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Stevens Hall

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Professor Orin A. Stevens [3].

On October 17th, 1885, O.A. Stevens was born on a farm near Blue Rapids, Kansas. At a young age, Stevens would steal his older sister’s botany textbook and read about the interesting plants and animals of the world. He would then go on to college at Kansas State College and eventually teach at his alma mater. What brought him to the North Dakota Agricultural College (NDAC) in 1909 was the new pure seed and drug law as well as the brand new State Seed Laboratory. This meant that there was an opening for a seed analyst. He worked his way up to an associate professor in 1926, and then became a full professor in 1947. Stevens worked for 47 years at NDSU, but continued to stay around and conduct research.

Stevens has written and published more than 200 hundred articles in 40 different scholarly journals on topics ranging from plants, weeds, birds, and North Dakota towns. One of his more interesting accomplishments came in 1917. Stevens was studying weeds in America that came from Europe and sent lamb’s quarters to the United States National Herbarium for analysis. Another scientist, Dr. Paul Allen of Switzerland, wanted the lamb samples as well. Those samples that Allen got had one species that had not yet been cataloged yet. Thus, Dr. Allen named the species Stevensii in his honor.

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Construction of Stevens Hall, circa August 1967. [4]

Dr. Stevens is known around the nation and world as being one of the top botanists of his time. [1]

In 1968, a 1.3 million dollar building that would house biology, zoology, geography, and wildlife management was named in Dr. Stevens honor. Retirement was not much of a retirement for Stevens because he still continued to conduct research and write on campus. What was remarkable about this man was that he rarely drove his car; he would ride or walk to school even into his 80s. Colleagues would see him come to work in the morning at 5:30 am and wouldn’t leave until the sun went down. Stevens worked at NDSU until he suffered a stroke in 1976. His wife, Julia, then moved to California to be closer to family. In 1979, Stevens died surrounded by family. NDSU will forever be grateful for his research in the botany field for his research and academic contributions. [2]

  1. NDSU Archives, “Finding Aid to the O.A. Stevens Papers.” Accessed November 2, 2016. http://library.ndsu.edu/tools/dspace/load/?file=/repository/bitstream/handle/10365/478/Stevens%2cO.A.Papers.pdf?sequence=5
  2. North Dakota State University. “Stevens Hall.” Accessed November 2, 2016. https://www.ndsu.edu/alphaindex/buildings/Building::409
  3. Photo by NDSU Archives. https://flic.kr/p/8AHs4x
  4.  Photo by NDSU Archives. https://flic.kr/p/8AHs3T
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The Fargo History Project

The Fargo History Project began in Fall 2012 as part of a Digital History course at North Dakota State University. What started as a class effort to explore Fargo’s early history through archival research has grown into an ongoing, collaborative public history initiative. Students continue to work in libraries, archives, and the community to uncover and interpret the city’s past, contributing research that expands the project in new directions each year.

Over time, the project has moved beyond its original digital format to include a range of public-facing work. Students have produced original documentaries, conducted oral histories, and developed a Fargo history walking tour that invites people to experience the city’s past in place. These additions reflect a broader commitment to making history accessible, engaging, and relevant to public audiences.

Have a story, photograph, or piece of Fargo’s history to share? Send it to us or get in touch—we want to include your voice in the project.

Angela J. Smith is Professor of History and Director of the Public History Program at North Dakota State University. Her work focuses on public history, digital history, and twentieth-century U.S. history, with an emphasis on community-engaged research and making the past accessible to broader audiences.

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The Fargo History Project is a public history initiative produced by students at NDSU. ©North Dakota State University