1928 [pdf for printing]: Board Minutes of the Alabama Polytechnic Institute
Minutes of the Board of Trustees meetings held in 1928Minutes of the Meeting of the Board of Trustees, March 16, 1928 219 On call of the Chairman, Governor Eibb Graves, the Board of Trustees of the Alabama polytechnic Inst1tQte met in the office of the Governor, Mon t g omery, Alabama, at 11:15 o�...
| Main Author: | |
|---|---|
| Format: | Electronic |
| Published: |
Auburn University Libraries
|
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | http://content.lib.auburn.edu/u?/bot,7401 |
| format |
Electronic |
|---|---|
| collection |
Auburn University Board of Trustees Minutes Collection |
| building |
Auburn University Digital Library |
| publisher |
Auburn University Libraries |
| topic |
AU Board of Trustees Minutes |
| spellingShingle |
AU Board of Trustees Minutes 1928 [pdf for printing]: Board Minutes of the Alabama Polytechnic Institute Auburn University Board of Trustees |
| fulltopic |
AU Board of Trustees Minutes Auburn University (formerly Alabama Polytechnic Institute); Board of Trustees Education -- Higher Education; History -- 1875-1929: The New South Era |
| description |
Minutes of the Board of Trustees meetings held in 1928Minutes of the Meeting of the Board of Trustees,
March 16, 1928
219
On call of the Chairman, Governor Eibb Graves, the Board of Trustees
of the Alabama polytechnic Inst1tQte met in the office of the Governor,
Mon t g omery, Alabama, at 11:15 o'cl ock, Friday mo rning, March 16, 19 28.
Governor Graves presiding. All ~embers were p resent.
After discussion, the report of the special committee appointed to
investigate and r ecommend a President to succeed Dr. Do well whose resignation
has b e en accepted, effective June 30, 1928, was made. Dr. R. E.
Tidwell, Chairman, made a general statement as .to the procedure of the
committee in its investigation and requested Dr. V. H. Hanson, ViceChairman,
to read the committee's re port, whi ch is shown on pages ~:<.f .-:.
Mr. Hood moved the a doption of the co mm ittee's report which ~ oti o n
was duly sec onded and , after discussion by several members, was unanimously
a dopted, each me mber voting "Aye" on roll call.
The following resolution, as offered by Mr. Ashcraft and amended
was unani ~ ously ado p ted:
" WHEREAS , The r e po rt of the sub-committee, appointed to investigate and
recommend to this Board a new President for the Alabama Polytechnic
Institute, and wh ich c ommittee r e commended the selection of Dr. Bradfor d
Knapp , now president of the Oklahoma Ag ricultural and Mechanical Colle ge,
at Stillwater, Oklahoma, has b e en adopted by t h is Board, now, t he refore,
BE IT RESOLVED: (1) That Dr. Bradford Knapp be and he reby is elected o.C
President of t he Alabama Polytechnic Institute at a salary of $12,000 I v
per annum, effective July 1st, 1928.
(2) That the r e si de nce of the President of the c ollege
be repaired and remodeled to such extent as seems neceasary and desirable
and that sufficient money be a ppropriated to cover the cost of suc h
repairs and for r e placement of such furniture and furnishings as need
to be r eplaced, and necessary additions to same.
(3) That the Board aut horize the payment of the cost of
Dr. Knapp's moving to .uburn and, also the expenses incurred by him in
trips to AubUrn which he may make prior to July 1, 1928"
On motion of Mr. Mc Dowell the salary of President Dowell was fixed
at ~ lO,OOO for the current session beginning July 1, 1927.
Mr. Haley suggested that the Board of Trustees should commend the
sub-committee for their painstaking investigation and efficient service
in conneetion with the selecting of the new President and in accordance
with a motion adopted by the Board, the following committee was appointed
by Governor Graves to draft suitable res olutions: Committee: Haley,
Samford, Merrill.
Dr. C. S. Yarbrough, Mayor of Auburn, ,appeared before the Board and
requested the cooperation of the college authorities in connection with
the paving to be laid on South Colle ge street, Thach Avenue and .1e st
220
Ma gnolia street, by the s tate H i g hw a~e p art me nt and the City of Au bUrn.
After f ull d i scus s ion, the bOard aut liorized the exp e nd iture of the sum
necessary to lay curbs and gutt ers on t h ese streets and to widen the
paving on T h~ch Avenue if desirable, the President of the Colle ge, with ~~
the adv ice of t he landscape architect, being em~owered t o act after
confere~ce with City authorities and t he Stateighway En g i n eer.
Members of the Board expressed t heir pteference f or t he plan which
will retain the middle row of tr ees east of the Administration Building
of t he c olle ge, if th i s plan co n forms to the architects scheme for landSCape
work on t h e Main Campus.
The re p ort of the committee on Ag ricu l tur a l Extens ion Work was read
by Mr. Herzf eld, as follo ws:
" To The B'o ar d of Trustees of t he Alabama Polyt ec hnic I ns titu t e,
Gen t lemen:
In order to release the third floo,r of Comer Hall, wh ich is now being
used as o f fices for the Extension Service, for such n e eded class room
and laboratory s p ace for stu dents, and in order to p rovide the necessary
office space for the Extension Service staff for more efficient work,
we, t h e co mmittee on the Extension Service reco mmend:
That a suitable, a dequate and appropriate off ice
building to cost ap p ro x imately $ 1 00,000 be erected
on the campus of the Alabama Polytechnic Institut e,
for the Extension Service Staff, under authority of
Section 2 of Act No. 30, ap p roved September 30, 1919
and September 30, 1 9 20.
S i gne d H. He r z f e 1 d,
Paul S. Haley
Committee on Extension Work"
On motion of Mr. Ro gers the Board gave its ap p roval for the construction
of the proposed building and refe r re d the matter to t he
Executive Committee with p ower to act, after c onfe r ri ng with the
President-elect.
On motion of Mr. As hcraft, the Se cretary of t he Bo ard was dir e cted
to write Dr. Knapp that it is t he desire o f t he Truste e s t hat he visit
Auburn as soon a s it is convenient for h im to do so.
yI( --~ Governor Graves spoke of the p ossib i lity of WAPI Broadcasting
r Station cooperating with the State ~ epartment of Ae riculture in g iving
~ prompt distribution of the dail y market report~ to all s e ctions of the tf st ate of Alabama. On motion of Mr. Ro gers, the matte r was referred to
~ ~he Executive Committee with p ower to act.
At t h e su ggestion of the Board, Dr. Do ,~ll t hen read t h e follO wing
r e commendations, action being tak en as indiCated:
tl11360
221
1. That the P resident of the Alabama Polwtechnic In s titu ~ e be authorize d
to negotiate loans for t he erection of chapter houses on Fraternity
Row on the basis proposed b y Ward, Sterne & Company~ and that he be
empowered to execute a mortgage on each lot, including the house
erected thereon~ for the security of the loan for the erecti on of
the said chapter house. On motion duly seconded and passed this
recommendation was approved, Mr. Herzfeld voting "No".
2. That the President of the Alabama Polytechnic Institute be authorize d
to sell the Canebrake ;~xp eriment Station, such p ower to include
authority to execute the necessary written instruments. Approved.
3. That the cooperative arrangement between the State De p artment of
Education and the Alabama Polytechnic Institute for the conduct of
demonstration farms at th~ State Secondary Agricultural Schools as
already approved by the State Board of Education, be adopted.
~. That the plans of the Exp eriment Station to facilitate and promote
the progress of cro ppers and tenant far mers be a pp roved. Referred
to Executive Committee with p ower to act.
5. That the P r e si dent of the Alabama Polytechnic Institut e be autho rized
to d iscontinue a certain tuition fee i n the Departm ent of
Architec ture. APproved.
6. That the n resident of the Alabama Polytechnic Institute be authorized
to have a suitable instrument of record p re p are d f or p resentation
to Honorable "~ rskine Ramsay. Approved.
7. That res p onsi b ility for the p reparation and submission of the bu dge t
and p ro gram for the next fiscal year be fixed. President Dowell
authorized to p repare the budget.
8. That responsibility for submitting a plan for your consideration
for the use of the pros pective building fund be p laced. Referred
to Executive Committee for c onsideration.
9. That consi de ration be g iven to the provision of certain benefits
to the institutional staff in the interest of permanence of service
and morale. Referred to the Exe c ut ive Committee for investig ation
and re port.
The BOard authorized Dir e ctor L. N. Duncan a leave of absence for
three weeks on full pay as he has be en invited to assist in the
survey o f Land grant Colleges being con ducted by the U. S. Bureau
of Education.
On motion, Dr. Dowell was authorized to take a reasonable vacation
from time to time during the remainder of the session and was voted
a month's vacation on full ~ay during the month of July, 1928.
10. That consi deration be g iven to the history and status of the Te acherTraining
Equalization Fund.
With regard to the las t r e c ommendation, Mr. Samford read the following
resolution which, after discussion, wag duly seco nded and passed:
222
"'WHEREAS: ~ action recently taken by the State BOard of Educat ion and
endorsed by a six to four vote of the state Council o f Education allots
to the Al abama Polytechnic Institute only $ 20,000 a ye a r of the teacher
training fund against $ 65,000 alloted to the University of Alabama; an~
""---,,l
WHEREAS, Auburn is definitely restricted in the uses to which it may put
its share of this fund, being forbid den to Use it for the training of
school principals or superintendents, or for any g raduate work except
i n Agriculturaland Home Economics lines, while no restrictio~ of any
kind are put upon the University;
THEREFORE BE IT R ~ S O LVED:
1. That we, the Trustees of the Alabama Polytechnic Institut e,
deeply regret any action which threatens to destroy or d isturb the
friendly relations that after long and earnest efforts had been
established between thses two great institutions of our state. A reco g nition
of absolute e~uality between them was the basis of this amicable
relation. It was the very foundation of the unified educational program
passed by the recent session of the Le g islature. without a clear
recognition of this equality no satisfactory legislation for the higher
inst i tutions would have been possible. .
2. That this recent action of the Boa r d of EdUcation tends to
build up the University at t he epxnese of Auburn. It is cQntrary to
the basic con ception of the unified ~du cational program previously
agreed upon. It stirs passion and hard feeling between the two great
institutions where a kindly feeling o f symp athy and cooperation had
re cently been brought about.
3 . That we protest with the utmost vi gor against any move ment
to build up anyone institution so that it will dominate t he whole
edUCational system of our state. There is no basis for such policy i n
the fundamental law establishing these colle ges. There is no reason
for it in the actual conditions in the state tOday.
4. That such would b e the natural tendency, whet her intended or
not, of the recent actio.n of the Board o f EdUcation. It g ives Auburn
~ 20,000 a year f or t e acher training a gainst $ 65,000 for the Univ e rsity
It limits Auburn i n the use of this mon ey to t h e t rain i ng of teac hers
for class room positions, while the UniV e rsity may train them also to
be principals and superintendents. The obvious result of such a ploicy
would be to put very soon the control of the e dUC ational system o f the
state in the hands of the University, to the g r eat detriment and disa
dvantage of the Alabama Polyt echnic Institute and o t p.er h i gher instit
u tions of learn ing in the s tate.
Such a policy would overlook the l ong a n d valuable service
re n de red by Auburn in teacher t raining in the p as t . Th is s e rv i ce both
in t he undergr a dua te and in the g radUa te field has been notable and
fully equal to t h at rendered by any ot her institut ion in the at a te,
The number of st Ud ents now matricu lated fo~ teac he r traini n g a t Auburn
is f ully as great as at any other of the h ighe r inst i t u t ions in t he
state. The st andard ~f work is a s h i gh .
223
For more that 40 years graduat e courses of h i gh grade have b een
g iven at Aubu rn for those p re paring to teach. l',fany who h ave take n t hese
courses now o c cupy the h ighest positions as teachers and as administrators
in the educational institut ions in our own and in other states .
5. That, realizing these facts and co nsciou s of our responsibility
to the state of Alaba~a as trustees of a constituti onally created
i ns tit u tion ~ we 0 hereby c8c l are our purpose to maintain the l ong and
honorable record of Auburn in the teacher training field b oth on the
und'er-graduate level and on the g racluate level on a basis of abso lute
e~uality with the Universi t y. Thi s Board of Trustees therefore, does
no~-concur in the recommendation of the state Council of Educat ion in
regard to the so-calle d allocation of work at Auburn .
6 . That with the increased funds made available by the recent
action of the le gislature we believe it possible and desirable to
expand the graduate work in ge neral and the teacher training in par ticular
so as to make t h em in a ll respects e~ual to the work done by any
stat e institution in t h e SoutiI. We Can thus assure to Auburn facilities
ade~uate to meet its responsibility to the people of our great stat e to
bear its equal share of the burden of training~in all fields without
restrictions,teac hers and administrators for our educ ation a l system.
On motion of Mr. Hanson , the follo wing s~ecial committee was
a p pointed to investigate the matter and to make a report with reco~mendation
at the ne xt ~eeting of the b oard which will be held on May 21,
192 8 . Committee: Hood, ~ cDo we ll, Samford , Hende rson and Ashcraft.
B. L. Shi, Secremary,
BOa rd of Tr u stees.
LETTER OF SECRE TARY TO DR. KNAPP
Dr. Bradford Knapp, President,
Oklahoma Agricultural and ~e c hanical Co llege,
Stillwater, Okla .
My dear President Knapp:
Mar chI 7, 19 28
I am happy offiCially to inform you that, at the meeting of
the Board of Truste e s held in the of f ice of the Go vernor on March 16,
you. were unanimo usly elected Presid.ent of t he Alabama Polytechnic
Institute .
The resolution adopted by the Board of Trustees r e ads as follows:
" WHEREAS, The report of the sub-committee, appointed to investigate and
recommend to this Board a new President for the Alabama Polytechn ic Insti~ .1
tute, and which commi ttee recommended the s e lection of Dr. Bradford Knapp,
now President of the Oklahoma Agricultural and Mechanical College, at
Stillwate r, Okla., h a s been adopted by this Board, now, therefore,
RE IT RESOLVED: {l} That Dr. Bradford Knapp be and hereby is elected
President o f the Alabama Polytec hnic Institute as a salary of 1~ 12,OOO per
annum, ef f ective July 1st, 1928.
224
(2) That the reside.nce of the P r e sident of the College be
repaire'd and remodeled to such e x tent as s e ems necessary and desirable r~,
and that sufficient money be a ppropriated to cove r the cost of such I
repairs and for replacement of such fUrniture and furnishings as rieed
to be r ep laced, and necessary additions to same.
( :3 t That the Board aU tho r i ze the payment of t he cos t of
Dr. Knapp 's moving to Auburn and also the expenses incurred by him in
tri p s to Auburn which he may make prior to July 1, I9 28 .
The members of the full board were plaased to learn that you
expected to visit Auburn several times prior to July 1 and directed
that I express to you t h ~ desire of the board you c~ m e to Alabama at the
earliest date c onvenient to you. since the re are c ertain matters of
institutional policy on wh ich your a dv ice is desired.
I am mailing .you a cop y of President Dowell's report to the
Board of Trus te e sand al SO a co py of the B irm ingham Ne ws which carr'ie s
in f ull the re port of the subcommittee to the bo a rd. I s hall also
send you a copy of the complete record of the meeting just as soon as
the minutes are transcribed.
I am sure that you will recei ve in Alabama a cordial welcome
and the hearty coopera.tion of the members of the college st.aff, the
Alumni and the people o ~ the State. r-\
I s h all be delighted to supply any additional information
or ren der any service which you may request.
CordiallY y ours,
B. L. Sh i, Secretary,
Board of Trustees.
r--',
I
Minutes of the Board of Trustees
May ~ l, 1928
225
The Board of Trustees met in annual ses s ion at 2:30 p.~., the following
members being present: Governor Graves, Dr. Tidwell, Me ssrs. Her
feld, Henderson, Rogers, Ashcraft, MCDo well, Samford and Haley.
President Dowell, because of an eng a gement at attend the Commencement
Exercises at Howard College and receive the honorary degree, Doctor of Laws
was not pr e sent but his report was filed with the Trustees. Presidentelect
Bradford Knapp met with the Board.
Governor Graves c'alled for re ports of committees and Mr. Samford
sub~itted the re p ort of the special committee appointed the last me e ting
to study and report on the allocation by the state Boar d of Education of
the Teacher- Train i ng Equaliza tion fund. See following pages .
After co n siderable discussion of the re port, Mr. Ro gers offered an
amendment that action be deferred on the follo wing paragrap h:
"We recommend that the incoming president be authorized to emplo y
counsel and to insti t ute and prosecute such legal proceedings as may be
deemed necessary and a dvisable to protect the rights of the Alabama
p olytechnic Institute in relation to this subject."
~ The Board a d op ted by a vote of 6 to 3 a motion of 1I1fr. Samford to
-lay on the table Mr. Rogers' amendment to the r ep ort of the committee.
Superintendent Tidwell made the following statement conc e rning the
report and requested that it be p laced in the record:
n It is with some reluctance that I ash.. that lJ~#j attitude on this
matter be made a matter of r ecord, but I am so p rofoundly convinced of
the serious effect which the actionof this bOard will have on the future
of educational policies, not only o f t h is institution, but on all edUCational
matters, p articularly relating to hi gher education, that I want
my protest set out in the ho p e that re~lection u p on and olearer realization
of the si gni f ic ance o f this resolution will open the way for a more
cordial rece p tion of a coordinated p rogram of development along all lines
of higher edUCation.
" If I heard the resolution correctly, by i mplication at least, it
proposes that this institution stand fully and completely on its constitutional
and legal pr e rogatives without any restriction upon its futUre
development in so far as previou s studies, surveys, and agreements are
concerned. If the institution acts upon the spirit of this resolution
and accepts it as the controlling force in the administration of its
affairs for the future, expensive dup lication, and to me, competitive
~ and unwise f orces will become elements in the administration of hi gher
education in Alabama.
"One of two possible outcomes will p revail. The example proposed
for this institution will be followed by other institutions of hi gher
learning, and in the near future we shall find the State with three
coordinate universities instead of three institutions with differentiated
226
',",
"
p rograms carry ing on as economically as p ossible t he ex pen~ive tas k of
provid i n g h igher educat ion for the youth of Alabama. The second possible
ou tcome i s t h e one most likely to follow, And t h at i s a p e riod of
strife follo wed by the loss of p ublic condifence, and the consequent
withdrawal of adequate support with its inevitable conseqnence, waekened
service incident to lack of equipme nt and trained personnel. Our three
institutions will drop back to where they have been for many years,
struggling against impossible odds.
"I believe in t he future o f this inst~tution and its vital p art in
the social, economic and educational development of the state. To serve
its h ighest good it must exp and a n d lar ge a ~) propriations will be necess
a ry to me e t the new ty~ es of service and the g rowing i n t e rest in fields
to which the institution has already contributed much t o this St ate and
to t he nation, b ut in all of t h is g ro wth an d development, t here should
be order, s y stem and coor d ination and differentiation in the responsib
ility of this institution as related to the other institutions o f the
St ate. With t h is idea of its place in the affairs of Alabama, t he re can
be no quarrel. No other institution will hold a hi gher and more i ~p ortant
p l a ce, and I am glad to here and now p lace myself on recor d in
support of a p ro gram of development along the lines su ggested.
" However, let me urg e t he tho ughtful consi deration on t h e part of
eve ry member of t h is b oa rd of the p ossible dangers a head which must
follow the p as s age of this re so lution, committing i t to a p oaicy which
invites one ot the other of the r e sults already briefly de s crib e d .
Signed R. E. Tidwell,
State Sup e r intendent of Edu cation. "
Mr.Samford for the s pecial c 0mmittee on Teac her-Training acce p ted the
following paragraph suggested by President-elect Enapp as a substitute
for the paragr a ph under d iscussion.
"We reco mmend that every ri ght, leg al and moral, o f the Alabama
Polytechnic Institute be protected in e very feasible and le g al way, that
its stan ding as an insti t ution be maintained and to that end such steps
be taken as t h is b oard may de em a dvisab le and p roper under the circums
t ances. 1f
With th is p aragraph acce p ted by the s p ecial comm itt ee, the r e port
as unanimo u sly a d o pted as submitted.
, Governor Graves called attention to the f act that the Examiner of
p ublic Acc ounts had not c omp leted t he audit a n d the refo r e, is not in
position to furnish a complete and final st a te me nt. He .~~ted that the
Examiner ahd r eported no matter on which any criticism could be attached
and that everything so far is in shipshape condition.
:~ 1,"/ GOvernor Graves states t h at he e xpected that the buil ding fund will..--...
" e available during the next ses s ion and sugg e s ted t hat the Board begin
J no~ to make its plans for the inauguration of a building pro gram, saying
.~J ' that he believed that one h al f of the building fund a pp ropriated for i , the next year could be p a id by a b out J anuary 1, 1929 , n d the remainder
la te r in the year.
227
It was suggested by Governor Graves that Presidents of the three
institutions of higher learning be authorized to cooperate, if they se e
r fit, with the State Capitol Building Commission in the employment of
professional landscape engineers, to go over the properties and suggest
a pro g ram for future development.
Dr. Knapp called attention to the plans of Mr. Kessler already adopted
_ and stated that he was not sufficiently familiar with the plans to make
definite suggestions, but stated that in the building p ro gram we should
have a vision of what the inst i tution will be some day and build for the
fu tUre •
Mr. Mc Dowell moved that in view of the Governor's state'l1ent Dr. Knapp
be instructed and reque sted to take such steps and make such plans as
he thought proper and to r eport back at the next meeting of the BOard
for such action as may be desirable.
Mr. Rogers expressed the hope that the plan adopted shall include all
educational institutions of the state •
. Governor Graves sugge sted that the motion Carry the authority to
take up the matter wit h the other institutions and make a comp re hensive
plan for all.
Mr. Mc Dowell accepted this amendment and the motion WaS passed.
Dr. Knapp e xp r e s s ed his a pp reciation of this important step on the
part of the Board in giving the institution the greatest opp ort unity it
has had. He counseled against going into the matter too hastily as many
questions should enter such as unif~rmity of architecture, haTmony in
design, etc. At the same time we should preserve as much as possible of
the old. He stated that he would proceed with the p lans an d report back
to the Board.
Dr. Knapp then pre sented the budget which has be en arranged SO as to
le ave a con t ingent fund of !:~ 29, 000 un budge te d to take care 0 f unexp ec ted
needs in the fall. He called attention to the following:
1. Consolidating all pub licity under one head with Mr. P. O. Davis
as Director. This department will cooperate with students in publishing
studt publications, having ful l p ower to criticize ever y t hi ng that g oes
out. .
2. Research work is to be stimulated.
3 . The at hletic stiua tion was discu s sed and Dr. Knapp suggested
the advis ~b ility of t he P resident as suming the directorship of athl~tics.
Mr. Samford moved that the Pr e sident be the supreme head and di rector-il
in - chief of all athletic activities o f t h is institution. The motion
was adopted.
Presids.nt Knapp was authorized to inv e stigate the possibility of
introducing Textile }~ ngineering and to proceed, if, in h is judgment, it
is possible to inaugurate the work at once.
228
The budget waS then f ormally ap p roved .by the Board as presented.
Dr . Knap.p r e commended that the present staff be re-elected for ~
another year subject to suspension in case of failure to cooperate as /
provided in the previous action of the Board it being understood that
the President s hall pre sent for r e cord at the next meeting of the Bo 'ard
the name of each employee. Adop ted.
Mr. Samford moved that a committ,ee compo sed of the following b e
appointed to draft suitable resolutions for the ap preci a tion of Dr. Dowell ~
services to the I n stitut ion: Herzfeld, Haley, As hcraft.
Mr. Ashcraft amended t he motion to have Mr. Samford named in his
place and made chairman of the committee . Carried .
The Board a pp rowed the final draft of p lans for the Extension Building
and authorized the p r e sident t ,o advertise for bids and to proceed
with the erection of t he bui lding .
Mr. Roger s brought up the question of i n suring the l ife of the
Pre sident fo r the benefit of the institution and asked Mr. Owe n, Insurance
re pr esentative,to explain the different policies.
Mr. Rogers r e ad letters from Dr. Victor Hanson , Dr. Oat es, Judges
Hugh D. Merrill and Oliver Hood, members of t he Board who co u ld not be
p r e s e nt , approving the p l an. Af t e r d i sc uss ion, action on the mat t e r
was deferred.
In connection with. the d isc us sion of the dev e lo pment of Fraternity
Row, Dr. Knapp stat ed that he f elt that fees 'already were too high, but
t hat no chang& c ould be made th is year. If fees Can be r e duce d 1 ate r
that it may be poss ible to have a special fee of from ~ 2.00 to $ 4.00 pai d
by t he student for t he p u rpose of rasing money to finance the erection
of a stad ium.
The quest i on of the Board's p ower to mort gage colle ge property was
referred to President Knapp with power to act.
On motion of Lr . Samford, the Board concurre d with P r esident Dowell
and the ~ x ec u tiv e Council in confe r ring the professional de gr ee ,
Engineer of Mines, on Mr . Ers k ine Ramsay .
The Board adopted a motion offered by Mr . Ashcraft direct i ng the
Registrar to fu r nish full and comp lete informat ion at the next meeting
of the Board concerning Juniors and Sen ior s whos e course o f s tudy was
interrupted durin g the world war.
Governo r Gre,ves men t ione d the se rv ic e whic h WAP I can rende r to
farme rs and other citi zen s of the state by the issuing of da il y m,arket
I
/
reports in cooperation with the stat e De partment of ~ g ri cu lture. )
Mr . L. N. Du~can was c alled and he stated that the matte r of disposing
of the station at Auburn and erecting in Bi r mingham a stronger station
of 5000 watt s in cooperation with the city was under di scuss ion and
seemed desirab l e for a number of reas on s which he cited. The project
229
will cost abou.t /$ 1 00,000 . The city of Birmingham will pay one-hal0 \ )
of the cost of i ns tallation and operation. Mr. Samford u.r ged the'" \.),;'
wis dom of making su.re that the c hange will not result in loss of \ ~
Aubu rn f e atu.res and control by the college.
president Knapp stated t hat he favored t he proposed change and
felt t h at after f urther investigation into the financial features
that it c an be satis f actor~ly inaugurated. The BOard referred the
matter to P r e sident Y.napp with full p ower to act, after conferen ces wit h
with the Executive Committee of the Board .
Dr . Knapp stated that it was necessary f or him to l eave Auburn
on the morning ot May 22 and that ot her engagements, including a
s h ort v a cation during whiah he wou ld visit Ohio State and other
educational institutions,' would cons um e his time until Ju.ne 25 when
he expe cted to return to AUburn .
On motion of l;Ir . Samford, the board exp ressed its ap p reci ation
of Dr . Knapp 's assi stance and service since h is election and prior
to his coming off icially to the p r e sidency.
There being no fu rt he r bUsiness , the Board voted to recess until
calle d into session by Governor Grave s sometime during t he month of
July .
B. L. Sh i,
Secretary BOard of Trustees.
230
August 3 , 1928
The Board of Trustees met t the ~uabama pol yt e chnic
I nst i tut e in the off i ce of the Presi dent <.it 1 : 30 ~J . m. ,
Governor Graves pr esiding:
231
ENT : Governor Graves , H. • ,er r ill, Harr y :=1er zfel d,
Charl es Henderson, J . A. ogers , C. H. Ashcraft ,
Victor H. Hanson, ,I . • Oates , T. D. Samford, F ••
Hal ~y nd Pres i dent Kna p .
Pr esident Knapp present ed a copy of his r eport to e ch
member of t he Board.
1 . On mot i on of r,1):'. Samford, seconded by I,::r. Hanson, the
Board adopt ed the budget as pre sented by the Pr esi dent .
2 . Dr . Knapp st ated that the Examiner of .ilccounts had reported
the financi al affa irs of the inst i tut i on in spl endi d
shape . He r eported al so that :.ir. C. C. Brooks had been empl oyed
as Chi ef Ac countant and t hat r.x. s. ,{. Garr ett had been engaged
to t ake over t he purchasi ng and gradually t o assume some of t he
responsibil ity ordi nar i ly conducted i n the office of Bus i ness
Ilana era
3 • .1)r. TT ap called att enti on to the deficit in the ~thl etic
Department and sta t ed t~at t he President , J!'acul ty At hl etic
Commi t t ee , and Coac Bohler pl an t o cl(''-ar thin defi cit .rU hin the
next three ears •
• r resi ent KIlap explained that a bill for ;112 , 948 . 52
had been pre sent ed t o the co_l ece to cover t he cost of curbs ,
gutt er s , etc . , on streets abuttin on col leGe property. The
Board approved payment o~ this obligation and aut horized the
president to reduce the amount al l otted to the var i ous departments
for mai ntenance by an amount not exceeding ten to t~e lve
per cent , for the purpose of a ccumul ating suf f icient funds to
make up this and other ossi bl e defic i enci es .
5. Dr . app r eport ed t hat in a ccordance wi t h the action
of t he Board of ·.I.'rustees the cont ract :;:·0 .... the erect i on of the
Extensi on BUilding had been awarded to t he .southern vonstruct i on
Company, ~ irmi nGhaIll, ~abaIlla, at an oric i nal bi d of V88 , 295 . 00.
6 . Dr . Knapp reported t hat Governor Graves , Vuperint endent
Tidwel l , I~ essrs . H~r zfel d and samfor d, t he Pr esident, and a re -
resentative of Olmsted Brothers , Landscape ':ll'chi t ect s of Brookl i ne ,
r':assachuset ts , had m de a prel imi n ry ex'm'; "!'ntion of the c:m:pus
and property of the I nstitution ; and that subselUGntl t he Pre sident
, through the offi ce of Governor Graves , r eceived a proposal
of Olmsted Brot h'3rs to compl et e the devel opment , 1 n , make t he
necessary rawincs , and cive t vro y e a ~s of s '~rvice in developinc
the compl et e ""Jl an for t he expansion of tile Institution over
period of :rears for a f ee of ~;3 , 000 . 00 and trav line; and other ex-
penses not eTcee ing ~;3 , OOO . OO ad. itional. Dr . napp :r8:,ort~ that he Jromptly
accepted this pro)osition believin it to be excellent and much needed
step and his a ction in the matter received the apl.Jroval of the Board .
Presiaent Kna~p announce i n this connection that Profes sor I~lse
had been employed to make a cotlplete survey of all private and colleee
property on the L;ai n amlms und (:rounds of the institution, shov,in lOCation
of buil dings actually constructed , this inform2tion ~ e inc de sired b
the 1 ndscape arch · t eets .
7. The location of the Fr aternity House crou 1 s discussed and, on
t he motion of L:r . r:anson, the President was aut hori::;ed to ask Olmsted
Brothers to have representative vi si t the i sti tution a t t he eV'lies t
possible a t e and make a recornr:l.end&tion <.., to the l ocati on of the new f'r",ter ni
ty homes to be erecte , all "lork on these build i ngs .to be post oned until
the matter of' l ocation i s 19reed u on. The opinion w~s expressed that it
may be d- sirable to c r:an~-,e the location of this crOU) to the East side of
Co lece Street . Governor Graves off'"red to send a party of national Guard
Officers to make a i r l ane p;hotos of all col leGe campus .and roperty.
8 . The matt er of V rehase of prope ty \ihich '-10. be, found ne cessary
i1 c :.rryinc out the devel-opl-:lGnt prog!..~am of the Institution \laS discussed .
The foll oVl ing mot i on was passed:
~.~ I' 1. ,/1) (t 1".-4 /' The President of the .J. bm:n.a .I. olytechnic In:ti tu"te is her ab authorc~
7'" '~d t o ac uire for the Alabana Polyteclmic Insti tu t e t itle to the follo line.
~\ pro 'erty '.7hich ma be needed in the develo- ment of the 'compus buildi g pro-
)v cram of the Insti tutiom 1 n the ast side of Col lege street from :.:acno-
I lia to the end of the pavi ng on said Col l e.::;e Street , (2 ) :)rop(> t, on the l.:ain
Campus kno"m as the '='hach, Lane , ?etrie, and Gl enn lots , (3 ) and t he Farrar
property on the -;-lpst s ide of the recen"';; collebe [rounds . Further , the I'resident
of the ~uabama ? 01yt8cbnic Instit te and the Gave lor, as Chairnan of
, '
the Boar of Trustees, .~,-",._ dl~ thoriz e to neco-'-iate for loans ,I.lich ~'8y be
n"' cessary to :mrchase these ) r o erties, it be i n.::: nderstood t If t the said
lots and parcels of l and ;-l ill bp ;urchased if a reasona I e price can be acrAed
upon '7i th the o-mors but , if this is liot posei e , +h" president i s aut horized
by the Boar to instituto con emn, tion roceedin' s and to do any ~nd all
thincs necessary ~o occom!, ish the T, rpose of t i s !not ion.
9 . TY~rc ';r s a cener al Jiscus"'ion o~ th~ )1. obable builrlincs ':'hich
ma:l be 0reete from the u ildi nl l'1d CJ.:,::, rop:;,~ia t e ~T tlbe last ecisl a ure
and the llrosi~nnt -:TaS ~'lthoriz" to eTill)loy arc" i t2cts 3D to.l~e s l -ter s
to ~e cur e I'll n3 en ,=:->eci ica~ions for the ollowin.:; ne':; buil clin':s
u) 'J:- "istry Building
(b ) .n:.J.Ji '-o~ ium d rdminif'tr tion Buildinc s , ()
. di t or i uIn- .rl.jmilli tlutio B ildin
c 'extile DllOi neerin _ .t}u,ildi r,
hore W'J,S some discussion as to the prob:.ble use of the )re.,,,,nt lJ.dr:
linistr< tion bui inG ut no offical actio was taken at this 1.")<'>ti"lu'
10 . Dr . 1 a ' call d t e att"''' +ion of the ;Sob.rd to the f3.ct thL,t
a co" tract has been TIL ' ,,{th the Ci tJ of BL iT'~~har:t a ·1 the . .lr· a.,'l...l 01 -
:tl11 j()Q
tee i . Institut whereby ~ t t ·o .ial:'I ;i:l be locut in
BLmin · ' illil, it beint:, u der tood t <it t '_e colL,~t;.,:ill o. n
plant and s i r.J.Ill share ,dth the Citr of · iriin,-ham in its 0 -
ere.... tion, _ ur u8.nt to the authorit crantvd by t _le BoEtI'd at it
,~ay eetinb, nd the Board 'U thoriZed the p lent
sion Fun the cost of tl e tr..:t sf01' of tl e t dtion ''''1 ich
5 , 50 0 . 00 ~ it beinc understoo th t '30, 000 . 00 ·.!ould be
this session.
The I'd also a 0 ted t e follo .line; rlOt i on offered b
Jr . Hanson aut orizine; the ne ot ~.tion of 10 s necessar t o
care for the l ast twO] ents to be 1.1 de 0 or a ~) er iod of three
years :
II I nE;::, b t e Bo d of T;custees of "' ~baL 01 --
technic Institut t hat the ~res id ent of ~ bama - olytechnic I nstit
te and t~e Gover or, as Chai r an 0 the Bo I'd of Trustees be ,
and the are hereb , authorized nd ell o',/ered .for an i n the name
of the d o. arna olytechnic Institute to bar-I'm, :'rom the Fir
:rational Bank of 13il."I1in 'han, _,lab ~ t such stUn or sums of money
a i n their ju anent and discre t i on Day ',.)E, needed for the urposes
of said Institute , not to e):ceed the SUD of '75, 000 . 00 , t
233
rate of i nterest not to eJ-ceed si )er cent er nnum, on the
understanding and acreement tl at one- hL.lf of the stUll borrovied shal l
be re aid Ili thin ne' ear from t e ate of the loan, und that the
remaini ng one- half of the amount so borro';led s h..s.ll be r epaid Ylithin
t-:10 years from the date of s id loan, and that for tLe l)UrpO e
of evidencin . any such 10 n or loans the Pre ident of the _ua ~
ol yt echnic Institute ald the Go crnor , as Chui mun of the Bo 'd
of Trustee-s , aro, and they · ' re hereby, uuthori ied and empo\'l'3red
to make , execute and d ~ li v e r in the ndme of the ·.~abama ol' technie
Institute it s' promissor note or notes and such other con- l
tracts and .a c:reement s as in the 'u'QUent of the ..iL.id: esi<len
and the Governor r. a be reasonabl y necessEtr or proper . It
11 . presi ent Kna p stated that one of the serious needs
of the in t i tution is th<...t of paved si erTc.l s on streets abu t tin
on college prop 2rty and, on :~ot i on , the matter was left to the
di cretion of the resident ';lit po;sr to act .
1 • On ot i on of r . t es the Board re~ue ted the ?re i -
dent to secure the c oo' era t i on of the state anitar EnGi neer in
determining an.d instal l i n[: an adecuate SEmi tar· s e:; .. ~ e d ' s osa1
1 t or plants in coo )era t i on ;li th the City of _iuburn, and o.ut lorize
the president t Jay such orti on of t e cost of such ade-u
te se~age di sposal pl ant as he considers fair an e~u it abl e .
1 3 . mh need for hospital service at the institution ras
discussed but no formal action VI s taken.
14 . On otion of ~ . Larnford the followinG I~otion was
passed naming the pr esident as ,lili tar property Custodi an :
L ED that the Pr esident of the Alabama polytechnic 1)Ar1l:/
I nsti tute be authori zed to act as the r.1ili tar 1'0 ert Cust odian y
of, the Al bama Polyteclmic I nst i tute and to Si 01 a l l p,.pers and~ i:JJ.A \'
234
to t2'ansact 11 busi ness of the colleee ,:,i th the ,far De rtment rebr r u.ing
the propert bel on ,in to the f ederal government and furnished to
the Ju.ab ol ytechnic Institute for mili tar trainin . • It
15. On dotion of Hr . s runford the erection of a .::;&rase at the
Presi dent ' s Home ~as authorized .
1 6 . 'r e matter of insurin the life of r e i cnt iena p for the
benefit of the ill ab' a Pol ytechnic I nstitute was then discussed and a
notion of :,:r. J. oc ers to insure for ";1 50 , 000 . 00 failed because of the l ack
of a maj ority vote . A subse uent r.lot i on made by t:r. oeer to insure
the life of the President for CI OO , OOO .OO for t e benefit of the l abama
Pol ytechnic Institute \'las assed br a vote of 6 to Durin' this dis-cussi
on Presi ent ' ap a s,ked to be excused from t he meeting. :::'ermi ssi on
was gr ant ed le ssrs . samford and Hal ey to insert in the record statements
givi ng their reasons for voting in the neGative on theE'e t HO motions .
17 . Dr. Kna p call ed att ention to the fact that he had in the
spri ng accepted an invi t ation to pr esi e at a round table conference at
the I nstitute of Public "'ff airs whi ch is to be held at the Univer i ty of
Virgi nia beginning ust 10 and aske the 0 inion of the Boar as t o
whether or not he should attend in vie","; of the v -;r iril.portant mat t ers noy;
pendi ng. mot ion was ado t ed stating that it \las the sense of the ~oard
that President Knap should fi l l hi s encagement at the University of Vi r gi
nia , gust 10- 20 .
There bei ng no further busi ness the meeti nr; was adjourned.
B. L • .:Jhi ,
Secretar
1.~J.' n G OF liE
c t ober ~ , 1928
10 = 15 .A. II.
:;:)HJi:S.l.~HT = Gover n or Gr ves, .rr . Sumi'ord, and ,lr . Herzfel d
Pr esi dent .. nal)p r s or t ed on the pur chase of .Pl'Ol)Or t y as
authorized b the Board a t its meeting i n 11o.U/SUSt . Ther e WD.
gener a l di s cussion of thi s ent ire raat t er . I t ',laS sue e s t e
as bei ng a dvi sa l e f or t he coll e e to a CQuire t itl e to
t he foll o l i ng ~ Drake r operty on CollelSe 0tr eet ; :Petrie ,
Lane , Tha ch , and Smith pr oper t be t ':loen 1.:a i n WTllJUS and t he
Cam us of the Agri c I tur al ColleGe .
The ornmit t ee aut horized and dire cted the Pr e sident to s ecure
and pa fo!' an i ndemnit bond t o r ot ect the f unds of the
col l e ge on deposi t i n the col l ege depository , First a t i on 1
Bank, 0 elika , Al bam ; t he amoun t of s aid bond to be fi xed by
the Pres i dent and ma vary from t ime to t ime s seems roper
to t he president of the institution.
The matter of p l p l ng gas from Lou i siana to p o i nts i n Ala bam
i n cl u di ng .:mburn \'Jas discus[l ed but no of fici 1 act i on t aken.
The corami ttee aut hori zed Pr e i dent ~- a p to emplo man t o
a i d in the inau gur &t i on o f t he Te tile Engi n e er i ng De artment ,
and t o hea t he s@ne and vot ed the payment of such sal ar as is
adec",ua t e to Get a sat i s factory nan .
The publicity gi ven to the i nve <: tication of utility compani.es
YIC,S i s cussed and r e s ide':1t KnaI' expl a i ned just how t his inst i t
u tion had coopsrat ed vii t h the Alabama Power Company o.nd i nformed
t he commi t t ee of stops he had t aken to prevent an criti c i sm
bei ng brought u on the insti tution e cause of connection s \'lhi ch
members of t he s t aff may have \"li t h non-colleGe or canizations .
Dr . ~I..napp e)""':pli.. .. i ned h i s p ol icy t o\"'k .rds hazi nc, _la i r - cutt i n ",
li y'u or dri nkLll, e tc ." and tol d of hi s e fforts to brine about
c ':l.ange i n the student attitu de i n reLurd to these mat t er s .
The uestion of t he fee s char -ed student s VHiS di s cussed but
no f i nal a c tion taken .
The president Has aut horized by t he zxecutive Jo ' ttee t o
accept "1 250 from the U. • " check f or ';:Thi ch had been sent t o
the i nst i tut ion b.Xs . L. Ill< Bas h i nsky i n confolJ.lJ.i t .... i th an
c t of the l egi sl ture 0 "" 1 915 'Ihi ch s tipul a t ed t hat each i ns
titution r e c e i vi nb such a de osit from t he United Daughter s
of the Conf eder acy ~oul annu 11 pa over to a beneficiar , sel
e cted by the U •• C. , t he sum of :,.;100 .
B. L. 3h1
3ecr", t ary
235
236
A
TO THE HONORABIE BOARD OF TRUSTEES OF THE ALABAMA. R>LYTECHNIC INSTITUTE:
Your committee~ appointed to investigate and recommend to your Board for President
of the Alabama Polytechnic Institute an eduoator ot national reputation and outstanding
ability~ begs leave to report upon its activities as tollows:
Soores ot letters have been written and many lines ot inYestigation undertaken in
the ettort to tind and reoommend to your bo~ the right man to assume the presidenoy ot
the .iDstitution and to direct its etforts toward maximum service to the people ot Alabama.
Your oommittee telt it a duty to investigate each man suggeste~ and to tind:
(1) Was he interested in having his name c01l8idered?
(2) Was he titted by training and experience tor the responsibilities
involved?
(3) Did he have those qualities ot leadership necessary to reunite antagonistic
torces and weld the alumni and triends ot the institution
into a loyal, vigorous, aggressive support ot it. aotivities?
(4) Did he have vision, ooupled with understanding~ tact and torce ot
character and personality? . .
~ "
Thus we considered caretully availability, ability~~and qualities ot leaderBhip~.ai elslaa.
In addition to writing direc.tly to all those whose names had been suggested, we addressed r a number ot outstanding educational leaders, such as Chancellor J. H. Kirkland, ot Vanderbilt
University, President H. A. Jlorgan~ of the University of tennessee, President E. C.
Elliott, ot Purdue u.niversit,y~ President K. G. Matheson, ot Drexel teohnologioal Institute~
and a number ot others, seeking suggestions ot man who oombined the desired qualities. We
also addressed some ot the outstanding alumni ot the institution living in other state.
and asked their help in solving the difficult problem assigned to us.
-Replies to the letters so broadcast brought -us in touch with many men of outstand!o
ing ability and charaoter. OUr preltminar,y survey~ however~ convinced us that our ohoioe
ot the man to be reoommended to your body lay among a small group ot men~ in consideration
ot all phases of our problem at Auburn. The tile ot correspondence was laid betore
a small group of alumni~ to whom your oommittee had cOrN'enient aoceS8 and in whose judgment
your oommittee had confidenoe. Their conclusions coincided with those ot your oommittee.
All things considered~ your committee telt that its first ohoioe tor more careful
investigation lay in a man ot national reputation, ot proven abilit,y in the line ot work
tor whioh his services were being souSht~ and a demonstrated leader of men. Your committee
sent a representatiVe ot Auburn to interview this man, and on hiB recommendation
summoned the educator in question to meet your committee tor a personal conterence. The
co~erence was thoroughly satistactory in every way. .A number ot available representative
alumni ot Auburn were invited to meet and oonverse at length with this man. It
was BOught to have the alumni so invited include outstanding men~ notable tor their de.
Totion to the welfare of the institution, alJd representative ot all shad~8 ot teeling
among the alumni"
The educator was questioned a8 to w11¥ he was willing to leave his present post ot
duty and undertake the presidency ot Alabama Fblyteohnic. The reasons assigned were
eminently satistactory to your committee.
As a result ot this personal oonference, your committee is prepare~ to recommend
(2)
and does unanimously reoommend to your body the selection of Dr. Bradford Knapp, President
of the ~kl.homa Agricultural and Meohanioal College, looated at Stillwater, Oklahoma, as
President of the Alabama Polyteohnio Institute.
Dr. Knapp OOJlBS reoommended to your oonnnittee by some of the leading eduoators in
Amerioa.His name is known allover the nation; his experienoe in dealing with the problems
of land grant oolleges is wide; his qualities of leadership have been thoroughly
demonstrated. He is a man of rare vision, thoroughly familiar with the problems ot institutions
s~ilar to ours, and ready and willing to undertake its leadership in the present
situation.
His name was suggested to us, in response to our request for suggestions, by Chanoellor
Kirkland, of Vanderbilt University, President Morgan, of the University of Tennessee,
Dr. Edwin Mims, Professor of English at Vanderbilt, and by others. VollDltary endorsements
of this distinguished educator, after hil name was being oonsidered, came from
Clarence Ousley, a distinguished alumnus of Aubur.n; President Bizzell, of ' the Univ6rsity
of Oklahoma, and others. Requests for information about him brought forth high praise
ot his training, experience, ability, tact, qualities ot leadership and his fitness t o
serve the people of Alabama through the Alabama Polytechnic Institute. Answers to these
requests came from all olasses and kinds of people, and in every quarter emphasis was
laid upon his ability as a foroeful, aggressive leader of men, ooupled wi th that diplomaoy
and taot required to weld together and unite all available forces for service.
Your committee particularly inquired into whether, under his leaderShip, our institutic.
n would be likely to experience a one-sided develoftnent. We found that while Dr.
Knapp has been distinguished chiefly for his service to agriculture, he was equally interested
in engineering, had done effective work in its behalf at the Oklahoma A. & M.
- College, and regarded the development of tre engineering department at the land grant
colleges as of paramount importanoe.
Dr. Bradford Knapp is the son of Dr. Seaman A. Knapp, who originated the work ot the
County Agricultural Agent, the Home Demonstration Agent and the 4-H Club Work. He was
born at Vintorl, Iowa, and lived on a stock farm unt 11 nine years old. He lived at the
Iowa State College for several years, while his father was professor of agriculture and,
later, president of the institution. He moved to Lake Charles, La., when fourteen years
of age. He e~tered Vanderbilt University in 1888 and graduated in 1892 with the degree
of Bachelor of Soienoe, majoring in chemistry. He is a member of the Kappa Alpha Fraternity
and was head of his fraternity during his senior year. He was a member of Vanderbilt's
first football team, playing taokle", and was manager of the team in his senior
year. He was associate editor of the weekly college paper, and also of the monthly literary
magaz ine.
He farmed on a large scale in Louisiana after graduation, and la.ter took a law oourso,
graduating in 1896 from the University of Michigan. He served as assistant treasurer of
Iowa State College for three years. In 1909 he aocepted a position as assistant to Dr •
. Seaman A. Knapp, wbo was developing farm demonstration work through the United States
Department of Agriculture. On the death of Dr. S. A. Knapp, in 1911, Bradford Knapp was
appointed to sucoeed him. He developed the plans left by his father and extended them.'
He inaugurated co-operation with the Southern agricultural oolleges, under a system which
later was enacted into law in the Smith-Lever act of 1914. He traveled in Europe for the
,·-.Departrllent in 1913, oollecting data on rural life and education. DuriIlg the war he wrote
for the Department the agricultural progrwm for the South.
He resigned frollt the United States De~rtment cf Agriculture in lSro and beoame Dean
of Agriculture and Director of Stations and Extension in the University of Arkansas; here
he inoreased the enrollment ir! the College of Agriculture and 'the standing of the institution.
In September 1923, he beoame President of the Oklahoma Agrioultural and Meohanical
College, at Stillwater, Oka. In the five year period the enrollment of resident students
/
(3)
of the oollege has inoreased 70 percent. The experimental work in agriculture has been
more than doubled, and an engineer'irlg experiment station commenced. Research work has
increased, and with work completed and now under way, more than a million dollars worth
.~ of buildings has been added to the college plant during his presidency.
Dr. Knapp is six f'eet tall, weights 185 pounds, is a member of the Kappa Alpha Fraternity,
a thirty-second degree Jlason, Knight Templer, national honorary member of Alpha
Zeta, honorary agricultural fraternity, honorary me~r Fbi Kappa Phi, honorary scholarship
f'raternity, honorary member "Scabbard and Blade, honorary military fraternity,
honorary member Kappa Delta Pi, honorary educational fraternity.
, Dr. Knapp is a member of the Presbyterian Churc~ a Demcrat in politics, and a
member of' the Rotary Club. Be is the author of' many articles, bulletins and addresses
on agrioultural and eoonomic subjects and on the relation of' agriculture to industry.
He received the honorary degree of' Doctor of Agriculture f'rom the University of Maryland
in 1918.
Clarence Ousley, Auburn alumnus, and prominent in agrioultural work, says of' h~:
tilt has been my priYilege to Mve intimate assooiation with Dr. Knapp since 1914.
Theref'ore, I feel fully qualified to testify ooncerning his intelleotual, professional
and character attributes. As an alumnus of the Alabama POlyteohnic. I ~ deeply interested
in the welfare of the Instit.ution, and for that reason I am venturing to of'f'er what
I know of' Dr. Knapp. As Direct or of Agrioultural Extension of the A. &: M. College of'
Texas, 1914 to 1917, and as Assistant Secretary of' the United States Department of Agriculture
trom 1917 to 1919, I had an opportunity to meet and appraise most of' the men in
leadership or exeoutive posit.ion in 'the Land Grant Colleges. I am sure that not one of
, them outranks Dr. Knapp in native ability', in understanding of technological education,
in exeoutive f'aculty or in personal. poise and talent for administration, and I recall
f'ew Land Grant College executives who are his equal in this respeot."
Dr. W. B. Bizzell, President of the University of Oklahorna., says:
"I have known Dr. Knapp f'or nany years. I have been associated with him here in
Oklahoma. now f'or three ye ars. I can truthfully say that he has accomplished wonders for
the A.& M. College of' this state and for the cause of agriculture during the time he has
been President of the College. He has brought harmony where there was discord; he has
reoonstructed his college curricula in acoord with modern soientifio and agricultural
tendencies, and he has won the conf'idenoe of the people of this state in a remarkable
way.
Dr. Knapp is a JIBll of the hil!,hest character, wonderf'ul personality and remarkable
fine spirit. It has been a joy to me to w.ork with him. A thing that many boards f'orget
in the seleotion of a president is the oonsideration of a man's family. The family lif'e
of Dr. Knapp has been an inspiration to me. Mrs. Knapp is a Wonderfully fine woman and
a remarkable mother. She fits in perf'eotly in a oollege community. To know her is to
love her. The children are what you would expeot f'rom a cultured home, such as that ot
President KnapP.' While I cannot say less in behalf' of my friend, I confess to you that
I would regret beyond words to see him leave this state. My association with him has
been all that could be asked."
A prominent Oklahoma insurance man says:
itIn reply to your inquiry of Feb. 25th" ooncerning Dr. Bradford Knapp, now President
ot our state A&JI College, I beg to advise that I know him personally and can vouch
for his splendid character and keen ability as an eduoator. Dr. Knapp oame to us as a
'hand-picked', outstanding type of'man and his resignation will cause general regret,
?--
(4)
for the citizens of Oklahoma are very much attached to him and fully appreciate his
ability. Dr. Knapp is a born diplomat and brought order out of chaos, after taking
hold of our 'Aggie School' better than four years ago. In my opinion. your oollege
would be fortunate in having Dr. Knapp as President. It
A leading Oklahoma newspaper says editorially:
"Familiar 'Wi th our state and of proved worth as an educational executive, Dr.
Bradford Knapp is an asset to the whole state as president of A. and M. College. Moreover,
he has formulated a program of growth and development for the school that must
inevitably be somewhat disrupted by his departure. The sohool he heads is destined to
be an important faotor in the future grol't'th of the state. Its trained alumni will be
advisers and participants in improved agrioulture. They will aid in education, engineering,
industry and statecraft. A. & K. i8 one of the state's great eduoational institutions.
and its future will be brif,;hter if Dr. Knapp remains. But Oklahoma must oompete with
other states for able men in school work. Failure to recognize that faot has cost us
the service of other outstanding educators. If the Alabama Polytechnic Institute shows
greater appreciation of his worth. we cannot blame him. if he goes. But he i8 needed
here. and the state should do its best to keep him."
The oollege paper "The Daily Of Collegian" , says editorially regarding the report
that Dr. Knapp was being considered for the presidency of Alabama Polyteohnic:
"The pretident's five-odd years at A. and M. have been spent too profitably for the
school to oome to the conclusion that President Knapp will always be at the helm of the
Aggie institution. The record has been too good, that other institution. would not oast
covetous eyes toward Stillwater. The writ,er can remember those turbulent times in 1923.
If ever the future of the college was darkened, it was that year; when most sta.unch
backers of the college wondered what would come out of the institutional wreok in Still ..
water. We recall the appointment by the board of agriculture of Bradford Knapp to bring
the college out of the wilderness of mis-management and political ohaos that had all but
broken any prestige the school could have built up.
As a freshmen the writer saw that appointment. We see the A. and M. of today as a
senior student. The A. and M. of t23" and the A. and M. o~ '28. The compirison is all
that is necessary to indicate the work of the president that has been done here. We
wonder if the A. and-M. of '33 will resemble the present school no more than the present
school resembles the college in '23. The future A. and M. is much in our hearts; the
Stillwater school has hardly started its growth and its work. We hope the Doctor will
'linger yet awhile'."
In addition to those already referred to. Dr. Knapp's 8e~erence8 inoluded such
names as the President of Texas A. & M.~ the President of the University of Maryland;
Dr. John J. Tigert, U. S. Commissioner of Education; Dr. P. P. Claxton, former U. s.
Commissioner of Education; Dr. Clarence FOe, editor of The ProgreSSive Farmer; Dr. Tait
Butler, Progressive Farmer; Dr. David Franklin Houston, President Mutual Life Insurance
Company, New York~ and former Secretary of Agriculture and Secretary of the Treasury in
Wilson's Cabinet. .
A number of Oklaho~~ bankers were requested to furnish the committee confidential
information regarding Dr. Knapp, through a prominent Alabama banker, who had olose relations
with members ot the banking fraternity in Oklahoma.
One of them. in reply to the confidential communication, says:
<"I graduated from that school in 1898 and immediately following my graduation, I
was appointed as one of the five members ot the Board ot Regents, and was soon after
eleoted Treasurer of the college. I served as member ot the board and Treasurer of the
(5)
college for about seven years, and I have known every president that the institution haa
had sinoe its infanoy; and can without hesitation say that Dr. Knapp is the best president
the institution has ever had. He is cape.ble in every way, and a splendid educator".
Another banker says:
"Dr. Bradtord Knapp, who is President of the A. & M. College at Stillwater, is one
of the outstanding educators in this part: ot the country. He is a man of high ideals,
a scholar of high standing, and a very delightful man with it all. I think he would
make you a fine President for Ale-bema Polytechnic. Personally, however, I Tft)uld dislike
exceedingly to see him leave the State."
Still aIlOther banker says:
"The general opinion through this section of the state, and I believe generally over
the state, is that Bradford Knapp, of the State A. & K. College, at Stillwater, Okla.,
is an educator ot superior ability and is a man of high character and qualities. His
administration of the A. & K. School during the five years that he has been its President,
has plaoed it on a high plane. Our own state would suffer materially througp any change
that would remove h~l from his. present location, and we would regret it. We regard h~
oaPlble ot giving a highly satistactory service in the line of his profession, wherever
he may oast his lot."
From all of the inquiries made by your committee, opinions in any degree unfavorable
to Dr. Knapp were elicited in only two cases. Investigation developed personal reasons
in one oase, which was satisfactorily explained to the oommittee, and another, a banker,
trankly stated that he was speaking from hearsay information derived from a political
or semi-political source.
So, from letters from business men, bankers, educators and interested alumni; fram
personal contact during the course 0 f an extended interview; from the favorable impression
made upon a distinguished and representative group of alumni; and from the record of the
!!Iln, your committee feels that it has every reason to believe it has discharged its duty
to your Board and to the institution in recommending a man of national reputation and
outsta.nding ability as an eduoator, as well as a man fitted by training and experienoe
to be a leader.
We unanimously and unqualifiedly recommend to your Board the selection of Dootor
Bradford Knapp as president of the Alabam Polyteohnic Institute.
Respeotfully submitted,
« ,S ~ \~ ~' J --A-. __- w_ ____________ ~ ~ ~~~ ~
TO THE BO 'FUO"" I~~:':-l F THE.ALAB..'iMA OLYTECHNIC IN ITUTE.
We , your Committee appointed at the last meeting of the Board of
Trustees to i nvestigate , interpret and determine the legal status of the
EDUCATIONAL APPROPRI ~T ION BILL passed by the last l e~ i slature , with special
reference to the action of the State Board of Educa tion and t he incidental
actl.on of t he State Council o f Edu cation in relation to and growing out of
the alhlotment of the fund of ~plOO , OOO . OO known as the Teacher Tr a ining Equal-ization
Fund for Hi gh School Teachers in .AJ..ab8JJ18 at the t hree hi5her institu-tions
of l earning , beg l eave to report:
1. Your Corroni ttee met at The Tu t wi l er Hotel i n Binnin ham, on May n h ,
1928 .
2 . 'fe had before us the Act of the Legislature in uestion, a trans-scrip
t of the actionoof -the State Board of , - Edu ca tion , a copy of the Minutes of
!the State Council of Education in relation to and rowi ng out of th i s subject ,
together wi th c on siderable correspondence from the Superintendent of Education,
Dr . Dowell, Dr. Carmichael, and oth'3r documents bearing on t he subject .
3. After a careful study of the subjec t in all of i tis phases by t he
individual members of t he Commi ttee previous to i ts meeting and a full dis-cussion
and cons iderat ion of t he sub ject at the meeting, your Committee is
wlanimously of the opinion t hat the action of the State Board of Education in
the allotment of this fund of ~lOO , OOO. OO known as t he Teacher Trai ning Equal-ization
Fund for .Hi gh School Teachers at the three h i ghe r institutions of lea rn-ing
was not only grossl y inequitable and unfa ir but was illegal .
We are of the opinion that t he said fund was not "apportioned" by the
stay Boi?d of Educa t ion in any true sense of the meani ng of the word apportion
~acCOrding to t he true intent or meaning of t he ct , but that t he same was
,
arbitrarily allo~ed vd t hout any pri nciple of equali zation in rel a tion t o t he
load of teacher t raining for high s chool te achers carried by t he three higher
G:'v/
institutions of l earning, namely, Alabe_tla Pol technic Institute , University
of Alabama , and Alabama College . A carefUl readi ng and consideration of the
entire Act-- House Bill 318 , known as the "Unified Edu ca tional rogram Bill"--
shows that the pri nciple of "equalization" pervades and dominates t hroue;hout
the oill. In our opinion, this p rinciple and this spirit were ignored by t he
State Board of Educc l;ion in its arbitrary allotment of the fund in question.
In Section 21 of said bill the word "apportion" is repeatedly used. This
word "apport ion" means "to assi gn in just proportion" and excludes all t hought
of any arbitrary ac tion. Section 21 of said. ct says : "The sum of <11'100, 000. 00
shall be devoted exclusively to the training of ~ school teachers .·1
The effort at allocation of teacher tra i ning work at tlle University
of Alabama by t he State Board of Education, which effort was subse c.,.uently 1'01-
lowed before the State Council of ~duc a tion , assi gns to the University not only
.r---- work "in training hi gh school teachers" but undertakes to assign to the University
a l arge amount of work in the training of "elementary teachers " . Furthermore,
the action of the State Council of .l!.:duc ation in attemptinG t he alloc ation of
teacher t r aining work at the University undertakes to set up a sup er school in
teacher t r aini ng work embracing the training of super intenden t s of' high schools
and pr inc.ipals of h i gh school s, and , also, to do certain research work. Cle ,rly ,
the State Board of Educa tion had no legal ri ght to allot to the University any
portion of the said sum of !,?100, 000. 00 to support and carry on any teacher train-ing
work that was not "exclusively" for the training of ".!I.i . __ school te,achers . "
The State Board of Edu cation in their effort to justify the unfair and
inequitable allotment of t his aaid $100, 000. 00 fund for the "exclusive t raining
of high school teachers" , undertook to prescribe certain work in teacher training
-' at the three h i gher institutions of leamin , but said Board , probably being
subsequently advised that they had no such authority, abandoned such effort and
suspended its fonner action in regard to t he allotment of said fund until the
allocation of work might be passed upon by the State Council of Education. This
- 2-
I,
"~I
-- /
1s a clear admission on the part of the State Board of Education that its
action was predicated upon an illegal estimation on its part with reference
to the allocat ion of work. It i s , tlwrefore , just as i llegal to predicate
its all otment of the $100, 000. 00 fund on the subsequent effort on t he part
of the State Council of .t:ducat ion for the allocat ion of work, it being ad-mi
tted by every member of the State Council of Education that the State
Council of Education has no authority in the premises other than such as
may be construed to be advisory. In fact , t he law creating the State Council
of Education mru<es it affirmatively and emphatically to appear that the State
Council of Education can do no more than to consider and advise , or recommend
the allocation of work . So far as any authority or law i s concerned the State
Council of Education has no more authority to allocate VlOrk at the three higher
institutions of learn ing than the State Board of Educat ion. Both Boards are
alike impotent to perform any such service. I t clear l y appeal'S, therefore ,
that the a ction of the State Board of Education in the allotment of this
$100, 000. 00 fund for the trainin of hizh school teachers predicated on any
action of the attemp ted allocation of work either by the state Board of Edu-cation
or the State Council of Education is illegal . Furthermore , the clear
meani ng and int ent of the Act of t he Legi slat ure is for the "apportionment"
of t h i s fund based upon the amount of work in teacher training Wh~h was being
aone at the time of the passa e of the '-c t , and said Act; did not contemplate
the rearrangement of the reallocation of teacher training work in the future .
'vVe are advised that t he State Board of Education undertook to justify
its action i n the divi sion of this $100, 000. 00 fwld by basing the uivi sion or
allotment of said trust fund on t he entire load of work that was being done at
each of t hese hi gher institutions of le anling. Even ul)on t his basis the Uni -
versity of Alabruna is carrying a load of between 500 and 600 non- resi dent s tu-
- 3-
~-------------------
dents , and in the light of that fact any such basis would be an unfair basis
for the division of any State fund. Besides this , the St ate Board i gnores
the fact tl~t the Univers ity has a l a r ge i ncome from other sources not en-joyed
by e ither of the other two hi gher institut ions of learning. But any
such basis for the division or a:pporti onment of t his fund is illegal and
altogether aside from the pl ain meaning of the Act. This fund of $1 00,000.00
is "exclusively" for the ,jtraining of hi@l school teachers" , and clearly any
fair division or apportionment of the fWld upon the principle of equalization
must be based upon the work that is bein done in that particular or restrict-ed
line of teacher training work, and any other basis i s not only unfair but
illeeal.
The Act i n question, in t he l a tter clause of Section 21 , provides :
•
"That before any p~f!}!q f it is apportioned to an institution
for any year the~olO ~~educat ion of such ins titution s hall submit
through its president a budget for the approval of the State
Board of Education."
Clearly, this clause constitutes a condition precedent .
We are advised that the State Board of ~du c a tion in its action i gnored
t his provision of t he l aw. The allotment or effort to apportion t he said sum
of '!~100 , 000.00 to the three h igher institutions of learning was no"1:; only done
without t he submiss ion of a budget on the part of the dean of either of said -" "-
institutions , but the action of the said Board of Educ&tion was actually done
wi thou"1:; the knowledge of eithe r of the p res i dents of the Alabama Polyteclmic
Inst i tute or of the Alabama Gollee;e. The ignoring of the p r esidents of t hese
two hi gher institutions of l earning, we are told, was designedly done . Certain-l
y it was not a mere overs i ght . In t he light of subse uent development s such
omission seems si gnificant .
\fe r egret , also, that t his unfortunate episode seems t o have had its
genesis just about the time when t he Alebama Polytechnic Institute was passing
t hrough a distressful transition peri od from one admini stration to another;
- 4-
---- -- -- ---------------------------------------
~I
when common courtesy and any sort of sympathetic consideration to be expected
from other educa t i onal a gencies should prompt an open, fa i r and free discussion
of such contemplated action.
We r e commend that every right , le gal and moral , of the Alabama Polytechnic
Institute be protec ted in every feasible and legal way, that its standing
as an ins tituti on be maint ained and to that end such step s be t aken as t his
Board may deem a dvisabl e and proper under t h e circumstances .
4 . We do not deem the question of t he s o-call ed Edu c ational Survey of
Al abama made nea r l y ten years a go a vital one for t he cons ideration of t h i s
Coromi ttee nor of t his Board of Trust ees at this time. 'l'he so- called Educ a tional
Survey has been repudiated by the Board of Trustees of t he P~abama Coll ege ;
it i s functus officio so far as any bind ing effect upon either of the t hree
hi gher insti t utiOllS of l e a r n ing ar e conce rn ed . An,d, i f i t i s insis ted by eit her
of said three h i gher i n stituti ons of l earn ing that su cp. institut i on has any advantage
on acc ount or by virtue of such Edu cational Survey , we r e c ommend t hat
t h i s Boa r d of Trustees f ollow t he exampl e of t he Boa r d of Trustees of Alabama
Col l ege and al so r epudiat e s uch survey so far as i t may apply to the Alabama
Polytechnic In s ti~~te . However, since t he a ction of t he Board of Trus tees of
the Al abama College i n thi s regard , we de~ any action by t his Board unnecess ary .
Notwithstandine , we feel t hat the Alabama Polytechnic Institute has
kept f a i th in sp iri t and in fact wi th every understand inr.' , wri~ ten or verbal,
had between t hose assumi ng to repr esent each of t he thre e h i gher insti t ut ions
of l earn ing , at any and all times in t he past ; we are soundl y of the opinion
that a f ailure t o apportion the fund of ~lOO , 000. 00 f or t r aining hi gh s c hool
teachers i n t he just and f air' p ropor tion wh ich obtained by agreemen·t; with
refel'ence t o a l l other i t ems of apPlD.opriat ions (3a~ to Auburn, 39% to University,
- 5-
and 22% to Montevallo ), is sufficient notificat;ion to Auburn, at l east , that
those who ins i st upon such unfair allotment no longer desire to main-tain any
worlcable understandings or agre.aments . We deprecate thi s beyond any possible
means of expression; but we are in no way re~onsibl e for the program of i n-hannony
which must inevitably follow. The Alabama Polytechnic Insti tute seeks
no advantage of a sister inst i tution. .iI~l we ask , and t his we must demand and
insist on, i s equal and f a i r treatment .
5. And we recommend t hqt this Board declare i t s purpose and plans
to continue to do such work in teacher training and in other fie l ds as it has
been do i ng in the past and up t o t he pre sent -- amplifying and developing the
various lines of work to meet the growing demands on t he i nst i tution and as
may be expected from the i ncreased appropriation by the Legi sl ature f or t h i s
work; includi ng tra i n i ng in work in dministrative and Su )ervisor f i elds and
F - -:.. i n the grades beyond Normal Sch ool graduation, and tha t the Alabama .Pol yteclmic
Inst i tU-Ge will continue to adhere to i ts purpose and pl an not to i nterfer e
with the highest possible useful ness and work of the a ther h i gher institut i ons
of l e arning; and so far as it may be p ennitted, to maint a in an attitude of
ood will and a sp irit of co-op eration. But this great i ns titution, as the
pioneer i nstitution of its kind in the South , must maint ain it s s t andar ds and
i deals of the past, must c ont inue to be p r ogressive, must meet 'the demands
made upon such colleges th ro-~gh out the country, and must ad just its curricul a
from time to time t o meet these r e u irements . For t h i s we ma( e no ap ologi es
and ask no p ermi s s i on . 'L'b.is is in no s ense a challenge nor threat ; it is a
; L~p le and fraruc decl ar at ion of duty and responsib ility .
6. In order that t he unbiased facts i n r elation to this unfortuna te
ep i s ode may be pr eserved , and that the fr i ends of J! .. uburn College and t he people
of Al ab&~u may l earn the tru~~, we 'have care ful l y r ead and considered a narrative
statement of the entire matter prepared
- 6-
~(
1--..
Committee of the factuty of t his institution, and we , as a committee , have
r !;; u os t ed thc..t SCL 8 e publi shed in pamphle t form and furni shed to t hose
\'Tho may re tluest copies of same.
o. R. Hood, Chairman,
Chus . Henderson,
T. D. Samford,
Charle s S. McDo'iiell ,
C. 'if. :..shcraft .
- 7-
,.....7
\ /
, .'
'"
OKLUIo}U
AGlUCCLTnLl.L AXIl )rE ()IL,"~CAI, COLLEGl':
STI t..r;WATl:U
Orl~l eE 01;- TUE Pln; SI1) l~~"' T
March 20 , 1928
The Board of Trustees of the Alabama Polytechnic Institute
Hon. Bibb Graves , Governor of Alabama, Mont gomery, Alabama
Dr. R. E. Tidwell, Superintendent of Education, Montgomery, Alabama
Hon. H. D. Merrill, Annist on , Alabama
Hon. Harry Hersfeld, Alexander Ci~ , Alabama
Hon. Oliver R. Hood , ~adsden , Alabama
Hon. Charles Henderson, Troy , Alabama
Hon. J . A. Rogers , Gainesville, Alabama
Hon. C. W. Ashcraft , Florence, Alabama
Hon. C. S. McDowell , Eufaula, Alabama.
Hon. Victor H. Hanson, 'me Birmingham News , Binmi ngham, Alabama
Dr. W. H. Oats , Mobile, Alabama
Hon. T. D. Samford, Opelika , Alabama
Han. p. S. Haley, Oakman, Alabama
Pro f e ssor B. L. Shi , Secretary, Auburn, Alabama
Gentlemen:
I am sending this brief l etter of greeting on receipt of the f ormal
not i ce of my appointment as Pr esident of t he Alabama Polytechnic Institute
, the no t ice having come f rom W~ . B. L. Shi, Secretary of your Board .
I have a lready accepted t he trust you have imposed in me , and with tha t
trust I am looking forward to t he day when I shall assume the many
responsibili t ies which that off i ce carries with it .
I am deeply sensible of t he honor you have paid me , and l ikewi se of
the burdens whi Ch come wi th it. I am very greatly strengthened , however,
by your universal promi ses of cooperation, and the fact that your Board
was unanimous in it s act i on. I as~~re you that I am deeply devoted to
the peopl e of t he Sout h . I have studied their p~ob~or years past .
I was educat ed i n t h ei r mi dst, and I have no desire in the world except
to serve as I may best serve in their i nterest. Believing as I do tha t
we a re beginning to see the dawn of a new day, with the industries and
agri culture of the South coming int o t heir own, a l l I want to De is a
part of t he dawn of t hat day.
Ther e are too many things for me to speak of in a l etter. I shall
hope to see and visit all of you, indivi dually and col l ecti vely. I
ha ve always want ed t he Board for whom I worked t o know all about the
plans , pOlicies , and met hods of worki ng t h i ngs out . I shall enjoy, I
hope , your confid ence and your intimat e per sonal cont act . I believe the
task you have a s signed t o me is one of t he most important in t he St ate
of Alabama , and I hope I shall be gi ven strength and wi sdom enough to
live up yo your every expectation.
BUDGET OF THE
ALABAMA POLYTECHN IC I NSTITUTE
SUMMARY OF I NC mirE AND D ISB tJR SEMENTS
July 1, 1928 - June 30, 1929
Colleg e Maintenance
Activities
Tr us t Funds
BUi lding s, Gr ounds & Equipment
Extension Service
Agricultural Experiment station (Less
App ropriat ion to F ield & Sub-station
Re c eipts
619869.95
8040 0 .00
155300.00
187500.00
621530.9 9
172099.16
1836 700.10
Disburse- Bal ance
ments {Contingert
590835 •. 86 29034.09
80400 .00 -------
155300.00 -------
-- -. -~- -- 187 500.00
532086.16 89444.83
161650 . 36 10448 . 80
1520272.38 3 1 6427 .72
BUDGET
.ALABAJfi.A POLYTECillUC ll'lSTITUl'E
July 1, 1928 - June 30, 1929
mCOME - COLLEGE MAlli!TENANCE
Appropriations :
Morrill
End owment
In Lieu of Fertilizer Tax
IvTaint enance
Buildings &. Maintenance tAo
Maintenance, Supplement
In Lieu of Oil Tax
$30'795.00
20280.00
33000.00
45000.00
1.) 12500.00
258594.95
24000.00
Federal & State (Smith ffughes)
Teacher Training
Ma tr icula ti on:
Main Session
Summer School
Extension Teaching
Income Operations:
108000.00
16000.00
10000.00
(Sales, Dormitory Profits, etc.)
nmOME - BUILDlliCS, GROUNDS &. EQ,UIH,'IEl\"T
State Appropriation *18'7500.00
424169.95
14'700.00
30000.00
134000.00
17000.00
~i 619869.95
I .' .
*This appropriation is subject to the Governor's approval.
~I
BUDGET - Continued
mCOME - EXTENSIOlf SERVICE
Appropriations:
Federal
U. S. D. A.
Smith-Lever
Smith-Lever Supplement
State
Smith-Lever
County Agents Fund
Agricultural Extension
County Funds (Estimated)
Sales, Miscellaneous (Estimated)
Donations (Estimated)
mCOME - EXPERlll'lENT STATION
Appropriations:
Federal
Hatch
Adams
Purnell
State
Local E2q)El,riment
Investigation at Auburn
Agricultural Research
Sales Miscellaneous (Estimated)
Donati6hs (Estimated)
32730.00
156690.28
46511.55
162500.00
30000.00
43099.16
15000.00
15000.00
50000.00
27000.00
7500.00
43099.16
471530.99
120000.00
23000.00
7000.00
$621530.99
80000.00
'7'7599.16
12000.00
2500.00
~?1 '72099.16*
*Appropriations for Fields and ,Sub-stations not shown,
as the amounts are conditioned 'on the progress of the work.
-
BUOOET
ALAB.AMA POLYTECHNIC rnSTIT1J'I'E
'rEACHING
July 1, 1928 to ~une 30, 1929
EXPENDI'IURES
ADMIN JB 'I'RATI ON:
President's Office 36950.00
Busin.ess Office 4678 .00
Registrar's Office 13925.00
SCHOOL OF AGRICULTURE:
Agricultural Engineering 8350.00
Agronomy 6300.00
Animal Industry 25250 . 00
Botany 5550.00
Entomology 9300 .00
Horticulture l0900.00
Poultry 4450 . 0q,
SCHOOL OF ENGll!EERHJG
Civil Engineering 13410.00
Electrical Engineering 23641 .00
Highway Engineering 4420 .00
Machine Design llOOO .OO
Mechanical Engineering 25000 . 00
Hesearch Engineering 6000 . 00
AC.'i!.DEMIC FACUL'lY:
Economics 17000.00
English. ~O240.00
History 12'790~ OO
Mathematics 23050 ~ 00
Musia 1800.00
Modern Languages 7875.00
Physics 13225.00
SCHOOL OF CHE:NTISTRY &, PHARIvffi.CY:
Chemistry 29900.00
Pharmacy 10000.00
-,T-o-ta-ls
55553.00
70100.00
83471.00
~;"980 .00
39900.00
.L
~I
BUDGET - Continued Brought Forward 344004.00
EDUCATION:
Education 9000.00
JlIigh. School Practice
Slni th-Hughes
Summer School
Teacher Training
Teaching 2000.00
14'700.00
28152.11
30000.00
HOME ECONQ1/ilCS:
Home Economi cs
SCHOOL OF ARCHITEC'IURE:
Architecture
SCHOOL OF VETERlliARY !v1EDIClNE:
Vet or inary
EXTENSION 'I'EACHING:
Extension Teaching
GENERAL SERVICE DEPARrrMENTS:
Buildings & Grounds
Catalogue & Advertising
Commencement
Dean of 'Varnen
Health
Insurance and Bonds
Interest on Wat er System
Campus
Library
Military
Physical Training
Publicity
Repairs, Grading, etc.
State Dept. o~ Education
Trustees
Heat, Light & Water
GRAND TOTLL
11250.00
20000.00
12000.00
20933.00
2500.00
400.00
400.00
5512.'75
4000.00
21.00.00
6000.00
11572.00
2890.00
4050.00
8900.00
25000.00
500.00
400.00
6000.00
83852.11
11250.00
175'72.00
20000.00
12000.00
~(
.--;
BUOOET - Continued
mcOME - ACTIVITIES (Projeots under superv1s10n of College, but
having no direct bearing on teaching.)
These accounts are intended to be self-supporting.
Project
Carpenter Shop
Dormitories & Cottages
*Heat, Light & Uater
Practice House
R.O.T.C. Uniform
Smith Hall Board
Student Contingent
R.O.T.C. Shoe Account
Auburn Outing Club
Uniform Deposit
Receipts
10000.00
3000.00
32000.00
900.00
9060.00
12000.00
7500.00
1500.00
500.00
4000.00
$80400.00
Expenditures
10000.00
3000.00
32000.00
900.00
9000.00
12000.00
7500.00
1500.00
500.00
4000.00
$80400.00
*Thls account, by selling current to town of Auburn, has
been able to operate and furnish heat, light and water to
the College off the profits.
nrcOIvm: - TRUST FU.NI:6
Project
Athletic (Fees)
Athletic (Games)
Fresllman Class Dues·
Glomerata
Laundry
.Junior Class Dues
Lectures
Plainsman
Senior Class Dues
Scholarships
Sophomore Class Dues
Social (Y .M.C .A. Rects. $250)
Sigma Nu Loan & Interest
Theta Chi Loan & Interest
Receipts
9000.00
70000.00
300.00
10000.00
40000.00
500.00
1.550.00
4600.00
800.00
10000.00
300.00
3750.00
2250.00
2250.00
OJPIIOOYJQ~
155308.01
EX)?endi tures
9000.00
70000.00
300.00
10000.00
40000.00
500.00
1550.00
4600.00
800.00
10000.00
300.00
3750.00*
2250.00
2250.00
l1IOOOOt~
15~G.@'
*Expenditures for Social Y. M. C. A. and Y. W. C. A.
BUDGET
ALAB1ill/IA POLY'rECHNIC JNSTI'IDl'E
EXTENSION SERVICE
July 1, 1928 - June 30, 1929
EXPENDITURES:
Administration
Publications
Visual Instruction
Agricultural Editor
Agricultural Engineering
Animal Industry
Agronom,v
Boys Club STork
Clothing
County Agents
Entomology
Food Preservation
Girls Club Work
Home Demonstration Work
Home Industries
Horticulture
Marketing
Movable Schools
Negro Boys
Negro Mon
Negro Women
Farm Forestry
Total
15650.00
4 000~00
5800.00
9235.31
6100.00
1'7100.00
5250.00
4200.00
4000.00
23296~. 8 9
4000.00
4000.00
3400.00
13'7024.90
4000.00
4'700.00
11000.00
4080.00
2520.00
36300.00
115 64~00
4200.00
532086.16
tfo(
BUlXlET
A1..J\B1lMA. POLYTECHNIC INSTITUTE
AGRICULTURAL EXPERIMENT STATION
July 1, 1928 - June 30, 1929
EXPENDITURES :
Ldministration 12820.00
Publications 3600.00
Library 1175.00
Agrono~ 369]5.00
Animal Industry 20700.00
Agricultural Editor 442.72
Agricultural Economics Research 15900;00
Botany 5510~00
Chemistry 5550.00
Entomology 11640.00
Far.m Management 4800.00
Horticulture 12120.00
HCllme Economics Research 3000.00
Poultry 5327.54
TOTAL 147150.36 |
| title |
1928 [pdf for printing]: Board Minutes of the Alabama Polytechnic Institute |
| titleStr |
1928 [pdf for printing]: Board Minutes of the Alabama Polytechnic Institute |
| author |
Auburn University Board of Trustees |
| author_facet |
Auburn University Board of Trustees |
| id |
AUbot7401 |
| url |
http://content.lib.auburn.edu/u?/bot,7401 |
| thumbnail |
https://cdm17353.contentdm.oclc.org/utils/getthumbnail/collection/bot/id/7401 |
| _version_ |
1782466965958295552 |
| spelling |
1928 [pdf for printing]: Board Minutes of the Alabama Polytechnic InstituteAuburn University (formerly Alabama Polytechnic Institute); Board of TrusteesMinutes of the Board of Trustees meetings held in 1928Minutes of the Meeting of the Board of Trustees,
March 16, 1928
219
On call of the Chairman, Governor Eibb Graves, the Board of Trustees
of the Alabama polytechnic Inst1tQte met in the office of the Governor,
Mon t g omery, Alabama, at 11:15 o'cl ock, Friday mo rning, March 16, 19 28.
Governor Graves presiding. All ~embers were p resent.
After discussion, the report of the special committee appointed to
investigate and r ecommend a President to succeed Dr. Do well whose resignation
has b e en accepted, effective June 30, 1928, was made. Dr. R. E.
Tidwell, Chairman, made a general statement as .to the procedure of the
committee in its investigation and requested Dr. V. H. Hanson, ViceChairman,
to read the committee's re port, whi ch is shown on pages ~:<.f .-:.
Mr. Hood moved the a doption of the co mm ittee's report which ~ oti o n
was duly sec onded and , after discussion by several members, was unanimously
a dopted, each me mber voting "Aye" on roll call.
The following resolution, as offered by Mr. Ashcraft and amended
was unani ~ ously ado p ted:
" WHEREAS , The r e po rt of the sub-committee, appointed to investigate and
recommend to this Board a new President for the Alabama Polytechnic
Institute, and wh ich c ommittee r e commended the selection of Dr. Bradfor d
Knapp , now president of the Oklahoma Ag ricultural and Mechanical Colle ge,
at Stillwater, Oklahoma, has b e en adopted by t h is Board, now, t he refore,
BE IT RESOLVED: (1) That Dr. Bradford Knapp be and he reby is elected o.C
President of t he Alabama Polytechnic Institute at a salary of $12,000 I v
per annum, effective July 1st, 1928.
(2) That the r e si de nce of the President of the c ollege
be repaired and remodeled to such extent as seems neceasary and desirable
and that sufficient money be a ppropriated to cover the cost of suc h
repairs and for r e placement of such furniture and furnishings as need
to be r eplaced, and necessary additions to same.
(3) That the Board aut horize the payment of the cost of
Dr. Knapp's moving to .uburn and, also the expenses incurred by him in
trips to AubUrn which he may make prior to July 1, 1928"
On motion of Mr. Mc Dowell the salary of President Dowell was fixed
at ~ lO,OOO for the current session beginning July 1, 1927.
Mr. Haley suggested that the Board of Trustees should commend the
sub-committee for their painstaking investigation and efficient service
in conneetion with the selecting of the new President and in accordance
with a motion adopted by the Board, the following committee was appointed
by Governor Graves to draft suitable res olutions: Committee: Haley,
Samford, Merrill.
Dr. C. S. Yarbrough, Mayor of Auburn, ,appeared before the Board and
requested the cooperation of the college authorities in connection with
the paving to be laid on South Colle ge street, Thach Avenue and .1e st
220
Ma gnolia street, by the s tate H i g hw a~e p art me nt and the City of Au bUrn.
After f ull d i scus s ion, the bOard aut liorized the exp e nd iture of the sum
necessary to lay curbs and gutt ers on t h ese streets and to widen the
paving on T h~ch Avenue if desirable, the President of the Colle ge, with ~~
the adv ice of t he landscape architect, being em~owered t o act after
confere~ce with City authorities and t he Stateighway En g i n eer.
Members of the Board expressed t heir pteference f or t he plan which
will retain the middle row of tr ees east of the Administration Building
of t he c olle ge, if th i s plan co n forms to the architects scheme for landSCape
work on t h e Main Campus.
The re p ort of the committee on Ag ricu l tur a l Extens ion Work was read
by Mr. Herzf eld, as follo ws:
" To The B'o ar d of Trustees of t he Alabama Polyt ec hnic I ns titu t e,
Gen t lemen:
In order to release the third floo,r of Comer Hall, wh ich is now being
used as o f fices for the Extension Service, for such n e eded class room
and laboratory s p ace for stu dents, and in order to p rovide the necessary
office space for the Extension Service staff for more efficient work,
we, t h e co mmittee on the Extension Service reco mmend:
That a suitable, a dequate and appropriate off ice
building to cost ap p ro x imately $ 1 00,000 be erected
on the campus of the Alabama Polytechnic Institut e,
for the Extension Service Staff, under authority of
Section 2 of Act No. 30, ap p roved September 30, 1919
and September 30, 1 9 20.
S i gne d H. He r z f e 1 d,
Paul S. Haley
Committee on Extension Work"
On motion of Mr. Ro gers the Board gave its ap p roval for the construction
of the proposed building and refe r re d the matter to t he
Executive Committee with p ower to act, after c onfe r ri ng with the
President-elect.
On motion of Mr. As hcraft, the Se cretary of t he Bo ard was dir e cted
to write Dr. Knapp that it is t he desire o f t he Truste e s t hat he visit
Auburn as soon a s it is convenient for h im to do so.
yI( --~ Governor Graves spoke of the p ossib i lity of WAPI Broadcasting
r Station cooperating with the State ~ epartment of Ae riculture in g iving
~ prompt distribution of the dail y market report~ to all s e ctions of the tf st ate of Alabama. On motion of Mr. Ro gers, the matte r was referred to
~ ~he Executive Committee with p ower to act.
At t h e su ggestion of the Board, Dr. Do ,~ll t hen read t h e follO wing
r e commendations, action being tak en as indiCated:
tl11360
221
1. That the P resident of the Alabama Polwtechnic In s titu ~ e be authorize d
to negotiate loans for t he erection of chapter houses on Fraternity
Row on the basis proposed b y Ward, Sterne & Company~ and that he be
empowered to execute a mortgage on each lot, including the house
erected thereon~ for the security of the loan for the erecti on of
the said chapter house. On motion duly seconded and passed this
recommendation was approved, Mr. Herzfeld voting "No".
2. That the President of the Alabama Polytechnic Institute be authorize d
to sell the Canebrake ;~xp eriment Station, such p ower to include
authority to execute the necessary written instruments. Approved.
3. That the cooperative arrangement between the State De p artment of
Education and the Alabama Polytechnic Institute for the conduct of
demonstration farms at th~ State Secondary Agricultural Schools as
already approved by the State Board of Education, be adopted.
~. That the plans of the Exp eriment Station to facilitate and promote
the progress of cro ppers and tenant far mers be a pp roved. Referred
to Executive Committee with p ower to act.
5. That the P r e si dent of the Alabama Polytechnic Institut e be autho rized
to d iscontinue a certain tuition fee i n the Departm ent of
Architec ture. APproved.
6. That the n resident of the Alabama Polytechnic Institute be authorized
to have a suitable instrument of record p re p are d f or p resentation
to Honorable "~ rskine Ramsay. Approved.
7. That res p onsi b ility for the p reparation and submission of the bu dge t
and p ro gram for the next fiscal year be fixed. President Dowell
authorized to p repare the budget.
8. That responsibility for submitting a plan for your consideration
for the use of the pros pective building fund be p laced. Referred
to Executive Committee for c onsideration.
9. That consi de ration be g iven to the provision of certain benefits
to the institutional staff in the interest of permanence of service
and morale. Referred to the Exe c ut ive Committee for investig ation
and re port.
The BOard authorized Dir e ctor L. N. Duncan a leave of absence for
three weeks on full pay as he has be en invited to assist in the
survey o f Land grant Colleges being con ducted by the U. S. Bureau
of Education.
On motion, Dr. Dowell was authorized to take a reasonable vacation
from time to time during the remainder of the session and was voted
a month's vacation on full ~ay during the month of July, 1928.
10. That consi deration be g iven to the history and status of the Te acherTraining
Equalization Fund.
With regard to the las t r e c ommendation, Mr. Samford read the following
resolution which, after discussion, wag duly seco nded and passed:
222
"'WHEREAS: ~ action recently taken by the State BOard of Educat ion and
endorsed by a six to four vote of the state Council o f Education allots
to the Al abama Polytechnic Institute only $ 20,000 a ye a r of the teacher
training fund against $ 65,000 alloted to the University of Alabama; an~
""---,,l
WHEREAS, Auburn is definitely restricted in the uses to which it may put
its share of this fund, being forbid den to Use it for the training of
school principals or superintendents, or for any g raduate work except
i n Agriculturaland Home Economics lines, while no restrictio~ of any
kind are put upon the University;
THEREFORE BE IT R ~ S O LVED:
1. That we, the Trustees of the Alabama Polytechnic Institut e,
deeply regret any action which threatens to destroy or d isturb the
friendly relations that after long and earnest efforts had been
established between thses two great institutions of our state. A reco g nition
of absolute e~uality between them was the basis of this amicable
relation. It was the very foundation of the unified educational program
passed by the recent session of the Le g islature. without a clear
recognition of this equality no satisfactory legislation for the higher
inst i tutions would have been possible. .
2. That this recent action of the Boa r d of EdUcation tends to
build up the University at t he epxnese of Auburn. It is cQntrary to
the basic con ception of the unified ~du cational program previously
agreed upon. It stirs passion and hard feeling between the two great
institutions where a kindly feeling o f symp athy and cooperation had
re cently been brought about.
3 . That we protest with the utmost vi gor against any move ment
to build up anyone institution so that it will dominate t he whole
edUCational system of our state. There is no basis for such policy i n
the fundamental law establishing these colle ges. There is no reason
for it in the actual conditions in the state tOday.
4. That such would b e the natural tendency, whet her intended or
not, of the recent actio.n of the Board o f EdUcation. It g ives Auburn
~ 20,000 a year f or t e acher training a gainst $ 65,000 for the Univ e rsity
It limits Auburn i n the use of this mon ey to t h e t rain i ng of teac hers
for class room positions, while the UniV e rsity may train them also to
be principals and superintendents. The obvious result of such a ploicy
would be to put very soon the control of the e dUC ational system o f the
state in the hands of the University, to the g r eat detriment and disa
dvantage of the Alabama Polyt echnic Institute and o t p.er h i gher instit
u tions of learn ing in the s tate.
Such a policy would overlook the l ong a n d valuable service
re n de red by Auburn in teacher t raining in the p as t . Th is s e rv i ce both
in t he undergr a dua te and in the g radUa te field has been notable and
fully equal to t h at rendered by any ot her institut ion in the at a te,
The number of st Ud ents now matricu lated fo~ teac he r traini n g a t Auburn
is f ully as great as at any other of the h ighe r inst i t u t ions in t he
state. The st andard ~f work is a s h i gh .
223
For more that 40 years graduat e courses of h i gh grade have b een
g iven at Aubu rn for those p re paring to teach. l',fany who h ave take n t hese
courses now o c cupy the h ighest positions as teachers and as administrators
in the educational institut ions in our own and in other states .
5. That, realizing these facts and co nsciou s of our responsibility
to the state of Alaba~a as trustees of a constituti onally created
i ns tit u tion ~ we 0 hereby c8c l are our purpose to maintain the l ong and
honorable record of Auburn in the teacher training field b oth on the
und'er-graduate level and on the g racluate level on a basis of abso lute
e~uality with the Universi t y. Thi s Board of Trustees therefore, does
no~-concur in the recommendation of the state Council of Educat ion in
regard to the so-calle d allocation of work at Auburn .
6 . That with the increased funds made available by the recent
action of the le gislature we believe it possible and desirable to
expand the graduate work in ge neral and the teacher training in par ticular
so as to make t h em in a ll respects e~ual to the work done by any
stat e institution in t h e SoutiI. We Can thus assure to Auburn facilities
ade~uate to meet its responsibility to the people of our great stat e to
bear its equal share of the burden of training~in all fields without
restrictions,teac hers and administrators for our educ ation a l system.
On motion of Mr. Hanson , the follo wing s~ecial committee was
a p pointed to investigate the matter and to make a report with reco~mendation
at the ne xt ~eeting of the b oard which will be held on May 21,
192 8 . Committee: Hood, ~ cDo we ll, Samford , Hende rson and Ashcraft.
B. L. Shi, Secremary,
BOa rd of Tr u stees.
LETTER OF SECRE TARY TO DR. KNAPP
Dr. Bradford Knapp, President,
Oklahoma Agricultural and ~e c hanical Co llege,
Stillwater, Okla .
My dear President Knapp:
Mar chI 7, 19 28
I am happy offiCially to inform you that, at the meeting of
the Board of Truste e s held in the of f ice of the Go vernor on March 16,
you. were unanimo usly elected Presid.ent of t he Alabama Polytechnic
Institute .
The resolution adopted by the Board of Trustees r e ads as follows:
" WHEREAS, The report of the sub-committee, appointed to investigate and
recommend to this Board a new President for the Alabama Polytechn ic Insti~ .1
tute, and which commi ttee recommended the s e lection of Dr. Bradford Knapp,
now President of the Oklahoma Agricultural and Mechanical College, at
Stillwate r, Okla., h a s been adopted by this Board, now, therefore,
RE IT RESOLVED: {l} That Dr. Bradford Knapp be and hereby is elected
President o f the Alabama Polytec hnic Institute as a salary of 1~ 12,OOO per
annum, ef f ective July 1st, 1928.
224
(2) That the reside.nce of the P r e sident of the College be
repaire'd and remodeled to such e x tent as s e ems necessary and desirable r~,
and that sufficient money be a ppropriated to cove r the cost of such I
repairs and for replacement of such fUrniture and furnishings as rieed
to be r ep laced, and necessary additions to same.
( :3 t That the Board aU tho r i ze the payment of t he cos t of
Dr. Knapp 's moving to Auburn and also the expenses incurred by him in
tri p s to Auburn which he may make prior to July 1, I9 28 .
The members of the full board were plaased to learn that you
expected to visit Auburn several times prior to July 1 and directed
that I express to you t h ~ desire of the board you c~ m e to Alabama at the
earliest date c onvenient to you. since the re are c ertain matters of
institutional policy on wh ich your a dv ice is desired.
I am mailing .you a cop y of President Dowell's report to the
Board of Trus te e sand al SO a co py of the B irm ingham Ne ws which carr'ie s
in f ull the re port of the subcommittee to the bo a rd. I s hall also
send you a copy of the complete record of the meeting just as soon as
the minutes are transcribed.
I am sure that you will recei ve in Alabama a cordial welcome
and the hearty coopera.tion of the members of the college st.aff, the
Alumni and the people o ~ the State. r-\
I s h all be delighted to supply any additional information
or ren der any service which you may request.
CordiallY y ours,
B. L. Sh i, Secretary,
Board of Trustees.
r--',
I
Minutes of the Board of Trustees
May ~ l, 1928
225
The Board of Trustees met in annual ses s ion at 2:30 p.~., the following
members being present: Governor Graves, Dr. Tidwell, Me ssrs. Her
feld, Henderson, Rogers, Ashcraft, MCDo well, Samford and Haley.
President Dowell, because of an eng a gement at attend the Commencement
Exercises at Howard College and receive the honorary degree, Doctor of Laws
was not pr e sent but his report was filed with the Trustees. Presidentelect
Bradford Knapp met with the Board.
Governor Graves c'alled for re ports of committees and Mr. Samford
sub~itted the re p ort of the special committee appointed the last me e ting
to study and report on the allocation by the state Boar d of Education of
the Teacher- Train i ng Equaliza tion fund. See following pages .
After co n siderable discussion of the re port, Mr. Ro gers offered an
amendment that action be deferred on the follo wing paragrap h:
"We recommend that the incoming president be authorized to emplo y
counsel and to insti t ute and prosecute such legal proceedings as may be
deemed necessary and a dvisable to protect the rights of the Alabama
p olytechnic Institute in relation to this subject."
~ The Board a d op ted by a vote of 6 to 3 a motion of 1I1fr. Samford to
-lay on the table Mr. Rogers' amendment to the r ep ort of the committee.
Superintendent Tidwell made the following statement conc e rning the
report and requested that it be p laced in the record:
n It is with some reluctance that I ash.. that lJ~#j attitude on this
matter be made a matter of r ecord, but I am so p rofoundly convinced of
the serious effect which the actionof this bOard will have on the future
of educational policies, not only o f t h is institution, but on all edUCational
matters, p articularly relating to hi gher education, that I want
my protest set out in the ho p e that re~lection u p on and olearer realization
of the si gni f ic ance o f this resolution will open the way for a more
cordial rece p tion of a coordinated p rogram of development along all lines
of higher edUCation.
" If I heard the resolution correctly, by i mplication at least, it
proposes that this institution stand fully and completely on its constitutional
and legal pr e rogatives without any restriction upon its futUre
development in so far as previou s studies, surveys, and agreements are
concerned. If the institution acts upon the spirit of this resolution
and accepts it as the controlling force in the administration of its
affairs for the future, expensive dup lication, and to me, competitive
~ and unwise f orces will become elements in the administration of hi gher
education in Alabama.
"One of two possible outcomes will p revail. The example proposed
for this institution will be followed by other institutions of hi gher
learning, and in the near future we shall find the State with three
coordinate universities instead of three institutions with differentiated
226
',",
"
p rograms carry ing on as economically as p ossible t he ex pen~ive tas k of
provid i n g h igher educat ion for the youth of Alabama. The second possible
ou tcome i s t h e one most likely to follow, And t h at i s a p e riod of
strife follo wed by the loss of p ublic condifence, and the consequent
withdrawal of adequate support with its inevitable conseqnence, waekened
service incident to lack of equipme nt and trained personnel. Our three
institutions will drop back to where they have been for many years,
struggling against impossible odds.
"I believe in t he future o f this inst~tution and its vital p art in
the social, economic and educational development of the state. To serve
its h ighest good it must exp and a n d lar ge a ~) propriations will be necess
a ry to me e t the new ty~ es of service and the g rowing i n t e rest in fields
to which the institution has already contributed much t o this St ate and
to t he nation, b ut in all of t h is g ro wth an d development, t here should
be order, s y stem and coor d ination and differentiation in the responsib
ility of this institution as related to the other institutions o f the
St ate. With t h is idea of its place in the affairs of Alabama, t he re can
be no quarrel. No other institution will hold a hi gher and more i ~p ortant
p l a ce, and I am glad to here and now p lace myself on recor d in
support of a p ro gram of development along the lines su ggested.
" However, let me urg e t he tho ughtful consi deration on t h e part of
eve ry member of t h is b oa rd of the p ossible dangers a head which must
follow the p as s age of this re so lution, committing i t to a p oaicy which
invites one ot the other of the r e sults already briefly de s crib e d .
Signed R. E. Tidwell,
State Sup e r intendent of Edu cation. "
Mr.Samford for the s pecial c 0mmittee on Teac her-Training acce p ted the
following paragraph suggested by President-elect Enapp as a substitute
for the paragr a ph under d iscussion.
"We reco mmend that every ri ght, leg al and moral, o f the Alabama
Polytechnic Institute be protected in e very feasible and le g al way, that
its stan ding as an insti t ution be maintained and to that end such steps
be taken as t h is b oard may de em a dvisab le and p roper under the circums
t ances. 1f
With th is p aragraph acce p ted by the s p ecial comm itt ee, the r e port
as unanimo u sly a d o pted as submitted.
, Governor Graves called attention to the f act that the Examiner of
p ublic Acc ounts had not c omp leted t he audit a n d the refo r e, is not in
position to furnish a complete and final st a te me nt. He .~~ted that the
Examiner ahd r eported no matter on which any criticism could be attached
and that everything so far is in shipshape condition.
:~ 1,"/ GOvernor Graves states t h at he e xpected that the buil ding fund will..--...
" e available during the next ses s ion and sugg e s ted t hat the Board begin
J no~ to make its plans for the inauguration of a building pro gram, saying
.~J ' that he believed that one h al f of the building fund a pp ropriated for i , the next year could be p a id by a b out J anuary 1, 1929 , n d the remainder
la te r in the year.
227
It was suggested by Governor Graves that Presidents of the three
institutions of higher learning be authorized to cooperate, if they se e
r fit, with the State Capitol Building Commission in the employment of
professional landscape engineers, to go over the properties and suggest
a pro g ram for future development.
Dr. Knapp called attention to the plans of Mr. Kessler already adopted
_ and stated that he was not sufficiently familiar with the plans to make
definite suggestions, but stated that in the building p ro gram we should
have a vision of what the inst i tution will be some day and build for the
fu tUre •
Mr. Mc Dowell moved that in view of the Governor's state'l1ent Dr. Knapp
be instructed and reque sted to take such steps and make such plans as
he thought proper and to r eport back at the next meeting of the BOard
for such action as may be desirable.
Mr. Rogers expressed the hope that the plan adopted shall include all
educational institutions of the state •
. Governor Graves sugge sted that the motion Carry the authority to
take up the matter wit h the other institutions and make a comp re hensive
plan for all.
Mr. Mc Dowell accepted this amendment and the motion WaS passed.
Dr. Knapp e xp r e s s ed his a pp reciation of this important step on the
part of the Board in giving the institution the greatest opp ort unity it
has had. He counseled against going into the matter too hastily as many
questions should enter such as unif~rmity of architecture, haTmony in
design, etc. At the same time we should preserve as much as possible of
the old. He stated that he would proceed with the p lans an d report back
to the Board.
Dr. Knapp then pre sented the budget which has be en arranged SO as to
le ave a con t ingent fund of !:~ 29, 000 un budge te d to take care 0 f unexp ec ted
needs in the fall. He called attention to the following:
1. Consolidating all pub licity under one head with Mr. P. O. Davis
as Director. This department will cooperate with students in publishing
studt publications, having ful l p ower to criticize ever y t hi ng that g oes
out. .
2. Research work is to be stimulated.
3 . The at hletic stiua tion was discu s sed and Dr. Knapp suggested
the advis ~b ility of t he P resident as suming the directorship of athl~tics.
Mr. Samford moved that the Pr e sident be the supreme head and di rector-il
in - chief of all athletic activities o f t h is institution. The motion
was adopted.
Presids.nt Knapp was authorized to inv e stigate the possibility of
introducing Textile }~ ngineering and to proceed, if, in h is judgment, it
is possible to inaugurate the work at once.
228
The budget waS then f ormally ap p roved .by the Board as presented.
Dr . Knap.p r e commended that the present staff be re-elected for ~
another year subject to suspension in case of failure to cooperate as /
provided in the previous action of the Board it being understood that
the President s hall pre sent for r e cord at the next meeting of the Bo 'ard
the name of each employee. Adop ted.
Mr. Samford moved that a committ,ee compo sed of the following b e
appointed to draft suitable resolutions for the ap preci a tion of Dr. Dowell ~
services to the I n stitut ion: Herzfeld, Haley, As hcraft.
Mr. Ashcraft amended t he motion to have Mr. Samford named in his
place and made chairman of the committee . Carried .
The Board a pp rowed the final draft of p lans for the Extension Building
and authorized the p r e sident t ,o advertise for bids and to proceed
with the erection of t he bui lding .
Mr. Roger s brought up the question of i n suring the l ife of the
Pre sident fo r the benefit of the institution and asked Mr. Owe n, Insurance
re pr esentative,to explain the different policies.
Mr. Rogers r e ad letters from Dr. Victor Hanson , Dr. Oat es, Judges
Hugh D. Merrill and Oliver Hood, members of t he Board who co u ld not be
p r e s e nt , approving the p l an. Af t e r d i sc uss ion, action on the mat t e r
was deferred.
In connection with. the d isc us sion of the dev e lo pment of Fraternity
Row, Dr. Knapp stat ed that he f elt that fees 'already were too high, but
t hat no chang& c ould be made th is year. If fees Can be r e duce d 1 ate r
that it may be poss ible to have a special fee of from ~ 2.00 to $ 4.00 pai d
by t he student for t he p u rpose of rasing money to finance the erection
of a stad ium.
The quest i on of the Board's p ower to mort gage colle ge property was
referred to President Knapp with power to act.
On motion of Lr . Samford, the Board concurre d with P r esident Dowell
and the ~ x ec u tiv e Council in confe r ring the professional de gr ee ,
Engineer of Mines, on Mr . Ers k ine Ramsay .
The Board adopted a motion offered by Mr . Ashcraft direct i ng the
Registrar to fu r nish full and comp lete informat ion at the next meeting
of the Board concerning Juniors and Sen ior s whos e course o f s tudy was
interrupted durin g the world war.
Governo r Gre,ves men t ione d the se rv ic e whic h WAP I can rende r to
farme rs and other citi zen s of the state by the issuing of da il y m,arket
I
/
reports in cooperation with the stat e De partment of ~ g ri cu lture. )
Mr . L. N. Du~can was c alled and he stated that the matte r of disposing
of the station at Auburn and erecting in Bi r mingham a stronger station
of 5000 watt s in cooperation with the city was under di scuss ion and
seemed desirab l e for a number of reas on s which he cited. The project
229
will cost abou.t /$ 1 00,000 . The city of Birmingham will pay one-hal0 \ )
of the cost of i ns tallation and operation. Mr. Samford u.r ged the'" \.),;'
wis dom of making su.re that the c hange will not result in loss of \ ~
Aubu rn f e atu.res and control by the college.
president Knapp stated t hat he favored t he proposed change and
felt t h at after f urther investigation into the financial features
that it c an be satis f actor~ly inaugurated. The BOard referred the
matter to P r e sident Y.napp with full p ower to act, after conferen ces wit h
with the Executive Committee of the Board .
Dr . Knapp stated that it was necessary f or him to l eave Auburn
on the morning ot May 22 and that ot her engagements, including a
s h ort v a cation during whiah he wou ld visit Ohio State and other
educational institutions,' would cons um e his time until Ju.ne 25 when
he expe cted to return to AUburn .
On motion of l;Ir . Samford, the board exp ressed its ap p reci ation
of Dr . Knapp 's assi stance and service since h is election and prior
to his coming off icially to the p r e sidency.
There being no fu rt he r bUsiness , the Board voted to recess until
calle d into session by Governor Grave s sometime during t he month of
July .
B. L. Sh i,
Secretary BOard of Trustees.
230
August 3 , 1928
The Board of Trustees met t the ~uabama pol yt e chnic
I nst i tut e in the off i ce of the Presi dent <.it 1 : 30 ~J . m. ,
Governor Graves pr esiding:
231
ENT : Governor Graves , H. • ,er r ill, Harr y :=1er zfel d,
Charl es Henderson, J . A. ogers , C. H. Ashcraft ,
Victor H. Hanson, ,I . • Oates , T. D. Samford, F ••
Hal ~y nd Pres i dent Kna p .
Pr esident Knapp present ed a copy of his r eport to e ch
member of t he Board.
1 . On mot i on of r,1):'. Samford, seconded by I,::r. Hanson, the
Board adopt ed the budget as pre sented by the Pr esi dent .
2 . Dr . Knapp st ated that the Examiner of .ilccounts had reported
the financi al affa irs of the inst i tut i on in spl endi d
shape . He r eported al so that :.ir. C. C. Brooks had been empl oyed
as Chi ef Ac countant and t hat r.x. s. ,{. Garr ett had been engaged
to t ake over t he purchasi ng and gradually t o assume some of t he
responsibil ity ordi nar i ly conducted i n the office of Bus i ness
Ilana era
3 • .1)r. TT ap called att enti on to the deficit in the ~thl etic
Department and sta t ed t~at t he President , J!'acul ty At hl etic
Commi t t ee , and Coac Bohler pl an t o cl(''-ar thin defi cit .rU hin the
next three ears •
• r resi ent KIlap explained that a bill for ;112 , 948 . 52
had been pre sent ed t o the co_l ece to cover t he cost of curbs ,
gutt er s , etc . , on streets abuttin on col leGe property. The
Board approved payment o~ this obligation and aut horized the
president to reduce the amount al l otted to the var i ous departments
for mai ntenance by an amount not exceeding ten to t~e lve
per cent , for the purpose of a ccumul ating suf f icient funds to
make up this and other ossi bl e defic i enci es .
5. Dr . app r eport ed t hat in a ccordance wi t h the action
of t he Board of ·.I.'rustees the cont ract :;:·0 .... the erect i on of the
Extensi on BUilding had been awarded to t he .southern vonstruct i on
Company, ~ irmi nGhaIll, ~abaIlla, at an oric i nal bi d of V88 , 295 . 00.
6 . Dr . Knapp reported t hat Governor Graves , Vuperint endent
Tidwel l , I~ essrs . H~r zfel d and samfor d, t he Pr esident, and a re -
resentative of Olmsted Brothers , Landscape ':ll'chi t ect s of Brookl i ne ,
r':assachuset ts , had m de a prel imi n ry ex'm'; "!'ntion of the c:m:pus
and property of the I nstitution ; and that subselUGntl t he Pre sident
, through the offi ce of Governor Graves , r eceived a proposal
of Olmsted Brot h'3rs to compl et e the devel opment , 1 n , make t he
necessary rawincs , and cive t vro y e a ~s of s '~rvice in developinc
the compl et e ""Jl an for t he expansion of tile Institution over
period of :rears for a f ee of ~;3 , 000 . 00 and trav line; and other ex-
penses not eTcee ing ~;3 , OOO . OO ad. itional. Dr . napp :r8:,ort~ that he Jromptly
accepted this pro)osition believin it to be excellent and much needed
step and his a ction in the matter received the apl.Jroval of the Board .
Presiaent Kna~p announce i n this connection that Profes sor I~lse
had been employed to make a cotlplete survey of all private and colleee
property on the L;ai n amlms und (:rounds of the institution, shov,in lOCation
of buil dings actually constructed , this inform2tion ~ e inc de sired b
the 1 ndscape arch · t eets .
7. The location of the Fr aternity House crou 1 s discussed and, on
t he motion of L:r . r:anson, the President was aut hori::;ed to ask Olmsted
Brothers to have representative vi si t the i sti tution a t t he eV'lies t
possible a t e and make a recornr:l.end&tion <.., to the l ocati on of the new f'r",ter ni
ty homes to be erecte , all "lork on these build i ngs .to be post oned until
the matter of' l ocation i s 19reed u on. The opinion w~s expressed that it
may be d- sirable to c r:an~-,e the location of this crOU) to the East side of
Co lece Street . Governor Graves off'"red to send a party of national Guard
Officers to make a i r l ane p;hotos of all col leGe campus .and roperty.
8 . The matt er of V rehase of prope ty \ihich '-10. be, found ne cessary
i1 c :.rryinc out the devel-opl-:lGnt prog!..~am of the Institution \laS discussed .
The foll oVl ing mot i on was passed:
~.~ I' 1. ,/1) (t 1".-4 /' The President of the .J. bm:n.a .I. olytechnic In:ti tu"te is her ab authorc~
7'" '~d t o ac uire for the Alabana Polyteclmic Insti tu t e t itle to the follo line.
~\ pro 'erty '.7hich ma be needed in the develo- ment of the 'compus buildi g pro-
)v cram of the Insti tutiom 1 n the ast side of Col lege street from :.:acno-
I lia to the end of the pavi ng on said Col l e.::;e Street , (2 ) :)rop(> t, on the l.:ain
Campus kno"m as the '='hach, Lane , ?etrie, and Gl enn lots , (3 ) and t he Farrar
property on the -;-lpst s ide of the recen"';; collebe [rounds . Further , the I'resident
of the ~uabama ? 01yt8cbnic Instit te and the Gave lor, as Chairnan of
, '
the Boar of Trustees, .~,-",._ dl~ thoriz e to neco-'-iate for loans ,I.lich ~'8y be
n"' cessary to :mrchase these ) r o erties, it be i n.::: nderstood t If t the said
lots and parcels of l and ;-l ill bp ;urchased if a reasona I e price can be acrAed
upon '7i th the o-mors but , if this is liot posei e , +h" president i s aut horized
by the Boar to instituto con emn, tion roceedin' s and to do any ~nd all
thincs necessary ~o occom!, ish the T, rpose of t i s !not ion.
9 . TY~rc ';r s a cener al Jiscus"'ion o~ th~ )1. obable builrlincs ':'hich
ma:l be 0reete from the u ildi nl l'1d CJ.:,::, rop:;,~ia t e ~T tlbe last ecisl a ure
and the llrosi~nnt -:TaS ~'lthoriz" to eTill)loy arc" i t2cts 3D to.l~e s l -ter s
to ~e cur e I'll n3 en ,=:->eci ica~ions for the ollowin.:; ne':; buil clin':s
u) 'J:- "istry Building
(b ) .n:.J.Ji '-o~ ium d rdminif'tr tion Buildinc s , ()
. di t or i uIn- .rl.jmilli tlutio B ildin
c 'extile DllOi neerin _ .t}u,ildi r,
hore W'J,S some discussion as to the prob:.ble use of the )re.,,,,nt lJ.dr:
linistr< tion bui inG ut no offical actio was taken at this 1.")<'>ti"lu'
10 . Dr . 1 a ' call d t e att"''' +ion of the ;Sob.rd to the f3.ct thL,t
a co" tract has been TIL ' ,,{th the Ci tJ of BL iT'~~har:t a ·1 the . .lr· a.,'l...l 01 -
:tl11 j()Q
tee i . Institut whereby ~ t t ·o .ial:'I ;i:l be locut in
BLmin · ' illil, it beint:, u der tood t <it t '_e colL,~t;.,:ill o. n
plant and s i r.J.Ill share ,dth the Citr of · iriin,-ham in its 0 -
ere.... tion, _ ur u8.nt to the authorit crantvd by t _le BoEtI'd at it
,~ay eetinb, nd the Board 'U thoriZed the p lent
sion Fun the cost of tl e tr..:t sf01' of tl e t dtion ''''1 ich
5 , 50 0 . 00 ~ it beinc understoo th t '30, 000 . 00 ·.!ould be
this session.
The I'd also a 0 ted t e follo .line; rlOt i on offered b
Jr . Hanson aut orizine; the ne ot ~.tion of 10 s necessar t o
care for the l ast twO] ents to be 1.1 de 0 or a ~) er iod of three
years :
II I nE;::, b t e Bo d of T;custees of "' ~baL 01 --
technic Institut t hat the ~res id ent of ~ bama - olytechnic I nstit
te and t~e Gover or, as Chai r an 0 the Bo I'd of Trustees be ,
and the are hereb , authorized nd ell o',/ered .for an i n the name
of the d o. arna olytechnic Institute to bar-I'm, :'rom the Fir
:rational Bank of 13il."I1in 'han, _,lab ~ t such stUn or sums of money
a i n their ju anent and discre t i on Day ',.)E, needed for the urposes
of said Institute , not to e):ceed the SUD of '75, 000 . 00 , t
233
rate of i nterest not to eJ-ceed si )er cent er nnum, on the
understanding and acreement tl at one- hL.lf of the stUll borrovied shal l
be re aid Ili thin ne' ear from t e ate of the loan, und that the
remaini ng one- half of the amount so borro';led s h..s.ll be r epaid Ylithin
t-:10 years from the date of s id loan, and that for tLe l)UrpO e
of evidencin . any such 10 n or loans the Pre ident of the _ua ~
ol yt echnic Institute ald the Go crnor , as Chui mun of the Bo 'd
of Trustee-s , aro, and they · ' re hereby, uuthori ied and empo\'l'3red
to make , execute and d ~ li v e r in the ndme of the ·.~abama ol' technie
Institute it s' promissor note or notes and such other con- l
tracts and .a c:reement s as in the 'u'QUent of the ..iL.id: esi<len
and the Governor r. a be reasonabl y necessEtr or proper . It
11 . presi ent Kna p stated that one of the serious needs
of the in t i tution is th<...t of paved si erTc.l s on streets abu t tin
on college prop 2rty and, on :~ot i on , the matter was left to the
di cretion of the resident ';lit po;sr to act .
1 • On ot i on of r . t es the Board re~ue ted the ?re i -
dent to secure the c oo' era t i on of the state anitar EnGi neer in
determining an.d instal l i n[: an adecuate SEmi tar· s e:; .. ~ e d ' s osa1
1 t or plants in coo )era t i on ;li th the City of _iuburn, and o.ut lorize
the president t Jay such orti on of t e cost of such ade-u
te se~age di sposal pl ant as he considers fair an e~u it abl e .
1 3 . mh need for hospital service at the institution ras
discussed but no formal action VI s taken.
14 . On otion of ~ . Larnford the followinG I~otion was
passed naming the pr esident as ,lili tar property Custodi an :
L ED that the Pr esident of the Alabama polytechnic 1)Ar1l:/
I nsti tute be authori zed to act as the r.1ili tar 1'0 ert Cust odian y
of, the Al bama Polyteclmic I nst i tute and to Si 01 a l l p,.pers and~ i:JJ.A \'
234
to t2'ansact 11 busi ness of the colleee ,:,i th the ,far De rtment rebr r u.ing
the propert bel on ,in to the f ederal government and furnished to
the Ju.ab ol ytechnic Institute for mili tar trainin . • It
15. On dotion of Hr . s runford the erection of a .::;&rase at the
Presi dent ' s Home ~as authorized .
1 6 . 'r e matter of insurin the life of r e i cnt iena p for the
benefit of the ill ab' a Pol ytechnic I nstitute was then discussed and a
notion of :,:r. J. oc ers to insure for ";1 50 , 000 . 00 failed because of the l ack
of a maj ority vote . A subse uent r.lot i on made by t:r. oeer to insure
the life of the President for CI OO , OOO .OO for t e benefit of the l abama
Pol ytechnic Institute \'las assed br a vote of 6 to Durin' this dis-cussi
on Presi ent ' ap a s,ked to be excused from t he meeting. :::'ermi ssi on
was gr ant ed le ssrs . samford and Hal ey to insert in the record statements
givi ng their reasons for voting in the neGative on theE'e t HO motions .
17 . Dr. Kna p call ed att ention to the fact that he had in the
spri ng accepted an invi t ation to pr esi e at a round table conference at
the I nstitute of Public "'ff airs whi ch is to be held at the Univer i ty of
Virgi nia beginning ust 10 and aske the 0 inion of the Boar as t o
whether or not he should attend in vie","; of the v -;r iril.portant mat t ers noy;
pendi ng. mot ion was ado t ed stating that it \las the sense of the ~oard
that President Knap should fi l l hi s encagement at the University of Vi r gi
nia , gust 10- 20 .
There bei ng no further busi ness the meeti nr; was adjourned.
B. L • .:Jhi ,
Secretar
1.~J.' n G OF liE
c t ober ~ , 1928
10 = 15 .A. II.
:;:)HJi:S.l.~HT = Gover n or Gr ves, .rr . Sumi'ord, and ,lr . Herzfel d
Pr esi dent .. nal)p r s or t ed on the pur chase of .Pl'Ol)Or t y as
authorized b the Board a t its meeting i n 11o.U/SUSt . Ther e WD.
gener a l di s cussion of thi s ent ire raat t er . I t ',laS sue e s t e
as bei ng a dvi sa l e f or t he coll e e to a CQuire t itl e to
t he foll o l i ng ~ Drake r operty on CollelSe 0tr eet ; :Petrie ,
Lane , Tha ch , and Smith pr oper t be t ':loen 1.:a i n WTllJUS and t he
Cam us of the Agri c I tur al ColleGe .
The ornmit t ee aut horized and dire cted the Pr e sident to s ecure
and pa fo!' an i ndemnit bond t o r ot ect the f unds of the
col l e ge on deposi t i n the col l ege depository , First a t i on 1
Bank, 0 elika , Al bam ; t he amoun t of s aid bond to be fi xed by
the Pres i dent and ma vary from t ime to t ime s seems roper
to t he president of the institution.
The matter of p l p l ng gas from Lou i siana to p o i nts i n Ala bam
i n cl u di ng .:mburn \'Jas discus[l ed but no of fici 1 act i on t aken.
The corami ttee aut hori zed Pr e i dent ~- a p to emplo man t o
a i d in the inau gur &t i on o f t he Te tile Engi n e er i ng De artment ,
and t o hea t he s@ne and vot ed the payment of such sal ar as is
adec",ua t e to Get a sat i s factory nan .
The publicity gi ven to the i nve <: tication of utility compani.es
YIC,S i s cussed and r e s ide':1t KnaI' expl a i ned just how t his inst i t
u tion had coopsrat ed vii t h the Alabama Power Company o.nd i nformed
t he commi t t ee of stops he had t aken to prevent an criti c i sm
bei ng brought u on the insti tution e cause of connection s \'lhi ch
members of t he s t aff may have \"li t h non-colleGe or canizations .
Dr . ~I..napp e)""':pli.. .. i ned h i s p ol icy t o\"'k .rds hazi nc, _la i r - cutt i n ",
li y'u or dri nkLll, e tc ." and tol d of hi s e fforts to brine about
c ':l.ange i n the student attitu de i n reLurd to these mat t er s .
The uestion of t he fee s char -ed student s VHiS di s cussed but
no f i nal a c tion taken .
The president Has aut horized by t he zxecutive Jo ' ttee t o
accept "1 250 from the U. • " check f or ';:Thi ch had been sent t o
the i nst i tut ion b.Xs . L. Ill< Bas h i nsky i n confolJ.lJ.i t .... i th an
c t of the l egi sl ture 0 "" 1 915 'Ihi ch s tipul a t ed t hat each i ns
titution r e c e i vi nb such a de osit from t he United Daughter s
of the Conf eder acy ~oul annu 11 pa over to a beneficiar , sel
e cted by the U •• C. , t he sum of :,.;100 .
B. L. 3h1
3ecr", t ary
235
236
A
TO THE HONORABIE BOARD OF TRUSTEES OF THE ALABAMA. R>LYTECHNIC INSTITUTE:
Your committee~ appointed to investigate and recommend to your Board for President
of the Alabama Polytechnic Institute an eduoator ot national reputation and outstanding
ability~ begs leave to report upon its activities as tollows:
Soores ot letters have been written and many lines ot inYestigation undertaken in
the ettort to tind and reoommend to your bo~ the right man to assume the presidenoy ot
the .iDstitution and to direct its etforts toward maximum service to the people ot Alabama.
Your oommittee telt it a duty to investigate each man suggeste~ and to tind:
(1) Was he interested in having his name c01l8idered?
(2) Was he titted by training and experience tor the responsibilities
involved?
(3) Did he have those qualities ot leadership necessary to reunite antagonistic
torces and weld the alumni and triends ot the institution
into a loyal, vigorous, aggressive support ot it. aotivities?
(4) Did he have vision, ooupled with understanding~ tact and torce ot
character and personality? . .
~ "
Thus we considered caretully availability, ability~~and qualities ot leaderBhip~.ai elslaa.
In addition to writing direc.tly to all those whose names had been suggested, we addressed r a number ot outstanding educational leaders, such as Chancellor J. H. Kirkland, ot Vanderbilt
University, President H. A. Jlorgan~ of the University of tennessee, President E. C.
Elliott, ot Purdue u.niversit,y~ President K. G. Matheson, ot Drexel teohnologioal Institute~
and a number ot others, seeking suggestions ot man who oombined the desired qualities. We
also addressed some ot the outstanding alumni ot the institution living in other state.
and asked their help in solving the difficult problem assigned to us.
-Replies to the letters so broadcast brought -us in touch with many men of outstand!o
ing ability and charaoter. OUr preltminar,y survey~ however~ convinced us that our ohoioe
ot the man to be reoommended to your body lay among a small group ot men~ in consideration
ot all phases of our problem at Auburn. The tile ot correspondence was laid betore
a small group of alumni~ to whom your oommittee had cOrN'enient aoceS8 and in whose judgment
your oommittee had confidenoe. Their conclusions coincided with those ot your oommittee.
All things considered~ your committee telt that its first ohoioe tor more careful
investigation lay in a man ot national reputation, ot proven abilit,y in the line ot work
tor whioh his services were being souSht~ and a demonstrated leader of men. Your committee
sent a representatiVe ot Auburn to interview this man, and on hiB recommendation
summoned the educator in question to meet your committee tor a personal conterence. The
co~erence was thoroughly satistactory in every way. .A number ot available representative
alumni ot Auburn were invited to meet and oonverse at length with this man. It
was BOught to have the alumni so invited include outstanding men~ notable tor their de.
Totion to the welfare of the institution, alJd representative ot all shad~8 ot teeling
among the alumni"
The educator was questioned a8 to w11¥ he was willing to leave his present post ot
duty and undertake the presidency ot Alabama Fblyteohnic. The reasons assigned were
eminently satistactory to your committee.
As a result ot this personal oonference, your committee is prepare~ to recommend
(2)
and does unanimously reoommend to your body the selection of Dr. Bradford Knapp, President
of the ~kl.homa Agricultural and Meohanioal College, looated at Stillwater, Oklahoma, as
President of the Alabama Polyteohnio Institute.
Dr. Knapp OOJlBS reoommended to your oonnnittee by some of the leading eduoators in
Amerioa.His name is known allover the nation; his experienoe in dealing with the problems
of land grant oolleges is wide; his qualities of leadership have been thoroughly
demonstrated. He is a man of rare vision, thoroughly familiar with the problems ot institutions
s~ilar to ours, and ready and willing to undertake its leadership in the present
situation.
His name was suggested to us, in response to our request for suggestions, by Chanoellor
Kirkland, of Vanderbilt University, President Morgan, of the University of Tennessee,
Dr. Edwin Mims, Professor of English at Vanderbilt, and by others. VollDltary endorsements
of this distinguished educator, after hil name was being oonsidered, came from
Clarence Ousley, a distinguished alumnus of Aubur.n; President Bizzell, of ' the Univ6rsity
of Oklahoma, and others. Requests for information about him brought forth high praise
ot his training, experience, ability, tact, qualities ot leadership and his fitness t o
serve the people of Alabama through the Alabama Polytechnic Institute. Answers to these
requests came from all olasses and kinds of people, and in every quarter emphasis was
laid upon his ability as a foroeful, aggressive leader of men, ooupled wi th that diplomaoy
and taot required to weld together and unite all available forces for service.
Your committee particularly inquired into whether, under his leaderShip, our institutic.
n would be likely to experience a one-sided develoftnent. We found that while Dr.
Knapp has been distinguished chiefly for his service to agriculture, he was equally interested
in engineering, had done effective work in its behalf at the Oklahoma A. & M.
- College, and regarded the development of tre engineering department at the land grant
colleges as of paramount importanoe.
Dr. Bradford Knapp is the son of Dr. Seaman A. Knapp, who originated the work ot the
County Agricultural Agent, the Home Demonstration Agent and the 4-H Club Work. He was
born at Vintorl, Iowa, and lived on a stock farm unt 11 nine years old. He lived at the
Iowa State College for several years, while his father was professor of agriculture and,
later, president of the institution. He moved to Lake Charles, La., when fourteen years
of age. He e~tered Vanderbilt University in 1888 and graduated in 1892 with the degree
of Bachelor of Soienoe, majoring in chemistry. He is a member of the Kappa Alpha Fraternity
and was head of his fraternity during his senior year. He was a member of Vanderbilt's
first football team, playing taokle", and was manager of the team in his senior
year. He was associate editor of the weekly college paper, and also of the monthly literary
magaz ine.
He farmed on a large scale in Louisiana after graduation, and la.ter took a law oourso,
graduating in 1896 from the University of Michigan. He served as assistant treasurer of
Iowa State College for three years. In 1909 he aocepted a position as assistant to Dr •
. Seaman A. Knapp, wbo was developing farm demonstration work through the United States
Department of Agriculture. On the death of Dr. S. A. Knapp, in 1911, Bradford Knapp was
appointed to sucoeed him. He developed the plans left by his father and extended them.'
He inaugurated co-operation with the Southern agricultural oolleges, under a system which
later was enacted into law in the Smith-Lever act of 1914. He traveled in Europe for the
,·-.Departrllent in 1913, oollecting data on rural life and education. DuriIlg the war he wrote
for the Department the agricultural progrwm for the South.
He resigned frollt the United States De~rtment cf Agriculture in lSro and beoame Dean
of Agriculture and Director of Stations and Extension in the University of Arkansas; here
he inoreased the enrollment ir! the College of Agriculture and 'the standing of the institution.
In September 1923, he beoame President of the Oklahoma Agrioultural and Meohanical
College, at Stillwater, Oka. In the five year period the enrollment of resident students
/
(3)
of the oollege has inoreased 70 percent. The experimental work in agriculture has been
more than doubled, and an engineer'irlg experiment station commenced. Research work has
increased, and with work completed and now under way, more than a million dollars worth
.~ of buildings has been added to the college plant during his presidency.
Dr. Knapp is six f'eet tall, weights 185 pounds, is a member of the Kappa Alpha Fraternity,
a thirty-second degree Jlason, Knight Templer, national honorary member of Alpha
Zeta, honorary agricultural fraternity, honorary me~r Fbi Kappa Phi, honorary scholarship
f'raternity, honorary member "Scabbard and Blade, honorary military fraternity,
honorary member Kappa Delta Pi, honorary educational fraternity.
, Dr. Knapp is a member of the Presbyterian Churc~ a Demcrat in politics, and a
member of' the Rotary Club. Be is the author of' many articles, bulletins and addresses
on agrioultural and eoonomic subjects and on the relation of' agriculture to industry.
He received the honorary degree of' Doctor of Agriculture f'rom the University of Maryland
in 1918.
Clarence Ousley, Auburn alumnus, and prominent in agrioultural work, says of' h~:
tilt has been my priYilege to Mve intimate assooiation with Dr. Knapp since 1914.
Theref'ore, I feel fully qualified to testify ooncerning his intelleotual, professional
and character attributes. As an alumnus of the Alabama POlyteohnic. I ~ deeply interested
in the welfare of the Instit.ution, and for that reason I am venturing to of'f'er what
I know of' Dr. Knapp. As Direct or of Agrioultural Extension of the A. &: M. College of'
Texas, 1914 to 1917, and as Assistant Secretary of' the United States Department of Agriculture
trom 1917 to 1919, I had an opportunity to meet and appraise most of' the men in
leadership or exeoutive posit.ion in 'the Land Grant Colleges. I am sure that not one of
, them outranks Dr. Knapp in native ability', in understanding of technological education,
in exeoutive f'aculty or in personal. poise and talent for administration, and I recall
f'ew Land Grant College executives who are his equal in this respeot."
Dr. W. B. Bizzell, President of the University of Oklahorna., says:
"I have known Dr. Knapp f'or nany years. I have been associated with him here in
Oklahoma. now f'or three ye ars. I can truthfully say that he has accomplished wonders for
the A.& M. College of' this state and for the cause of agriculture during the time he has
been President of the College. He has brought harmony where there was discord; he has
reoonstructed his college curricula in acoord with modern soientifio and agricultural
tendencies, and he has won the conf'idenoe of the people of this state in a remarkable
way.
Dr. Knapp is a JIBll of the hil!,hest character, wonderf'ul personality and remarkable
fine spirit. It has been a joy to me to w.ork with him. A thing that many boards f'orget
in the seleotion of a president is the oonsideration of a man's family. The family lif'e
of Dr. Knapp has been an inspiration to me. Mrs. Knapp is a Wonderfully fine woman and
a remarkable mother. She fits in perf'eotly in a oollege community. To know her is to
love her. The children are what you would expeot f'rom a cultured home, such as that ot
President KnapP.' While I cannot say less in behalf' of my friend, I confess to you that
I would regret beyond words to see him leave this state. My association with him has
been all that could be asked."
A prominent Oklahoma insurance man says:
itIn reply to your inquiry of Feb. 25th" ooncerning Dr. Bradford Knapp, now President
ot our state A&JI College, I beg to advise that I know him personally and can vouch
for his splendid character and keen ability as an eduoator. Dr. Knapp oame to us as a
'hand-picked', outstanding type of'man and his resignation will cause general regret,
?--
(4)
for the citizens of Oklahoma are very much attached to him and fully appreciate his
ability. Dr. Knapp is a born diplomat and brought order out of chaos, after taking
hold of our 'Aggie School' better than four years ago. In my opinion. your oollege
would be fortunate in having Dr. Knapp as President. It
A leading Oklahoma newspaper says editorially:
"Familiar 'Wi th our state and of proved worth as an educational executive, Dr.
Bradford Knapp is an asset to the whole state as president of A. and M. College. Moreover,
he has formulated a program of growth and development for the school that must
inevitably be somewhat disrupted by his departure. The sohool he heads is destined to
be an important faotor in the future grol't'th of the state. Its trained alumni will be
advisers and participants in improved agrioulture. They will aid in education, engineering,
industry and statecraft. A. & K. i8 one of the state's great eduoational institutions.
and its future will be brif,;hter if Dr. Knapp remains. But Oklahoma must oompete with
other states for able men in school work. Failure to recognize that faot has cost us
the service of other outstanding educators. If the Alabama Polytechnic Institute shows
greater appreciation of his worth. we cannot blame him. if he goes. But he i8 needed
here. and the state should do its best to keep him."
The oollege paper "The Daily Of Collegian" , says editorially regarding the report
that Dr. Knapp was being considered for the presidency of Alabama Polyteohnic:
"The pretident's five-odd years at A. and M. have been spent too profitably for the
school to oome to the conclusion that President Knapp will always be at the helm of the
Aggie institution. The record has been too good, that other institution. would not oast
covetous eyes toward Stillwater. The writ,er can remember those turbulent times in 1923.
If ever the future of the college was darkened, it was that year; when most sta.unch
backers of the college wondered what would come out of the institutional wreok in Still ..
water. We recall the appointment by the board of agriculture of Bradford Knapp to bring
the college out of the wilderness of mis-management and political ohaos that had all but
broken any prestige the school could have built up.
As a freshmen the writer saw that appointment. We see the A. and M. of today as a
senior student. The A. and M. of t23" and the A. and M. o~ '28. The compirison is all
that is necessary to indicate the work of the president that has been done here. We
wonder if the A. and-M. of '33 will resemble the present school no more than the present
school resembles the college in '23. The future A. and M. is much in our hearts; the
Stillwater school has hardly started its growth and its work. We hope the Doctor will
'linger yet awhile'."
In addition to those already referred to. Dr. Knapp's 8e~erence8 inoluded such
names as the President of Texas A. & M.~ the President of the University of Maryland;
Dr. John J. Tigert, U. S. Commissioner of Education; Dr. P. P. Claxton, former U. s.
Commissioner of Education; Dr. Clarence FOe, editor of The ProgreSSive Farmer; Dr. Tait
Butler, Progressive Farmer; Dr. David Franklin Houston, President Mutual Life Insurance
Company, New York~ and former Secretary of Agriculture and Secretary of the Treasury in
Wilson's Cabinet. .
A number of Oklaho~~ bankers were requested to furnish the committee confidential
information regarding Dr. Knapp, through a prominent Alabama banker, who had olose relations
with members ot the banking fraternity in Oklahoma.
One of them. in reply to the confidential communication, says:
<"I graduated from that school in 1898 and immediately following my graduation, I
was appointed as one of the five members ot the Board ot Regents, and was soon after
eleoted Treasurer of the college. I served as member ot the board and Treasurer of the
(5)
college for about seven years, and I have known every president that the institution haa
had sinoe its infanoy; and can without hesitation say that Dr. Knapp is the best president
the institution has ever had. He is cape.ble in every way, and a splendid educator".
Another banker says:
"Dr. Bradtord Knapp, who is President of the A. & M. College at Stillwater, is one
of the outstanding educators in this part: ot the country. He is a man of high ideals,
a scholar of high standing, and a very delightful man with it all. I think he would
make you a fine President for Ale-bema Polytechnic. Personally, however, I Tft)uld dislike
exceedingly to see him leave the State."
Still aIlOther banker says:
"The general opinion through this section of the state, and I believe generally over
the state, is that Bradford Knapp, of the State A. & K. College, at Stillwater, Okla.,
is an educator ot superior ability and is a man of high character and qualities. His
administration of the A. & K. School during the five years that he has been its President,
has plaoed it on a high plane. Our own state would suffer materially througp any change
that would remove h~l from his. present location, and we would regret it. We regard h~
oaPlble ot giving a highly satistactory service in the line of his profession, wherever
he may oast his lot."
From all of the inquiries made by your committee, opinions in any degree unfavorable
to Dr. Knapp were elicited in only two cases. Investigation developed personal reasons
in one oase, which was satisfactorily explained to the oommittee, and another, a banker,
trankly stated that he was speaking from hearsay information derived from a political
or semi-political source.
So, from letters from business men, bankers, educators and interested alumni; fram
personal contact during the course 0 f an extended interview; from the favorable impression
made upon a distinguished and representative group of alumni; and from the record of the
!!Iln, your committee feels that it has every reason to believe it has discharged its duty
to your Board and to the institution in recommending a man of national reputation and
outsta.nding ability as an eduoator, as well as a man fitted by training and experienoe
to be a leader.
We unanimously and unqualifiedly recommend to your Board the selection of Dootor
Bradford Knapp as president of the Alabam Polyteohnic Institute.
Respeotfully submitted,
« ,S ~ \~ ~' J --A-. __- w_ ____________ ~ ~ ~~~ ~
TO THE BO 'FUO"" I~~:':-l F THE.ALAB..'iMA OLYTECHNIC IN ITUTE.
We , your Committee appointed at the last meeting of the Board of
Trustees to i nvestigate , interpret and determine the legal status of the
EDUCATIONAL APPROPRI ~T ION BILL passed by the last l e~ i slature , with special
reference to the action of the State Board of Educa tion and t he incidental
actl.on of t he State Council o f Edu cation in relation to and growing out of
the alhlotment of the fund of ~plOO , OOO . OO known as the Teacher Tr a ining Equal-ization
Fund for Hi gh School Teachers in .AJ..ab8JJ18 at the t hree hi5her institu-tions
of l earning , beg l eave to report:
1. Your Corroni ttee met at The Tu t wi l er Hotel i n Binnin ham, on May n h ,
1928 .
2 . 'fe had before us the Act of the Legislature in uestion, a trans-scrip
t of the actionoof -the State Board of , - Edu ca tion , a copy of the Minutes of
!the State Council of Education in relation to and rowi ng out of th i s subject ,
together wi th c on siderable correspondence from the Superintendent of Education,
Dr . Dowell, Dr. Carmichael, and oth'3r documents bearing on t he subject .
3. After a careful study of the subjec t in all of i tis phases by t he
individual members of t he Commi ttee previous to i ts meeting and a full dis-cussion
and cons iderat ion of t he sub ject at the meeting, your Committee is
wlanimously of the opinion t hat the action of the State Board of Education in
the allotment of this fund of ~lOO , OOO. OO known as t he Teacher Trai ning Equal-ization
Fund for .Hi gh School Teachers at the three h i ghe r institutions of lea rn-ing
was not only grossl y inequitable and unfa ir but was illegal .
We are of the opinion that t he said fund was not "apportioned" by the
stay Boi?d of Educa t ion in any true sense of the meani ng of the word apportion
~acCOrding to t he true intent or meaning of t he ct , but that t he same was
,
arbitrarily allo~ed vd t hout any pri nciple of equali zation in rel a tion t o t he
load of teacher t raining for high s chool te achers carried by t he three higher
G:'v/
institutions of l earning, namely, Alabe_tla Pol technic Institute , University
of Alabama , and Alabama College . A carefUl readi ng and consideration of the
entire Act-- House Bill 318 , known as the "Unified Edu ca tional rogram Bill"--
shows that the pri nciple of "equalization" pervades and dominates t hroue;hout
the oill. In our opinion, this p rinciple and this spirit were ignored by t he
State Board of Educc l;ion in its arbitrary allotment of the fund in question.
In Section 21 of said bill the word "apportion" is repeatedly used. This
word "apport ion" means "to assi gn in just proportion" and excludes all t hought
of any arbitrary ac tion. Section 21 of said. ct says : "The sum of <11'100, 000. 00
shall be devoted exclusively to the training of ~ school teachers .·1
The effort at allocation of teacher tra i ning work at tlle University
of Alabama by t he State Board of Education, which effort was subse c.,.uently 1'01-
lowed before the State Council of ~duc a tion , assi gns to the University not only
.r---- work "in training hi gh school teachers" but undertakes to assign to the University
a l arge amount of work in the training of "elementary teachers " . Furthermore,
the action of the State Council of .l!.:duc ation in attemptinG t he alloc ation of
teacher t r aining work at the University undertakes to set up a sup er school in
teacher t r aini ng work embracing the training of super intenden t s of' high schools
and pr inc.ipals of h i gh school s, and , also, to do certain research work. Cle ,rly ,
the State Board of Educa tion had no legal ri ght to allot to the University any
portion of the said sum of !,?100, 000. 00 to support and carry on any teacher train-ing
work that was not "exclusively" for the training of ".!I.i . __ school te,achers . "
The State Board of Edu cation in their effort to justify the unfair and
inequitable allotment of t his aaid $100, 000. 00 fund for the "exclusive t raining
of high school teachers" , undertook to prescribe certain work in teacher training
-' at the three h i gher institutions of leamin , but said Board , probably being
subsequently advised that they had no such authority, abandoned such effort and
suspended its fonner action in regard to t he allotment of said fund until the
allocation of work might be passed upon by the State Council of Education. This
- 2-
I,
"~I
-- /
1s a clear admission on the part of the State Board of Education that its
action was predicated upon an illegal estimation on its part with reference
to the allocat ion of work. It i s , tlwrefore , just as i llegal to predicate
its all otment of the $100, 000. 00 fund on the subsequent effort on t he part
of the State Council of .t:ducat ion for the allocat ion of work, it being ad-mi
tted by every member of the State Council of Education that the State
Council of Education has no authority in the premises other than such as
may be construed to be advisory. In fact , t he law creating the State Council
of Education mru<es it affirmatively and emphatically to appear that the State
Council of Education can do no more than to consider and advise , or recommend
the allocation of work . So far as any authority or law i s concerned the State
Council of Education has no more authority to allocate VlOrk at the three higher
institutions of learn ing than the State Board of Educat ion. Both Boards are
alike impotent to perform any such service. I t clear l y appeal'S, therefore ,
that the a ction of the State Board of Education in the allotment of this
$100, 000. 00 fund for the trainin of hizh school teachers predicated on any
action of the attemp ted allocation of work either by the state Board of Edu-cation
or the State Council of Education is illegal . Furthermore , the clear
meani ng and int ent of the Act of t he Legi slat ure is for the "apportionment"
of t h i s fund based upon the amount of work in teacher training Wh~h was being
aone at the time of the passa e of the '-c t , and said Act; did not contemplate
the rearrangement of the reallocation of teacher training work in the future .
'vVe are advised that t he State Board of Education undertook to justify
its action i n the divi sion of this $100, 000. 00 fwld by basing the uivi sion or
allotment of said trust fund on t he entire load of work that was being done at
each of t hese hi gher institutions of le anling. Even ul)on t his basis the Uni -
versity of Alabruna is carrying a load of between 500 and 600 non- resi dent s tu-
- 3-
~-------------------
dents , and in the light of that fact any such basis would be an unfair basis
for the division of any State fund. Besides this , the St ate Board i gnores
the fact tl~t the Univers ity has a l a r ge i ncome from other sources not en-joyed
by e ither of the other two hi gher institut ions of learning. But any
such basis for the division or a:pporti onment of t his fund is illegal and
altogether aside from the pl ain meaning of the Act. This fund of $1 00,000.00
is "exclusively" for the ,jtraining of hi@l school teachers" , and clearly any
fair division or apportionment of the fWld upon the principle of equalization
must be based upon the work that is bein done in that particular or restrict-ed
line of teacher training work, and any other basis i s not only unfair but
illeeal.
The Act i n question, in t he l a tter clause of Section 21 , provides :
•
"That before any p~f!}!q f it is apportioned to an institution
for any year the~olO ~~educat ion of such ins titution s hall submit
through its president a budget for the approval of the State
Board of Education."
Clearly, this clause constitutes a condition precedent .
We are advised that the State Board of ~du c a tion in its action i gnored
t his provision of t he l aw. The allotment or effort to apportion t he said sum
of '!~100 , 000.00 to the three h igher institutions of learning was no"1:; only done
without t he submiss ion of a budget on the part of the dean of either of said -" "-
institutions , but the action of the said Board of Educ&tion was actually done
wi thou"1:; the knowledge of eithe r of the p res i dents of the Alabama Polyteclmic
Inst i tute or of the Alabama Gollee;e. The ignoring of the p r esidents of t hese
two hi gher institutions of l earning, we are told, was designedly done . Certain-l
y it was not a mere overs i ght . In t he light of subse uent development s such
omission seems si gnificant .
\fe r egret , also, that t his unfortunate episode seems t o have had its
genesis just about the time when t he Alebama Polytechnic Institute was passing
t hrough a distressful transition peri od from one admini stration to another;
- 4-
---- -- -- ---------------------------------------
~I
when common courtesy and any sort of sympathetic consideration to be expected
from other educa t i onal a gencies should prompt an open, fa i r and free discussion
of such contemplated action.
We r e commend that every right , le gal and moral , of the Alabama Polytechnic
Institute be protec ted in every feasible and legal way, that its standing
as an ins tituti on be maint ained and to that end such step s be t aken as t his
Board may deem a dvisabl e and proper under t h e circumstances .
4 . We do not deem the question of t he s o-call ed Edu c ational Survey of
Al abama made nea r l y ten years a go a vital one for t he cons ideration of t h i s
Coromi ttee nor of t his Board of Trust ees at this time. 'l'he so- called Educ a tional
Survey has been repudiated by the Board of Trustees of t he P~abama Coll ege ;
it i s functus officio so far as any bind ing effect upon either of the t hree
hi gher insti t utiOllS of l e a r n ing ar e conce rn ed . An,d, i f i t i s insis ted by eit her
of said three h i gher i n stituti ons of l earn ing that su cp. institut i on has any advantage
on acc ount or by virtue of such Edu cational Survey , we r e c ommend t hat
t h i s Boa r d of Trustees f ollow t he exampl e of t he Boa r d of Trustees of Alabama
Col l ege and al so r epudiat e s uch survey so far as i t may apply to the Alabama
Polytechnic In s ti~~te . However, since t he a ction of t he Board of Trus tees of
the Al abama College i n thi s regard , we de~ any action by t his Board unnecess ary .
Notwithstandine , we feel t hat the Alabama Polytechnic Institute has
kept f a i th in sp iri t and in fact wi th every understand inr.' , wri~ ten or verbal,
had between t hose assumi ng to repr esent each of t he thre e h i gher insti t ut ions
of l earn ing , at any and all times in t he past ; we are soundl y of the opinion
that a f ailure t o apportion the fund of ~lOO , 000. 00 f or t r aining hi gh s c hool
teachers i n t he just and f air' p ropor tion wh ich obtained by agreemen·t; with
refel'ence t o a l l other i t ems of apPlD.opriat ions (3a~ to Auburn, 39% to University,
- 5-
and 22% to Montevallo ), is sufficient notificat;ion to Auburn, at l east , that
those who ins i st upon such unfair allotment no longer desire to main-tain any
worlcable understandings or agre.aments . We deprecate thi s beyond any possible
means of expression; but we are in no way re~onsibl e for the program of i n-hannony
which must inevitably follow. The Alabama Polytechnic Insti tute seeks
no advantage of a sister inst i tution. .iI~l we ask , and t his we must demand and
insist on, i s equal and f a i r treatment .
5. And we recommend t hqt this Board declare i t s purpose and plans
to continue to do such work in teacher training and in other fie l ds as it has
been do i ng in the past and up t o t he pre sent -- amplifying and developing the
various lines of work to meet the growing demands on t he i nst i tution and as
may be expected from the i ncreased appropriation by the Legi sl ature f or t h i s
work; includi ng tra i n i ng in work in dministrative and Su )ervisor f i elds and
F - -:.. i n the grades beyond Normal Sch ool graduation, and tha t the Alabama .Pol yteclmic
Inst i tU-Ge will continue to adhere to i ts purpose and pl an not to i nterfer e
with the highest possible useful ness and work of the a ther h i gher institut i ons
of l e arning; and so far as it may be p ennitted, to maint a in an attitude of
ood will and a sp irit of co-op eration. But this great i ns titution, as the
pioneer i nstitution of its kind in the South , must maint ain it s s t andar ds and
i deals of the past, must c ont inue to be p r ogressive, must meet 'the demands
made upon such colleges th ro-~gh out the country, and must ad just its curricul a
from time to time t o meet these r e u irements . For t h i s we ma( e no ap ologi es
and ask no p ermi s s i on . 'L'b.is is in no s ense a challenge nor threat ; it is a
; L~p le and fraruc decl ar at ion of duty and responsib ility .
6. In order that t he unbiased facts i n r elation to this unfortuna te
ep i s ode may be pr eserved , and that the fr i ends of J! .. uburn College and t he people
of Al ab&~u may l earn the tru~~, we 'have care ful l y r ead and considered a narrative
statement of the entire matter prepared
- 6-
~(
1--..
Committee of the factuty of t his institution, and we , as a committee , have
r !;; u os t ed thc..t SCL 8 e publi shed in pamphle t form and furni shed to t hose
\'Tho may re tluest copies of same.
o. R. Hood, Chairman,
Chus . Henderson,
T. D. Samford,
Charle s S. McDo'iiell ,
C. 'if. :..shcraft .
- 7-
,.....7
\ /
, .'
'"
OKLUIo}U
AGlUCCLTnLl.L AXIl )rE ()IL,"~CAI, COLLEGl':
STI t..r;WATl:U
Orl~l eE 01;- TUE Pln; SI1) l~~"' T
March 20 , 1928
The Board of Trustees of the Alabama Polytechnic Institute
Hon. Bibb Graves , Governor of Alabama, Mont gomery, Alabama
Dr. R. E. Tidwell, Superintendent of Education, Montgomery, Alabama
Hon. H. D. Merrill, Annist on , Alabama
Hon. Harry Hersfeld, Alexander Ci~ , Alabama
Hon. Oliver R. Hood , ~adsden , Alabama
Hon. Charles Henderson, Troy , Alabama
Hon. J . A. Rogers , Gainesville, Alabama
Hon. C. W. Ashcraft , Florence, Alabama
Hon. C. S. McDowell , Eufaula, Alabama.
Hon. Victor H. Hanson, 'me Birmingham News , Binmi ngham, Alabama
Dr. W. H. Oats , Mobile, Alabama
Hon. T. D. Samford, Opelika , Alabama
Han. p. S. Haley, Oakman, Alabama
Pro f e ssor B. L. Shi , Secretary, Auburn, Alabama
Gentlemen:
I am sending this brief l etter of greeting on receipt of the f ormal
not i ce of my appointment as Pr esident of t he Alabama Polytechnic Institute
, the no t ice having come f rom W~ . B. L. Shi, Secretary of your Board .
I have a lready accepted t he trust you have imposed in me , and with tha t
trust I am looking forward to t he day when I shall assume the many
responsibili t ies which that off i ce carries with it .
I am deeply sensible of t he honor you have paid me , and l ikewi se of
the burdens whi Ch come wi th it. I am very greatly strengthened , however,
by your universal promi ses of cooperation, and the fact that your Board
was unanimous in it s act i on. I as~~re you that I am deeply devoted to
the peopl e of t he Sout h . I have studied their p~ob~or years past .
I was educat ed i n t h ei r mi dst, and I have no desire in the world except
to serve as I may best serve in their i nterest. Believing as I do tha t
we a re beginning to see the dawn of a new day, with the industries and
agri culture of the South coming int o t heir own, a l l I want to De is a
part of t he dawn of t hat day.
Ther e are too many things for me to speak of in a l etter. I shall
hope to see and visit all of you, indivi dually and col l ecti vely. I
ha ve always want ed t he Board for whom I worked t o know all about the
plans , pOlicies , and met hods of worki ng t h i ngs out . I shall enjoy, I
hope , your confid ence and your intimat e per sonal cont act . I believe the
task you have a s signed t o me is one of t he most important in t he St ate
of Alabama , and I hope I shall be gi ven strength and wi sdom enough to
live up yo your every expectation.
BUDGET OF THE
ALABAMA POLYTECHN IC I NSTITUTE
SUMMARY OF I NC mirE AND D ISB tJR SEMENTS
July 1, 1928 - June 30, 1929
Colleg e Maintenance
Activities
Tr us t Funds
BUi lding s, Gr ounds & Equipment
Extension Service
Agricultural Experiment station (Less
App ropriat ion to F ield & Sub-station
Re c eipts
619869.95
8040 0 .00
155300.00
187500.00
621530.9 9
172099.16
1836 700.10
Disburse- Bal ance
ments {Contingert
590835 •. 86 29034.09
80400 .00 -------
155300.00 -------
-- -. -~- -- 187 500.00
532086.16 89444.83
161650 . 36 10448 . 80
1520272.38 3 1 6427 .72
BUDGET
.ALABAJfi.A POLYTECillUC ll'lSTITUl'E
July 1, 1928 - June 30, 1929
mCOME - COLLEGE MAlli!TENANCE
Appropriations :
Morrill
End owment
In Lieu of Fertilizer Tax
IvTaint enance
Buildings &. Maintenance tAo
Maintenance, Supplement
In Lieu of Oil Tax
$30'795.00
20280.00
33000.00
45000.00
1.) 12500.00
258594.95
24000.00
Federal & State (Smith ffughes)
Teacher Training
Ma tr icula ti on:
Main Session
Summer School
Extension Teaching
Income Operations:
108000.00
16000.00
10000.00
(Sales, Dormitory Profits, etc.)
nmOME - BUILDlliCS, GROUNDS &. EQ,UIH,'IEl\"T
State Appropriation *18'7500.00
424169.95
14'700.00
30000.00
134000.00
17000.00
~i 619869.95
I .' .
*This appropriation is subject to the Governor's approval.
~I
BUDGET - Continued
mCOME - EXTENSIOlf SERVICE
Appropriations:
Federal
U. S. D. A.
Smith-Lever
Smith-Lever Supplement
State
Smith-Lever
County Agents Fund
Agricultural Extension
County Funds (Estimated)
Sales, Miscellaneous (Estimated)
Donations (Estimated)
mCOME - EXPERlll'lENT STATION
Appropriations:
Federal
Hatch
Adams
Purnell
State
Local E2q)El,riment
Investigation at Auburn
Agricultural Research
Sales Miscellaneous (Estimated)
Donati6hs (Estimated)
32730.00
156690.28
46511.55
162500.00
30000.00
43099.16
15000.00
15000.00
50000.00
27000.00
7500.00
43099.16
471530.99
120000.00
23000.00
7000.00
$621530.99
80000.00
'7'7599.16
12000.00
2500.00
~?1 '72099.16*
*Appropriations for Fields and ,Sub-stations not shown,
as the amounts are conditioned 'on the progress of the work.
-
BUOOET
ALAB.AMA POLYTECHNIC rnSTIT1J'I'E
'rEACHING
July 1, 1928 to ~une 30, 1929
EXPENDI'IURES
ADMIN JB 'I'RATI ON:
President's Office 36950.00
Busin.ess Office 4678 .00
Registrar's Office 13925.00
SCHOOL OF AGRICULTURE:
Agricultural Engineering 8350.00
Agronomy 6300.00
Animal Industry 25250 . 00
Botany 5550.00
Entomology 9300 .00
Horticulture l0900.00
Poultry 4450 . 0q,
SCHOOL OF ENGll!EERHJG
Civil Engineering 13410.00
Electrical Engineering 23641 .00
Highway Engineering 4420 .00
Machine Design llOOO .OO
Mechanical Engineering 25000 . 00
Hesearch Engineering 6000 . 00
AC.'i!.DEMIC FACUL'lY:
Economics 17000.00
English. ~O240.00
History 12'790~ OO
Mathematics 23050 ~ 00
Musia 1800.00
Modern Languages 7875.00
Physics 13225.00
SCHOOL OF CHE:NTISTRY &, PHARIvffi.CY:
Chemistry 29900.00
Pharmacy 10000.00
-,T-o-ta-ls
55553.00
70100.00
83471.00
~;"980 .00
39900.00
.L
~I
BUDGET - Continued Brought Forward 344004.00
EDUCATION:
Education 9000.00
JlIigh. School Practice
Slni th-Hughes
Summer School
Teacher Training
Teaching 2000.00
14'700.00
28152.11
30000.00
HOME ECONQ1/ilCS:
Home Economi cs
SCHOOL OF ARCHITEC'IURE:
Architecture
SCHOOL OF VETERlliARY !v1EDIClNE:
Vet or inary
EXTENSION 'I'EACHING:
Extension Teaching
GENERAL SERVICE DEPARrrMENTS:
Buildings & Grounds
Catalogue & Advertising
Commencement
Dean of 'Varnen
Health
Insurance and Bonds
Interest on Wat er System
Campus
Library
Military
Physical Training
Publicity
Repairs, Grading, etc.
State Dept. o~ Education
Trustees
Heat, Light & Water
GRAND TOTLL
11250.00
20000.00
12000.00
20933.00
2500.00
400.00
400.00
5512.'75
4000.00
21.00.00
6000.00
11572.00
2890.00
4050.00
8900.00
25000.00
500.00
400.00
6000.00
83852.11
11250.00
175'72.00
20000.00
12000.00
~(
.--;
BUOOET - Continued
mcOME - ACTIVITIES (Projeots under superv1s10n of College, but
having no direct bearing on teaching.)
These accounts are intended to be self-supporting.
Project
Carpenter Shop
Dormitories & Cottages
*Heat, Light & Uater
Practice House
R.O.T.C. Uniform
Smith Hall Board
Student Contingent
R.O.T.C. Shoe Account
Auburn Outing Club
Uniform Deposit
Receipts
10000.00
3000.00
32000.00
900.00
9060.00
12000.00
7500.00
1500.00
500.00
4000.00
$80400.00
Expenditures
10000.00
3000.00
32000.00
900.00
9000.00
12000.00
7500.00
1500.00
500.00
4000.00
$80400.00
*Thls account, by selling current to town of Auburn, has
been able to operate and furnish heat, light and water to
the College off the profits.
nrcOIvm: - TRUST FU.NI:6
Project
Athletic (Fees)
Athletic (Games)
Fresllman Class Dues·
Glomerata
Laundry
.Junior Class Dues
Lectures
Plainsman
Senior Class Dues
Scholarships
Sophomore Class Dues
Social (Y .M.C .A. Rects. $250)
Sigma Nu Loan & Interest
Theta Chi Loan & Interest
Receipts
9000.00
70000.00
300.00
10000.00
40000.00
500.00
1.550.00
4600.00
800.00
10000.00
300.00
3750.00
2250.00
2250.00
OJPIIOOYJQ~
155308.01
EX)?endi tures
9000.00
70000.00
300.00
10000.00
40000.00
500.00
1550.00
4600.00
800.00
10000.00
300.00
3750.00*
2250.00
2250.00
l1IOOOOt~
15~G.@'
*Expenditures for Social Y. M. C. A. and Y. W. C. A.
BUDGET
ALAB1ill/IA POLY'rECHNIC JNSTI'IDl'E
EXTENSION SERVICE
July 1, 1928 - June 30, 1929
EXPENDITURES:
Administration
Publications
Visual Instruction
Agricultural Editor
Agricultural Engineering
Animal Industry
Agronom,v
Boys Club STork
Clothing
County Agents
Entomology
Food Preservation
Girls Club Work
Home Demonstration Work
Home Industries
Horticulture
Marketing
Movable Schools
Negro Boys
Negro Mon
Negro Women
Farm Forestry
Total
15650.00
4 000~00
5800.00
9235.31
6100.00
1'7100.00
5250.00
4200.00
4000.00
23296~. 8 9
4000.00
4000.00
3400.00
13'7024.90
4000.00
4'700.00
11000.00
4080.00
2520.00
36300.00
115 64~00
4200.00
532086.16
tfo(
BUlXlET
A1..J\B1lMA. POLYTECHNIC INSTITUTE
AGRICULTURAL EXPERIMENT STATION
July 1, 1928 - June 30, 1929
EXPENDITURES :
Ldministration 12820.00
Publications 3600.00
Library 1175.00
Agrono~ 369]5.00
Animal Industry 20700.00
Agricultural Editor 442.72
Agricultural Economics Research 15900;00
Botany 5510~00
Chemistry 5550.00
Entomology 11640.00
Far.m Management 4800.00
Horticulture 12120.00
HCllme Economics Research 3000.00
Poultry 5327.54
TOTAL 147150.36Auburn University Board of Trustees19281920sAuburn University LibrariesEducation -- Higher Education; History -- 1875-1929: The New South EratextpdfBOT_1928.pdfAuburn University Libraries. Special Collections and Archiveseng1928This image is the property of the Auburn University Libraries and is intended for non-commercial use. Users of the image are asked to acknowledge the Auburn University Libraries. For information about obtaining high-resolution copies of this and other images in this collection, please contact the Auburn University Libraries Special Collections & Archives Department at archives@auburn.edu or (334) 844-1732.http://cdm17353.contentdm.oclc.org/cdm/ref/collection/bot/id/7401 |