C Ellis, Elmer (1901-1989), Papers, 1830-1995 4069 47.5 linear feet This collection is available at The State Historical Society of Missouri. If you would like more information, please contact us at [email protected]. INTRODUCTION The papers of the fourteenth president of the University of Missouri. The materials contain correspondence, reports, speeches, newspaper clippings, publications, teaching materials, awards, degrees, photographs, and miscellaneous material. DONOR INFORMATION The papers were donated to the University of Missouri by Elmer Ellis on 29 June 1984 (Accession No. 4580). Additions were made on 25 January 1990, 6 July 1990, 31 August 1990, 18 September, 1991, 4 June 1992, and 4 November 1997 by Ruth Ellis (Accession Nos, 4942, 4959, 4987, 5086, and 5181). BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCH Elmer Ellis, B.A., A.M., Ph.D., American historian, President of the University of Missouri from 1955-1966, was born on July 27, 1901, in North Dakota, the son of Thomas Clarkson and Lillie Jane (Butterfield) Ellis. He married Ruth Clapper in 1925. He was educated at the University of North Dakota and the State University of Iowa; an instructor at North Dakota State Teacher’s College, 1925-1928; Lecturer in History, State University of Iowa, 1928-1930; Assistant Professor, Associate Professor, and Professor of History, University of Missouri, 1930. Also at the University of Missouri, Ellis was acting Dean of the Graduate School, 1936, 1939, 1941. During the Second World War, Ellis was assigned to the U.S. Army History Branch, War Department General Staff. Ellis was Dean of the Faculty, College of Arts and Science, 1946-1955, Acting President of the University of Missouri from 1954-1955, and President from 1955-1966. Ellis was a member of the History Advisory Committee, U.S. Army and Chair, 1957- 1959, and President Emeritus from 1966 until his death in 1989. Among his most noteworthy publications were Mr. Dooley at His Best, 1938; Henry Moore Teller, Defender of the West, 1941; Mr. Dooley’s America, a Life of Finley Peter Dunne, 1941; Toward Better Teaching in College, 1954; and My Road to Emeritus, 1988. SCOPE AND CONTENT NOTE The papers have been arranged into the following 13 series: Correspondence; Reports; Speeches; Publications; Teaching Material; Genealogical Material; Research Material; Manuscript Material; Awards, Degrees, and Certificates; Photographs; School Material; Military Service Material; and Miscellaneous Material. Please note that some series descriptions have been combined due to the small number of folders in the series. C4069 Ellis, Elmer (1901-1989), Papers, 1830-1995 Page 2 The Correspondence series consists of letters and memos to and from fellow administrators, departments, professors, students, and personal friends. The letters focus Ellis’s presidency, administrative issues, etc. The series is arranged chronologically. The Reports series consists of statistical material on the University of Missouri, along with material on other educational institutions, both in Missouri and other states. The series is arranged chronologically. The Speeches series consists of speeches Ellis made to the graduating classes of numerous high schools and colleges, as well as philanthropic organizations, such as the Optimist and Rotary clubs. The series is arranged chronologically. The Publications series consists of various academic and administrative material produced for educators and administrators; newspaper book reviews, social studies topics, etc. The series is arranged chronologically. The Teaching Material series contains lecture notes focusing on historical topics such as recent U.S. History, History of the West, etc. Also social studies teaching notes. The series is arranged chronologically. The Genealogical and Research Material series consists of information on the Butterfield family (Ruth Ellis’s side), Ellis’s M.A. thesis, classes on medieval civilization, and research material on Ellis’s biography of Finley Peter Dunne. This material is arranged chronologically. The Manuscript Material series consists of typescript passages from Finley Peter Dunne’s Mr. Dooley, as appeared in various newspapers, such as the Chicago Evening Post and the New York American and Journal during the late 19th and early 20th century. Also Ellis’s autobiography, My Road to Emeritus, 1988. The Awards, Degrees, Certificates, Photographs and School Material series consists of various honorary degrees awarded to Elmer Ellis by different schools, such as the University of North Dakota, Central College, Fayette, Missouri, Drury College, Springfield, Missouri, The University of Missouri, Fortnightly Club, etc; photographs of the University of Missouri, Board of Curators, Academy of Squires, Commencements, meetings, luncheons, etc; biographies and monographs done by Ellis while a student at the University of North Dakota, etc. The Military Service and Miscellaneous Material series consists of material on Ellis’s service as Captain and later Major with the War Department, 1941-1953; Ellis’s presidency at the University of Missouri, various memberships, sponsorships, dues, donations; a 1963 visit with President Lyndon B. Johnson; award to Ruth Ellis; hearings on Senate Bills 155 and 914; American Archivists, Missouri Library Association; a 1974 interview with Dr. C.F. Scofield, Thoughts on Establishing The Four-Campus System, and excerpts from Ellis’s autobiography, My Road to Emeritus, with commentary. FOLDER LIST Correspondence Series f. 1-9 Elmer Ellis, Family Letters, 1923-1929 f. 10 University of Missouri Library, 1927-1937 f. 11 Elmer Ellis, Family Letters, 1927-1935, 1936 f. 12 Book on Henry Moore Teller, 1933-1953 C4069 Ellis, Elmer (1901-1989), Papers, 1830-1995 Page 3 f. 13 To Ruth and Elmer Ellis, 1936, 1937 f. 14 University of Missouri, 1936-1940 f. 15 Mrs. F.P. Dunne and Royalty Contracts, 1936-1950 f. 16 F.P. Dunne, 1936-1959 f. 17 University Librarian, 1937 f. 18 Ellis House Construction, 1939, 1940 f. 19 Lyons and Carnahan, Publishers, 1939, 1941 f. 20 Mississippi Valley Historical Review Correspondence, 1940 f. 21 Academic Correspondence, 1941 f. 22 University of Wisconsin, Offer in Dept. of History, 1942 f. 23 Academic Correspondence, 1942-1950 f. 24 A.H.A. Nominating Committee, 1943 f. 25 Appointments by Curators, 1944-1965, Letters to Curators, 1974 f. 26 Teaching Improvement Program, University of Missouri, 1947-1953 f. 27 Elmer’s Journal on Navy Cruise, 1948 f. 28 Elmer’s Navy Cruise, Postcards of Nice, Summer, 1948 f. 29 Elmer’s Navy Cruise, Photos of Ellis with Sailors, 1948 f. 30 European Students and Fulbrighters, 1951-1955 f. 31 Ruth Ellis’s Parents, Dean and Mrs. F.L. Stephens, Fulbright Spent in Amsterdam, 1951-1952 f. 32 Academic Correspondence, 1951-1954 f. 33 Letters of Recommendation, 1952-1954 f. 34 Fulbright Conference, June 21-24, 1953 f. 35 Amsterdam, 1953-1957 f. 36 E.R.R. Green, England, 1954 f. 37-43 Letters of Congratulations on Appointment as Acting President of University of Missouri, 1954 f. 44 U.S. Army Historical Advisory Committee, 1954 f. 45 Congratulations on Becoming Acting and Full-Time President of the University of Missouri, 1954-1955 f. 46 U.S. Army Historical Advisory Committee, 1954-1956 f. 47 Mississippi Valley Historical Association, 1954-1957 f. 48 National Planning Association, 1954-1957 f. 49 Academic Correspondence, 1954-1958 f. 50 Harry and Bess Truman, 1954-1959, 1970-1973 f. 51 Izaak J. Brugmans, 1954-1962 f. 52 Travel Hotels, 1954-1966 f. 53 Miscellaneous, 1954-1966 f. 54 Greetings, University of Missouri, 1954-1970 f. 55 General-B, 1954, 1975-1980 f. 56 Dr. Sam Davis, 1954-1983 f. 57-64 Letters of Congratulations on Appointment as President of the University of Missouri, 1955 f. 65 Ellis, Honorary Degree, Central College, 1955 f. 66 Member: National Committee of the Aaronsburg Story, 1955 f. 67 President Ellis’s Rug, 1955 C4069 Ellis, Elmer (1901-1989), Papers, 1830-1995 Page 4 f. 68 American History Research Center, 1955, 1956 f. 69 Phi Beta Kappa, 1955, 1956 f. 70 American Historical Association, 1955, 1957 f. 71 Dedication of Truman Library, Independence, Missouri, 1955, 1957 f. 72 Service Center for History Teachers (American Historical Association), 1955, 1958, 1962 f. 73 Insurance (Retirement), 1955-1967 f. 74 General-M, 1955-1968 f. 75 Ellis Family Letters, 1955-1970 f. 76 Advisory Committee to Study Nation’s Schools and Colleges, Dept. of Health, Education, and Welfare, 1956 f. 77 Christmas Cards, Memorial Union Tower, 1956 f. 78 Advisory Committee of Alexander Hamilton Bicentennial Commission, 1956, 1957 f. 79 Jefferson National Expansion Memorial Association, 1956, 1958 f. 80 U.S. Army Historical Advisory Committee, 1956-1959 f. 81 Thank-you Letters, Commonwealth American Universities Conference, 1956, 1958, 1961 f. 82 General, 1956-1964 f. 83 Ellis Family Genealogy, 1956-1967 f. 84 General-P, 1956-1968 f. 85 Directors of Social Work, 1957 f. 86 Harris Teachers College Commencement, St. Louis, Missouri, 1957 f. 87 U.S. Army Advisory Committee, Minutes, 1957 f. 88 U.S. Army Historical Advisory Committee, Major General R.W. Stephens, 1957, 1958 f. 89 Estes Park, Colorado, 1957, 1959 f. 90 U.S. Army Historical Advisory Committee, Kent R. Greenfield, 1957- 1959 f. 91 U.S. Army Historical Advisory Committee, Dr. Stetson Conn, 1957- 1959 f. 92-93 U.S. Army Historical Advisory Committee, Reports, 1957-1959 f. 94 American Historical Review (Sage Volume), 1957, 1960 f. 95 Arnold W. Klemme, India, 1957-1960 f. 96 Member-Sponsoring Committee, Yeshiva University, 1958 f. 97 India, 1958-1959 f. 98-100 U.S. Army Historical Advisory Committee, 1958-1959 f. 101 American Association of School Administrators, 1960 Yearbook Commission, 1958-1960 f. 102 Joint Council on Education Television, 1959 f. 103-104 U.S. Army Historical Advisory Committee, 1959 f. 105 India, Documents, 1959 f. 106 India Trip, 1959 f. 107 India, 1959-1960 f. 108 General, 1959-1980 f. 109-111 India, 1960 C4069 Ellis, Elmer (1901-1989), Papers, 1830-1995 Page 5 f. 112 Arnold W.