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Office of the President records

 Collection
Identifier: RG-01

Scope and Contents

This collection covers the presidencies of: C.R. Thoburn (1892-1898); C.O. Boyer, acting president (1902-1903); E.M. Randall (1903-1904); J.E. Williams (1904-1907); L.L. Benbow (1907-1909); Julius C. Zeller (1909-1913); Edward H. Todd (1913-1942); Franklin R. Thompson (1943-1973); and portions of Philip M. Phibbs (1973-1992).

The records include correspondence with faculty, students, administrators, and community members as well as minutes, financial records, building and construction projects, campaigns, and endowments.

Dates

  • Creation: 1888-2016

Creator

Conditions Governing Access

Access to some materials in this collection may be restricted.

Biographical / Historical

Rev. Crawford R. Thoburn served as president of Puget Sound University, 1892 to 1898.

Professor C.O. Boyer served as acting president 1902-1903. In May 1903, the college was renamed University of Puget Sound.

Dr. Edwin M. Randall, Jr. served as president for the academic year 1903-1904, while Boyer served as vice president. Randall left to become general secretary of the Epworth League.

Rev. Joseph E. Williams served as president 1904-1907.

After the resignation of Williams, Professor L. L. Benbow, who had previously been on the Board of Trustees, was appointed acting president in 1907 then made president the following year, serving for a total of two years.

Rev. Dr. Julius C. Zeller was appointed to replace Benbow, and served from 1909 to 1913.

Dr. Edward H. Todd, a minister, began as general secretary of the University of Puget Sound in 1904, responsible for fund raising. After four years, he resigned. He returned to UPS in 1913 as president and served for 29 years. Todd was licensed to preach at age 19. He was a graduate of the School of Theology, Boston (1892). His educational degrees were B.S., M.A., D.D., LL.D. Simpson; S.T.B., D. Sc. in Education, Boston; and L.H.D. College of Puget Sound. He was married to Florence Anne Todd and they had four children.

Extent

45 Linear Feet (110 boxes )

Language of Materials

English

Abstract

This collection contains the records of Presidents of the University of Puget Sound (earlier known as Puget Sound University and College of Puget Sound), in Tacoma, Washington.

Arrangement

The Office of the President Records were arranged by series and subgroup. The series reflects the routine administration of the Office of the President. The subgroups reflect activities associated with other groups, offices, departments, and organizations on and off campus.

Related Materials

President Edward H. Todd's unpublished memoir, "A Practical Mystic" (1950) is available in the University of Puget Sound Archives.

Processing Information

An inventory of this collection is available in the Inventory Guide to the University of Puget Sound Archives, 1888-1982, compiled by Anne T. Ostyre (revised 1984).

Title
Office of the President records
Status
Completed
Author
Elizabeth Knight and Patt Leonard
Date
2011
Description rules
Describing Archives: A Content Standard
Language of description
English
Script of description
Code for undetermined script
Language of description note
English
Sponsor
Funding for preparing this finding aid was provided through a grant awarded by the National Historical Publications and Records Commission.

Repository Details

Part of the University of Puget Sound, Archives & Special Collections Repository

Contact:
Collins Memorial Library
1500 N. Warner Street #1021
Tacoma 98416-1021 United States us