Oscar H. Will Family Collection

Collection

Identifier: Mss 1026

Staff Only

Scope and Contents

The Oscar H. Will Family Collection consists of various biographical materials on Mr. Will and his son George, publications by George F. Will, and catalogs of Oscar H. Will & Co. The biographical material consists of various newspaper and magazine articles on Mr. Will. The material on his son George F. Will consists of newspaper clippings, obituary, and his writings on tree ring studies in North Dakota in which he was very interested. The Catalogs Series is the great bulk of the collection. The company catalogs include for 1896, 1897, 1908 to 1959, and 1961 to 1969. They are standard seed and nursery catalogs and most of the covers from 1931 to 1959 have a Clell G. Gannon painting depicting scenes of Indians raising corn. The Price Lists Series consists of Fall Planting Lists which are fairly incomplete from 1924 to 1934 and complete from 1940 to 1956; a Thanksgiving Day price list from 1939; and wholesale price lists from 1887 and 1896. The Subject Files Series includes articles written by George F. Will, a booklet on cultural directions; and Christmas greeting cards.

Dates

1896-1969.

Creator

Will, Oscar H., 1855-1917. (Person)

Access

The collection is open under the rules and regulations of the Institute.

Copyrights

Copyrights to this collection are not held by the Institute for Regional Studies.

Biography

Oscar H. Will was born at Pompey, New York on September 9, 1855, the son of Francis A. and Margaret (Barchie) Will. After completing school at the age of thirteen, Mr. Will worked at various area village stores and then entered his brother's nursery business at Fayetteville, New York. He was a traveling agent for the firm and also learned the florist trade. In 1881 Mr. Will came to Bismarck, Dakota to work for E.M. Fuller who was establishing a greenhouse there. A year later Mr. Will leased the business and introduced a line of seeds. This new interest was due to the tree claim law and developing a corn adapted to the areas growing season. Also, Mr. Will was able to homestead fifteen miles east of Bismarck.

In 1882, he married Elvira Isabelle Bird of Bismarck. They had two children, George and Mabel. When the Bismarck boom ended in 1886-1887 Mr. Will concentrated on the seed and nursery business. He was especially interested in promoting more and better corn varieties. His seed company continued to expand, being known as Oscar H. Will & Co., and which was the first nursery in North Dakota. After Mr. Will's death on August 26, 1917 in Bismarck, his son George took over the business. Mr. Will was also president of the State Board of Agriculture. In 1923, he was inducted into the North Dakota Agricultural Hall of Fame at the North Dakota Agricultural College.

Extent

.8 Linear Feet (.8 linear ft.)

Language of Materials

English

Additional Description

Abstract

Oscar Will homestead near Bismarck, ND and focused his attention on the seed and nursery business. His seed company, Oscar H. Will & Co., was the first nursery in North Dakota. The collection consists of various biographical materials on Mr. Will and his son George, publications by George F. Will, and catalogs of Oscar H. Will & Co.