Washington State University Libraries, Manuscripts, Archives and Special Collections
Archives 160
State College of Washington. Office of the President
State College of Washington Office of the President: Wilson Compton Records
1944-1952
8 Linear feet of shelf space
16 Boxes
Records of the Office of the President of the State
College of Washington (later Washington State University), related to the presidency
of Wilson M. Compton.
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.
The bulk of the records are contained in the first two series. Speeches and publicity
materials, including scrapbooks, make up Series 1, while Series 2 consists of
correspondence.
Series 3, E. O. Holland, 1944-1950, consists of files that were originally removed
from the office files by President Compton when he left the State College of
Washington. He kept the files in his personal possession until his death in 1967.
President Compton apparently retained these papers because they were potentially
embarrassing to his predecessor, President Ernest Otto Holland, documenting as they
do Holland's political and personal efforts in opposition to decisions taken at
Washington State College, and to his "butting-in" from his position in
retirement.
Organized in three series, arranged alphabetically and chronologically within each series.
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 Records, 1944-1952 (Archives 160)
Manuscripts, Archives, and Special Collections, Washington State University Libraries, Pullman, WA.
When he left the University, Compton removed from the office files the documents
found in the folder entitled "E.O. Holland, 1944-1950" (Folder 191). These he
retained in his personal possession until his death. Later these were transferred to
the College of Wooster Library with another sequence of his personal materials. In
1996, the Wooster Archivist transferred the documents to Washington State University
Libraries.
The records were transferred to the University Libraries at some time before 1970.
Certain of Compton's personal papers were added to the records at that time. In
1998, one folder of additional correspondence was transferred from the College of
Wooster Library.
This collection was reprocessed by Colleen Cavanagh and Jose Vargas in 1988.
State College of Washington Office of the President: Wilson Compton and Charles Clement French Records, 1948-1956 (Archives 12)
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)
Compton Family Dramatization Cassette Recording, 1947 (CT 9)
Washington State University Office of the President Media, 1937-2006 (Archives 328)
State College of Washington Office of the President: Letters from Prominent Correspondents, 1897-1951 (Cage 1616)
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
State College of Washington. Office of the President -- Records and correspondence
State College of Washington -- Presidents -- Records and correspondence
College presidents -- Washington (State) -- Pullman
Colleges and Universities
Washington (State)
Series 1: Speeches and Publicity
Materials
1
1
"United States Mission to the United
Nations." Address before the American Standards Association
October 14,
1949
1
2
"An Adventure of the Mind." Address to Dr.
Compton's first freshman class
September 17,
1945
1
3
"Strenghen Us for Noble Duty." Address to
members of the freshman class
September 29,
1946
1
4
Speeches made by Dr. Compton to various
clubs and organizations and organizations
1944-1947
1
5
Speeches made by Dr. Compton various clubs
and organizations
1948-1949
1
6
Speeches made by Dr. Compton to various
clubs and organizations
1950-1951
Articles and speeches by Dr. Compton,
1944-1953
1
7
"An Adventure and a
Challenge"
Sept.
1950
1
7
"Looking Ahead from
Behind"
Dec. 12,
1944
1
7
"Great Pilots Are Not Made in Smooth
Waters"
Mar.
1948
1
7
"College Gives You a Chance to Win an
Education"
Sept. 11,
1949
1
7
"Engineering in an Era of Big Science
and Big Government"
Sept. 9,
1948
1
7
"Keep Washington Green and Build for a
Future"
1945
1
7
"Our Feet on the Ground"
June,
1951
Department of State Press
Releases
1
7
International Information
Administration. #43
January
17, 1952
1
7
Address Before the Washington Area
Clergymen. #379
May 12,
1952
1
7
"The Voice of America at the Water's
Edge." #404
May 21,
1952
1
7
(Untitled) #730
Sept. 13,
1952
1
7
Address before the Congressional Club.
#57
January
30, 1953
1
7
"Waging the Campaign of
Truth,"
July-August, 1952
2
8
Articles Concerning Dr. Wilson Compton.
Includes a certificate from the Olympia Chamber of Commerce honoring Dr.
Compton
April 18,
1945
2
9
Improvements and accomplishments attained
at the State College of Washington
1945-1951
2
10
Scrapbooks of newspaper
clippings
1944-1945
2
11
Scrapbook of newspaper
clippings
1945
3
12
The Inauguration of President Wilson
Martindale Compton. Includes order of events, Program outline and
Inauguration booklet
1946
3
13
Newspaper clippings concerning the regime
and resignation of President Wilson M. Compton at the State College of
Washington. (Gift of C. M. Brewster, Oct., 1955.)
1944-1951
3
14
Material concerning the resignation of
Wilson Compton as President of the State College of Washington.
Statements by and about the Board of Regents and President Compton. News
release items. 1951-52. Also contains program and speechess at
inauguration of President Compton, 1945; Quarter Century Biography of
Wilson Compton by Old Timer's Club. Newspaper clipping with
pictures
1945-1952
3
15
Photographs (2 copies) of Wooster Clan
taken at Princeton, May 9, 1964, with identification. Address of Dr.
Howard Lowry at memorial service of Wilson Compton, Jr., at College of
Wooster, July 16, 1964. Wooster Alumni Bulletin of October 1964,
containing notice of death of Wilson M. Compton, Jr. Photographs of
wedding of Compton's daughter at Pullman
circa
1951-1964
4
16
"The Inauguration of W. M. Compton as
President of the College". Vols. I, II
5
17
"The Inauguration of W. M. Compton as
President of the College". Vol. III
6
18
Scrapbook containing clippings re:
resignation of Wilson Compton from the Presidency of Washington State
College
Series 2: Correspondence
7
19
Correspondence for 1945, A-B. Agricultural
Economy. Mrs. Gordon Alcorn
7
20
Advisory Board of Agricultural Sciences.
Advisory Board for Technology
7
21
Advisory Board on Technology
1945
7
22
Advisory Commission to the State of
Washington Department of Conservation and Development
1945
7
23
Agricultural Chemistry, Division
of
1945
7
24
Agricultural Engineering, Department
of
1945
7
25
Agricultural Experiment
Station
1945
7
26
Agricultural Experiment Station -- Tree
Fruit
1945
7
27
Agricultural Experiment Station -- Western
Washington
1945
7
28
Agricultural Extension Service
1945
7
29
Agricultural Sciences, Institute
of
1945
7
30
Agriculture, College of
1945
7
31
Alumni Association, W. S. C
1945
7
32
Animal Husbandry, Department
of
1945
7
33
vacant
7
34
Agricultural Engineering, Department of,
and College of Architecture
1945
7
35
Associated Students
1945
7
36
B -- Miscellaneous
Correspondence
1945
7
37
Buildings and Grounds
1945
7
38
Business Administration, School
of
1945
8
39
C -- Miscellaneous
Correspondence
1945
8
40
Certificates of Merit
1945
8
41
Commencement
1945
8
42
Compton, Wilson (Dr.) -- Speeches,
Articles, etc
1945
8
43
Athletic Council -- Earl Foster,
Secretary
1945
8
44
Campus Beautification
Committee
1945
8
45
Committee on Committees
1945
8
46
Committee on Courses for
Veterans
1945
8
47
Committee on Curriculum
(Special)
1945
8
48
Committee on Curriculum and Catalogue --
Paul Landis, Chairman
1945
8
49
Committee, Faculty Executive
1945
8
50
Committees, Faculty
1945
8
51
Committee on Foreign
Scholarships
1945
8
52
Committee, Housing -- Stanley A. Smith,
Chairman
1945
8
53
Committee, Inaugural
1945
8
54
Inauguration
1945
8
55
Committee on Insurance and
Annuities
1945
8
56
Committee, Appraisal, No. 1, 2,
3
1945
8
57
Committee, Scholarship
Standards
1945
8
58
Committee, Student Activities
1945
8
59
Committee for Review of College Program,
President's
1945
8
60
Committee, Veterinary Medicine
1945
8
61
Conditions of Employment
1945
8
62
D -- Miscellaneous
Correspondence
1945
8
63
Deans and Heads of Departments
1945
8
64
E --
1945
8
65
Education, School of
1945
9
66
F -- Forest Products, Forest and Range
Management
9
67
Faculty
1945
9
68
Farm Management and Agricultural Economy,
Department of
1945
9
69
Fine Arts, Department of
1945
9
70
Foreign Student Scholarships
1945
9
71
G -- Miscellaneous
Correspondence
1945
9
72
General College Extension
1945
9
73
Graduate School
1945
9
74
H -- Miscellaneous
Correspondence
1945
9
75
History and Political Science, Department
of
1945
9
76
Home Economics, College of
1945
9
77
Horticulture, Department of
1945
9
78
Hospital Advisory Board
1945
9
79
I -- Miscellaneous
Correspondence
1945
9
80
Industrial Research
1945
9
81
Institute of International
Education
1945
9
82
J -- Miscellaneous
Correspondence
1945
9
83
Labor
1945
9
84
Land Purchases
1945
9
85
Library
1945
9
86
Mechanic Arts and Engineering, College
of
1945
9
87
Military Science and Tactics
1945
9
88
Mines and Geology, School of
1945
9
89
M -- Miscellaneous
Correspondence
1945
9
90
N -- Miscellaneous
Correspondence
1945
9
91
P -- Miscellaneous
Correspondence
1945
9
92
Placement Bureau
1945
9
93
Police Science and
Administration
1945
9
94
President's Office
1945
9
95
W. S. C. -- Organization Notes
1945
9
96
Publications, Director of
1945
9
97
vacant
9
98
Q --
1945
9
99
R --
1945
9
100
Radio -- KWSC
1945
9
101
Registrar
1945
9
102
Board of Regents
1945
10
103
S --
1945
10
104
Scholarships
1945
10
105
Sciences and Arts, College of
1945
10
106
State Department, (Washington
State)
1945
10
107
State (Washington State) -- Legislative
Material
1945
10
108
Student Book Store
1945
10
109
Technology, Institute of
1945
10
110
U -- V
1945
10
111
U. S. Department of the Interior,
Bonneville Power Administration
1945
10
112
U. S. Veterans Administration
1945
10
113
U. S. War Department
1945
10
114
University of Washington -- Dr. Lee Paul
Sieg, President
1945
10
115
Veterinary Medicine, College
of
1945
10
116
W --
1945
10
117
Washington State Horticultural
Association
1945
11
118
Correspondence
1946
11
119
Accreditation Study
1946
11
120
Associated Students
1946
11
121
Buildings and Grounds, Department
of
1946
11
122
Budget -- Business
Administration
1946
11
123
C --
1946
11
124
Committees
1946
11
125
Faculty Executive Committee
1946
11
126
Committee on Space Priorities
1946
11
127
Compton, Helen and Wilson
1946
12
128
D --
1946
12
129
E --
1946
12
130
F --
1946
12
131
Financial Information
1946
12
132
Fort George Wright
1946
12
133
Fraternities and Sororities
1946
12
134
G --
1946
12
135
General College Extension
1946
12
136
H --
1946
12
137
Housing
1946
12
138
Intercollegiate Athletics
1946
12
139
KWSC radio
1946
12
140
L --
1946
12
141
M --
1946
13
142
N --
1946
13
143
Orton Art Collection
1946
13
144
P --
1946
13
145
President's Office
Reorganization
1946
13
146
Q --
1946
13
147
R --
1946
13
148
Regents
1946
13
149
S --
1946
13
150
Social Work, School of
1946
13
151
State of Washington
1946
13
152
T --
1946
13
153
U -- V
1946
13
154
United States Senators and
Representatuves
1946
13
155
W --
1946
13
156
X -- Y -- Z
1946
14
157
A --
1947
14
158
B --
1947
14
159
C --
1947
14
160
Committee on Educational
Policies
1947
14
161
Committee on Commencement
1947
14
162
Committees -- Miscellaneous
1947
14
163
Committee on Ten-year Plan for W. S.
C
1947
14
164
Deans, Directors and Department
Heads
1947
14
165
E --
1947
14
166
F --
1947
14
167
Financial Expenditures, Budgets and
Legislative Requests
1947
14
168
G --
1947
15
169
H --
1947
15
170
Hospital
1947
15
171
I --
1947
15
172
J --
1947
15
173
KWSC radio
1947
15
174
L --
1947
15
175
Land Purchases
1947
15
176
M --
1947
15
177
News Bureau
1947
15
178
Orton, Virginia and Charles
1947
15
179
P --
1947
15
180a
P -- (continued)
1947
15
180b
Publications
1947
16
181
Questionnaries
1947
16
182
Registrar, Research,
Retirement
1947
16
183
Regents, Board of
1947
16
184
S --
1947
16
185
S -- (continued)
1947
16
186
State, Washington -- Legislative
Material
1947
16
187
T --
1947
16
188
U --
1947
16
189
V --
1947
16
190
X - Y - Z
1947
16
190a
The Drucker Collection of Oriental Art.
Series 3: E. O. Holland, 1944-1950
16
191
E. O. Holland
1944-1950