Franklyn Bliss Snyder (1884-1958) Papers

The Franklyn Bliss Snyder Papers are arranged in two main categories: biographical materials and presidential papers.

The biographical materials contain clippings, articles, and related items (1934-1973); unpublished addresses (1927-1949); publications (1914-1955); and miscellaneous reports and correspondence. There are also three folders containing correspondence and reviews (1922-1945) related to Snyder's scholarly monograph, Life of Robert Burns, published in 1932. There is practically no private or family correspondence in the collection.

The presidential papers have been kept, for the most part, in their original order. These materials, divided into fifty-eight sections, consist primarily of official correspondence, reports and budgets, and related administrative material. Also included are occasional memos on telephone calls and meetings, and a few handwritten notes for letters, telegrams, and meetings.

Several items are of more than ordinary interest. The section on administration includes a series of policy-setting correspondence on the projected and developed uses of Scott Hall (Box 2, Folder 4; see also, Box 5, Folder 5). The section on the early plans for the University's centennial (held in 1951) contains material useful in conjunction with Series 0/12/1, Records of the Northwestern University Centennial Celebration. The section on the College of Liberal Arts includes much material on personnel administration, e.g., potential appointments to named professorships (Melville Herskovits, 1944); the combining of the departments of botany and zoology to form the department of biological sciences (1948-1949); the continuing problems related to Professor Paul Schilpp, academic freedom, and the “Library of Living Philosophers” (1939-1947); and the political activities (supporting Henry Wallace for the presidency) of Professor Curtis MacDougall of the Medill School of Journalism and other related matters involving academic freedom (1948). The section on commencement includes correspondence with many outstanding figures in politics, the military, literature, and other fields (see Index of Prominent Correspondents).

Several deans had to be replaced because of retirement, resignation, illness and other reasons. Relevant correspondence and reports will be found in the pertinent sections (e.g., Dental, Education, Law, Medical and Speech). Probably the most explosive personal relationship President Snyder had during his tenure (and also as Dean of the Graduate School and Vice President) was that with Professor Ernest O. Melby, Dean of the School of Education, 1934-1942. Snyder and Melby differed radically on both the philosophy and methods of education. Some material related to their long standing animosity may be found in Snyder's Vice-Presidential and Dean of Faculty Papers.

Of special interest also is the material on Snyder's activities with the Carnegie Foundation, 1940-1949 (Box 15, Folders 1-2) related to his service on the board of trustees and on the special committee to select a new president for the Foundation.

Among the more important roles Snyder played outside the University were his memberships on the Commission on School Board Nominations for the Chicago School Board in 1948 (Box 15, Folder 3) and on the advisory committee on the Administration of the Chicago Public School System, 1946-1949 (Box 23, Folder 17). In the section relating to the faculty is considerable correspondence with, and related to, Professor V. N. Ipatieff (1939-1943). The section on the university library includes a substantial amount of correspondence and notes (1940-1945) dealing with the selection of a new librarian (ultimately Jens Nyholm) to succeed the late Theodore W. Koch.

In the section on the medical school is a folder containing correspondence, clippings, and related items pertinent to research animals and anti-vivisection (1941-1947). This section also includes folders of material concerning the relationship between the University and Wesley Memorial Hospital (1939-1945) and Rush Medical College (1940-1941).

There is, of course, a vast amount of material dealing with naval educational programs and related matters.

Snyder's ability as a speaker is documented by several folders (“Regrets” and “Acceptances” 1939-1949), in the section on the president's office.

Another sensitive issue during Snyder's tenure was the many-faceted race question. This section includes material on relationships between black and white students and the handling of prospective students from Japanese-American families. An unfortunate incident concerning personal and institutional provisions for retirement is documented in the case of Arne Oldberg, a member of the School of Music faculty.

One of the largest sections is that dealing with the Technological Institute. This includes much material relevant to the implementation of Walter P. Murphy's wishes following his multi-million dollar donation that established the Institute.

Much related material (most of which was taken from the corpus of the Snyder papers as originally presented to the Archives) may be found in the Franklyn Bliss Snyder Vice-Presidential and Dean of Faculties Papers and the Fred Dow Fagg, Jr. Papers.

Snyder's Presidential Papers present a fairly comprehensive view of the office of the president of a major midwest university during the decade from 1939-1949. The emphasis is on administrative and educational aspects not on the personal life of President Snyder. Researchers interested in the developing of such a university during these years and especially in the impact of World War II on a private university will find much of value in this collection.