Former Auburn trustee Redus Collier portrait finds new home at Auburn University Libraries

Former Auburn University trustee Redus Collier devoted much of his life to Auburn. The Decatur, Alabama, insurance executive graduated in 1927 from Auburn’s School of Engineering and then devoted the rest of his life to being the best alumnus any school could hope for. It is therefore appropriate that his hand-painted portrait should find a home at the Special Collections and Archives Department of Auburn University Libraries.

“We’re very grateful that Chris Collier Jr. has entrusted this portrait of long-serving trustee Redus Collier to our keeping,” said Tommy Brown, head archivist at AU Libraries. “It not only means a lot to the university as an artifact of one of our campus leaders that helped the university navigate one of its most challenging times but is also a fine example of portraiture from the period.”

Collier served on the Board of Trustees from 1947 until his death in 1972. This period saw the university grow rapidly as a flood of service members took advantage of their GI Bill educational benefits after returning from World War II military service. This period also saw the integration of the university and a name change from Alabama Polytechnic Institute to Auburn University.

Board minutes and other documents from the time Collier served on the Board of Trustees may be found in the Special Collections and Archives’ repository of Auburn history housed in the Ralph Brown Draughon Library.

Auburn University Libraries serves the more than 30,000 students and faculty of Auburn with a collection in excess of 4.6 million volumes. The Special Collections and Archives Department collects, preserves and houses rare and unique items relating to the histories of Auburn University, the state of Alabama, the southeastern region, the Civil War, Native Americans and aviation. The Auburn University Digital Library develops accessible digital collections of materials that support the teaching and research of Auburn faculty and students, and that, in turn, further the mission of Auburn University. These collections are made available to researchers, educators and students in the state, nation and the world.