and settled in Rock Falls, Iowa where Beyer attended school. He attended Cedar Valley Seminary in Osage, Iowa for his college preparatory work and made the decision to transfer to Iowa State in 1885 after hearing good reports from classmates. He received a B.S. (1889) in science from Iowa State College (University) then taught in Marshalltown, Iowa. He also received his Ph.D. (1895) from Johns Hopkins University.

Beyer spent over forty years at Iowa State in a variety of capacities. After graduating from Iowa State, he returned (1891) as an Assistant in Geology and Zoology. In his early years at Iowa State, Beyer served as proctor in the Old Main building, where all students were housed and attended classes. He later (1898) became an Assistant Professor of Geology and Minerology. He also served at the Engineering Experiment Station in Mining Engineering (1907), and taught mining engineering courses as well. During the Spanish American War, he filled the position of Head of Mining Engineering, while another faculty member was away. In 1917, during World War I, Beyer filled Anson Marston's position as Dean of the Division of Engineering, and was later transferred to the Industrial Science Division as Dean (1919, 1922-1931).

In addition to his faculty and related administrative duties, Beyer was dedicated to Iowa State athletics. Beyer managed Iowa State athletics for many years (1896-1908) in a role later known as the athletic director, and was the first faculty representative of athletics. He is also credited with bringing Homecoming celebrations to Iowa State. The Missouri Valley Intercollegiate Athletic Association (now the Missouri Valley Conference) was formed in 1907 and was Iowa State's first athletic affiliation. Beyer was involved in the formation of the conference and served as Iowa State's representative, in addition to serving as vice-chairman of the Intercollegiate Athletic Association (now the National Collegiate Athletic Association or NCAA). He was also instrumental in organizing the construction of State Gymnasium and Clyde Williams Field.

In addition to his positions at Iowa State, Beyer also worked for the Iowa Geological Survey. In 1897 he was appointed representative of the State of Iowa and the Iowa Geological Survey at the International Congress of Geologists in Saint Petersburg, Russia.

Beyer conducted and published research about Iowa geology including: The Sioux Quartzite and Certain Associated Rocks, Geology of Boone, Marshall, Story and Hardin Counties, and Iowa Peat Deposits. He was a member of several organizations including the American Association for the Advancement of Science, the Iowa Academy of Science (vice president 1908), the Geological Society of America (councilor 1913), the Washington Geological Society, and the American Institute of Mining Engineering.

Beyer met his wife, Jennie Morrison, at Iowa State during his senior year and they were married in 1893 after her graduation. His two daughters, Jeanette and Mary, also attended Iowa State.

This collection (1896-2012, undated) contains news clippings, publications, correspondence, and biographical information related to Beyer and his career at Iowa State. The bulk of the collection is the correspondence which deals mainly with Alumni relations and athletic conferences. Beyer also wrote several letters to his daughter Jennifer, which are included in the collection. The publications are short geological reports and surveys conducted by Beyer. The news clippings consist of athletics articles, articles about Beyer and industrial science at ISU, and a few articles about Beyer's friends who served in World War I, including Anson Marston.