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John R. Coleman 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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John R. Coleman initially resisted the efforts to bring him to Haverford, but he eventually reconsidered and became the College's ninth president. In announcing his appointment he was introduced as "a man of ideas, of energy, of integrity." He was a naturalized U. S. citizen, having grown up in Canada. After getting his PhD. in economics from the University of Chicago he entered teaching, and he became Dean at Carnegie Institute of Technology. He started at Haverford in September 1967, leaving the Ford Foundation where he had worked for the previous two years. He was the first president who was not a Quaker although he later became Quaker.
Haverford had not been immune to the unrest on college campuses during the late 1960's. Coleman's early years involved managing a variety of protests, not only by students but by his own administration against government intrusion. Vietnam and minority student concerns were faced. As those issues faded, his administration tackled the need for an expanded student body and the related issue of coeducation and Haverford's relations with Bryn Mawr College.
Coleman took a sabbatical from February to May 1973, during which he experimented in a variety of manual labor jobs. The experience drew much publicity and Coleman wrote about it for New York magazine and his book Blue-Collar Journal: A College President's Sabbatical.
After the College's Board of Managers declined to provide for full coeducation Coleman announced his resignation and left in May 1977. He became president of the Edna McConnell Clark Foundation, after which he became an innkeeper in Vermont.
On his resignation, it was said that Coleman's "popularity among students and alumni is probably unparalleled," that he steered the college through the "troubled times" of the late 60's and early 70's, made the college better known, and "challenged old mores."
Sources: Horizons, Summer 1967, 22; Horizons, v. 74, #4, 2-3; Horizons, [Fall 1977]; Wikipedia.
The files of John R. Coleman, 1969-1976, are a random selection from what was undoubtedly a much larger record. The main series is alphabetical. There is a small series of material that was added at some later time with speeches, statements, and other miscellaneous material. Additions also has a small file of letters from distinguished people, including U. S. Supreme Court Chief Justice Earl Warren, U. S. Supreme Court Justice William O. Douglas, United Farm Workers of America President Cesar Chavez, journalist Studs Terkel, and author Lillian Hellman. The files of some other administrators on expansion, coeducation, and cooperation were, for unknown reasons, placed with President Coleman's papers. This is the Supplement Series.
Two subjects that are well documented are the protests against the Vietnam War which swept college campuses during the 1969/1970 academic year and the controversy over the admission of women.
Coleman inherited from his predecessor Hugh Borton the question over whether or not to expand the student population. Coleman came to feel that expansion would provide some solution to the financial difficulties he faced. However, he was not sure that there would be an ample enough pool of qualified men to support an increase, and so he began to investigate the possibility of opening admissions to women. The lengthy deliberations, through Coleman's entire career at Haverford (he would resign because of it), including the struggles to enhance cooperation with Bryn Mawr College, are represented in his own files and well as those of other administrators involved, primarily the Vice President for Development Steve Cary.
College concern over the Vietnam War took place over a far briefer period of time, but from Fall 1969 through Spring 1970 Haverford participated in, and in some cases led, protest. In the first semester a two-day moratorium was held, and Coleman wrote a statement against the war and gathered signatures from college and university presidents for presentation to President Nixon. In May 1970 almost the entire campus vacated for a discussion with legislators in Washington D. C.
There is a large file of correspondence, memoranda, and briefs on Haverford's (et al.) successful class action suit against of Pennsylvania Higher Education Assistance Agency over requirements for reporting on activities of students receiving state scholarships and loans.
Governance was a frequent concern, with two efforts to reform it: the first to examine new ways for decision-making; the second to better incorporate diversity. The struggle for diversity is also documented in the Black Students League file. Some debate over changes in the Freshman and Sophomore Inquiry and other curricula are also present.
In 1974 Haverford was evaluated by the Commission on Higher Education of the Middle States Association. The background papers prepared for the study, the Commission's report, focusing on strengths and weaknesses, Haverford-Bryn Mawr relations, resources and financial management, and governance, and Coleman's reply are included in these records.
The transfer of the Coleman records to the College Archives does not appear to be the result of any systematic effort. Some of the transferred records were placed in the vault, some in the 5th tier, some were transferred with the Thomas Tritton files. The "supplemental" records from the offices of Stephen G. Cary, Sam Gubins, and Edwin Bronner were, for unknown reasons, included with Coleman's files (perhaps they were sent to the President's office once the issue had been decided).
Several folders marked "Prior" ("Corporation of Haverford College—Annual Meeting—Prior) include files from the Borton administration , presumably used by Coleman for reference. They have been transferred to the Borton papers. Some Borton files were retained when they directly related to Coleman's actions.
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Collection Inventory
1 foldersCorrespondence with colleagues and others including: American Council on Education summary of data on entering freshmen, 1970; the Amherst Visiting Committee report on Coeducation, 1974, on visits to Haverford and other campuses the visit to learn the experience of men's colleges and coeducation.
1 foldersCorrespondence and brochures from organization helping institutions of higher learning improve administration practices.
1 foldersReports on Senior Administration and other staff changes and recommendations for new positions.
1 foldersMemoranda and correspondence on student loan and grant policies, with statistics and budget projections, letters from state and federal aid agencies
1 foldersCorrespondence opposing funding for grant program for which, nevertheless, Haverford applied and received.
1 foldersSenior administrators annual reports prepared for the consolidated reports, 1969/1970, 1970/1971.
1 foldersCorrespondence protesting dues raise and response to questionnaire on financial status of the college.
4 foldersMemoranda and correspondence on the future of intercollegiate sports at Haverford, including the Review Committee report, October 1971, with some background, and recommendations. There is also material on staffing, reports on the athletic program, and the end of football at the College.
3 foldersIn 1972 Haverford eliminated intercollegiate football. This file contains minutes, memoranda and letters on whether or not to reinstate intercollegiate football. The early minutes of the Athletic Advisory Council report on concern enforcement of the Physical Education requirement. In March 1974 it began to focus its discussions on bringing football back to Haverford. In November it made a report (not in file) in favor of the football program. Letters from students, the majority agreeing with the report, and some faculty and alumni are in the file. Coleman decided to not accept the Council recommendation.
1 foldersCorrespondence with alumni, parents, and colleagues.
1 foldersCorrespondence and memoranda on decision whether to renovate or replace, and fund raising for renovation.
1 foldersCorrespondence and memoranda on discussion with Bartol Research Institute for physics and astronomy, to relocate on the Haverford or Bryn Mawr campuses. The intention was to develop a mechanism by which a scientific research institute and an undergraduate liberal arts college can interact in such a way as to enhance the work of each.
4 foldersMemoranda and other documents on several issues relating to black students: establishing blacks only dorm and issues of separatism, 1970; report investigating "why such a disproportionate number of blacks had been dropped from the college in Spring Semester, 1970-1…." September, 1971; Black Students League and Puerto Rican Students at Haverford demands and boycott, February 1972, and Coleman response.
1 foldersFile preparatory to Coleman's presentation to the Board, January 1968, arguingfor expansion to 700 students, including faculty opinions and documents from Borton administration on issue.
1 foldersInvitations to seminars, memoranda on miscellaneous joint programs, with some material on cooperation/coeducation; includes charter of Bryn Mawr-Haverford Conservative Society, 1973.
1 foldersMemoranda on efforts to cooperative in administrative and academic programs.
1 foldersSmall file of memoranda from the Business Office
1 foldersAnnual budget projections and reports.
1 foldersCorrespondence with alumni, parents, and colleagues.
1 foldersArticle on Haverford's Educational Involvement Program; Cypress Mission with Center acting as third party intermediary between Greeks and Turks in providing for the resettlement of displaced persons, funded by Lilly Endowment.
11 foldersMemoranda for and against expansion program and Coleman responses; extracts from the Board of Managers' minutes on cooperation, coeducation, and expansion, 1970-1973. With background material including: "The Single Sex College—In Transition?" by Mount Holyoke College President David B. Truman, 1970; Franklin and Marshal College Task Force report on Coeducation, 1968; Trinity College report on coeducation, [1968]. See also Supplemental Series
1 foldersMinutes of weekly meetings of committee charged to decide whether to admit women and whether the size of student body should be expanded while holding the size of faculty, with memoranda from faculty commenting on committee's actions and exchanges with Bryn Mawr President Harris Wofford. Minutes were published in College News.
1 foldersHonor Code statements, survey on sexual attitudes, primarily on cohabitation, and other memoranda and statements.
1 foldersNegotiations with Bryn Mawr over compensation at termination of joint center; financial report on Haverford-only center, past, present, future.
1 foldersNotices and minutes of Corporation fall meetings, with procedures for the Secretary.
1 foldersReference copies.
1 foldersCorrespondence and memoranda on nominations to the Corporation Board and the Corporation, including handbook for the Nominating Committee Convener.
1 foldersMemoranda on plans for the C. Christopher Morris Cricket Library.
1 foldersCorrespondence (3 items)
6 foldersSyllabi, literature, and memoranda relating to Economics courses taught by Coleman.
1 foldersRecords of discussions on non-academic requirements (Physical Education and Arts and Service) and (seemingly) calendar issues, with memorandum by Greg Kinnerstein on the importance of athletics to building character.
4 foldersMemoranda on proposals for new and revised courses, alternate routes to graduation (term away, MA/BA, High School-College Life Science program), and changes to grading system. Includes: background plan for educational growth to provide greater flexibility in education of students, more strength to non-Western offerings, aid in training more leaders from disadvantaged groups, 1964; Ad Hoc Committee on Long Range Educational Policy report on freshman year, 1968.
1 foldersSmall file of correspondence
1 foldersMinutes of monthly and special meetings, with reports from President Coleman and committees (including Academic Council and Educational Policy Committee) on academic policies, building plans, faculty benefits, budget, community involvement, and other subjects.
1 foldersSmall file of memoranda to faculty.
3 foldersBackground information and memoranda for two meetings of the ad hoc committee to study compensation and benefits, including the formation of the Staff Association (kept by Jean Cammarota, asst. to the President).
1 foldersMemoranda on Coleman's questioning the tenure system and other topics.
1 foldersCorrespondence and memoranda on possible F. B. I. efforts to establish contact sources at Haverford.
1 foldersMemoranda on the Freshman Inquiry program "to obtain the information necessary…to advise the examinee on his future course of study at the college," and Coleman's file on his inquiries.
1 foldersMemoranda, minutes, and reports of the Commission on Governance (faculty, administrator, students, liaisons to Board and Staff Assoc.) "To study the present governance administrative structures, and procedures for decision making" "to consider specifically and promptly issues and decisions which bear on diversity."
1 foldersColeman's proposal to create summer working parties to prepare Action Papers for rebuilding of a just society and faculty reaction s.
1 foldersProposal to Higher Education Coalition of Southeastern Pennsylvania to work on "black-white issues of our time." (Coleman declined to participate because "the prospects for a meaningful attack on education's urban and racial problems" were doubtful.
2 itemsMemorandum on sheltering former student violating draft laws and correspondence with a crank writer.
1 foldersLetters concerning Coleman's complaint about legal services.
1 foldersMemoranda on meetings to consider American Academy on Arts and Science's report of the Assembly on University Goals and Governance concerning reforms for higher education and Coleman's possible participation in the Assembly. File also called "Assembly."
3 itemsCommission on Higher Education of the Middle States Association review of Haverford includes: background papers prepared for the study; the Commission's report, focusing on strengths and weaknesses, Haverford-Bryn Mawr relations, resources and financial management, and governance; and Coleman's reply.
1 foldersCorrespondence and memoranda on use of memorial fund for Christopher Morley and on raising funds for the Christopher Morley alcove in the new library.
1 foldersCorrespondence and memoranda on Haverford's declining to participate in government loan program requiring disclaimer affadavits with Board of Managers decision to participate after requirement was dropped. (File also marked "II-A-5-a/General (NDSL)" presumably Hugh Borton's filing system).
1 foldersCorrespondence and memoranda on acquisition, sale, loans, appraisal of art works.
8 foldersCorrespondence and memoranda on Haverford's (et al.) successful class action suit against PHEAA over requirements for reporting on activities of students receiving state scholarships and loans; includes briefs.
1 foldersMemoranda from the Associate Dean on several issues, including grade point conversions and grade release policy.
1 foldersMemoranda on policy regarding military recruiters on campus.
1 foldersLetters of recommendation for Rhodes Scholar candidates.
1 foldersMemoranda on two Sharpless matters and letter on George Stevens Memorial.
1 foldersMemoranda on theft of files from President's office and other security matters.
1 foldersMemoranda of the Students' Council Task Force on the Senior Year to consider changes in the senior year curriculum.
1 foldersReports and memoranda of the Committee on the Sophomore Inquiry establishing a program of self-evaluation on basic understanding of three major areas of human knowledge—humanities, natural sciences, and social sciences—and advice on future program of study.
1 foldersDrafts of statement and reactions from faculty and Board members.
1 foldersClass Night, n.d.; Student Files, 1967-1968: Two small files combined with undated (1967?) skit on the president's office and memoranda on student file confidentiality.
3 foldersMinutes of committee to "examine the entire process of governance at Haverford to provide alternative suggestions on how decisions are made at the college." Minutes reflect lively discussions and suggestions for changes in governance for students, faculty, administration and board. Draft final report, November 1970, provides general considerations and recommendations for Board of Managers changes. Report and recommendations, December 1971, describes a College Council and College Forum system. With background literature.
1 foldersCorrespondence and memoranda on faculty appointments, shared programs, and concerns.
1 foldersMemoranda on plans for two days of protest on the Vietnam War.
2 foldersUniversity and college presidents' responses to request for signature to statement (drafted by Coleman) urging withdrawal from Vietnam.
3 foldersCorrespondence and memoranda on appointments and arrangements for committee to "take a hard and independent look at selected aspects of the college's life and to suggest ways in which we may achieve our highest goals more effectively." including information packet with background papers on The College, The Board of Managers, The Administration, Faculty, Academic Council, Admissions, Academic Advising, Magill Library, Development, and Alumni.. There is no report of the first meeting's conclusions, but there are observations of a "conservative" member. The second annual visit in1969 was charged with examining "internal and external communications" and includes a letter from Charles E. Silberman on black students at Haverford and in higher education generally; For the third visit in1970 there is a draft of a charge to examine faculty salary, development and evaluation.
3 foldersMemoranda, letters, clippings on Haverford College trip to Washington D. C. for discussions with legislators in protest of the Vietnam War, with many letters supporting the trip.
1 foldersAnnouncements of Haverford fellowship awards and comparative percentages to graduating seniors.
1 foldersSpecial letters set aside from: Edward Weeks (Atlantic Monthly editor, father of Edward Weeks, Jr. '57), Joseph A. Califano, Jr., Special Assistant to President Johnson; Richard S. Schweiker, U. S. Senator from Pennsylvania; George P. Schulz, Secretary of Labor; Earl Warren, U. S. Supreme Court Chief Justice; Clifford P. Case, U. S. Senator from New Jersey. Also included is a small file of letters replying to Coleman's invitations to series of informal "Conversations" with guests: William O. Douglas, U. S. Supreme Court Justice; Cesar Chavez, United Farm Workers of America President; Studs Terkel, Journalist; Lillian Hellman, author .
1 foldersOn the Honor Code; sexual attitudes, including results of survey primarily on cohabitation, 1970; resignation.
1 foldersCollege speeches including his inauguration and valedictions and two speeches outside the College.
1 foldersOn employer (war related) recruitment on campus; the Honor System; expansion and coeducation.
1 foldersOn drug use, Vietnam, student and professional sabbaticals, "Haverford Five Years from Now."
1 foldersInformational letters on campus unrest, women at Haverford, minority students, cooperation with Bryn Mawr, and expansion
1 folders1967: Program, Coleman's address, "A Time for Involvement, a Time for Withdrawal," and symposium transcript, "A Time for Involvement and a Time for Detachment."
1 foldersA file was compiled by archivist from campus-wide memoranda, most of which has been interfiled in the alphabetical series; the remainder are in this Miscellaneous folder, with other stray pieces found in the various accumulations of Coleman material. Includes Coleman presidential review, 1973; memoranda on mistreatment of ducks; ; "Diary of a Homeless Man" by Coleman in New York, February 21, 1983..
Most of the actions listed below are documented in this file:
1969: Commission on Women Students at Haverford (approved by Board of Managers Executive Committee, 12/69), to investigate all relevant aspects of 5 models, offer recommendations for discussion by the faculty, student body and administration—with close contact with BM. Report, 8/70 ("I realize how much time we spent trying to understand the mysteries of Bryn-Mawr-Haverford relationships. For me, the mystery remains. I don't understand how two institutions that have so much in common and that have so much to gain from cooperation have so much difficulty in simply getting along together." Ambler)—recommends coeducation (BM exchange doesn't answer the need), full coeducation best but maybe not financially feasible, no immediate pressure; effective cooperation with BM may do for the time being. 11/3 Coleman recommends against full coeducation, for cooperation with creating a more woman-friendly environment, including recruiting women as faculty and senior staff, reappraise in 2 years.
1970: Cohabitation
1971: Use and Distribution of Instructional Resources during period of expansion to student body from 457 to 700 students (55 to 72 faculty), 1962/63-70/71.
12/71 Committee on Coeducation and Expansion recommends in 4th draft of recommendation that women transfers be admitted; 5th and final draft rejects that, urges cooperative coeducation with Bryn Mawr (increase enrollment to 725). Accepted by Board.
1972-73: discussion continues—facts and figures arguing for expansion; BM upset. 11/73 administration recommends to Board of Managers 1000 from 735 student body, student faculty ratio 12:1 from 10:1, admission of women, continued coop w/ Bryn Mawr, 11/1/73
1/1974: Board decides goal of expansion to 1000 adding no more than 50/yr, 1 faculty for every 25 additional students, advance coeducation through greater cooperation w/ joint committee to implement.
………………… May 1976: Board reaffirms 1000 goal and review coeducation within the context of cooperation
9/76: Off the record meeting with top Board officers and administrators from Haverford & Bryn Mawr, followed by two off the record administrators' meetings
10/2/76: Bryn Mawr Board makes 11 point proposal to promote closer cooperation, including a ban on admitting women for 4 years
10/19/76: Hav administration agrees to much of BM proposal but not 4 year moratorium. And doesn't feel proposals solve Haverford Admission problem.
[Oct. 19, 1976] : Report on the Committee on Admissions Policy: study of all alternatives to admissions policy, especially with regard to women. Recommend admission of women.
11/76: Faculty by consensus go on record in favor of admitting women with Bryn Mawr cooperation at a high level.
12/10/76: Board approves admission of women through transfers, not freshman admission.
1/77: Coleman resigns
3/7/77 Carey to Schmitz on background of 76 decision—Haverford's frustration w/ Bryn Mawr
5/77 Haverford/Bryn Maw faculty agreement Proposal for Two-College Cooperation (see Cooperation Haverford-Bryn Maw 4/6/77)
2/78: Students support coed at Plenary; 5/78 faculty restate support for coed. Carey to Wood 12/5/78 on reasons for coed
5/11/79 Board authorizes admission of freshman women
Physical Description16 foldersMemoranda, reports, correspondence, and other documents relating to the question of whether or not to expand the student body, the related issue of whether or not to admit women, and the efforts to expand cooperative programs with Bryn Mawr College; with some material on cohabitation, 1970..
4 foldersBudget projections, some duplicate material. Gubins was responsible for compiling figures projecting financial implications of expansion.
4 foldersCooperation Committee minutes, beginning with discussions on cross majoring, and concluding with "A Proposal for Two College Cooperation" from joint Bryn Mawr/Haverford committee, with proposed academic plan for Noncounterpart, New Federated, and Counterpart programs; also Bryn Mawr "Report of the Ad Hoc Committee on Financial Planning."
3 foldersCommittee chair's file of miscellaneous documents on bringing coeducation to Haverford.