Ralph Dorn Hetzel papers

The majority of this collection contains information on Hetzel’s presidency at the New Hampshire College of Agriculture and the Mechanic Arts, which was renamed the University of New Hampshire in 1923. This collection includes speeches, addresses, lectures, and notes that he had given while he was the president. There is also university business affairs correspondence, committee information, campus events, article reprints and journals on education, such as, the Morrill Land Grant Act of 1862, National Affairs, and prohibition.

This collection includes information on Hetzel's early life and education. For example, correspondence from E. E. Browne regarding paying a lien that was against the family homestead when his father, Henry Clayton Hetzel, unexpectedly passed away at the age of 42. There are also news clippings when he was an All-American at the Merrill High School including his diploma and graduation program. Plus, material about when he attended the University of Wisconsin including his sketches, college papers, class courses registration, transcript and his diplomas (Bachelor of Arts and Bachelor of Laws degrees). Interestingly, he received a few Doctor of Laws honorary degrees from the University of Pennsylvania, University of Pittsburgh, University of New Hampshire, and the University of Dartmouth, as well as a Doctor of Literature degree from Lafayette College. There is also a certificate from the State of Oregon Supreme Court for his attorney at law license.

Additionally, the collection includes details about the certificates and awards that he received throughout his career, such as those from the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, fraternities and honorary societies, Supreme Court of Wisconsin, State of Oregon Treasury Department, University of New Hampshire, National War Fund Campaign and Pennsylvania State College.

This collection also includes family correspondence and personal information such as biographical information, clippings and news releases, correspondence to and from his children and his wife, tributes to his father Henry Clayton Hetzel, scrapbooks, his resume, War Department classification card, medical information from Johns Hopkins University and his wife, Estelle Helene Hetzel’s obituary.

Lastly, there is information on his death including press releases and news clippings, condolences and family responses, Delta Upsilon Leadership conference tribute, establishment of an award in the memory of Dr. Hetzel at the Pennsylvania State College, and the dedication of the Hetzel Union Building (HUB) at the college, including clippings and a listing of the family members who attended the event.