University of Connecticut, President's Office Records [Charles L. Beach 1908-1928]

The records consist of the general correspondence of the President of the College. It is the only extant collection of the papers of the president for this period. The correspondence is concerned with internal administrative matters, major policy issues at the college, with the college's relations with state and federal governments, and with other educational agencies and institutions.

The collection contains correspondence, reports, memoranda, forms, minutes, telegrams, blueprints, maps, fliers and published materials pertaining to the day-to-day operations of the institution from 1908 to 1928 (bulk 1920-1927). The small quantity of materials representing this significant time of growth and expansion in the institution's history is offset by the breadth of issues covered: information regarding programmatic changes and development to the location of screens for the windows of the president's residence, student suspensions and expulsions to faculty hiring and housing. A survey of this material reveals the changes in the functions of the President's Office during this period of growth from a small agricultural college to a larger, more broadly based institution of higher education. At the time of Beach's appointment in 1908, the laws and by-laws of the college specified that the president, subject to the direction of the trustees, had “the immediate supervision of all departments, and direction of all matters pertaining to the welfare of the college,” including the appointment and dismissal of all staff members and the designation of their duties. They also provided for the President's attendance at and participation in all meetings of the Board of Trustees. Few matters, regardless of significance, escaped the attention of President Beach.

As the college grew, more of the President's responsibilities were delegated to other administrative officers. The 1921 catalog states that, under the supervision of the President, “the three branches of the administration are managed by the Faculty, the Director of the Experiment Station, and the Director of the Extension Service.” Faculty committees relieved the President from the immediate administration of routine matters of internal government. During the 1921-1922 academic year, the college was divided into five academic divisions, each headed by a dean. The establishment of the offices of Dean of Women in 1928, Dean of Men in 1929, and Director of the Division of Instruction in 1931 were other important steps in the evolution of the office of the President, since each more clearly defined the duties of the institution's chief executive officer. By the time of the McCracken administration in 1930, the President was concerned chiefly with general policy-making, major campus issues, high-level appointments, and relations with the state and federal governments.