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Hugh Borton presidential papers
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Held at: Haverford College Quaker & Special Collections [Contact Us]370 Lancaster Ave, Haverford, PA 19041
This is a finding aid. It is a description of archival material held at the Haverford College Quaker & Special Collections. Unless otherwise noted, the materials described below are physically available in their reading room, and not digitally available through the web.
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Hugh Borton took on the office of Haverford president in June, 1957. Borton was a 1926 graduate of the College, after which he turned to the study of Japan, teaching, working for the U. S. Department of State in preparing for peace, and leading several U.S.-Asia organizations. Previous to his Haverford appointment he had been a professor of Japanese and director of the East Asian Institute at Columbia University.
Borton was characterized as quiet, inconspicuous, and "unimaginative," but he was responsible for many significant decisions made during his administration. In his inaugural speech he contradicted the direction that his more dynamic predecessor had set, and declared that if Haverford "refuses to enlarge its student body, it will be neglecting its responsibility to society." Expansion of the college would be his primary undertaking, convincing the college community to set a goal of growing from 450 to 700 students by 1970. With this expectation, he launched a program of campus construction and improvement and a fundraising campaign for $3.6 million. At the time of his departure a new dormitory (Gummere) and the new science building (Stokes Hall), were completed, along with renovations to Sharpless and Hall buildings. Under construction were a major addition to the library and the Dining Center. Plans were ready for three additional dormitories (Jones, Lunt, Comfort).
Borton was recognized for other contributions. He was a "champion of academic freedom and civil rights," in his refusal to accept government tuition loans that required a loyalty oath and standing steadfast in support of Vietnam protestors in the face of FBI investigations. He oversaw an increase in faculty salaries, benefits, and research grants, the last despite a policy of refusing to accept money from the Defense Department. New positions of Dean and Provost were established. Additional cooperation with Bryn Mawr (including the shuttle bus), Swarthmore, and the University of Pennsylvania broadened the curriculum. Several changes affecting student life were made, and the elimination of required attendance at Fifth Day Meeting was considered radical.
Hugh Borton left Haverford College in June 1967 to return to his scholarship, maintaining an association with Columbia University. Borton died in 1995.
Hugh Borton's papers, document some of his accomplishments. However they are only a small and random sampling of files and there is no evidence of several of his undertakings.
His efforts to sway the various college constituencies toward an expanded student body are found in the files on "Inauguration," the 1959 "Guide for Planning the Future [Size] of Haverford College," the "College Plan Committee," and "Expansion." There is nothing on the resulting fundraising or construction. The "Board of Managers Committee on Research Contracts," "Chemistry," and "Government Units" files are indicative of the college's deliberations over accepting funds related to military activity and actions with regard to Vietnam protestors. "National Defense Education Act" correspondence reveals more concern with governmental interference, and the "National Association of Student Personnel Administration" provides material on his speech on maintaining student freedoms at a small college. There are three files on "Three-College Cooperation" and the "Asian Studies" program was an additional project in which Haverford, Bryn Mawr, and Swarthmore participated.
In "Miscellaneous Topics" there is correspondence with potential speakers at Haverford, among whom were Martin Luther King and Archibald MacLeish.
Two series contain information on Borton's activities that were unrelated to his presidency. The Affiliations series has material on his efforts to enhance cultural relations between the United States and Japan, including the "East-West Center National Review Board" and the three "U.S.-Japan Cultural Conferences." Borton's works with the American Friends Service and in encouraging international studies in higher learning are also found in this series.
A smaller series on Borton's pre-Haverford presidency gives some documentation of his scholarly endeavors, most notably his correspondence with Arnold Toynbee and others as a contributor to the Royal Institute of International Affairs Survey of International Affairs, 1939-1946: The Far East, 1942-1946, (Oxford University Press, 1955). There is also a file of congratulatory letters on his Haverford appointment.
The Spirit and the Intellect: Haverford College, 1833-1983 (Haverford, PA, 1983) "Haverford College Horizons" Summer 1967, v. 8, #4, pp. 3-21
Borton's files appear to have been transferred to the archives in a random fashion. Some have notes indicating that Borton, in an effort to clean his files, had reviewed them and identified them for transfer. Some files were transferred from the Coleman files where they were presumably kept for reference. Some files were found in a transfer of Provosts records, and some came from other offices entirely.
At the time of processing the Borton Papers had no order. The processor created the three subseries and the arrangement within those subseries. Files were found in the Provost records after the initial processing was completed. These were integrated into the existing order and are indicated by "File located in Provost Records transfer" in the Repository Processing Note.
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Collection Inventory
This is a randomly selected portion of Borton's files relating to Haverford College activities.
1 folders"Old pages from address books"
6 foldersMemoranda and correspondence on appointments, reappointments and resignations/ deaths of various administrators: Alfred R. Crawford, V. P. for Development, 1964-1966, with correspondence on fund raising plans ; Lester C. Haworth, Vice President, 1948-1954; Norma Johnson, Educational Director of the Computer Center, 1965-?; Richard D. Kubik, Director of Information, 1959-1962; Archibald Macintosh—see MacIntosh file; Lindsley Noble, Director of Business and Financial Affairs, 1965-?); Miriam M. Nugent, Dire ctor of Food and Housing, 1960-1966.
1 foldersCorrespondence with Bennett S. Cooper on Cooper's complaints about housing, his retirement, difficulties with a student and another administrator, and other personal and professional topics.
1 foldersMiscellaneous correspondence and memoranda on progress, case statements, and statistics.
7 foldersProposals, memoranda, and reports on program for three-college faculty study group to be released from teaching duties to study China and India with a leading scholar who would also teach a course, with grant from Ford Foundation; follow-up 1965 proposal for three college Non-Western Studies Program. (see Three-College—Non-Western Studies)
3 foldersLetters of prominent men, many responding to invitations to speak at Haverford. Writers include Hugo L. Black, Paddy Chayefsky, Norman Cousins, William O. Douglas, John Kenneth Galbraith, Walter Lipman, Mike Mansfield, Philip Roth, Dean Rusk, Arthur Schlesinger, Adlai Stevenson. There is also a guest book with signatures of educators and others who visited Borton.
See also Stevens Papers: Pre-1984—Gest Program; 1985-1986—Gest ; 1986-1987--Gest.
Physical Description1 foldersCorrespondence and memoranda on bequest (1955) of Margaret Ralston Gest in honor of her parents Emily Judson Baugh and John Marshall Gest for cross cultural study of religion and their surrounding cultures, including report of meeting with Miriam Thrall, life annuitant, on Gest's intentions.
1 foldersSmall file of memoranda on establishing a standing "Committee on College Objectives" to coordinate views of Board, Administration, and Faculty, proposal to provide college financial aid to faculty children; and other.
2 foldersReports and recommended policy against accepting funding for military research, approved by the Board of Managers, September 1957, with revised policy approved November 1958. Includes correspondence of committee members and others expressing opinions and letters mostly approving policy, and several drafts of reports and releases.
1 foldersSmall file of reviews for American Historical Review and others.
1 foldersMemoranda and correspondence on planning for Gummere Hall, Vincent Kling, architect.
2 foldersCorrespondence, memoranda, and proposals on Russell R. Williams, Jr., application to AEC for project funding and efforts to reconcile AEC contracts with Haverford's policy on government contracts.
1 foldersThe Barton-Gillet Company report on present methods of communicating with constituencies and recommendations for improvements to better attract financial support, attract qualified students, and "present the true character of the College."
1 foldersMemoranda on process of selection for Clementine Cope fellowships awarded to one or more Seniors who want to continue on to graduate of professional education and on applications and awards.
1 foldersNotices of meetings, with nominations for Board of Managers, members of the Corporation, and others.
1 foldersMiscellaneous correspondence on nomination to Board of Managers and to the Corporation.
2 foldersMemoranda and reports on curriculum and faculty; departmental reorganization controversy, 1956 [originally a separate file]; efforts to improve facility, equipment and supplies.
1 foldersCorrespondence and memoranda on controversies with Academic Council on faculty appointments and curriculum.
3 foldersMemoranda, correspondence, and notes on: faculty appointments and assignments; "Haverford College Mathematics Series" publication; Ad Hoc Committee searches.
1 foldersCorrespondence and memoranda on concert scheduling, access to organ, and curriculum
1 foldersBudgets, memoranda on program present and anticipated, 1950, competition with Swarthmore, and other topics.
2 foldersMemoranda and notes on appointments, curriculum, and facilities; also correspondence, 1957-1959, with the Atomic Energy Commission on long and frustrating application for loan of plutonium-beryllium neutron source and equipment.
1 foldersMemoranda on appointments and curriculum.
1 foldersMemoranda and notes on efforts to hire faculty for Religion.
1 foldersSmall file of memoranda on appointments and curriculum.
2 foldersBorton's class reading lists, assignments, requirements, exams, with some miscellaneous correspondence with guest lecturers and others.
1 foldersCorrespondence, memoranda on continuing the Engineering program.
1 foldersA variety of reports on expanding student body: College Program, 1947, explaining that student population of 550 will be reduced to 400; annual report draft excerpt, 1954, calling for enrollment to be held at 450. Memorandum on Expansion of the College, approved by Board January 25, 1963: to 700 by 1972 with a less proportionate expansion of faculty; concept of two quadrangles to preserve importance of the individual and the importance of personal ideals and moral values—maintain the advantages of small size Expansion and its Educational Program report for Middle States Evaluation Team, March 1964 Report of the Committee on Instructional Implications of Expanding the College: revitalized master's program; summer program; non Western area studies; association with less fortunate small colleges, May 1964. [See Faculty Committees: College Plan Committee]
1 folders"Tenure Plan and Practices" report of the American Academic Freedom Project showing Haverford and other participants statistics, with some earlier memoranda on sabbatical leaves and other policies.
1 foldersMemoranda and proposals for disability coverage for faculty and senior administrators.
1 foldersThree minutes.
1 foldersReports and memoranda on the procedures and responsibilities of the Council.
1 foldersReports, proposals, memoranda of a faculty committee on issues relating to college expansion. Among other issues considered were: size and quality of faculty; curricular changes; a masters program in liberal arts; an accelerated three- year program; creating two or more "colleges" within the College; summer programs. [See Expansion] Preceded by Optimum Plan Committee.
4 foldersReports and memoranda: future directions of educational growth to provide greater flexibility, more strength to non-Western offerings through tri-college program, provide training more leaders from disadvantaged groups, Fall 1964; reduction of required courses for graduation from 40 to 36, Spring 1965.
1 foldersReports and memoranda on ways to meet "main academic and cultural forces at work at the present time and in the foreseeable future." Superseded by College Plan Committee in 1961.
1 foldersVisiting Committee report on the 3-3 Plan at Carleton College.
1 foldersReports and memoranda on faculty rental policies, procedures, and assignments.
1 folders"K[ay M. Carter, President's Office]'s Notes, Prior" Notes on appointments, leaves, resignations, terminations, etc.
7 foldersFigures for planning annual budgets.
1 foldersMemoranda and correspondence on subpoena for records relating to a 1964 student Vietnam protestor.
6 foldersDrafts of sections, two compiled drafts, background studies and material for report recommending a gradual enrollment expansion (to 525 from 450 over 4 years) with restricted size of faculty.
1 foldersProgram and printed proceedings.
1 foldersCorrespondence, including letters from fellow summer Institute participants acknowledging receipt of reprint of "Asian Studies and the American Colleges" article by Borton.
1 foldersMemoranda and reports on policies, procedures, and personnel.
2 foldersMemoranda on annual budgets, particularly staffing and salaries; dispute with Comptroller over responsibilities.
2 itemsBinders of the Vice President and Director of Admissions): (1) c. 1948-c. 1962: Organizational structure and responsibilities, including "Field House" and Drama Club. [Archibald MacIntosh's notes as Vice President turned over to President's Office October 1966 by Wm. Ambler] (2) 1962-1965: "Operations" 2 sections—Administrative Staff Meeting Minutes "function of the committee is to exchange information and occasionally make decisions; notes on meetings with Aldo Caselli, Comptroller and Business Manager, relating to particular areas of college "operations" [see first binder for an unclear definition]
2 foldersCorrespondence, primarily with colleagues, on Borton's activities in Japanese studies. Alphabetically arranged.
1 foldersAn artificial file in which are gathered other topical files too small to stand alone. It includes a file on Speakers, with Martin Luther King, Jr., correspondence, 1961-1965, and Archibald MacLeish correspondence, 1953-1967. Other topics are: Dictionary of Quaker Biography, 1965; Drinker Music Center, 1962; Kurzman Prize Fund, 1958; Publications, 1957; Student Curriculum Committee, 1958, 1963
1 foldersCorrespondence as an Advisory Commission member on questionnaires to colleges to "delineate the current status of responsible 'student academic freedom' and to interpret the findings in legal, historical, and philisophical [sic] context," and concerning his talk at NASPA on maintaining student freedoms at a small college.
4 foldersCorrespondence on Haverford's decision to not participate in government student loan program that requires a disclaimer of subversive activities, including letters of support for Haverford's position from alumni and others, and correspondence on Senator John Kennedy's attempt at legislating to remove the requirement.
1 foldersMemoranda and correspondence on plans for anniversary lectures, symposia, and convocation.
1 foldersMemoranda and correspondence on Philips bequest, reports on progress, recommendations for changes or clarifications in policies and procedures, with some mention of the library share of the bequest.
1 foldersStatements relating to faculty, students, administrators, and staff on benefits, use of college facilities, student recruitment, and other policies, with extracts of earlier Board of Managers minutes on faculty appointments.
1 foldersCorrespondence on assembling a primitive art collection under leadership of Paul Desjardins.
1 foldersCorrespondence and memoranda on dispute with Swarthmore over disposition of Arch Street Meeting (Orthodox) records.
2 foldersBorton's addresses: to alumni groups; inaugural speech; freshmen welcome; on future of Haverford; state of the College.
2 foldersNotes for semi-annual addresses to students that provided a review of campus activities and academic appointments, and a topic of Borton's interest.
1 foldersManuscripts and typescripts.
4 foldersNotes and transcripts of speeches made at other schools, religious organizations, civic groups, professional meetings, and others on education and Asian culture and history, with some correspondence.
1 foldersCorrespondence making arrangements and letters of thanks for addresses made to schools, religious organizations, civic groups, and professional meetings.
1 foldersMemoranda on Glee Club conflicts, tri-college dance, finances; charter revisions, 1959, 1960, with some earlier information on Committee's charter and as a Board Committee.
1 foldersBorton's statement on Board action abolishing compulsory attendance.
1 foldersStatements and correspondence on provisional lifting of restrictions for women visitors in dormitories.
1 foldersMemorandum of discussion points for WCAU program.
1 foldersCorrespondence, reports, and other documents on cooperation between Haverford, Bryn Mawr, and Swarthmore, and some with University of Pennsylvania.
5 foldersRecord discussions on: appointments, individually and joint; faculty salaries and benefits; academic programs, individually and joint; and other shared concerns. With index, 1940-July 1960.
1 foldersMemoranda and notes on grant proposal to the Ford Foundation for a program in Asian and African studies that would .add faculty to expand and diversify the curriculum, encourage faculty with "Western interests" to study non-Western culture, and enhance library holdings for program. (see Asian Studies)
These are files Kept by Borton's office relating to his activities with organizations with whcih he was affiliated. They fall into three categories: Asian, Society of Friends, and Education.
1 foldersCorrespondence primarily on suit to regain its tax-exempt status which had been revoked based on a McCarran Committee charge that IPR was a communist front.
4 foldersCorrespondence and memoranda during Borton's tenure as Association president.
1 foldersMemoranda and correspondence of committee appointed to develop a proposal for submission to Ford Foundation.
12 foldersMinutes, correspondence, reports of board to review program and operations of the Center and advise the Department of State.
1 foldersCorrespondence on program for the exchange of educational and intellectual leaders between Japan and the U. S., a portion of which concerns financial reimbursements.
1 foldersMiscellaneous documents on: Association for Japan-U. S. Amity and Trade Centennial; Japanese Economic Mission; ; "Princeton University Conference on the New Japan."
11 foldersMaterial on three meetings of United States and Japanese participants includes: correspondence on arrangements for and follow-up to conferences; "Conference Books" with agenda, procedures, participant biographies, reports, and other documents; Borton's notes.
see AFSC—China Approach Committee
Physical Description1 foldersMemoranda and correspondence of committee to advise the AFSC on international situations. The committee drafted a statement to Senate Foreign Relations Committee urging less emphasis on military solutions, debated a Quaker mission to Cuba, and considered examining relations with China.
See American Friends Service Committee—Advisory Committee on International Issues.
Physical Description1 foldersMinutes, reports and background information of committee to study U. S. relations with China.
3 foldersDrafts, correspondence, notes for "A New China Policy: Some Quaker Proposals".
2 foldersCorrespondence and memoranda on establishing the College (also known as Friends World Institute) and the concerns of Borton and others about its program.
2 foldersMinutes, correspondence, and other documents on the Japan International Christian University Foundation. Borton, representing the Society of Friends, was rarely able to attend meetings and his participation and the organization is not evident in this file.
1 foldersSmall file of correspondence of Gilbert White and Borton on Pendle Hill matters, including arrangements for Haverford graduate students, with a brief history of Pendle Hill forerunner Woolman School.
1 foldersSmall file of correspondence on proposal for a conference on the United Nations for Friends colleges.
2 foldersMinutes of the committee to 1962; thereafter correspondence on fundraising as chair of the Appeals/Finance Committee.
4 foldersCorrespondence and reports of committee, appointed by The Edward W. Hazen Foundation to build on its "The University and World Affairs" report. The Committee's report called for "a clear and unequivocal institutional commitment to…the international studies dimension of liberal education" (p. 67).
1 foldersSummary of conference to discuss what steps can be made to "meet problems in international education…and to establish a basis of communication between EWA and the universities for future programs," with some correspondence and background material.
These are files kept by Borton's office of activities previous to his Haverford College presidency.
3 foldersCorrespondence as Director of East Asian Studies Institute, including letter to President Truman in support of firing MacArthur.
1 foldersCorrespondence on arrangements, includes McGeorge Bundy and Norman Cousins. Alphabetically arranged.
1 folders, 1953-1956: Correspondence with a few review notes, for United States Quarterly Review and others.
1 foldersCorrespondence on editorial matters with Arnold J. Toynbee and others as a contributor to the Royal Institute of International Affairs "Survey of International Affairs, 1939-1946: The Far East, 1942-1946," (Oxford University Press, 1955).
2 foldersLetters of congratulation from classmates, alumni, faculty, colleagues, other colleges and universities, some with Borton responses. Alphabetically arranged.