Claremont Colleges

Allen, Hollis P.

See Allen, Hollis P. in Education.

Beckett, Garner A. (b. 1891)

Business Executive

Founding Chairman of Claremont Men's College. 1969.

Retired Chairman, American Cement Corporation; College Board member. Mr. Beckett became a member of the Board of Fellows of Claremont Colleges, the central coordinating institution operating the Claremont Graduate School in 1939. He was chairman of the committee to organize the founding of Claremont Men's College and first Chairman of its Board of Trustees (1946-1965). In a series of interviews Mr. Beckett discusses his original involvement with the Claremont Colleges, problems of the Group Plan, and the founding and development Claremont Men's College.

Interviewers: Robert J. Bernard, President Emeritus, Claremont University Center. Enid H. Douglass, Oral History Program.

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Bissell, Clara L. and Post, Miriam Colcord

Recollections of Claremont and Early Pomona College Years. 1963.
[ Open except permission to quote one page. ]

Daughters of early prominent Pomona College professors. Miss Bissell and Mrs. Post arrived in Claremont on the same day in 1892 when their respective fathers, Arthur Dart Bissell and Daniel Herbert Colcord, joined the Pomona faculty. They describe the education and interests of their fathers, recollect college personalities in a college community with strong New England overtones, and reminisce about their shared childhood in Claremont.

Interviewers: Caroline Beatty and Enid H. Douglass, Oral History Program.

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Blaisdell, Allen C. (b. 1897)

Local History

Reflections: Family, Youth and James Blaisdell. 1969.

Son of Dr. James A. Blaisdell, President of Pomona College (1910-1928) and President of Claremont Colleges (1928-1936). Graduate of Pomona College (1919). Allen Blaisdell discusses his boyhood and family background, student days at Pomona College and life at home. He speaks of his father's views on life and his feelings about the development of the Group Plan through the years.

Interviewer: Enid H. Douglass, Oral History Program.

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Blaisdell, James A. (b. 1867)

Founder of Claremont Colleges

When and Whither—An Old Colleague Meditates. 1953.

President of Pomona College (1910-1928); President of Claremont Colleges (1928-1936). This manuscript is a transcription of a speech given by Dr. Blaisdell in his twilight years at a joint meeting of the trustees of the Claremont Colleges, November 5, 1953. Dr. Blaisdell resigned as President of Pomona College in order to assume the presidency of the newly founded Claremont Colleges (now Claremont University Center), the institution responsible for the Claremont Graduate School and joint services. He enumerates reasons for the founding of the Claremont Colleges, the first step in developing the Group Plan in Claremont, his view of the state of affairs in 1953, and his hopes for the future.

Interviewer: Enid H. Douglass, Oral History Program.

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Boynton, Charles L. and Boynton, Edmund C.

See Boynton, Charles L. and Boynton, Edmund C. in California State and Local History

Clary, William W. (b. 1888)

Attorney, College Trustee

Attorney: O'Melveny & Myers. 1968.

William Clary graduated from Pomona College in 1911, witnessing the arrival of Dr. James A. Blaisdell as the new president of the college; later he became a partner in the law firm of O'Melveny and Myers. He has served on the Board of Fellows of Claremont Graduate School since 1928 and was chairman of that Board from 1953 to 1963. He recollects college days at Pomona and continuous friendship with Dr. Blaisdell. He discusses the Claremont Colleges and the strengths and problems of the Group Plan, which he has strongly supported.

Interviewer: William Jones, Professor of Philosophy, Pomona College and Claremont Graduate School. Enid H. Douglass, Oral History Program.

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Cooke, W. Henry

See Cooke, W. Henry in California State and Local History

Cornell, Ralph D.

See Cornell, Ralph D. in California State and Local History

Douglass, M. Evelyn Fitzsimmons

See Douglass, M. Evelyn Fitzsimmons in Philosophy and Psychology

Fitts, Charles (b. 1882)

Professor, Registrar

Professor and Registrar at Pomona College, Secretary of Western College Association. 1963.

Taught in English Department and later Education Department of Pomona college (1918-1948), and served as Chairman of Admissions Committee and Registrar. Describes Pomona College admissions policies in the 1920s, provisions for counseling, and changes in the Education Department resulting from the establishment of the Claremont Graduate School. Discusses the founding of the Western College Association.

Interviewers: John H. Kemble, Professor of History, Pomona College and Claremont Graduate School. Caroline Beatty, Oral History Program.

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Gould, Arthur

See Gould, Arthur in Education

Hader, John J. (b. 1898)

Civil Servant

Migratory Reminiscences, 1916-1925. 1975.

Professional, U.S. Department of Labor. A graduate of Pomona College (1922). From 1916 to 1925, Mr. Hader worked alongside migratory workers, where he soon became interested in the "Hobo." The interview deals with this period in his life.

Interviewer: Enid H. Douglass, Oral History Program.

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Haines, Charles C. (1880-1974)

Judge

Interview on the Occasion of the Sixtieth Anniversary of his Graduation from Pomona College. 1962.

Lawyer, Superior Court Judge (San Diego). Describes his boyhood in Chula Vista, student days at Pomona College (class of 1902), Presidents Baldwin and Ferguson, and legal training at Berkeley. Major portion is an account of his participation as a lawyer in the Imperial Valley water litigation.

Interviewers: John H. Kemble, Professor of History (Pomona College, Claremont Graduate School); William B. Himrod, lawyer and Pomona College graduate (1908); Caroline Beatty, Oral History Program.

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Hilton, William A. (1879-1970)

College Professor

An Interview. 1965.

Dr. Hilton recollects his student years at Cornell University, where he received his doctorate in zoology in 1902. He came to Pomona College under President Gates in 1905 and except for the period 19089-1912 he remained there until his retirement. Dr. Hilton reflects on the administrations of Pomona College presidents of these years and discusses the laying of the foundations for the college's present strength in Science. Recounts the origins and his development of the Laguna Beach Marine Laboratory and the Journal of Entomology and Zoology.

Interviewers: Enid H. Douglass and Caroline Beatty, Oral History Program.

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Himrod, William B. (b.1883)

Attorney, College Trustee

Legal Career and Associations with Pomona College. 1968.

Pomona College class of 1908 and member of Pomona College Board of Trustees 1928-1957. Recalls student days at Pomona College and Los Angeles and California state politics in the period of Hiram Johnson. Major portion deals with his experience with water litigation, especially the Metropolitan Water District.

Interviewers: John A. Vieg, Professor of Government (Pomona College, Claremont Graduate School); Caroline Beatty and Enid H. Douglass, Oral History Program.

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James, Umbra Crewe (b. 1895)

Secretary, Librarian of Honnold Library

Memories of the Honnold Library. 1990.

Umbra James speaks of her backgound before taking her first position at Honnold Library. She discusses her service under Librarian David W. Davies and the founding of the Honnold Library Society at that time. Mrs. James recounts the search for a new Librarian, computerization of the Library, and centralization of the libraries of the Claremont Colleges.

Interviewer: Enid H. Douglass, Oral History Program.

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Jaqua, Ernest J. (1882-1972)

Founding College President

The Founding and Development of Scripps College. 1966.

After serving as Dean of Faculty at Pomona College, Dr. Jaqua was appointed first president of Scripps College in Claremont in 1927 and served until 1942. Discusses reasons for the founding of Scripps, the Group Plan of colleges in Claremont, memories of Dr. James A. Blaisdell, and the launching of the new college. Major portion is his reminiscence of outstanding women who were influential in the formative period of the college.

Interviewers: Caroline Bennett Fogle, member of first class to graduate from Scripps College and member of the Scripps College Board of Trustees. Enid H. Douglass, Oral History Program.

On Nathaniel Stephenson. 11 pages. 1963.

As first president of Scripps College, Dr. Jaqua made one of his early faculty appointments in History and sought Professor Nathaniel Stephenson. Recounts his knowledge and memories of Dr. Stephenson and his immense value to the new college.

Interviewers: Barbara Page, Scripps College senior; and Caroline Beatty, Oral History Program. This interview was conducted in conjunction with the writing of Barbara Page's Thesis: Nathaniel Stephenson: Life and Works, Scripps College, January, 1964.

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Kerr, Willis H. (1880-1965)

Librarian

College Librarian. 1965.

Came to Pomona College as librarian in 1925 and from 1931 until 1948 was librarian for the Claremont Graduate School. Discusses the development of plans for a central library to serve the colleges in Claremont, as he was active in planning Honnold Library, and his acquaintance with Dr. James A. Blaisdell. Discusses the special collections owned by the library and the use of the Oriental Collection by the government during World War II.

Interviewers: John H. Kemble, Professor of History, Pomona College and Claremont Graduate School.

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Pitzer, Russell K. (1878-1978)

Citrus Grower, Philanthropist

Citrus Rancher– Philanthropist. 1965.

Owned probably the largest amount of citrus acreage in the Pomona-Claremont area and served as president of the San Antonio Fruit Exchange for thirty years, as well as serving for many years on the Sunkist board. Discusses: citrus cooperative development; 1913 freeze; labor force; water; and Sunkist. Recounts his role in the development of the Group Plan of colleges in Claremont: a major participant in the founding of Claremont Men's College (1946); one who assisted in the founding of Harvey Mudd College (1955); and the founder, in association with his wife, of Pitzer College (1963). Graduate of Pomona College (1900).

Interviewers: Enid H. Douglass and Caroline Beatty, Oral History Program.

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Post, Miriam Colcord and Bissell, Clara L.

See Post, Miriam Colcord under Bissell, Clara L. and Post, Miriam Colcord Claremont Colleges

Rempel, William (1899-1978)

College Trustee

Commentary on the Blaisdell Institute. 1979.

Moved with his family from Minnesota to southern California. Attended Pomona College. In 1928, he created a successful business--the Rempel Lumber Company. Rempel became involved with the Blaisdell Institute for the Study of World Cultures in 1956 and later served as Chairman of the Board of Trustees of Blaisdell Institute from 1961 to 1977. Mr. Rempel comments on both his and James Blaisdell's vision of the role of the Blaisdell Institute in the group of Claremont Colleges.

Interviewer: Enid H. Douglass, Oral History Program

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Richardson, Almon T

See Richardson, Almon T. in California State and Local History

Sait, Una Bernard

See Sait, Una Bernard in Scripps

Story, Gertrude A. (˜1880-1973)

Russell M. Story. 1963.

Wife of Russell M. Story, college professor of Political Science and President, Claremont Graduate School (1937-1942). Discusses her husband's career as a professor of Political Science (University of Illinois, Syracuse University, Pomona College, Claremont Graduate School) and as college president. Describes faculty life in Claremont in mid-twenties and thirties and Dr. Story's term as President of the Claremont Graduate School, during which fields other than Education were expanded. She speaks of the adverse effect of World War II on the institution.

Interviewers: Caroline Beatty and Enid H. Douglass, Oral History Program.

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Sumner, George S. (1874-1963)

Professor, College Controller

Memoirs of George Stedman Sumner. 1962.

Son of Reverend Charles B. Sumner, a founder of Pomona College, and member of the first graduating class (1894) at Pomona College, Professor of Economics at Pomona (1897-1922), and Controller of the Associated Colleges in Claremont. Describes his boyhood, the Sumner ranch and home, students at Pomona and Yale, his teaching at Pomona, and his impressions of Presidents Baldwin, Ferguson, Gates, and Edmunds. Recounts the setting up of the financial accounts of Pomona College and for the Claremont Colleges. Tells of his father's duties as a money-raiser for the new college and his participation in the establishment of the citrus cooperative.

Interviewers: John Niven, Associate Professor of History, Claremont Graduate School. John H. Kemble, Professor of History, Pomona College and Claremont Graduate School. O. Woodford, Professor of Geology, Emeritus, Pomona College and Claremont Graduate School. Priscilla Neff, Claremont Graduate School. Caroline Beatty, Oral History Program.

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Walker, Irving G. (1885-1969)

Attorney, College Trustee

Chairman, Scripps College Board of Trustees. 1968.

Member of the original Board of Trustees of Scripps College, Chairman of Board of Trustees of Scripps College (1937-1965), member of the Board of Fellows, Claremont College. Mr. Walker discusses his law career after passing the bar in 1906, his experiences as board member and Chairman at Scripps College, and his views of developments in the Group Plan in Claremont.

Interviewers: John Niven, Professor of History, Claremont Graduate School. John H. Kemble, Professor of History, Pomona College and Claremont Graduate School.

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Woodford, Alfred O. (1890-1990)

College Professor

California Geologist. 1968.

Graduate of Pomona College (1913). Mr. Woodford's mother was a member of the Harwood family, long associated with Pomona College and (with Mr. Woodford's father) the founding of Upland. He recollects his boyhood in the Upland-Claremont area and student days at the Pomona College Preparatory School and at Pomona College. Impressions of campus life, professors, and Presidents Gates and Blaisdell. Describes the establishment of a Geology Department at Pomona College, his theory of teaching the sciences, outstanding science students, his favoring a joint science center for the Claremont Colleges in pursuance of Blaisdell's Group Plan idea and its defeat.

Interviewers: John S. Shelton, Geologist and former student of Dr. Woodford. Enid H. Douglass, Oral History Program.

Product of a joint project with Los Angeles County Library.

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