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Lyman D. Wooster Papers

 Collection
Identifier: FC 020
the Lyman D. Wooster Papers are housed in one archival document box and date from 1862-1959. The papers are comprised mainly of letters, research notes, stories, newspaper accounts, and various information collected and created by Dr. Lyman D. Wooster during the research and writing of his book: Fort Hays Kansas State College: An Historical Story (cover title: A History of Fort Hays Kansas State College 1902-1961).

Dates

  • 1862-1959

Creator

Conditions Governing Access

Items cannot be removed from the University Archives. Please ask for the assistance of the Archivist when handling these items.

Conditions Governing Use

Written permission must be obtained from the Fort Hays State University Archives and all relevant rights holders before publishing quotations, excerpts or images from any materials in this collection.

Extent

.5 Linear Feet

Overview

the Lyman D. Wooster Papers consists of letters, research notes, stories, newspaper accounts, and various information collected and created by Dr. Lyman D. Wooster during the research of his book: Fort Hays Kansas State College: An Historical Story (cover title: A History of Fort Hays Kansas State College 1902-1961).

Biographical / Historical

Dr. Lyman Dwight Wooster was born in Greeley, Colorado, July 15, 1884 to Lyman Child Wooster and Ellen Ada Bassett Wooster. He was educated in the public schools of Eureka and Emporia, Kansas. He received a bachelor of arts degree from Emporia Normal School, a master of philosophy degree from the University of Wisconsin, and a doctor of philosophy degree in Zoology from Stanford University. He taught for a year at a high school in Parsons, Kansas, and a year at a high school in Kansas City, Kansas.

Dr. Wooster began employment with the university as a faculty member in 1909 and taught for 32 years. He served as dean of the college the last two years of President Rarick's administration and was appointed on August 15, 1941, to succeed President Rarick, becoming the university’s fourth president. Dr. Wooster served as president of Fort Hays Kansas State College until 1949.

Dr. Wooster retired in the summer of 1949 with the title of President Emeritus. He continued to be involved with the university and returned to teach classes in geology. Dr. Wooster served as executive secretary of the Western Kansas Development Association and editor to its publication The West Kansan. His book, Fort Hays Kansas State College: An Historical Story (cover title: A History of Fort Hays Kansas State College 1902-1961), was published posthumous in 1961.

Dr. Wooster was married to Mary O. Smith on May 27, 1913. The Wooster’s had four children, Lyman Dwight, Jr., Martha, Mary, and Cynthia. Dr. Wooster’s first wife, Mary, died on April 24, 1945. Dr. Wooster remarried Mrs. Velma Rippeteau on December 22, 1948. Dr. Wooster died on February 21, 1960. He is buried in Mount Allen Cemetery, Hays, Kansas.

Arrangement

Materials have been arranged to preserve their original order.

Related Materials

This collection represents Lyman D. Wooster's personal papers. All official materials related to his term as President of Fort Hays Kansas State College can be found as part of the materials related to the Office of The President. The Lyman Dwight Wooster Photograph Collection has been digitized and is included in the Archives' digital collections. All materials related to Wooster's teaching career are not yet processed.
Author
Revised by David Obermayer
Date
2016; 2018
Description rules
dacs

Repository Details

Part of the Fort Hays State University Archives Repository

Contact:
University Archives
Forsyth Library
502 South Campus Drive
Hays KS 67601 United States