RS 2/1

IOWA STATE UNIVERSITY

Special Collections Department

403 Parks Library

Ames, IA 50011-2140
515 294-6672
http://www.lib.iastate.edu/spcl/index.html

RS 2/1

Adonijah Strong Welch (1821-1889)

Papers, 1849-1988
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Descriptive summary

creator: Welch, Adonijah Strong (1821-1889)

title: Papers
dates: 1849-1988
extent: 0.84 linear ft. (2 document boxes)
collection RS 2/1
number:
repository: University Archives, Special Collections Department, Iowa State
University.

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

SPECIAL COLLECTIONS DEPARTMENT IOWA STATE UNIVERSITY

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Biographical 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.

SPECIAL COLLECTIONS DEPARTMENT IOWA STATE UNIVERSITY

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Container List
Box Folder Title Dates
1 1 Biographical Information 1883-1964
1 2 Biographical Information – “History of the Michigan 1899
State Normal School,” see pages 139-142
1 3 Biographical Information – “The Fayette Rovers as 1849
Recorded by A. S. Welch”
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 1946-1988
Welch”
1 9 Lecture Notes – First Lecture of Landscape Gardening 1875
1 10 Pamphlet – “Addresses Delivered at the Opening of 1869
the Iowa State Agricultural College”
Map Case Pencil Sketch of A. S. Welch n.d.
1 11 Publications – “Plan of Organization of the Iowa State 1868
Agricultural College”
1 12 Publications – “Report on the Organization and 1885
Management of Seven Agricultural Schools in
Germany, Belgium, and England”
2 22 Publications – “Syllabus of Histories of the Civilizing 1887
Forces”
1 13 Report to the Iowa State Horticultural Society – “The 1885
Model Lawn”
1 14 Speeches – A Discourse on Proofs of Our Immortality n.d.
1 15 Speeches – Annual Report of the Iowa State 1875-1885
Horticultural Society
1 16 Speeches – Graduation Address to the First Class 1872
1 17 Speeches – Improvement of Man in Body and Mind, 1879
address delivered to Iowa Live Stock Association
1 18 Speeches – Inaugural Address 1869
1 19 Speeches – July Fourth address 1876-1881
1 20 Speeches – Misc. pages from misc. addresses n.d.

SPECIAL COLLECTIONS DEPARTMENT IOWA STATE UNIVERSITY

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1 21 Speeches – Sermon given at the ISC chapel n.d.

1 22 Speeches – The Effect of Horticulture on the n.d.
Horticulturist
2 1 Speeches – The English Language as a Means of n.d.
Culture
2 2 Speeches – The Ideal Worker, delivered at 1878 1878
graduation
2 3 Speeches – The Kind of Higher Education Needed in n.d.
the West, delivered at Nebraska University
2 4 Speeches – The Psychology of Natural Sciences: n.d.
Studies vs. the Languages as a Means of Culture
2 5 Speeches – The Psychology of Teachers: n.d.
Development of Nations Comparable to Childhood
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 n.d.
agricultural fair
2 12 Speeches – Untitled address given at Convention of 1871
Friends of Agricultural Education in Chicago
2 13 Speeches – Untitled address given upon receiving 1878
L.L.D. degree
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.
3 1 Speeches – Problem of Reasonable Education, 1878
delivered to the State Association of Principals of
Graded Schools [original]
2 17 Speeches – Problem of Reasonable Education, 1878
delivered to the State Association of Principals of
Graded Schools [photocopy]
2 18 Speeches – Untitled address on higher education n.d.

SPECIAL COLLECTIONS DEPARTMENT IOWA STATE UNIVERSITY

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2 20 Speeches – Untitled address to farmers of Delaware n.d.

county
2 21 Speeches – Untitled address to W. H. M. Society n.d.

SPECIAL COLLECTIONS DEPARTMENT IOWA STATE UNIVERSITY