University of Puget Sound President's Office Records, 1942-1973

Overview of the Collection

Author
University of Puget Sound. Office of the President.
Title
University of Puget Sound President's Office Records
Dates
1942-1973 (inclusive)
Quantity
19.0 linear feet, (19 boxes)
Collection Number
Acc.1983.05
Summary
This collection contains the records of R. Franklin Thompson, President of the University of Puget Sound (formerly the College of Puget Sound), in Tacoma, Washington, 1942-1973.
Repository
University of Puget Sound, Archives & Special Collections

Collins Memorial Library
1500 N. Warner St.
CMB1021
Tacoma, WA
98416-1021
Telephone: 2538792669
archives@pugetsound.edu
Access Restrictions

This collection is available for research.

Languages
English
Sponsor
Funding for preparing this finding aid was provided through a grant awarded by the National Historical Publications and Records Commission.

Content DescriptionReturn to Top

Among the records are correspondence and minutes relating to Thompson's affiliation with the Methodist Church. These include Methodist Church committees and commission membership and directorships as well as his activity in the Pacific Northwest Conference. Because this activity was both personal, as a Methodist Minister, and official, as President of the University of Puget Sound, they have been retained in the University of Puget Sound Archives as R. Franklin Thompson Personal Papers instead of being transferred to the Methodist Church Archives.

Biographical NoteReturn to Top

Dr. R. Franklin Thompson served as President of the University of Puget Sound for 31 years, 1942-1973, and five years as Chancellor. Thompson was a native of Nebraska and graduated from Nebraska Wesleyan University. He earned his Master's and PhD degrees in Divinity from Drew University. He was an ordained Methodist clergyman and active in the church nationally and internationally. He was president of the National Association of Methodist Colleges and Universities and a member of the Financial Commission of the Association of American Colleges.

He served as Vice President, Dean of Freshmen and Classics Professor at Willamette University, 1937-1942. He served as former Chaplain of the Oregon State Senate and Chairman of the Oregon Methodist Conference Board of Education.

In Tacoma, Thompson served as president of the Rotary Club and the World Affairs Council and as a member of the Board of Trustees of the University of Puget Sound, Pacific First Federal Savings and Loan Association, Washington State Historical Society, and Tacoma General Hospital. He was chosen to serve as a panel member for the selection of the President's White House Fellows in 1975. For several years he served on the Rhodes Scholar Selection Committee. Thompson is listed in Who's Who in America, Who's Who in the World, Who's Who in Religion and other biographical sources.

Administrative InformationReturn to Top

Arrangement

The collection is arranged into the following series: Biographical features, organizational features, intra-university correspondence, general correspondence, campaigns and contributions, foundations and corporations, building and construction, property, reports, fraternities, sororities, scholarships and awards, conferences and conventions, Brown and Haley lectures (1951-1972), speeches and writings, lists, newsletters, and subject series. Subgroups include a number of internal and external committees including the College of Puget Sound Wartime Program, U.S. Army Specialized Training Program, and others.

Processing Note

An inventory of this collection is available in the Inventory Guide to the University of Puget Sound Archives, 1888-1982, compiled by Anne T. Ostyre (revised 1984).

Names and SubjectsReturn to Top

Subject Terms

  • College presidents--Washington (State)--Tacoma
  • Methodist universities and colleges--Washington (State)--Tacoma
  • Private universities and colleges--Washington (State)--Tacoma

Corporate Names

  • University of Puget Sound--History--Sources

Geographical Names

  • Tacoma
  • Washington (State)

Other Creators

  • Personal Names
    • Thompson, R. Franklin (author)