Arthur Sorenson collection

Record Group

Identifier: UA-10.3.266

Staff Only

Scope and Contents

The Arthur Sorenson collection consists of a scrapbook documenting his college years and a folder of photocopies of materials that were originally in the scrapbook. The scrapbook contains photographs, event programs and ribbons, dance cards, correspondence, announcements, tickets, and newspaper clippings. The photographs depict athletic events, university organizations, school events, candid pictures of students, images of campus, and other miscellaneous events. The scrapbook includes an image of a military “sham” battle, a memo to students regarding a small pox epidemic in 1910, and a poster suggesting the name change from Michigan Agricultural College to Michigan State College. There are also materials relating to Sorenson’s marriage and engagement, his career after M.A.C., and to Sorenson and his wife before and after his time at M.A.C.

Dates

Creation: 1903 - 1913

Creator

Sorenson, Arthur Alexander (Person)
MacDonald, Kittie Mae (Person)

Conditions Governing Access

Collection is open for research.

Conditions Governing Use

Permission to publish material from this collection must be obtained from University Archives & Historical Collections, Michigan State University.

Biographical Note

Arthur A. Sorenson was born on November 8, 1881 in Elkton, Michigan. He attended Michigan State Normal School (now Eastern Michigan University) and taught in Petoskey before enrolling at Michigan Agricultural College (now Michigan State University) in 1909. Sorenson played on the M.A.C. football team and was involved in the Dramatic Club, the Cadet Corps, and other athletic teams. He graduated from M.A.C. three months early in March 1912 with a degree in Agriculture and worked as the Head of the Agricultural Department in Fresno High School in Fresno, California, from graduation until his retirement in 1947. Arthur Sorenson married Kitty Mae McDonald in July of 1912 and had one daughter, Katherine. After his college years he became involved in the Fresno Players Little Theater Group and the Masons. Sorenson remained Park Superintendent for two years after he retired and was appointed City Forester. He died in Fresno on February 2, 1957.