Washington State University Libraries, Manuscripts, Archives and Special Collections
Cage 310
French, C. Clement (Charles Clement), 1901-1988
Charles Clement French Papers
1914-1971
4.5 Linear feet of shelf space
7 Boxes
Correspondence, photographs, memorabilia and other
personal papers related to Washington State University President C. Clement French's
academic and professional career.
Collection materials are in English
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.
Correspondence, photographs, memorabilia and other personal papers related to
Washington State University President C. Clement French's academic and professional
career.
This collection is open and available for research use.
Copyright restrictions may apply.
[Item description]
Charles Clement French Papers, 1914-1971 (Cage 310)
Manuscripts, Archives, and Special Collections, Washington State University Libraries, Pullman, WA.
Charles Clement French donated this collection to the Washington State University Libraries in 1971.
This collection was processed by Lawrence R. Stark in July of 1973.
Charles Clement French Papers, 1967-1969 (Cage 490)
Charles Clement French Century 21 Exposition Planning Records, 1958-1962 (Cage 727)
State College of Washington Office of the President: Wilson Compton and Charles Clement French Records, 1948-1956 (Archives 12)
Washington State University Office of the President: Charles Clement French Records, 1957-1966 (Archives 203)
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.
French, C. Clement (Charles Clement), 1901-1988 -- Archives
State College of Washington -- Administration
Washington State University -- Administration
Education, Higher -- Washington (State) -- Pullman -- Administration
Colleges and Universities
Washington (State)
1
1
Northeast High school, Philadelphia, Penn.
Grade reports, essay written by French, and commencement program
1914-1918
40 items
1
1
Northeast High school, Philadelphia, Penn.
Correspondence
1936
40 items
1
2
University of Pennsylvania. Grade reports,
transcripts, student souvenirs, drafts and printed copies of Ph.D.
thesis
1918-1927
30 items
1
3
Randolph-Macon Women's College. (Lynchburg,
Va.) Clippings, lists of students, The History of Randolph-Macon Women's
College by W. W. Smith (1909), and chemistry project report for navy
contract
1932-1948
70 items
1
4
Letters re: move to Virginia Polytechnic
Institute
Feb. 1949
40 items
1
5
Virginia Polytechnic Institute.
Correspondence, VPI magazine, and bulletins
1949-1951
30 items
1
6
Education while in South. Report of committees
of Southern Association of Colleges on which French participated
1940-1944
15 items
1
7
Congratulatory letters on move to Texas
A&M University
1950
35 items
1
8
Texas A&M University. Correspondence,
clippings, and programs of convocations and commencements
1950-1951
30 items
2
9
Episcopal Church. Correspondence, clippings,
and photographs re: French as participant in church work and as delegate to
conventions
1948-1968
50 items
2
10
Notes on activities of brother Paul Comly
French. Clippings re: Paul C. French (died ca. 1956), Trade association
official, anti-war publicist, conscientious objector organizer and
administrator for CARE
1945-1956
30 items
2
11
Nibbles. Correspondence re: job
hunting
1942-65
100 items
2
12
Whitman College. Correspondence, and printed
material re: Presidential Selection Committee
1967-69
10 items
2
13
Academic Moves-CCF. Letters of appointment and
resignation; contract documents
1918-1965
70 items
2
14
Pakistan Contract with WSU. Clippings,
photographs, phamplets from WSU Pakistan Project at University of Punjab;
material from French's trip to Pakistan
1956-1962
60 items
2
15
Post retirement. Correspondence with friends,
university administrators, public officials
1966-1971
110 items
2
16
Washington State Constitutional Revision
Commission. Clippings, correspondence and workings papers re: French's role
on commission; final reports
1969
50 items
3
17
Naming and dedication: C. Clement French
Administration Building. Correspondence, and dedicatory
materials
1968
40 items
3
18
Letters on announcement of WSU Presidency
Retirement. Correspondence, clippings, photographs re: French's
retirement
1966
200 items
3
19
During WSU Years- misc. (Folder I)
100 items
4
20
During WSU Years- misc. (Folder II).
Clippings, commendatory letters, photographs, and programs
1952-1966
100 items
4
21
WSU Inauguration. Clippings, letters and
souvenirs
1952
60 items
4
22
Letters re: Move to WSU. Correspondence with
regents and officials
1951-52
200 items
5
23
Misc. photographs. Press release
photographs
1952-1966
100 items
5
24
Honorary degree diplomas from Whitworth
College and Pacific Lutheran University
5
24
Photograph of French at about age 35
5
24
Biographical sketchs of C. C. and Helen
French
5
24
Presentation folder of commendatory letters
presented to French at Agribusiness Dinner
1966
6-7
Certificates of awards and
memberships
1914-1965
40 items
6-7
Photographs of University of Pennsylvania
Chemical Engineering Class
1922
6-7
Academic regalia from Univ. of Punjab, Pacific
Lutheran Univ., Whitworth College, University of Pennsylvania, Washington
State University
6-7
Photograph of French's High School
Class
1918
6-7
Honorary doctorate diploma from University of
Punjab
6-7
Diplomas for degrees earned (H.S., BS, MS,
PHD)
6-7
Masonic membership certificate
6-7
Oversize
26
Certificates of awards and memberships,
1914-1965