Special Collections Department
403 Parks Library
Iowa State University
Ames, IA 50011-2140

RS 2/1
Adonijah Strong Welch (1821-1889)
Papers, 1849-1988

Descriptive summary

creator:	Welch, Adonijah Strong (1821-1889)
title:	Papers
dates:	1849-1988
extent:	1.05 linear ft. (2 document boxes and 1 half-document box)
collection number:	RS 2/1
repository:	University Archives, Special Collections Department, Iowa State University.

Administrative information

access:	Open for research
publication rights:	Consult Head, Special Collections Department
preferred citation:	Adonijah Strong Welch Papers, RS 2/1, Special Collections Department, Iowa State University Library.

Historical note

Adonijah Strong Welch was born April 12, 1821 in East Hampton, Connecticut. He received the B.A. (1846) and M.A. (1852) from the University of Michigan. Dr. Welch became the first principal (1852-1865) of the Michigan State Normal School (Eastern Michigan University). In 1865, he moved to Florida and became involved in the orange and lumber industries. Dr. Welch was serving as United States Senator from Florida (1868-1869) when he accepted the position of President (1869-1883) of the newly established Iowa State Agricultural College (Iowa State University).

Dr. Welch was serving as President of Iowa State Agricultural College when he was asked by the United States Commissioner of Agriculture to investigate and report on the organization and management of agricultural schools in Europe. While in Europe, Dr. Welch's opponents who were unsatisfied with the college's development sought to remove him from office. This effort led to Welch's resignation as president of Iowa State in 1883. Dr. Welch returned to Europe a second time to recover his health and on returning to Iowa State in 1884 accepted the chair of history of civilization and practical psychology. He continued to teach at Iowa State until his death in 1889.

Dr. Welch is credited for a number of successes during his tenure as president, though his most lasting legacy may be the design of Iowa State's early campus. Dr. Welch helped develop Iowa State's first courses in agriculture and mechanical arts and supported the right of women to receive a college education. Dr. Welch was often asked to address farmers' gatherings, horticultural meetings, and breeders' conventions. His wife, Mary Welch, established the first courses in the domestic sciences, which would later become the College of Family and Consumer Sciences.

Dr. Welch married Eunice P. Buckingham in 1859 and had three children with her before her death in 1867. He later married Mary Beaumont Dudley in 1868. They had two children. Dr. Welch died on March 13, 1889, in Pasadena, California.

Collection description

The collection contains biographical information, correspondence, written addresses, and publications. Also included is an account from 1849 documenting Dr. Welch's trip to California with a group called the Fayette Rovers looking for wealth in the gold rush.

Organization

The collection is arranged alphabetically.

Container list

Box	Folder	Title	Dates
1	1	Biographical Information	1883-1964
1	2	Biographical Information – "History of the Michigan State Normal School," see pages 139-142	1899
1	3	Biographical Information – "The Fayette Rovers as Recorded by A. S. Welch"	1849
1	4	Correspondence from Welch	1869-1941
1	5	Correspondence on Welch Family	1875-1964
1	6	Correspondence to or about Welch	1882-1957
1	7	Genealogical Information	n.d.
1	8	Genealogical Information – "Descendants of James Welch"	1946-1988
1	9	Lecture Notes – First Lecture of Landscape Gardening	1875
1	10	Pamphlet – "Addresses Delivered at the Opening of the Iowa State Agricultural College"	1869
Map	Case	Pencil Sketch of A. S. Welch	n.d.
1	11	Publications – "Plan of Organization of the Iowa State Agricultural College"	1868
1	12	Publications – "Report on the Organization and Management of Seven Agricultural Schools in Germany, Belgium, and England"	1885
3	3	Publications – "Syllabus of Histories of the Civilizing Forces"	1887
1	13	Report to the Iowa State Horticultural Society – "The Model Lawn"	1885
1	14	Speeches – A Discourse on Proofs of Our Immortality	n.d.
1	15	Speeches – Annual Report of the Iowa State Horticultural Society	1875-1885
1	16	Speeches – Graduation Address to the First Class Original available online Edited Transcript available online	1872
1	17	Speeches – Improvement of Man in Body and Mind, address delivered to Iowa Live Stock Association	1879
1	18	Speeches – Inaugural Address	1869
1	19	Speeches – July Fourth address	1876-1881
1	20	Speeches – Misc. pages from misc. addresses	n.d.
1	21	Speeches – Sermon given at the ISC chapel	n.d.
1	22	Speeches – The Effect of Horticulture on the Horticulturist	n.d.
2	1	Speeches – The English Language as a Means of Culture	n.d.
2	2	Speeches – The Ideal Worker, delivered at 1878 graduation	1878
2	3	Speeches – The Kind of Higher Education Needed in the West, delivered at Nebraska University	1884 circa
2	4	Speeches – The Psychology of Natural Sciences: Studies vs. the Languages as a Means of Culture	n.d.
2	5	Speeches – The Psychology of Teachers: Development of Nations Comparable to Childhood	n.d.
2	6	Speeches – The Thinker	n.d.
2	7	Speeches – Untitled	n.d.
2	8	Speeches – Untitled	n.d.
2	9	Speeches – Untitled	n.d.
2	10	Speeches – Untitled	n.d.
2	11	Speeches – Untitled address delivered at an agricultural fair	n.d.
2	12	Speeches – Untitled address given at Convention of Friends of Agricultural Education in Chicago	1871
2	13	Speeches – Untitled address given upon receiving L.L.D. degree	1878
2	19	Speeches – Untitled address on "Home"	n.d.
2	14	Speeches – Untitled address on agricultural education	n.d.
2	15	Speeches – Untitled address on animal psychology	n.d.
2	16	Speeches – Untitled address on education	n.d.
2	17	Speeches – Problem of Reasonable Education, delivered to the State Association of Principals of Graded Schools [original photocopy]	1878
2	18	Speeches – Untitled address on higher education	n.d.
3	1	Speeches – Untitled address to farmers of Delaware county	n.d.
3	2	Speeches – Untitled address to W.H.M. Society	n.d.
3	4	Report – Iowa General Assembly. Joint Committee to Visit the State Agricultural College: Report on the Joint Committee of the Nineteenth General Assembly of the state of Iowa appointed to visit the State Agricultural College located at Ames. [Des Moines, Iowa: s.n.; 1882]. Original located in State Historical Society of Iowa: Des Moines (LD2543 I7)