Washington State University Libraries Manuscripts, Archives, and Special Collections

Summary Information

Repository

Washington State University Libraries, Manuscripts, Archives and Special Collections

Creator

State College of Washington. Office of the President

Title

State College of Washington Office of the President: Wilson Compton Records

ID

Archives 160

Date [inclusive]

1944-1952

Extent

8 Linear feet of shelf space, 16 Boxes

Language

Collection materials are in English.

Abstract

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.

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Biography/History

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.

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Biography/History

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.

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Scope and Content

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.

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Arrangement

Organized in three series, arranged alphabetically and chronologically within each series.

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Administrative Information

Publication Information

Washington State University Libraries Manuscripts, Archives, and Special Collections  © 2022

https://libraries.wsu.edu/masc/

Terrell Library

P.O. Box 645610

Pullman, WA, 99164-5610 USA

509-335-6691

mascref@wsu.edu

Restrictions on Access

This collection is open and available for research use.

Restrictions on Use

Copyright restrictions may apply.

Custodial History

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.

Acquisition Information

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.

Processing Information

This collection was reprocessed by Colleen Cavanagh and Jose Vargas in 1988.

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Related Materials

Related Material

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)

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Names and Subjects

Corporate Name(s)

Subject(s) :

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

Personal Name(s)

Subject(s) :

• Compton, Wilson Martindale, 1890-1967 -- Records and correspondence

Subject(s)

• College presidents -- Washington (State) -- Pullman
• Colleges and Universities
• Washington (State)

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Detailed Description of Collection

Series 1: Speeches and Publicity Materials
			box	folder
"United States Mission to the United Nations." Address before the American Standards Association October 14, 1949			1	1
"An Adventure of the Mind." Address to Dr. Compton's first freshman class September 17, 1945			1	2
"Strenghen Us for Noble Duty." Address to members of the freshman class September 29, 1946			1	3
Speeches made by Dr. Compton to various clubs and organizations and organizations 1944-1947			1	4
Speeches made by Dr. Compton various clubs and organizations 1948-1949			1	5
Speeches made by Dr. Compton to various clubs and organizations 1950-1951			1	6
Articles and speeches by Dr. Compton, 1944-1953
			box	folder
"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			1	7
Department of State Press Releases
			box	folder
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			1	7
			box	folder
Articles Concerning Dr. Wilson Compton. Includes a certificate from the Olympia Chamber of Commerce honoring Dr. Compton April 18, 1945			2	8
Improvements and accomplishments attained at the State College of Washington 1945-1951			2	9
Scrapbooks of newspaper clippings 1944-1945			2	10
Scrapbook of newspaper clippings 1945			2	11
The Inauguration of President Wilson Martindale Compton. Includes order of events, Program outline and Inauguration booklet 1946			3	12
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	13
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	14
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			3	15
"The Inauguration of W. M. Compton as President of the College". Vols. I, II			4	16
"The Inauguration of W. M. Compton as President of the College". Vol. III			5	17
Scrapbook containing clippings re: resignation of Wilson Compton from the Presidency of Washington State College			6	18
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Series 2: Correspondence
			box	folder
Correspondence for 1945, A-B. Agricultural Economy. Mrs. Gordon Alcorn			7	19
Advisory Board of Agricultural Sciences. Advisory Board for Technology			7	20
Advisory Board on Technology 1945			7	21
Advisory Commission to the State of Washington Department of Conservation and Development 1945			7	22
Agricultural Chemistry, Division of 1945			7	23
Agricultural Engineering, Department of 1945			7	24
Agricultural Experiment Station 1945			7	25
Agricultural Experiment Station -- Tree Fruit 1945			7	26
Agricultural Experiment Station -- Western Washington 1945			7	27
Agricultural Extension Service 1945			7	28
Agricultural Sciences, Institute of 1945			7	29
Agriculture, College of 1945			7	30
Alumni Association, W. S. C 1945			7	31
Animal Husbandry, Department of 1945			7	32
vacant			7	33
Agricultural Engineering, Department of, and College of Architecture 1945			7	34
Associated Students 1945			7	35
B -- Miscellaneous Correspondence 1945			7	36
Buildings and Grounds 1945			7	37
Business Administration, School of 1945			7	38
C -- Miscellaneous Correspondence 1945			8	39
Certificates of Merit 1945			8	40
Commencement 1945			8	41
Compton, Wilson (Dr.) -- Speeches, Articles, etc 1945			8	42
Athletic Council -- Earl Foster, Secretary 1945			8	43
Campus Beautification Committee 1945			8	44
Committee on Committees 1945			8	45
Committee on Courses for Veterans 1945			8	46
Committee on Curriculum (Special) 1945			8	47
Committee on Curriculum and Catalogue -- Paul Landis, Chairman 1945			8	48
Committee, Faculty Executive 1945			8	49
Committees, Faculty 1945			8	50
Committee on Foreign Scholarships 1945			8	51
Committee, Housing -- Stanley A. Smith, Chairman 1945			8	52
Committee, Inaugural 1945			8	53
Inauguration 1945			8	54
Committee on Insurance and Annuities 1945			8	55
Committee, Appraisal, No. 1, 2, 3 1945			8	56
Committee, Scholarship Standards 1945			8	57
Committee, Student Activities 1945			8	58
Committee for Review of College Program, President's 1945			8	59
Committee, Veterinary Medicine 1945			8	60
Conditions of Employment 1945			8	61
D -- Miscellaneous Correspondence 1945			8	62
Deans and Heads of Departments 1945			8	63
E -- 1945			8	64
Education, School of 1945			8	65
F -- Forest Products, Forest and Range Management			9	66
Faculty 1945			9	67
Farm Management and Agricultural Economy, Department of 1945			9	68
Fine Arts, Department of 1945			9	69
Foreign Student Scholarships 1945			9	70
G -- Miscellaneous Correspondence 1945			9	71
General College Extension 1945			9	72
Graduate School 1945			9	73
H -- Miscellaneous Correspondence 1945			9	74
History and Political Science, Department of 1945			9	75
Home Economics, College of 1945			9	76
Horticulture, Department of 1945			9	77
Hospital Advisory Board 1945			9	78
I -- Miscellaneous Correspondence 1945			9	79
Industrial Research 1945			9	80
Institute of International Education 1945			9	81
J -- Miscellaneous Correspondence 1945			9	82
Labor 1945			9	83
Land Purchases 1945			9	84
Library 1945			9	85
Mechanic Arts and Engineering, College of 1945			9	86
Military Science and Tactics 1945			9	87
Mines and Geology, School of 1945			9	88
M -- Miscellaneous Correspondence 1945			9	89
N -- Miscellaneous Correspondence 1945			9	90
P -- Miscellaneous Correspondence 1945			9	91
Placement Bureau 1945			9	92
Police Science and Administration 1945			9	93
President's Office 1945			9	94
W. S. C. -- Organization Notes 1945			9	95
Publications, Director of 1945			9	96
vacant			9	97
Q -- 1945			9	98
R -- 1945			9	99
Radio -- KWSC 1945			9	100
Registrar 1945			9	101
Board of Regents 1945			9	102
S -- 1945			10	103
Scholarships 1945			10	104
Sciences and Arts, College of 1945			10	105
State Department, (Washington State) 1945			10	106
State (Washington State) -- Legislative Material 1945			10	107
Student Book Store 1945			10	108
Technology, Institute of 1945			10	109
U -- V 1945			10	110
U. S. Department of the Interior, Bonneville Power Administration 1945			10	111
U. S. Veterans Administration 1945			10	112
U. S. War Department 1945			10	113
University of Washington -- Dr. Lee Paul Sieg, President 1945			10	114
Veterinary Medicine, College of 1945			10	115
W -- 1945			10	116
Washington State Horticultural Association 1945			10	117
Correspondence 1946			11	118
Accreditation Study 1946			11	119
Associated Students 1946			11	120
Buildings and Grounds, Department of 1946			11	121
Budget -- Business Administration 1946			11	122
C -- 1946			11	123
Committees 1946			11	124
Faculty Executive Committee 1946			11	125
Committee on Space Priorities 1946			11	126
Compton, Helen and Wilson 1946			11	127
D -- 1946			12	128
E -- 1946			12	129
F -- 1946			12	130
Financial Information 1946			12	131
Fort George Wright 1946			12	132
Fraternities and Sororities 1946			12	133
G -- 1946			12	134
General College Extension 1946			12	135
H -- 1946			12	136
Housing 1946			12	137
Intercollegiate Athletics 1946			12	138
KWSC radio 1946			12	139
L -- 1946			12	140
M -- 1946			12	141
N -- 1946			13	142
Orton Art Collection 1946			13	143
P -- 1946			13	144
President's Office Reorganization 1946			13	145
Q -- 1946			13	146
R -- 1946			13	147
Regents 1946			13	148
S -- 1946			13	149
Social Work, School of 1946			13	150
State of Washington 1946			13	151
T -- 1946			13	152
U -- V 1946			13	153
United States Senators and Representatuves 1946			13	154
W -- 1946			13	155
X -- Y -- Z 1946			13	156
A -- 1947			14	157
B -- 1947			14	158
C -- 1947			14	159
Committee on Educational Policies 1947			14	160
Committee on Commencement 1947			14	161
Committees -- Miscellaneous 1947			14	162
Committee on Ten-year Plan for W. S. C 1947			14	163
Deans, Directors and Department Heads 1947			14	164
E -- 1947			14	165
F -- 1947			14	166
Financial Expenditures, Budgets and Legislative Requests 1947			14	167
G -- 1947			14	168
H -- 1947			15	169
Hospital 1947			15	170
I -- 1947			15	171
J -- 1947			15	172
KWSC radio 1947			15	173
L -- 1947			15	174
Land Purchases 1947			15	175
M -- 1947			15	176
News Bureau 1947			15	177
Orton, Virginia and Charles 1947			15	178
P -- 1947			15	179
P -- (continued) 1947			15	180a
Publications 1947			15	180b
Questionnaries 1947			16	181
Registrar, Research, Retirement 1947			16	182
Regents, Board of 1947			16	183
S -- 1947			16	184
S -- (continued) 1947			16	185
State, Washington -- Legislative Material 1947			16	186
T -- 1947			16	187
U -- 1947			16	188
V -- 1947			16	189
X - Y - Z 1947			16	190
The Drucker Collection of Oriental Art.			16	190a
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Series 3: E. O. Holland, 1944-1950
			box	folder
E. O. Holland 1944-1950			16	191
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