Records of the President, Francis H. Horn (Rec. Gr. 1.9)

Series I. Subject Series
This series consists of materials relating to the administration of the University of Rhode Island during the presidency of Francis H. Horn. The bulk of the series contains correspondence, memos, and reports to and from Horn regarding the administration of the University, its growth and development, and its relationship to the community at-large. Also represented herein are the more mundane matters of university administration, such as burned out light bulbs and muddy footpaths.

President Horn presided over the University at a time when it was undergoing a period of unprecedented growth and was at the same time being challenged by students to reassess its role of in loco parentis. Consequently Horn's administration generated considerable controversy both within and without the University community. Of particular interest in this area are the academic freedom folders which detail controversies over Communist speakers on campus, the presentation of pornographic films on campus, and the right of the student newspaper to publish articles without prior administration review. Challenges to the University's in loco parentis role and its attempts to meet those challenges can be found in the Judicial Board, Dean of Men, Dean of Women, and Dean of Students folders. The issue of alcoholic beverages on campus also occupied considerable administrative time and activity.

During Horn's tenure forty-one million dollars in new construction was completed and a number of new graduate programs instituted, including the nationally renowned Graduate School of Oceanography. The details of the construction program can be found in the plant development folders, and the expansion of Graduate programs at the University is outlined in the folders of the various colleges and in those relating to the Graduate School of Oceanography. President Horn's administrative style generated considerable controversy of its own, especially during the early years of his administration. Holdovers from the previous administration were not accustomed to Horn's aggressive style and they complained, first to Horn and then publicly in the spring of 1960. Examples of disagreements over both policy and style can be found particularly in Admissions, Dean of Men, and Dean of Women, folders. Controversy over Horn's administrative style peaked in May, 1960 with a series of newspaper articles and an investigation by the Board of Trustees. Horn's response to the charges leveled against him can be found in the folder labeled "Board of Trustees, Communications from Horn." The Board resolved the controversy generally in Horn's favor, criticizing his style but supporting the goals he was attempting to achieve.

The series is arranged alphabetically by subject and chronologically by date within folders.