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.
Restricted Interview. Contact us for more information. Top of page.
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.
Restricted Interview. Contact us for more information. Top of page.
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.
Restricted Interview. Contact us for more information. Top of page.
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.
Restricted Interview. Contact us for more information. Top of page.
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.
Restricted Interview. Contact us for more information. Top of page.
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.
Restricted Interview. Contact us for more information. Top of page.
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.
Restricted Interview. Contact us for more information. Top of page.
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.
Restricted Interview. Contact us for more information. Top of page.
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.
Restricted Interview. Contact us for more information. Top of page.
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.
Restricted Interview. Contact us for more information. Top of page.
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.
Restricted Interview. Contact us for more information. Top of page.
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.
Restricted Interview. Contact us for more information. Top of page.
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.
Restricted Interview. Contact us for more information. Top of page.
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.
Restricted Interview. Contact us for more information. Top of page.
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
Restricted Interview. Contact us for more information. Top of page.
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.
Restricted Interview. Contact us for more information. Top of page.
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.
Restricted Interview. Contact us for more information. Top of page.
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.
Restricted Interview. Contact us for more information. Top of page.
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.
Restricted Interview. Contact us for more information. Top of page.