Missouri State University Libraries
Roy Ellis Collection
Volume: 8 cubic feet
Dates: 1839-1973
Provenance
The collection was acquired prior to 1997. It was processed in 2002 by Leslie James, with assistance from Jen Hazen, Todd Hubbs, and Betty Macharia.
Copyright
This collection may be protected from unauthorized copying by the Copyright Law of the United States (Title 17, United States Code).
Access
The collection is unrestricted. Single photocopies may be made for research purposes. Permission to publish material from the collection must be obtained from the Department of Special Collections and Archives. Citations should be as follows: Identification of the item, box and folder number, Roy Ellis Collection (M003), Department of Special Collections and Archives, Missouri State University.
Biographical/Historical Sketch
Dr. Roy Ellis was president of Southwest Missouri State Teachers College (later renamed Southwest Missouri State College, then Southwest Missouri State University, and now known as Missouri State University) from February 2, 1926 until August 31, 1961. At that time, Ellis was the only college president in the United States to hold such an office for 35 years.
Ellis was born on March 9, 1888, near Seymour, Missouri, in Wright County. His career began in 1906 teaching rural schools in Wright County. He enrolled at the State Normal School, Fourth District (now MSU) in 1908 and received his Pedagogy degree in 1911. In 1914 he received his A.B. and B.S. in Education from the University of Missouri-Columbia. He received his M.A. from Harvard University in 1917 and received his Ph.D. in political science and economics in 1930 from Columbia University.
Ellis joined the staff of the Missouri State Normal School, Fourth District in 1917 teaching sociology and economics. In 1920, Ellis began his service as head of the newly formed Department of Sociology and Economics. He served in that capacity until 1926 when he was elected President of Southwest State Teachers College. His term took the college through the Great Depression, World War II, and the dramatic post-war enrollment boom.
NOTE: The information above is taken from the following:
- Ellis, Roy. Shrine of the Ozarks. Southwest Missouri State College, 1968.
- Southwest Missouri State College news release, May 18, 1960.
Scope and Content
The collection contains a plethora of information on the history of Missouri State University. The information spans from the mid 1800s to the1970s. The collection is divided into six series, as outlined below.
Series I: Shrine of the Ozarks: Ellis' research for Shrine of the Ozarks is contained within this series of the collection. It encompasses all aspects of the college's history predominantly through 1965. The series is also subdivided into the corresponding chapters of Shrine of the Ozarks.
Series II: Lectures: Roy Ellis' appreciation for history and public speaking is showcased here with materials pertaining to lectures he presented on Kansas City, Missouri, the Santa Fe Trail, and the Holy Land.
Series III: President’s Files: The President's Files include materials from Ellis' 35 year term. His 1953 correspondence with the Board of Regents, the Administrative Manual, and Faculty Minute books are among the items included within this series.
Series IV: Presidents’ Correspondence: This includes the 1948-1953 correspondence between President George W. Diemer (Central Missouri State College), Roy Ellis, J. W. Jones (Northwest Missouri State College), W. W. Parker (Southeast Missouri State College), and Walter H. Ryle (Northeast Missouri State Teachers College).
Series V: Subject Files: The Subject Files contain miscellaneous material collected by Ellis. Included is his collection of poetry and subject file books, which include articles about such topics as education, religion, politics, and economics.
Series VI: Publications: The publications are predominantly about Missouri and/or education.
Series VII: Oversized Materials: This contains oversized items from the previous series such as maps, charts, and certificates. Oversized Item Forms are located within the original folders with brief descriptions of the removed items.
Related Materials
Scrapbooks compiled by Roy Ellis in the cataloged collection within the Special Collections and Archives Department:- A Cartoon History of the War, LC Call #: D 526. C37 1926
- A Collection of War Verse, LC Call #: PS 595. W63 C65 1926
- Columbia University: My College Days, LC Call #: LD 1253. M9 1926
- Missouri [University of Missouri], LC Call #: LD 3473. M57 1926
Container List
The container list for this collection is available in PDF format. Adobe Reader is required to view the container list.
