State College of Washington Office of the President: Wilson Compton and Charles Clement French Records, 1948-1956

Overview of the Collection

Creator
State College of Washington. Office of the President
Title
State College of Washington Office of the President: Wilson Compton and Charles Clement French Records
Dates
1948-1956 (inclusive)
Quantity
33 Linear feet of shelf space, (43 Boxes)
Collection Number
Archives 12 (collection)
Summary
The records in this collection consist of correspondence and related memoranda or reports of the State College of Washington (later Washington State University) Office of the President from 1948-1956
Repository
Washington State University Libraries' Manuscripts, Archives, and Special Collections (MASC)
Manuscripts, Archives, and Special Collections
Terrell Library Suite 12
Pullman, WA
99164-5610
Telephone: 509-335-6691
mascref@wsu.edu
Access Restrictions

This collection is open and available for research use.

Languages
English

Historical NoteReturn to Top

The functions and duties of the Washington State University President are defined in University Faculty Manual, edition of 1987, as:

In addition to being designated as secretary ex officio of the Board of Regents, the President as general agent of the Board is the chief executive officer of Washington State University. The President administers the policies approved by the Board of Regents, serves as advisor to the Board on policies and operations and is the agent through whom representations to the Board are regularly made. Other functions of the chief executive officer include: Leadership in developing policies and organization for teaching, research, and extension programs. Public administration of the University, including representation before the Legislature and other state agencies. Responsibility for the general welfare of students; the development, operation and maintenance of buildings, lands and equipment; financial matters pertaining to development, operation and maintenance of University; and the administration of regulations adopted by the Board of Regents. Responsibility, delegated by the Board of Regents, for all appointments, promotion, salaries, leaves, resignations, and dismissals. Presiding at meetings of the general faculty.

Biographical NoteReturn to Top

Wilson Martindale Compton was born in Wooster, Ohio and attended the College of Wooster and earned a Ph.D. in economics from Princeton University as well as a law degree. In 1916, he married Helen Harrington, and later had four children together. Compton became President of the State College of Washington in 1945, and remained in that position until 1951. His presidency saw creation of the College Senate, a first Faculty Manual, and establishment by the faculty of general education requirements in the humanities, social sciences, and natural sciences for all students, as well as honors at graduation. In April of 1951, in the midst of difficult financial times due to state budget cuts, the Board of Regents ended the Compton presidency. After he left WSU, Compton was Director of the International Information Administration (IIA), the forerunner of the United States Information Agency (USIA), within the Department of State. He died in 1967.

Biographical NoteReturn to Top

Charles Clement French was born in 1901 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. French held three degrees in chemistry from the University of Pennsylvania, including a Ph.D. in physical chemistry. In 1925, French married Helen Augusta Black (1902-1976) and they had two children.

He was dean of the college at Randolph Macon College in Virginia, an administrator at Virginia Polytechnic Institute (Virginia Tech), and vice president at Texas Agricultural and Mechanical College (Texas A&M). In 1952 French was selected to be the sixth President of the State College of Washington (which was renamed Washington State University during his term).

French served as chairman of the Western Interstate Commission on Higher Education, and the Washington State Constitutional Revision Commission, as well as being a member of the Board of Trustees for the Century 21 Exposition (Seattle World's Fair). He retired in 1966 and was honored in 1968 with the university's new administration building being named for him. He received honorary degrees from Whitworth College, Pacific Lutheran University, and the University of Punjab. French died in Pullman, Washington in 1988.

Content DescriptionReturn to Top

The records in this collection consist of correspondence and related memoranda or reports of the State College of Washington (later Washington State University) Office of the President. They span the later years of the presidency of Wilson M. Compton, the short term of Acting President William Pearl in 1951, and the early years of the administration of C. Clement French.

Use of the CollectionReturn to Top

Restrictions on Use

Copyright restrictions may apply.

Preferred Citation

[Item description]

State College of Washington Office of the President: Wilson Compton and Charles Clement French Records, 1948-1956 (Archives 12)

Manuscripts, Archives, and Special Collections, Washington State University Libraries, Pullman, WA.

Administrative InformationReturn to Top

Arrangement

Organized in the original annual, alphabetical, subject files as received.

Acquisition Information

The records were transferred from the WSU Office of the President to the University Archives in 1976 (UA1976-10).

Processing Note

The records inventory prepared at that time was revised into container list format by Lawrence Stark during summer, 2000.

Related Materials

Compton Family Dramatization Cassette Recording, 1947 (CT 9)

Wilson Compton Day Books and Papers, 1928-1997 (Cage 810)

Claude Simpson Manuscript, “The Compton Years, The State College Of Washington, November 1944-September 1951", 1986 (Cage 5058)

State College of Washington Office of the President: Wilson M. Compton Records, 1944-1952 (Archives 160)

Charles Clement French Papers, 1914-1971 (Cage 310)

Charles Clement French Papers, 1967-1969 (Cage 490)

Charles Clement French Century 21 Exposition Planning Records, 1958-1962 (Cage 727)

Washington State University Office of the President: Charles Clement French Records, 1957-1966 (Archives 203)

Washington State University Office of the President: Assistant to the President Records, 1954-1985 (Archives 216)

Washington State University Office of the President Media, 1937-2006 (Archives 328)

Detailed Description of the CollectionReturn to Top

Container(s) Description
Box Folder
1 1
A
1 2
College of Agriculture
1 3
B
1 4
C
1 5
Committees/Council
1 6
D and E
1 7
F
1 8
G
1 9
H
2 1
I, J, and K (none)
2 2
L
2 3
M, N, and O (none)
2 4
P and Questionnaires
2 5
R
2 6
Regents
2 7
S
2 8
T, U, and V
2 9
W, X (none), Y (none), and Z
2 10
W.S.C.-Organization
Container(s) Description
Box Folder
3 1
A
3 2
B
3 3
C
3 4
Committees/Council
3 5
D
3 6
E
4 1
F
4 2
G
4 3
H
4 4
I
4 5
J, K, and L
4 6
M
4 7
N and O
4 8
P
4 9
Q
4 10
R
4 11
S and T
5 1
U
5 2
V, W (none), X (none), Y and Z
Container(s) Description
Box Folder
5 3
A
5 4
Athletics
5 5
B
5 6
C
5 7
Committees/Council
5 8
D
5 9
E
6 1
F
6 2
G and H
6 3
I, J, and K
6 4
L and M
6 5
N
6 6
O
6 7
P
6 8
Q
7 1
R
7 2
S and T
7 3
U, V, and W (No X, Y, Z)
Container(s) Description
Box Folder
7 4
A
7 4a
A
8 1
B
8 2
C
8 3
Committees/Council
8 4
D
8 5
E
8 6
F
8 7
Financial Data
8 8
G and H
9 1
I
9 2
J, K, and L
9 3
M
9 4
N and O
9 5
P
9 6
Q and R
9 7
S and T
10 1
U
10 2
V, W, X (none), Y, Z (none)
Container(s) Description
Box Folder
10 3
A
10 4
B
10 5
C
10 6
Committees/Council
10 7
D, E, and F
11 1
Fiscal Data
11 2
G, H, and I
11 3
J, K, L, and M
11 4
N and O (none)
11 5
P
11 6
Q
11 7
R
12 1
S
12 2
Speeches-Dr. French
12 3
T and U
12 4
Union Building
12 5
V, W, X (none), Y and Z
Container(s) Description
Box Folder
12 6
A and B
13 1
C
13 2
D and E
13 3
F
13 4
Financial Data (Investment Study)
13 5
G, H, I, J, and K (none)
13 6
L, M (none), N, and O (none)
13 7
P
14 1
Q and R
14 2
S and T
14 3
U, V, W, and X, Y, Z (none)
Container(s) Description
Box Folder
14 4
A
14 4a
A
14 5
B
14 6
C
15 1
Committees/Council
15 1a
Committees/Council
15 2
D
15 3
E
15 4
F
15 5
Financial Data
15 6
G
15 7
H
16 1
I
16 2
J, K, and L
16 3
M
16 4
N
16 5
O and P
16 6
Pakistan Data
16 7
Q
17 1
R
17 2
S
17 3
State Government
17 3a
State Government-Education Government
17 4
T and U
17 5
V, W, X (none), Y (none), and Z
Container(s) Description
Box Folder
17a 1
Aa-Ag
17a 2
Al-Az
17a 3
B
17a 4
C
17a 5
Committees
17b 1
D
17b 2
E-Fa
17b 3
Fi-Fz
17b 4
G-H
17b 5
I-J
17b 6
K-L
17c 1
M-N
17c 2
O-P
17c 3
Pakistan
17c 4
Q-R
17d 1
Regents
17d 2
S
17d 3
State
17d 4
T-U
17d 5
V
17d 6
W-Z
Container(s) Description Dates
Box Folder
18 1
A
18 2
Accounting Office
18 3
Admissions Office
18 4
Advisory Board, Agricultural Sciences
18 5
Advisory Board, Animal Husbandry
18 6
Advisory Board, Central Committee, 9156
18 7
Advisory Board, Technology
18 8
Agricultural Chemistry
18 9
Agricultural Economics
18 10
Agricultural Engineering
19 1
Agricultural Experiment Station
19 1a
Agricultural Experiment Station
19 2
Agricultural Sciences, Institute of
19 2a
Agricultural Sciences, Institute of
19 3
Agricultural Experiment, Station-Irrigation
19 4
Agricultural Experiment Station-Western Washington
19 5
Agricultural Experiment Station-Other Units
19 6
Agricultural Extension Service
19 7
Agricultural Sciences Newsletter
20 1
Agriculture, College of
20 2
Agronomy, Department of
20 3
Agronomy, Farm
20 4
Air Pollution Committee
20 5
Air Science and Tactics, Department of
20 6
Alumni
20 7
Aluminum Company of America
20 8
American Association of University Professors
20 9
American Association of University Women
20 10
American College Public Relations Association
20 11
American Council on Education
20 11a
American Council on Education-Publications
20 12
American Society for Engineering Education
21 1
Animal Disease Program
21 2
Animal Husbandry, Department of
21 2a
Animal Husbandry, Department of
21 3
Animal Husbandry, Hilltop Building Area
21 4
Architectural Engineering, Department of
21 5
Ashlock, Joseph L. (Lonestar Dietz)
21 6
Association of Land-Grant Colleges and Universities
21 7
Association of Land-Grant Colleges and Universities-Executive Committee
22 1
Associated Students
22 2
Associated Women Students
22 3
Audio Visual Center
22 4
Ayland's Sheet Metal Works, Contracts
22 5
B-General
22 6
Bacteriology and Public Health, Department of
22 7
B and C Construction Company, Contracts
22 8
Barnes Construction, Contracts
22 9
Board of Regents
22 10
Bonds-Regents
22 11
Bon Marche-Contracts
22 12
Botany, Department of
22 13
Britton, Raymond J.-Contracts
22 14
Brownell, Katherine-Estate
22 15
Buildings and Grounds, Department of
22 16
Burcham and Blair-Housing Loan
23 1
Budget Office
23 2
Business Manager and Controller
23 3
C-General Correspondence
23 4
C and S Builders-Contracts
23 5
Camp Easter Seal
23 6
Chambers of Commerce
23 7
Chemical Engineering, Department of
23 8
Chemistry, Department of
23 9
Civil Defense
23 10
Civil Engineering, Department of
23 11
College Architect
23 12
College Life Insurance Company
23 13
College Housing and Food Service
24 1
College News Bureau
24 2
Columbia Interstate Compact Commission
24 3
Committee, Manual
24 4
Committee on Committees
24 5
Committee-Academic
24 6
Committee-Activities Board
24 7
Committee-Admissions
24 8
Committee-ASSCW Board
24 9
Committee-Athletic Board
24 10
Committee-Budget
24 11
Committee-Commencement
24 12
Committee-Educational Policies
24 12a
Committee-Educational Policies
24 13
Committee-Educational Policies (Proposed Data)
25 1
Committee-Faculty Executive
25 2
Committee-Fraternity Welfare,1956
25 3
Committee-Freshman-Faculty Weekend
25 4
Committee-Graduate Studies
25 5
Committee-Good Student
25 6
Committee-Housing and Food
25 7
Committee-Improvement of Instruction
25 8
Committee-Insurance and Retirement
25 9
Committee-International Education
25 10
Committee-Lecture, Artists
25 11
Committee-Library
25 12
Committee-Patent Policy
25 13
Committee-Research
25 14
Committee-Safety
25 15
Committee-Scholarship Standards
25 16
Committee-Space Priorities
25 17
Committee-Ten Year Plan
25 18
Committee-Traffic Control
25 19
Committee-Union Board
25 20
Committee-Miscellaneous
26 1
Compton Union
26 2
Computer Center
26 3
Culler, Gale, and Martell-Architect Fees
26 4
Cusick's, Inc.-Contract
26 5
D-General Correspondence
26 6
Davis, Vera-Estate
26 7
Dairy Science, Department of
26 8
Dean of Faculty
26 9
Deans, Directors and Department Chairmen
26 10
Dean of Students-Annual Report
26 11
Dean of Students-Annual Report
27 1
Dedereer, Michael-Regent
27 2
Dormitories
27 3
Drop-out Study
27 4
Durand and Son-Contract (Well drilling)
27 5
Durham, Milton W.-Regent
27 6
E-General Correspondence
27 7
Economics, Department of
27 8
Economics and Business, School of
27 9
Education, School of
27 9a
Education, School of-Columbia Basin Report
27 10
Electric Smith, Inc.-Contract
28 1
Enrollment Statistics
28 2
Engineering and Mineral Technology
28 3
Entomology, Department of
28 4
Evergreen Editorials
28 5
Evergreen House-Contract
28 6
F-General Correspondence
28 7
Faculty Orientation
28 8
Faculty Manual
28 9
Faculty and Staff,1956
28 10
Ferris, Joel E.
28 11
Financial Information
28 11a
Financial Information-1957-59 Budget Request
28 12
Fine Arts, Department of
28 13
Football-President's Box
28 14
Foreign Languages, Department of
28 15
Forestry and Range Management, Department of
28 16
4-H Club
28 17
French, C. Clement
28 18
Friends of the Library
29 1
Ford Foundation
29 2
Fund for the Advancement of Education
29 2a
Fund for the Advancement of Education-National Committee Member
29 3
Future Problems
29 4
G-General Correspondence
29 5
General Education
29 6
General Electric-Hanford Office
29 7
General Extension Service
29 8
General Studies Program
29 9
Geology, Department of
29 10
Getzum Products-Endorsement Issue
29 11
Gillespie, Ralph T.
29 12
Grade Study-S. T. Stephenson
29 13
Graduate School
30 1
H-General Correspondence
30 1a
Hall, Stanton-Regent
30 2
Hansen and Parr-Contract
30 3
Hastings, Tula F. Young-Estate
30 4
High School Summer Camp
30 5
History and Political Science, Department of Divided, Fall
30 6
Home Economics, College of
30 7
Horticulture, Department of
30 8
Housing
30 9
I-General Correspondence
30 10
Inaugurations
30 11
Industrial Research, Department of
30 12
Information, Office of
30 13
Insurance Data
30 13a
Insurance, Office of
30 13b
Intercollegiate Athletics, Department of
30 14
International Education, Institute of
31 1
International Harvester Company
31 2
International Students Office
31 3
J-General Correspondence
31 4
Journalism
31 5
K-General Correspondence
31 6
Kaiser Aluminum and Chemical Corporation
31 7
Kellogg Foundation
31 8
L-General Correspondence
31 9
Land-Acquisition, Leases, etc.
31 10
Library
31 11
M-General Correspondence
31 12
Mathematics, Department of
31 13
McCluskey, James A.-Regent
31 14
Mechanical Engineering, Department of
31 15
Medical and Biological Research
31 16
Memorial Hospital
31 17
Military Science and Tactics
31 18
Mines, School of
31 19
Mock Political Convention
31 20
Music, Department of
32 1
N-General Correspondence
32 2
National Collegiate Athletic Association
32 2a
National Commission on Accrediting
32 3
National Education Association
32 4
National Project on Agricultural Communication
32 5
National Renders Association
32 6
National Science Teachers Association
32 7
Neill, Marshall A.
32 8
Non-Faculty Personnel Office
32 9
Northwest Association of Secondary and Higher Education
32 10
Northwest Window Cleaning Company-Contracts
32 11
Nuclear Reactor
32 12
Nursery, School of
32 13
O-General Correspondence
32 14
Olympia Newsletter
33 1
Oregon State System of Higher Education
33 2
Otis Elevator Company
33 3
Overby, Fred Memorial
33 4
P-General Correspondence
33 5
Pacific Coast Intercollegiate Athletic Conference-Correspondence
33 6
Pacific Coast Intercollegiate Athletic Conference-Minutes
33 7
Pacific Coast Intercollegiate Athletic Conference-Reports
34 1
Pacific Coast Conference of Presidents
34 2
Pacific Northwest Conference on Banking
34 3
Pacific Northwest Hazen Conference
34 4
Pacific Northwest Conference on Higher Education
34 5
Pakistan-Correspondence,1956
34 6
Pakistan-Reports #5-#8
35 1
Pakistan, Dr. French's Trip
35 2
Pharmacy, School of
35 3
Physical Education, Recreation, and Athletic, School of
35 4
Physical Education, Men
35 5
Physical Education, Women
35 6
Physics, Department of
35 7
Placement, Bureau
35 8
Plant Pathology, Department of
35 9
Poultry Science, Department of
35 10
President's Office
35 11
Psychology, Department of
35 12
Pullman, City of
35 13
Purchasing Agent, Office of
35 14
Questionnaires
1965
35 15
R-General Correspondence
35 16
Radio-KWSC
36 1
Registrar
36 2
Republican Central Committee
36 3
Requisitions-Travel of Dr. French
36 4
Research Corporation
36 5
Research Studies
36 6
R.O.T.C. Facilities
36 7
Resources for the Future, Inc.
36 8
Retirement
36 9
Rogers, Alan-Regent
36 10
Rural Sociology, Department of
36 11
S-General Correspondence
36 12
Sabbatical Leave
36 13
St. Luke's Hospital
36 14
Salary Scales
37 1
Scholarships
37 2
Sciences and Arts, College of
37 3
Seattle First National Bank
37 4
Senior-Faculty Weekend
1956d
37 5
Small Classes
37 6
Social Security
37 8
Sociology, Department of
37 9
Speech, Department of
37 10
Speeches and Reprints
37 11
Spokane Art Center,1956
37 12
Spokane Review
37 13
Springer Paint Company-Contract
37 14
Staff-Resident Instructional
37 15
State of WA-Attorney General
37 16
State of WA-Auditor
37 17
State of WA-Budget, Director of
37 18
State of WA-Census Board
38 1
State-Conservation and Development
38 2
State-Game, Department of
38 3
State-General, Administration, Department of
38 4
State-Governor, Office of
38 5
State-Labor and Industries, Department of
38 6
State-Legislative Budget Committee
38 6a
Legislative Budget Committee
38 6b
Legislative Budget Committee
38 7
State-Legislative Council
39 1
State-Liquor Control Board
39 2
State-Public Lands, Department of
39 3
State-Superintendent of Public Instruction
39 4
State-Treasurer
39 5
State-Miscellaneous Data
39 6
State-Correspondence-Legislative Members
39 7
Students Book Corporation
39 8
Student Evaluation of Instruction
39 9
Student Health Services
39 10
Student Publications
39 10a
Summer Session
39 11
T-General Correspondence
39 12
Teachers Insurance and Annuity Company
39 13
Technology, Institute of
39 14
Thiry, Paul-Architect
39 15
Tuition and Fees
40 1
U-General Correspondence
40 2
U.S. Government-Agriculture, Department of
40 3
U.S. Government-Atomic Energy Commission
40 4
U.S. Government-Armed Forces Institute
40 5
U.S. Government-Defense, Department of-Air Force
40 6
U.S. Government-Defense, Department of-Army
40 7
U.S. Government-Defense, Department of-International Cooperation Administration
40 8
U.S. Government-Defense, Department of-Navy
40 9
U.S. Government-Health, Education and Welfare
40 10
U.S. Government-Housing and Home Finance Agency
40 11
U.S. Government-Interior, Department of
40 12
U.S. Government-National, Science Foundation
40 13
U.S. Government-State, Department of
40 14
U.S. Government-State, Department of-UNESO
40 15
U.S. Government-Miscellaneous Data
40 16
U.S. Government-Correspondence-Congressmen
41 1
Universities and Colleges, A-I
41 1a
Universities and Colleges, J-W
41 2
University of Washington
41 3
Universities and Colleges-Miscellaneous Colleges
41 3a
Universities and Colleges-Miscellaneous Universities
41 4
United Paving Company-Contract
41 5
Veterinary Medicine, College of
41 6
Visiting Professor and Lecture Fund
41 7
W-General Correspondence
42 1
Washington Cattlemen's Association
42 2
Washington Conference on Higher Education
42 3
Washington Farm Electrification Committee
42 4
Washington Mortgage Company
42 5
Washington State College-Consolidated Endowment Fund
42 6
Washington State College-Education Fund
42 7
Washington State College-Miscellaneous
42 8
Washington State College-News
42 9
Washington State College-Scholarship and Development Fund
42 10
Washington State Council of Carpenters
42 11
Washington State Council of Farmer Co-ops
42 12
Washington State Farm Bureau
42 13
Washington State Grange
42 14
Washington State Mental Health Survey Committee
42 15
Washington State Research Council
43 1
Western Interstate Commission for Higher Education
43 1a
Western Interstate Commission for Higher Education
43 2
Western Personnel Institute
43 3
Wildlife Management Program
43 4
XYZ-General Correspondence
43 5
YMCA and YWCA
43 6
Zoology, Department of

Names and SubjectsReturn to Top

Subject Terms

  • College presidents -- Washington (State) -- Pullman

Personal Names

  • Compton, Wilson Martindale, 1890-1967 -- Records and correspondence
  • French, C. Clement (Charles Clement), 1901-1988 -- Records and correspondence
  • Pearl, William Armour, 1893- -- Records and correspondence

Corporate Names

  • State College of Washington -- Presidents -- Records and correspondence
  • State College of Washington. Office of the President -- Records and correspondence
  • Washington State University -- Presidents -- Records and correspondence
  • Washington State University. Office of the President -- Records and correspondence

Other Creators

  • Personal Names
    • Compton, Wilson Martindale, 1890-1967 (creator)
    • French, C. Clement (Charles Clement), 1901-1988 (creator)
    • Pearl, William Armour, 1893- (creator)
    Corporate Names
    • Washington State University. Office of the President (creator)

Finding aid prepared by Lawrence Stark
2022

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