President Franklin S. Harris Papers
Scope and Contents
This collection document the activities of Franklin S. Harris as the seventh Utah State University president. The President Franklin S. Harris papers contains correspondence with various people and organizations related to the function of the university including the Board of Trustees, University departments and staff, and state and federal personnel and agencies. Also present in this collection, are papers related to Harris’ Inauguration, Graduation and Commencement, and personal papers.
Dates
- 1912-1960, predominant 1944-1950
Language of Materials
Material in English
Conditions Governing Access
No restrictions on use, except: not available through interlibrary loan.
Conditions Governing Use
It is the responsibility of the researcher to obtain any necessary copyright clearances.
Permission to publish material from the President Franklin S. Harris Papers must be obtained from the University Archivist and/or the Special Collections Department Head.
Biographical Note
Franklin Stewart Harris was born on August 29, 1884 in Benjamin, Utah. He spent his childhood years in Colonia Juarez, Mexico but later moved back to states to complete degrees from Brigham Young University, where he later served as University President from 1921-1945, and Cornell University.
Harris became the seventh President of Utah Agricultural College, now known as Utah State University (USU), in 1945 and immediately increased the college foreign involvement. Harris was able to build many relationships abroad through his international travel with several foreign countries including Greece, Syria, and Iran.
In 1950, Harris resigned to accept an appointment from President Harry S. Truman as a Technical Advisor to the Ambassador on Point IV activities in Iran. You can learn more about USU’s relationship with Iran at USU and Point Four in Iran Online Exhibit . Harris stayed active in foreign affairs, where he acted as a " good will" ambassador for USU. Many international students received training at USU as a result of his efforts.
Harris died in April 1960.
Extent
30.75 Linear Feet (65 boxes)
Abstract
This collection document the activities of Franklin S. Harris as the seventh Utah State University president and include correspondence and office files related to the function of the University between 1945-1950.
Arrangement
The arrangement of this collection reflects and intellectual order of Harris’s activities as USU president. The physical order and numbering of items and boxes are second to the intellectual arrangement presented in the collection.
This collection is arranged into seven series and some sub series.
I. Alphabetical correspondence and Office Files
II. Board of Trustees
III. Budget: Includes correspondence from Purchasing Agent Eric Johnson and Secretary Russell E. Berntson concerning payroll and other budgetary concerns.
IV. Department and Faculty: Includes various faculty and departments and the Extension services, Housing, and Administrative office.
V. Events: Includes Harris’s Inauguration and Graduation and Commencement.
VI. Outside Organizations: Includes Federal and State Agencies and personnel and some foreign affairs.
VII. Personal Papers
- Title
- Guide to President Franklin S. Harris Papers 1912-1999
- Author
- Finding aid/Register created Kelly Rovegno and Abbie Chesley
- Date
- ©2012; 2024
- Description rules
- Finding Aid Based On Dacs (Describing Archives: A Content Standard, 2nd Edition)
- Language of description
- English
- Script of description
- Latin
- Language of description note
- Finding aid encoded in English.
Repository Details
Part of the Utah State University, Merrill-Cazier Library, Special Collections & Archives Repository
Merrill-Cazier Library
Utah State University
3000 Old Main Hill
Logan Utah 84322-3000 United States
435 797-8248
435 797-2880 (Fax)
scweb@usu.edu