University of Puget Sound President's Office Records

University of Puget Sound President's Office Records, 1888-1942

Overview of the Collection

Author: University of Puget Sound. Office of the President.
Title: University of Puget Sound President's Office Records
Dates: 1888-1942 (inclusive)
18881942
Quantity: 5.0 linear feet, (5 boxes)
Collection Number: Acc.1983.30
Summary: This collection contains the records of Presidents of the University of Puget Sound (earlier known as Puget Sound University and College of Puget Sound), in Tacoma, Washington.
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: Access to some materials in this collection may be restricted.
Languages: English
Sponsor: Funding for preparing this finding aid was provided through a grant awarded by the National Historical Publications and Records Commission.

Historical NoteReturn to Top

Rev. Crawford R. Thoburn served as president of Puget Sound University, 1892 to 1898.

Professor C.O. Boyer served as acting president 1902-1903. In May 1903, the college was renamed University of Puget Sound.

Dr. Edwin M. Randall, Jr. served as president for the academic year 1903-1904, while Boyer served as vice president. Randall left to become general secretary of the Epworth League.

Rev. Joseph E. Williams served as president 1904-1907.

After the resignation of Williams, Professor L. L. Benbow, who had previously been on the Board of Trustees, was appointed acting president in 1907 then made president the following year, serving for a total of two years.

Rev. Dr. Julius C. Zeller was appointed to replace Benbow, and served from 1909 to 1913.

Dr. Edward H. Todd, a minister, began as general secretary of the University of Puget Sound in 1904, responsible for fund raising. After four years, he resigned. He returned to UPS in 1913 as president and served for 29 years. Todd was licensed to preach at age 19. He was a graduate of the School of Theology, Boston (1892). His educational degrees were B.S., M.A., D.D., LL.D. Simpson; S.T.B., D. Sc. in Education, Boston; and L.H.D. College of Puget Sound. He was married to Florence Anne Todd and they had four children.

Content DescriptionReturn to Top

This collection covers the presidencies of: C.R. Thoburn (1892-1898); C.O. Boyer, acting president (1902-1903); E.M. Randall (1903-1904); J.E. Williams (1904-1907); L.L. Benbow (1907-1909); Julius C. Zeller (1909-1913); and Edward H. Todd (1913-1942).

Includes general correspondence of Presidents Benbow, Zeller, and Todd; correspondence with the Board of Trustees; intra-university correspondence; financial records; endowments, including James J. Hill, Carnegie Corporation, Rockefeller Foundation General Education Board, Howarth estate, E.S. Collins and G.M. Goethe; campaigns and contributions; the President's reports to the Board of Trustees; buildings and construction records; property; contracts and agreements; bulletins; radio series; lists of alumni and other persons connected with University of Puget Sound, 1884-1948; ephemera related to fundraising; ceremonies; commencement; Epworth Methodist Church Golden Jubilee; Klinefelter Leadership Course; Pacific Lutheran College; Student Army Training Corp; Conference Board on Ministerial Training; Graduate Summer School on Ministerial Training of the Pacific Northwest and Oregon Conferences; Order of Founders and Patrons; U.S. National Youth Administration; U.S. Federal Emergency Relief Administration; and U.S. Works Progress Administration.

Administrative InformationReturn to Top

Related Materials

President Edward H. Todd's unpublished memoir, "A Practical Mystic" (1950) is available in the University of Puget Sound Archives.

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.
University of Puget Sound. Board of Trustees.

Geographical Names

Tacoma
Washington (State)

Other Creators

Personal Names
- Benbow, L. L., Professor (author)
- Todd, Edward Howard (author)
- Zeller, J. C., Reverend (Julius C.) (author)

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