Frank Loxley Griffin presidential records

 Collection
Identifier: CA-Griffin-RSCA-ORPR-US

Scope and Contents

This collection contains the papers of Frank Loxley Griffin during his presidency at Reed from 1954 to 1956. The collection contains documents relating to administrative interim procedures, budget, committees, reports, research projects, and correspondence.

Dates

  • 1954 - 1956

Creator

Conditions Governing Access

The collection is closed.

Biographical / Historical

Frank Loxley Griffin was born in Topeka, KS in 1881. He attended the University of Chicago, receiving his B.A., M.S., and Ph.D. Magna Cum Laude. He was awarded special honors for his work in mathematics and astronomy. He married Mary Chambers of Portland, with whom he had four children.

He was the first faculty member selected to teach at Reed College, chosen by the first president, William Trufant Foster. Dr. Griffin had previously taught at Williams College. He taught at Reed College for 41 years from 1911 to 1952, returning from retirement in 1954 to become the 8th President. After his second retirement he was visiting professor at a number of American colleges and universities.

In 1921, Griffin’s first book, “Introduction to Mathematical Analysis”, was acclaimed by “Scientific American”. This textbook was widely used in the United States and became the first American textbook adopted by a European university. He wrote six additional books and many articles on mathematics and education.

In 1938 Dr. Griffin was honored by the General Education Board of the Rockefeller Foundation, which sent four outstanding young mathematicians to work under him and learn his teaching principles.

He died in Portland, Oregon on November 9, 1969.

Extent

8.5 Linear Feet (17 manuscript boxes. )

Language

English

Overview

This collection contains the personal papers of Frank Loxley Griffin, Reed College acting president from 1954 to 1956.

Arrangement

Arranged alphabetically by subject.

Physical Location

Archives Main Shelving (L014), Range C Section 6.

Immediate Source of Acquisition

Unknown. Transferred pre-1989.

Author
Isabel Lyndon and Mark Kuestner
Description rules
Describing Archives: A Content Standard
Language of description
Undetermined
Script of description
Code for undetermined script
Language of description note
English

Repository Details

Part of the Reed College Special Collections and Archives Repository

Contact:
3203 Southeast Woodstock Boulevard
Portland Oregon 97202-8199 United States