University Archives

The purpose of the OBU Archives is to collect and preserve documents and other artifacts which are of significance as records or as symbols of the history, character, and accomplishments of OBU and of the places and people associated with OBU. The purpose of these materials is to serve as a resource for scholarly research on persons, places, and events related to OBU, and to provide a historic record and reminder of the heritage that we today must build and carry on into the future.

OBU Presidents

David W. Whitlock

Mark A. Brister
1998-2007
Bob R. Agee
1982-1998
E. Eugene Hall
1977-1982
William G.Tanner
1971-1976
Grady C. Cothen
1966-1970
James Ralph Scales
1961-1965
John Wesley Raley
1934-1961
Hale Virginus Davis
1932-1934
William Cooke Boone
1930-1932
Warren W. Phelan
1926-1930
John B. Lawrence
1922-1926
Judson Tolman
1919-1922
Frank M. Masters
1915-1919
J.M. Carroll
1910-1912

OBU Manuscripts

The OBU Historical Collection contains the following publications:

  • The YAHNSEH, Yearbook
  • The BISON, Student Newspaper
  • OBU HONORS THESES
  • The OKLAHOMA BAPTIST UNIVERSITY ACADEMIC CATALOG
  • OUR DAY, the OBU Community Newspaper
  • The GREEN BOOK, Student Handbook
  • The FACULTY HANDBOOK
  • The BISON HILLTOPICS, Publication for Friends of OBU
  • The ANVIL, Alumni Quarterly Publication

Other archival material include OBU Chapel tapes; books and theses written by OBU graduates and faculty; and minutes of meetings of Board of Trustees, Faculty, University committees, and some campus organizations. Files of administrators and faculty contain newspaper articles, pictures, speeches, and other pertinent information. Programs, newspaper articles, and other material pertaining to OBU are filed according to the academic year. The original Certificate of Incorporation is also located in the OBU Archives.

OBU Photographic Collection

Shawnee Hall Cornerstone Ceremony - February 1911.

Photographic portraits in the OBU Historical Collection include the OBU Presidents, many former Faculty, Staff members, and OBU Board of Trustees. Other photographs included in the OBU Archives are early photos of OBU, photographs taken from space by Astronaut Col. William R. Pogue, and pictures of students and campus life.

OBU Artifacts

Artifacts in the OBU Historical Collection include two of the original platform chairs used in the OBU Chapel from 1915 to 1961, the original faculty dining table, and an early-day faculty desk chair. Other artifacts include trophies, uniforms, and other OBU memorabilia. The Special Collections of the OBU Historical Collection include various artifacts ranging from a podium (which belonged to First Baptist Church, Oklahoma City, and was used by Dr. Herschel Hobbs) to Nigerian wood sculptures.