Washington State University Libraries, Manuscripts, Archives and Special Collections
Archives 12
State College of Washington. Office of the President
State College of Washington Office of the President: Wilson Compton and Charles Clement French Records
1948-1956
33 Linear feet of shelf space
43 Boxes
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
Collection materials are in English
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.
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.
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.
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.
Organized in the original annual, alphabetical, subject files as received.
This collection is open and available for research use.
Copyright restrictions may apply.
[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.
The records were transferred from the WSU Office of the President to the University Archives in 1976 (UA1976-10).
The records inventory prepared at that time was revised into container list format by Lawrence Stark during summer, 2000.
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)
This collection is indexed under the following headings in the online
catalog. Researchers desiring materials about related topics, persons, or
places should search the catalog using these headings.
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
Compton, Wilson Martindale, 1890-1967
French, C. Clement (Charles Clement), 1901-1988
Pearl, William Armour, 1893-
State College of Washington. Office of the President -- Records and correspondence
Washington State University. Office of the President -- Records and correspondence
State College of Washington -- Presidents -- Records and correspondence
Washington State University -- Presidents -- Records and correspondence
Washington State University. Office of the President
College presidents -- Washington (State) -- Pullman
Colleges and Universities
Washington (State)
1948
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
1949
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
1950
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)
1951
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)
1952
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
1953
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)
1954
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
1955
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
1956
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