Charles E. Friley Papers, Finding Aid

RS 2/9

IOWA STATE UNIVERSITY Special Collections Department 403 Parks Library Ames, IA 50011-2140 515 294-6672 http://www.lib.iastate.edu/spcl/index.html

RS 2/9 Charles Edwin Friley (1887-1958) Papers, 1923-1982

RS 2/9

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Descriptive summary creator:

Friley, Charles Edwin (1887-1958)

title:

Papers

dates:

1923-1982

extent:

23.8 linear ft. (18 records center cartons, 1 document box, 1 map case folder)

collection number: repository:

RS 2/9 University Archives, Special Collections Department, Iowa State University Library.

Administrative information access:

Open for research

publication rights:

Consult Head, Special Collections Department

preferred citation:

Charles E. Friley Papers, RS 2/9, Special Collections Department, Iowa State University Library.

SPECIAL COLLECTIONS DEPARTMENT

IOWA STATE UNIVERSITY

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Biographical note Born in Louisiana to William Christopher and Ellen Douglas Friley, Charles E. Friley attended Sam Houston Teachers College (1905) and Baylor University (1905-1907), and received his B.S. (1912) from Texas A & M University and an M.S. (1923) from Columbia University. Dr. Friley was awarded several honorary degrees throughout his career and received an honorary doctorate (1958) from Iowa State University. After three years of teaching in the public schools in Louisiana and Texas, Dr. Friley served as Registrar (1912-1924) at Texas A & M and as Dean of the School of Arts and Science (1924-1932). In 1932, Dr. Friley was appointed Dean of the Division of Science at Iowa State College (University) and was named Vice-President of the College in 1935. He succeeded Dr. Raymond M. Hughes as president of Iowa State in 1936 after serving as interim for five months. He retired in 1953. His 17-year term was the longest of Iowa State's first 11 presidents, and spanned higher education's most turbulent era, from the closing phase of the Depression through World War II and into the post-war "educational revolution." It was an administration characterized by emergency efforts, the most notable among them Iowa State's participation in the Manhattan (atomic research) project. Friley was directly responsible for Iowa State's establishment of the nation's first educationally-owned and operated television station. He was a Mason and a Fellow of the Iowa Academy of Science and was a member of numerous organizations and societies, including the National Council of Presbyterian Men, Iowa State Fair Board, Iowa Geological Survey, Sigma Alpha Epsilon, Phi Kappa Phi, and Phi Mu Alpha. He was married three times. In 1913, he married his first wife, Nina Lynn Wood, who died in 1918. They had two sons Charles Edwin, Jr. and William Alva. Dr. Friley married his second wife, Vera Foreman in 1921, and she died in 1947. They had one daughter, Frances Foreman (Kuyper). In 1951 he married Magdalen Ranney.

Collection description This collection contains biographical information, Friley family history, and materials relating to the operation of Iowa State College (University). The university records include addresses and speeches, committee meeting and minutes, divisional information, correspondence, budgets, enrollment reports, celebration materials for Friley’s inauguration and Iowa State’s 90th anniversary, and student activities during

SPECIAL COLLECTIONS DEPARTMENT

IOWA STATE UNIVERSITY

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World War II and afterward. A large part of the collection consists of correspondence related to ISU’s participation in national organizations, such as the Association of LandGrant College and the North Central Association. Of special interest is the correspondence and memorandum documenting ISU’s radio and television station, WOI (RS 5/6), and a World War II survey of staff educational qualifications.

Organization This collection is unarranged. Container List

SPECIAL COLLECTIONS DEPARTMENT

IOWA STATE UNIVERSITY

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Box

Folder

Title

Dates

1

1

Friley family history

1949

Francis Forman (Friley) Kuyper 1

2

Friley family history

1962

Katy Friley 1

3

Friley family history

1951-1968

Magdalen Ranney Friley 1

4

Friley famiy history

1936-1947

Vera Forman Friley 1

5

Friley family history

1936

William Alra Friley 1

6

Biographical material

1932-1955

1

7

Appointment

1936

1

8

Controversy

1947

1

9

Wedding congratulations

1957

1

10

Obituaries and memorials

1958

1

11

Correspondence

1935-1946

Board of Education 1

12

Correspondence

1948-1953

Councils and committees 1

13

Correspondence

1935-1948

Directives to deans, directors, and heads of departments 1

14

Correspondence

1935-1946

Memoranda to the faculty and staff 1

15

Correspondence

1936-1951

1

16

Addresses

1932-1942

1

17

Carrie Chapman Catt will and gift to university

1947-1950

1

18

Addresses to staff

1936-1952

1

19

Addresses

1935-1953

Commencement 1

20

Addresses

1941-1945

Campus 1

21

Addresses

SPECIAL COLLECTIONS DEPARTMENT

1933-1953 IOWA STATE UNIVERSITY

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SPECIAL COLLECTIONS DEPARTMENT

IOWA STATE UNIVERSITY