Guide to the Frank and Irene Potter Papers 1915-1990
Cage 737

Summary Information

Repository
Washington State University Libraries, Manuscripts, Archives and Special Collections
Creator
Potter, Frank Fraser, 1879-1959.
Title
Frank and Irene Potter Papers
ID
Cage 737
Date [inclusive]
1915-1990
Extent
2 Linear Feet of Shelf Space, 4 boxes
Language
Collection materials are in English.
Abstract
Frank Fraser Potter (1879-1959) was a member of the faculty at Washington State College from 1912 to 1949. He was WSC's first professor of philosophy. Irene Eleanora Michet (1889-1971) joined the faculty of the WSC English Department in 1927. She married Frank Potter in 1929. Both of the Potters were actively involved in the campus community. This collection consists of materials related to Frank and Irene Potter which came into the possession of Ruth Slonim, their colleague and friend, after Irene Potter's death.

Preferred Citation

[Item Description] Frank and Irene Potter papers, 1915-1990

Manuscripts, Archives, and Special Collections, Washington State University Libraries, Pullman, WA.

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Biography/History

Frank Fraser Potter (1879-1959) was a member of the faculty at Washington State College from 1912 to 1949. He was WSC's first professor of philosophy. He received his Ph.D. from the University of Michigan, and taught there and at Transylvania University prior to accepting a position at WSC. Upon his retirement from WSC, he was named Professor Emeritus.

Irene Eleanora Michet (1889-1971) received her A.B. from the University of Illinois in 1920. After teaching high school English in Illinois for several years, she joined the faculty of the WSC English Department in 1927. When she and Frank Potter were married in 1929, she resigned from her teaching position.

Both of the Potters were actively involved in the campus community, and for over 25 years they hosted regular Friday afternoon gatherings at their home for students they encouraged to pursue advanced, competitive scholarly opportunities, particularly Rhodes Scholarships; ten of these students became Rhodes Scholars. The Potters also hosted regular Wednesday afternoon open houses for men and women students, and faculty members.

The Potters bequeathed their Pullman home to Washington State University, and endowed the Frank and Irene Potter Memorial Scholarship. The Frank Fraser Potter Memorial Lecture, an annual event, was established shortly after Frank Potter's death through an anonymous donation from one of his former students.

Sources:

Bierbower, June. "'A Man, Not a System.'" Washington State Review II, no. 4 (Summer 1959): 21-25.

Bell, Aldon Duane. "Finding the Best Candidates for Rhodes Scholarships" (undated clipping, possibly 1959, from The American Oxonian).

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Scope and Content

This collection consists of materials related to Frank and Irene Potter which came into the possession of Ruth Slonim, their colleague and friend, after Irene Potter's death. It includes correspondence received by Irene Potter, mostly from 1969 to 1971, a small quantity of Frank Potter's notes related to his teaching of philosophy, a few miscellaneous items, and a folder of materials about the Potters collected by Slonim.

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Arrangement

The collection is arranged in two series:

Series 1: Irene Potter incoming correspondence, 1955-1971 (bulk 1969-1971)

Series 2: Miscellaneous, circa 1915-1990

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Administrative Information

Publication Information

Washington State University Libraries Manuscripts, Archives, and Special Collections  © 2016

http://www.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 apply.

Acquisition Information

These materials were donated to the Washington State University Libraries with the papers of Ruth Slonim (MS 2007-10).

Processing Information

This collection was processed by Ph.D. candidate Katy Fry in 2009.

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Related Materials

Related Material

Frank Fraser Potter Papers, 1915-1941 (Cage 500)

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Names and Subjects

Corporate Name(s)

Subject(s) :
  • Washington State University -- Faculty -- Archives.

Personal Name(s)

Subject(s) :
  • Potter, Frank Fraser, 1879-1959 -- Archives
  • Potter, Irene Michet, 1889-1971 -- Archives
Creator(s) :
  • Potter, Irene Michet, 1889-1971.

Subject(s)

  • College teaching -- Washington (State)
  • Washington (State)
  • Colleges and Universities

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Other Descriptive Data

Some documents in this collection were damaged by water and/or mold prior to being donated to Washington State University. These items were photocopied, and the originals discarded.

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Detailed Description of Collection

Series 1: Irene Potter incoming correspondence, 1955-1971 (bulk 1969-1971) 

box folder

1 1

1 2

1 3

D-E 

1 4

1 5

1 6

H-L 

1 7

1 8

N-P 

1 9

R-S 

1 10

T-V 

2 1

W-Z 

2 2

Unidentified sender items 

2 3

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Series 2: Miscellaneous, circa 1915-1990 

box folder

Frank Potter teaching notes and collected quotations (philosophy), circa 1920s-1940s 

2 4-9

Frank Potter teaching notes and collected quotations (philosophy), circa 1920s-1940s (continued) 

3 1-4

Irene Potter notebook with list of Frank Potter's "relatives and very old friends," circa 1959 

3 5

Account book (expenditures), 1950-1964 

3 6

Music materials (typed transcriptions, primarily lyrics and opera scene descriptions), circa 1940s 

3 7-9

Articles by Helen Rocca Goss (inscribed reprints), 1953-1961 

4 1

Incoming correspondence from Washington State College Library regarding Frank Potter Memorial Book Fund, 1959-1960 

4 2

Frank Potter will and estate documents, 1960-1971 

4 3

Photographs (the Potters, their Pullman home and garden, scenes from a 1930s trip to Britain, and unidentified portraits), circa 1915-1950 

4 4

Miscellaneous items including Frank Potter memorials and obituary, articles, correspondence related to an effort in the 1970s and 1980s to name a WSU building for Frank Potter, and clippings, 1959-1990 

4 5

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