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.
Richard Thompson was a Pacific University student who graduated in 1963. This snapshot, taken in June 1957, shows his mother and one of her friends with Boxer, the original mascot statue of Pacific University. Mrs. Thompson was an employee of the university. This photograph is from the collection of Richard Thompson, who retains the original print.
Richard Thompson was a Pacific University student who graduated in 1963. While he was enrolled, his fraternity Phi Beta Tau, won possession of the university's mascot, Boxer. In this photograph, taken around 1962, we see Richard Thompson's car, which was used as a getaway vehicle when transporting the Boxer mascot statue. The picture was probably taken near the old elementary school on the corner of SW Pacific Avenue and Highway 8 in Forest Grove. This photograph is from the collection of Richard Thompson, who retains the original print.
Richard Thompson was a Pacific University student who graduated in 1963. While he was enrolled, his fraternity Phi Beta Tau won possession of the university's mascot, Boxer. In this photograph, taken around 1962, Thompson is leaning next to Boxer, who has been placed on a Pacific University sweater, on top of a car hood. The picture was probably taken near the old elementary school on the corner of SW Pacific Avenue and Highway 8 in Forest Grove. This photograph is from the collection of Richard Thompson, who retains the original print.
Richard Thompson was a Pacific University student who graduated in 1963. While he was enrolled, his fraternity Phi Beta Tau won possession of the university's mascot, Boxer. In this photograph, taken around 1962, Thompson is holding Boxer, who is mostly intact, with all of his appendages except the ears and horn present, but with many welding marks as evidence of having been ripped apart in previous fights. This photograph is from the collection of Richard Thompson, who retains the original print.
A soundless video recording of a fight over the 'Boxer' mascot of Pacific University in 1968. In the fight, also known as a 'Boxer Toss,' several teams of male students brawl over possession of the mascot, which was a bronze Chinese statue. It was filmed on campus in Trombley Square, between the Washburne University Center, Scott Hall, Marsh Hall and Old College Hall (which has since been moved to a new location). Hundreds of bystanders watch in the background. This brawl was part of a Pacific University tradition that was maintained for decades until the statue disappeared approximately one year after this film was made. It took place on April 18, 1968 and was described in an article, 'The Boxer Rebellion - 1968,' that appeared in the Pacific alumni magazine. The film was likely created from footage collected by the television crews that are described in the article. This video was converted from a 16mm film reel that was marked, 'Color Electro-Print of Boxer Fight,' from the King Film Lab in Portland, Oregon.
'Trophy Stirs Classes' story on class rivalries and Portland Police actions related to stealing the Boxer statue. Some details relating to the original donation of the Boxer statue are included. George Tucker, an alumnus, added notes in handwriting at the bottom, including some about a rival class trophy, 'Hathor.'
A note written to Chris from Rick Read regarding the arrival of the Boxer mascot. The last arrival on campus the Boxer mascot had was in 1898, is the best guess Rick Read has.
The Boxer mascot was constantly being taken from Pacific University and returned at various times through the history of Pacific University. This document has a list of dates that the Boxer mascot arrived back onto Pacific University campus.
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.
This handwritten document is a summary of the different locations and dates that the Boxer mascot was seen on campus. There are accounts of students seeing the Boxer on campus at different times throughout the years.
The Boxer mascot was originally purchased by a Pacific University graduate who bought it from a Chinese family. The graduate described the Boxer as looking like a dog, but actually it is a mythical creature that is part dragon, lion, dog and deer. A series of events started due to this mascot called the 'Boxer Tosses', where the Boxer mascot would be thrown or hidden somewhere for students to fight over. In 1969, one year after the Boxer was officially named Pacific University's mascot, the original Boxer disappeared. After years of waiting for the reappearance students decided to raise money to have a new cast of the Boxer made, reintroducing the 'Boxer Tosses' in 1981. Since then the appearance of the Boxer has been limited.
This is a letter that was sent out to graduates from Pacific University regarding the missing Boxer mascot. The Boxer was last seen in Forest Grove in 1972. The letter is to urge the alumni to send the Boxer back if they have it or give information that may lead to the finding of the Boxer. The intention of getting the Boxer back to Pacific is to not start the 'Boxer Tosses' again, but to give him a new dignified role to Pacific.
A detailed document handwritten listing the known whereabouts of the Boxer Mascot. With the 'Boxer Tosses' occurring without any warning, the whereabouts of the Boxer were hard to keep track of as he disappeared for months and years at a time. This document has the Boxer's whereabouts to the best of the knowledge of Pacific University from 1896 to 1961.
This document is a handwritten guide to help someone who finds or is looking for the Boxer mascot. The Boxer was last seen in 1972, with unknown whereabouts till the time this letter was written in 1976. The document has information regarding who had the Boxer at various times, where the Boxer was and where the Boxer could be. A list of ideas on how to keep the Boxer safe from being taken again for a long period of time were also listed in this document.
This excerpt has a detailed history of where the Boxer originated from and why. This mascot was presented to Pacific to be everyone's 'good fortune'. A close friend to the family that gave the mascot to Pacific also gave a Chinese tray to the friend. The friend is asking if Pacific would have any interest in obtaining this Chinese tray from the Boxer Revolution in China.
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.
This document is to attempt to clarify when the Boxer was donated to Pacific University. Throughout Pacific's history there were many discrepancies about the year the Boxer was donated to Pacific. A narrative about different clues that help specify the correct year it was donated are found in this document. The final conclusion states that it was either Mary Walker who donated the Boxer in 1896 or J.E. Walker in 1898. There are different opinions on which year is more correct depending on who is asked.
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.
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.
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.
This note was written by Alex Toth regarding an anonymous tip as to where the original Boxer resided between 1964-1968. This tip was given by alumni from Pacific University during Homecoming of 2001. The letter states a name of the person who Boxer resided at between those dates.
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.
