Joseph Emery


Joseph Emery was an American academic and an acting president of Corvallis College, known today as Oregon State University.
He taught at Corvallis College from 1867 to 1885.

Corvallis College

Joseph Emery was born in Pennsylvania on June 2, 1833. Joining the Corvallis College faculty in 1867, he taught mathematics, physics, geology, and physiology. He was elected as the school's librarian in 1870. Afterward, William Asa Finley, who had then served as Corvallis College's first president since 1865, resigned in June 1872, as a result of which Emery became an acting president of Corvallis College and the faculty head from May 5 to August 30, 1872. Benjamin Lee Arnold succeeded Emery's presidency in September, 1872. Despite the short period of his incumbency, as a president he submitted the first biennial report of Corvallis College to the Governor of Oregon.
In 1885, Emery left Corvallis to become an agent for the U.S. Indian Agency at Klamath.
He died in Salinas, California on January 18, 1924.