W.K. Kellogg Arabian Horse Center Records 0062

http://oac.cdlib.org/findaid/ark:/13030/c8pz5gc0 Online items available The Finding Aid of the W.K. Kellogg Arabian Horse Center Records 0062 Alexis Adkins, Katrina Cossio, Elizabeth Hernandez, Elainna-Marie Herrera, Lissa Lopez, and Neelam Patel. The processing of this collection and the creation of this finding aid was funded by the generous support of the National Historical Publications and Records Commission. California State Polytechnic University, Pomona. Special Collections and Archives September 2018 3801 West Temple Avenue Pomona, CA 91768 [email protected] 909-869-3775 The Finding Aid of the W.K. 0062 1 Kellogg Arabian Horse Center Records 0062 Title: W.K. Kellogg Arabian Horse Center Records Creator: W.K. Kellogg Arabian Horse Center Creator: Pomona Quartermaster Depot (Remount) Identifier/Call Number: 0062 Contributing Institution: California State Polytechnic University, Pomona. Special Collections and Archives Language of Material: English Physical Description: 143.8 Linear Feet (107 boxes, 64 trophies, 3 signs, 2 saddles on stands, 1 painting and 1 plaque) Date (inclusive): 1873-2017 Abstract: The W.K. Kellogg Arabian Horse Center is an Arabian horse breeding, training, and education facility at California State Polytechnic University, Pomona. The Horse Center grew out of the Kellogg Ranch built by cereal magnate W.K. Kellogg in Pomona, California in 1925. Kellogg donated the ranch to the state in 1932 and it was operated by the University of California until 1943, when the ranch served as the Pomona Quartermaster Depot (Remount) for the Army Remount Service. The ranch was transferred to the California Polytechnic Colleges in 1949 and the breeding program was incorporated into the agriculture curriculum. The collection includes files documenting the horses that have lived at the Horse Center, administrative records, records from the Pomona Quartermaster Depot (Remount), breeding records, audiovisual materials, and realia and ephemera. Conditions Governing Access Advance notice required for access. Conditions Governing Use Unpublished manuscripts are protected by copyright. Permission to publish, quote, or reproduce must be secured from the repository and the copyright holder. Preferred Citation [Box/folder# or item name], W.K. Kellogg Arabian Horse Center Records, Collection no. 0062, W.K. Kellogg Arabian Horse Library, Special Collections and Archives, University Library, California State Polytechnic University, Pomona. Biographical / Historical The W.K. Kellogg Arabian Horse Center is an Arabian horse breeding, training, and education facility at California State Polytechnic University, Pomona. The Horse Center grew out of the Kellogg Ranch built by cereal magnate W.K. Kellogg in Pomona, California in 1925. With the ranch, Kellogg fulfilled his life-long dream of breeding outstanding Arabian horses. The ranch quickly became a popular Southern California destination for the free Sunday horse shows offered to the public. Hollywood stars were drawn to the ranch as well, often as guests of Mr. Kellogg. Several Kellogg horses went on to be used in films, most notably the stallion Jadaan in Rudolph Valentino's last film The Son of the Sheik (1926). Kellogg had hoped that the ranch and breeding program would prove a lasting legacy and decided to donate the 750 acre ranch and 87 Arabian horses to the state of California in 1932. The gift agreement stipulated that the facility be known as the W.K. Kellogg Institute of Animal Husbandry, that the breeding program would continue, and that Kellogg be consulted on important matters of policy. A formal presentation ceremony took place at the ranch on May 17, 1932. Present were Mr. and Mrs. Kellogg, California governor James Rolph, and 22,000 spectators. Will Rogers served as the master of ceremonies. The ranch officially came under the management of the state on July 1, 1932 and was operated by the University of California's College of Agriculture. The ranch continued to operate much as before. Kellogg Arabians were shown in California and other states, winning many prizes. Kellogg continued to be involved and encouraged research in animal husbandry. H.H. Reese, who had worked as the Kellogg Ranch manager, continued in much the same capacity as an employee of the University of California. The Arabians also continued to draw Hollywood stars and were featured in several films during the 1930s. However, Kellogg was not pleased with how the University of California was operating the ranch and continued to contribute funds toward its upkeep throughout the 1930s. After the United States entered World War II in December 1941, Kellogg endeavored to have the University turn over the ranch to the Army Remount Service to support the war effort. The University Board of Regents offered the War Department an option to purchase the ranch on March 20, 1943. The Army officially took over on October 28, 1943 and the ranch became known as the Pomona Quartermaster Depot (Remount). Colonel F.W. Koester was assigned as Commanding Officer. Koester was also the officer in charge of the Western Remount Area (Washington, Oregon, Idaho, Utah, Nevada, Arizona, and California) and the headquarters moved from San Mateo, California to Pomona along with the Colonel. Major Cecil Edwards was selected as Executive Officer and second in command. Under Koester's command, the Army undertook a number of improvements to the property and much of the The Finding Aid of the W.K. 0062 2 Kellogg Arabian Horse Center Records 0062 work was done by German and Italian prisoners of war housed at the nearby fairgrounds in Pomona. The Sunday shows and breeding program continued. The Army retained the ranch for three more years following the end of the war in 1945. On April 22, 1946, the depot received several horses that had been seized by the Army from a Nazi remount depot in Europe. Among the these were 21 Arabians, seven "Arab kind" (part Arabians), eight Lipizzaners, and one Anglo-Arab. In 1947, Col. Koester was reassigned to a post in Stockton, California and Major Charles B. Team became the commanding officer. That same year, the Army announced that it was abandoning its horse breeding program and the entire Remount, including the Pomona depot, was transferred to the Department of Agriculture in April of 1948. Within a few months, the Department of Agriculture found that it lacked the funds to continue to operate the Remount program and moved to sell off the Kellogg ranch and horses that December. The Department of Agriculture's decision proved to be unpopular with the public and deeply troubling to W.K. Kellogg, who was by that time 88 years old. The planned sale was canceled under increasing public and political pressure. The ranch was finally transferred to the California State Department of Education via the Kellogg Foundation in 1949 and became part of the San Dimas branch of California Polytechnic College in San Luis Obispo. The San Dimas campus had been established in 1937 as the southern satellite of Cal Poly. The campus was at the former site of the Voorhis School for Boys and only a short distance from the Kellogg Ranch. By the end of 1949, the ranch was known as the Kellogg Unit of Cal Poly and the university quickly integrated the Arabians and ranch into its curriculum. The first Sunday show since 1948 took place on March 12, 1950 and over 3,000 attended. Veterinarian Dr. Gordon G. Stocking was hired as ranch manager in 1951 and an Arabian Advisory Committee was established in accordance with the provisions of the ranch deed from the Kellogg Foundation. By the early 1950s, Cal Poly had outgrown the San Dimas campus and plans were made to move all instruction to the Kellogg Unit. Construction of new buildings began in 1955 and the new campus—now called the Kellogg-Voorhis Unit—opened in 1956. In addition to supporting the agricultural curriculum, the Arabians were featured in campus events such as the annual Poly-Vue open house. The horses and breeding program were referred to as Cal Poly's Arabian Unit. In 1963 Norman K. Dunn was appointed manager of what was then referred to as the Horse Department, a position he would hold for the next 35 years. Under Dunn's leadership, the Department joined with the Arabian Horse Association of Southern California to co-sponsor seminars and public clinics on horsemanship. These educational sessions proved very popular and the proceeds were used to fund student scholarships. Dunn also introduced the tradition of the "Foal Pole" in 1967—when a foal is born a pink or blue flag is run up the pole to announce the new arrival. The Kellogg-Voorhis Unit formally separated from California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo in 1966 and became known as California State Polytechnic University, Pomona. The Pomona campus wished to emphasize its connection to the California State University system, hence the slight difference in its official name. By 1970, the University had begun planning the relocation of the horses to a new home. The original stables and show ring were in the center of the growing campus and the construction of a new student union building was planned on a portion of the site. The University applied for and was awarded a grant from the Kellogg Foundation in 1973 to build a new facility. Construction of this new facility—the W.K. Kellogg Arabian Horse Center—began that same year. The new center was located to the east of the main campus and included stables, offices, tack rooms, two living quarters, a classroom, a shoeing shop; a secondary stable area with breeding facilities and veterinary clinic; a facility for visiting horses; and a show arena with seating for 900 spectators. The last Sunday show at the old stables was held on December 16, 1973 and on February 23, 1974 the Arabians were walked through the original entry arch, down the hill, and on to their new home.

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