Idaho Pioneers

Idaho's Cultural and Intellectual Pioneers - Meeting room displays

The Pioneers program was established in 1990 by the Student Union Board of Governors as the result of a public contest to name conference rooms and public spaces within the Student Union. The winning entry came to be named the Idaho Cultural and Intellectual Pioneers program. The program recognizes native Idahoans, or those individuals who have spent a period of residence in Idaho, who have made a significant cultural, intellectual or economic contribution to the state. The program has since grown to honor a total of twenty people with displays located inside or outside their respective conference room
or public space.

Each display contains a short biography, photographs of the featured individual(s), and assorted memorabilia relating to his or her life and field. The displays are intended to give a glimpse into the lives of the pioneers, while preserving their memory and highlighting their contributions to Idaho for later generations to enjoy.

Anyone wishing to view the displays (primarily located on the second floor) is encouraged to do so. Displays located inside their respective rooms can be viewed during the normal operational hours of the Student Union, provided that the rooms are unoccupied. Other displays are located in public corridors outside their rooms, and can be viewed at any time.

 

About the Rooms

AH FONG - Named for C.K. AH FONG, 1845-1927

C.K. Ah Fong was a skilled herbalist and medical practitioner, and a respected member of the Idaho community for 60 years. His skill attracted miners, both Chinese and Caucasian, who had been lured by the discovery of gold in the hills near Atlanta, Idaho. Ah Fong's established medical practice and apothecary served the community until his license became threatened by an Idaho District Court decision restricting the practice of medicine to U.S. citizens. After successfully appealing the verdict to the Idaho Supreme Court, Ah Fong went on to expand his practice, exemplifying the vision of the western frontier as a land of opportunity.
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ALEXANDER - Named for MOSES ALEXANDER, 1853-1932

The career of Moses Alexander, the first Jewish citizen to be elected governor in the United States, combined the astuteness of the successful entrepreneur and the dogged persistence of the winning campaigner. Stressing professional efficiency in government, his administration achieved such reforms as industrial accident and workmen's compensation insurance. His obituary in The Idaho Statesman credited his energy and foresightedness as a major force in the transition of Boise "from a rude frontier post to the bustling modern and beautiful little city" of the mid-1930s. More Information...

BERGQUIST LOUNGE - Named for BRIAN JOEL BERGQUIST, 1958-1998

Brian Bergquist's appreciation for the wisdom of the Constitution intensified his conviction that a rich quality of life should be accessible to every individual. His organizational and motivational talents earned him a national reputation, as he spearheaded the No-On-One Campaign in opposition to the Idaho anti-gay initiative. His shrewd intelligence and wry sense of humor allowed him to confront the most controversial issues with an approach that was both collaborative and courageous. Because his interest spanned the technical and the aesthetic, his fingerprints touch many facets of Boise State University life. Bergquist appreciated tulips and technology, films and flowcharts, cooking and the Constitution. His talents could have led him through larger doors and down more lucrative paths, but he stayed in Boise and at Boise State because he felt that he could make a difference here... and he made a great difference. More Information...

BISHOP BARNWELL - Named for MIDDLETON STUART BARNWELL, 1882-1957

An Episcopal Bishop and founder and first president of Boise Junior College, Middleton Barnwell was instrumental in establishing the institution that would emerge as Boise State University. When the Depression restricted the ability of Idaho students to leave the state to pursue higher education, he sought to fulfill that need closer to home. His ability to raise funds, attract faculty, enlist students, and sustain the momentum once a project was undertaken, gave the institution a solid start. Because he envisioned the college as an integral part of the city, Barnwell built a rapport between the campus and the community, a relationship that still flourishes today.

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BISHOP BARNWELL - Named for MARGARET THORNE LIGHTHALL BARNWELL, 1889- ca. 1960

Margaret Barnwell was the wife of Bishop Middleton S. Barnwell, founder and first president of Boise Junior College. Barnwell was also the Episcopal Bishop of Idaho from 1925 through 1934. In her role as the wife of clergyman, Margaret was a "supportive wife" and a "lovely and gracious hostess" while entertaining members of the church and the community. Bishop Middleton S. Barnwell was the founder and first president of Boise Junior College. His vision was instrumental in establishing the institution that would later emerge as Boise State University. More Information...

BOYINGTON - Named for GREGORY 'PAPPY' BOYINGTON, 1912-1988

When he was just six years old, while living in St. Maries, Idaho, Pappy Boyington flew into the wild blue yonder with a barnstorming pilot, an experience that would change his life forever. By the time they landed, Boyington had developed the determination to fly, eventually making him a top fighter ace in the United States Marine Corps during WWII. The Idaho native briefly left the Corps to join the Flying Tigers, but rejoined the Marines and led the famed Black Sheep Squadron during the United States' campaign in the Pacific. He won the Medal of Honor and the Navy Cross for his heroism, and his squadron was chronicled in the 1970s television show "Baa Baa Black Sheep," and in the autobiography upon which the series was based. More Information...

BRINK - Named for CAROL RYRIE BRINK, 1895-1981

Carol Ryrie Brink wrote a comprehensive body of fiction that captured the natural setting and personal challenges of life in Idaho. Grave misfortune struck early in life when her father died of consumption and her maternal grandfather was murdered, leading to the suicide of her mother. Such tragedy gave Brink's prose a stark sense of reality as she spun stories for both adult and youthful readers. She is best known for her work Caddie Woodlawn, a book that was awarded the Newberry Medal for children's fiction in 1936. Brink could see beyond the complexities of life to the simple components of serenity. She brought the world an appreciation for "the elfin wisdom of pansies ... the extravagance of nasturtiums." More Information...

CATALDO - Named for JOSEPH M. CATALDO, S. J., 1837-1928

Joseph M. Cataldo, S.J. was often called the "Last of the Black Robes" in honor of his service as Jesuit Superior of the Rocky Mountain Missions. He ministered to the Coeur d' Alene Indians at the Rocky Mountain Mission and established St. Stanislaus, the first church for white settlers in Northern Idaho. He also established the Mission of St. Joseph at Culdesac for the members of the Nez Perce tribe. During his ministry, the Old Mission of the Sacred Heart became his headquarters. Built between 1850 and 1852, the church was later named after Cataldo and is the oldest standing building in the state of Idaho. More Information...

CHIEF JOSEPH - Named for CHIEF JOSEPH, 1840-1904

Chief Joseph exemplifies a proud heritage of leadership and courage. His skill as a leader and a diplomat was demonstrated during and after the 1877 hostilities between the United States Army and the Nez Perce tribe. After being forced to surrender to federal troops, Joseph would petition for the fair and equitable treatment of his people throughout the rest of his life. Although he vowed to "fight no more forever," his indomitable spirit provides a template for those who resist discrimination and injustice. More Information...

FARNSWORTH - Named for PHILO TAYLOR FARNSWORTH, 1906-1971

Philo T. Farnsworth is best known as the inventor of the electronic television system. While a student at Rigby High School, he drew the first workable television design. His innovations contributed to the development of the first simple electronic microscope, the use of radio waves to determine direction (an early form of radar), and black light for night vision. A rural Idaho education planted the seeds of imagination which flourished in the technical ingenuity of Farnsworth, someone who helped transport the entire country into the information age. More Information...

FISHER - Named for VARDIS FISHER, 1895 - 1968

The Dean of Western novelists is seen by his biographer, Tim Woodward, as "the father of our regional literature." Weaving stories rooted in the tradition of the Church of Latter Day Saints, Vardis Fisher was prolific and historically accurate. He chronicled pioneer life in the "first significant fiction to emanate from the Rocky Mountain Region," recounting both the physical and psychological hardships endured by so many people who came West to start a new life. More Information...

FOOTE - Named for MARY HALLOCK FOOTE, 1847-1938

Mary Hallock Foote was an illustrator and an author who achieved prominence prior to her residence in the West. However, some of her most significant fiction was produced during her almost twelve years in Boise from 1884 to 1895. The series "Pictures from the Far West" is a tribute to both her artistic and literary proficiency. Her marriage to a mining engineer supplied wonderful technical perspectives to her biographical sketches, which heavily influenced Wallace Stegner's novel Angle of Repose. More Information...

GIPSON - Named for LAWRENCE HENRY GIPSON, 1880-1971

Curiosity inspired Gipson to move beyond his humble beginnings in Caldwell, Idaho. After dropping out of high school, he worked at various odd jobs, but his lust for knowledge drove him to excel academically. In 1903, he graduated from the University of Idaho and was selected to be one of the first Rhodes Scholars. He then went on to complete his education at Oxford and Yale. A man of keen intelligence, he wrote The British Empire Before the American Revolution, a 15-volume collection for which he received the Columbia University Loubat Prize in 1948, the Bancroft Prize in 1950, and the Pulitzer Prize for history in 1962. More Information...

HATCH - Named for ADA YOST HATCH, 1900-1984

Ada Yost Hatch was a member of the original faculty of Boise Junior College. She later became head of the English Department and eventually chair of the Division of Humanities. She advised the women's activities club, the Valkyries, to plan entertainment, boost morale, and raise money for charity, while fostering early efforts to create school spirit and a sense of tradition. In 1950, taking advantage of the first sabbatical offered by the school, she studied at Oxford. Her personal goals and the standard she set for her students inspired innovation and excellence in education.
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JOHNSON - Named for WALTER PERRY JOHNSON, 1887-1946

Idaho baseball fans knew him as the "Weiser Wonder," but when the national sports spotlight illuminated his career, Johnson became famous as "The Big Train." He is regarded by some purists as one of the greatest fastball pitchers of all time. Johnson starred for the Washington Senators from 1907 to 1927, garnering 417 wins. He set a record for strikeouts and in 1913 pitched 56 consecutive innings without allowing a run. Altogether, he pitched a total of 110 shutouts during his career. Underpaid, unassuming, and unpretentious, his career epitomizes the joy of athletic competition and the integrity of ideal sportsmanship. More Information...

JORDAN BALLROOM - Named for GRACE EDINGTON JORDAN, 1892-1985

Grace Jordan taught English, journalism, and fiction writing at four universities, including Boise Junior College. Her most popular novel, Home Below Hell's Canyon, was translated into six languages. She wrote six additional books and worked for several newspapers, and she was very active in the Idaho Writers League, for which she sponsored a short story contest. Grace Jordan was also interested in politics. That fascination and her talent for writing made Idaho more familiar terrain to those outside its borders. More Information...

SHIPMAN - Named for NELL SHIPMAN, 1892-1970

In 1921, Nell Shipman produced one of the first films ever shot in Idaho: "The Girl from God's Country." Fascinated by the lifestyle and the history of Idahoans, she returned to produce a number of films near Priest Lake between 1922 and 1924. Because of her insistence in using authentic locations, she brought the rugged beauty of the West to eastern movie audiences. She also foreshadowed concern for the humane treatment of animals used in production and reinforced the value of independent filmmaking. She was one of the earliest female directors, an inspiration to women everywhere.
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SIMPLOT BALLROOM - Named for J. R. SIMPLOT, 1909-2008

J. R. Simplot's story of success epitomizes the classic American dream. Through hard work and rock-solid determination, a bit of luck, and savvy investing, he transformed himself from a humble farm boy to Idaho's most successful businessman. Along the way, he created thousands of jobs, developed a market for many of Idaho's products, and even supervised the creation of the first frozen french fry, among many other endeavors ranging from potatoes to fertilizer to computer chips. Although his success could have taken him anywhere in the world, he chose to remain in Idaho, generously giving back to its people. More Information...

SIMPLOT BALLROOM - Named for ESTHER SIMPLOT,

Esther Simplot, an intelligent girl from rural Wisconsin, graduated with a degree in voice and music education from MacMurray College in Jacksonville, Illinois. After teaching for a few years, she eventually moved to the stage of New York, where she sang opera in various well-known venues for many years. It was there in the Big Apple in the mid- 60s where she met her future husband, J. R. Simplot. They married in 1972 in McCall, Idaho. After moving to Boise, which became her permanent home, Esther continued to sing and became a patroness of the performing arts. A great philanthropist, she continues to help enrich and support the arts in Idaho. More Information...

TRUEBLOOD - Named for CECIL WHITAKER (TED) TRUEBLOOD, 1913-1982

Heralded as "the Dean of Outdoor Writers," Ted Trueblood was a regular contributor to Field and Stream magazine and the author of many books about the wonders of outdoor life in Idaho. Through his award-winning writing about fishing and hunting, he inspired readers from all around the country to explore the natural resources and physical challenges of the world. As a result of his many contributions, he also helped increase interest in travel to the state of Idaho. Trueblood strongly believed in the preservation of the outdoors and was an avid conservationist. More Information...