Eugene B. Chaffee Papers, 1932-2004

Eugene Bernard Chaffee was born in Aurora, Nebraska on March 10, 1905, the son of Presbyterian minister Elmer Spencer Chaffee and Grace (Lyman) Chaffee. He moved with his parents, five brothers, and two sisters to a 40-acre farm in the Ustick area west of Boise in 1916. He attended the Ustick schools from 1919-1921 and graduated from Boise High School in 1923.

Chaffee attended the Collge of Idaho, received a B.A. in fine arts from Occidental College, and a master's degree in history from the University of California. He served as supervisor of music in Meridian grade schools and superintendent of the Ustick schools. During World War II, he achieved the rank of Lieutenant Commander in the Navy.

In 1932 Chaffee and seven other instructors became the first faculty group at the newly created Boise Junior College. He became President in 1936 and served until he took the role of Chancellor in 1967, retiring in 1970. He was involved in numerous organizations, including the American Association of Junior Colleges, Northwest Association of Secondary and Higher Schools, Pacific Northwest Conference on Higher Education, National Commission on Accreditation, and National Commission of Regional Accrediting Agencies.