Marion Dean Ross started teaching in the Art History department at the University of Oregon in 1947.
When the art history department was established in 1963, Ross became the first chairman of the department.
Outside of the university, Ross participated in architectural and historic preservation organizations.
He was a founding member of the Society for Architectural Historians. For thirteen years, Ross served on
the State Advisory Committee on Historic Preservation. He retired from the University of Oregon in 1978.
Upon his death in 1991, Ross left a one million dollar endowment for library material acquisitions and
the construction of the Architectural and Allied Arts Library at the University of Oregon. The majority
of the collection consists of materials regarding architects, regional architecture, and specific buildings.
A large amount of material relates to Oregon architecture, with an emphasis on Portland and Eugene.
Repository:
University of Oregon Libraries
Special Collections & University Archives
Funding for encoding this finding aid was provided through
a grant awarded by the National Endowment for the Humanities.
Biographical Note
Born in Williamsburg, Pennsylvania in 1913, Marion Dean Ross was educated at Pennsylvania State and Harvard University. He received a B.S. in architecture in 1935 at Penn State, studied at the Universidad Nacional in Mexico, and earned a Master of Architecture degree at Harvard in 1937. Ross studied later at Harvard during summer sessions of 1938, 1940, and 1948.
Starting in 1937, Ross taught architectural history and design at Tulane University. In 1946, Ross taught at Pennsylvania State College. In 1947, Ross started teaching in the Art History department at the University of Oregon. When the art history department was established in 1963, Ross became the first chairman of the department. In 1962-63, Ross filled the position of acting Dean of the School of Architecture and Allied Arts. He retired from the University of Oregon in 1978.
Teaching the history of architecture, Ross taught a variety of classes including Latin American architecture, Islamic architecture, modern architecture, along with other subjects. His interests ranged from Victorian objects to landscape architecture. He was one of the first to critically study Oregon architecture and also taught a class on the subject.
Outside of the university, Ross participated in architectural and historic preservation organizations. His study of Oregon architecture helped in the creation of stylistic guidelines for the Oregon State Inventory of Historic Properties for the state preservation office. He was a founding member of the Society for Architectural Historians. For thirteen years, Ross served on the State Advisory Committee on Historic Preservation.
Influential in architectural history at the university, around the state and the nation, Ross’ was remembered after his death in April 2, 1991 as an important figure in the study of architectural history and historic preservation. He left a one million dollar endowment for library material acquisitions and the construction of the Architectural and Allied Arts Library at the University of Oregon. The AAA library reading room was named the “Marion D. Ross Reading Room” on April 27, 1991 during the dedication of completed renovation of Lawrence Hall.
Sources: “Marion Ross.” Biographical Information Files, UA Ref 2, Box 6, University Archives, Special Collections and University Archives.
Sources: “Review,” School of Architecture and Allied Arts, Spring, 1991. University Publications Files, Box 2, University Archives, Special Collections and University Archives.
Content Description
The Marion Dean Ross collection is arranged by subject. The majority of the collection consists of materials regarding architects, regional architecture, and specific buildings. A large amount of material relates to Oregon architecture, with an emphasis on Portland and Eugene. The material for each subject includes newspaper clippings, photographs, brochures, maps, notes and other items. Located at the end of the collection is a section on architectural and historic preservation organizations, which includes newsletters and other publications produced by the specified organization.
Use of the Collection
Restrictions on Access :
Collection is open to the public.
Collection must be used in Special Collections & University Archives Reading Room.
Restrictions on Use :
Property rights reside with Special Collections & University Archives, University of Oregon Libraries.
Copyright resides with the creators of the documents or their heirs.
All requests for permission to publish or quote from manuscripts must be submitted to the
Manuscripts Librarian in Special Collections & University Archives. The
reader must also obtain permission of the copyright holder.
Preferred Citation :
[Identification of item], Marion Dean Ross Papers, Coll. 231, Special Collections & University Archives, University of Oregon Libraries, Eugene, Oregon.
Administrative Information
Arrangement :
Collection is organized into the following series: Series I. Architects; Series II. Architecture; Series III. Organizations.
Acquisition Information :
Gift of Marian C. Donnelly in 1992.
Detailed Description of the Collection
The following section contains a detailed listing of the materials in
the collection.
