Pacific University Historic Photographs

Items

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  Bronze Chinese Incense Burner, similar to Boxer

  A bronze statue that likely functioned as an incense burner, similar in appearance to Pacific University's qilin "Boxer" mascot. This statue appears to be a 19th or 20th century Chinese (or possibly Japanese?) work depicting an unknown mythological creature, possibly a "Denglong." Its features include: cone-shaped ears; fish-like scales on its back, chest and legs; clawed feet; a mane and tail; protruding black eyes on short stalks; a single horn with two branches on its forehead; a dog-like snout; a fish-like or frog-like mouth; and a dragon-like crest of scales running down its backbone. It is similar to a Qilin, except for the fact that its feet have claws rather than hooves, and it has no whiskers. The statue's head was connected to the body with a hinge (now broken), inside of which incense could be placed, so that the smoke would come out of its nose and mouth. The tail is removable, probably so that ash could be removed. One ear has become loose but still attaches to the body. The statue measures 8.5" high, 4" wide and 10" long. The statue resembles the bronze qilin incense burner nicknamed "Boxer," which later became Pacific University's official mascot. In the 1950s, the Boxer statue was circulating among Pacific U. students, who would periodically bring out the statue for a brawl-like contest over its possession. This similar bronze statue was collected by Roger K. Smith (Pacific University Class of 1953), probably in October 1951. The Smith Family kept this statue for 71 years, alongside a letter that Roger sent to his parents on Oct. 22, 1951, which stated: "When the package [containing the statue] comes, take good care of the contents. Even Myron [Roger's brother, another Pacific U. student] doesn't know that I came up with the thing. The poor boy sure took a beating. Came up in four parts." The statue was donated to Pacific University by the Smith Family in November, 2022. The copy of the letter that accompanied the statue is kept in the Archives subject files. For other materials related to the Smith Family, see the LeRoy and Reatha Smith Papers (Pacific University Archives, MS.48).
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  Newspaper clipping featuring Pacific football players

  This collection brings together archival material on the history of 'Boxer,' Pacific University's mascot. Letters, news clippings, photographs and other items are included, illustrating its history from when the Boxer statue first arrived on campus in the 1890s through its disappearance in 1970. Efforts to find, recreate and commemorate the statue since that time are also covered.
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  Boxer Toss

  Photograph of the apparent victor of a Boxer Toss at Pacific University.
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  Boxer with welded legs

  The original Boxer statue which would become the mascot of Pacific University. This photograph was probably taken in the 1940s or early 1950s, based on the condition of the statue.
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  Student broadcasting at Boxer Radio in the 1980's

  A Pacific University student broadcasts at the Boxer Radio station on campus in the 1980's
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  Pacific University students pose with the reassembled Boxer statue

  A group of Pacific University students, members of the class of 1918, pose for a picture after reassembling the Boxer statue in 1914, their freshman year. They are wearing the Pacific University beanies students received as freshmen. The students are identified in Pacific Today, Volume 1, Issue 1, Spring 1966. They are as follows: First row - Thomas Reuben Roe, unidentified, unidentified, Watt Andrew Long, Wilford Myron Briggs, Byron Matthew Goodman, John Converse 'Vercy' Bellinger, Thayne Miller Livesay, Laben Earle Morin, and Darrell Vincent Heisler [original author unsure of identity]. Second row - Leo Sheridan Lucas, Glenn Robert Jack, Samuel Verle Stanley, George Wilcox, and John Ireland. Third row - Grace Almeda Zerba, Ruth Carson Stewart, Emma Craft, Emma Harris [more likely Ruth Harris], Rhoda Christina Enschede, Elizabeth Simon, Hazel Evelyn Gilpin, Nettie Viola Davis, unidentified, Mary Margaret Bean [original author unsure of identity, note: she was a senior at Tualatin Academy in 1914], unidentified, Myrtle Lola Gilpin, Charlotte Victoria Morrison, Janeese [Janness, original author unsure of identity] Lola Miller [original author unsure], Alta Josephine Soule, unidentified, unidentified, and Fred Margaret Acker, Fourth row - Lester Tallmon Jones, Charles Shannon Hancock, Elbert John Taylor, Martin John Bernards [note: he was a senior at Tualatin Academy in 1914], unidentified, Harold Arthur Reed, unidentified, Irvin William Turner, unidentified, Newton Conger McCoy, Lawrence Fulton Clark, and Carl Colvin Curtis.
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  Competition for Boxer

  Students fighting for Boxer.
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  Boxer Flash

  Students at a Boxer Flash.
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  Boxer Flash

  Students at a Boxer Flash.
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  Boxer Toss events

  Probably a photograph of the annual Boxer Toss.
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  Boxer Toss

  Appears to be a photograph of the annual Boxer Toss.
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  Old Guard with Boxer

  Members of the Old Guard with Boxer, taken during the 1963 Commencement.
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  Old Guard with Boxer

  Members of the Old Guard with Boxer, taken during the 1963 Commencement.
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  Student with gravestone

  Jean Allin, Class of 1939, standing next to the gravestone where Boxer was reported to have been hidden. Members of the Gamma Sigma fraternity would unscrew a metal plate on the gravestone to reveal the mascot inside.
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  Boxer hiding place?

  Glen Rice '38 and Don Lucas '38 lean against a gravestone in Mountain View Cemetery in Forest Grove. Rice and Lucas were members of the Gamma Sigma fraternity. The Gammas reputedly hid Boxer behind a metal plate on this gravestone. Rice and Lucas both went on to become doctors after joining the military and serving in World War II.
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  Ming mascot

  Photograph of the statue Ming, which a group at the University tried to use as a replacement for Boxer when the Boxer statue went missing for an extended period in the 1940s.
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  Student with Boxer replica

  Two unidentified students with the Boxer replica. Photo was taken near the circulation desk in the Harvey W. Scott Memorial Library.
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  Students with Ming statue

  Photo of students holding the Ming mascot in the 1940s. The Ming statue was presented to Pacific University as a replacement for the Boxer mascot after it disappeared during a Boxer Brawl.The Ming mascot was refused by the student body. What is left of the Ming statue can be found in the Pacific University Center.
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  Student poses with Boxer

  A young man poses with Boxer against the hood of a car. For more pictures of this student see PUApic_015721 and PUApic_015726.
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  Student holding Boxer

  A young man poses with Boxer while sitting on a stump. For another picture of the same student see PUApic_015721 and PUApic_015728.
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  Boxer sitting on stump

  Boxer sits posed on a stump. See also PUApic_015723 and PUApic_015724.
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  Boxer on a stump

  A close-up of Boxer posed on a tree stump. See also PUApic_015723 and PUApic_015725.
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  Boxer on a tree stump

  Boxer posed on a tree stump. See also PUApic_015724 and PUApic_015725.
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  Young man with Boxer leg

  A young man, a Pacific University student, poses with the leg broken off of Boxer. The leg likely broke off during the Boxer Toss that was a tradition at Pacific University for many years. See PUApic_015721 for a picture of the same student.