University Presidents >> Frank L. Eversull

RG 3.10 Frank L. Eversull (President, August 1938 – May 1946)

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Portrait of Frank L. Eversull

Frank L. Eversull was born in Cincinnati, Ohio on April 19, 1892.  He attended McCormick Theological Seminary and Washington University, and was ordained a Presbyterian minister in 1917.  He received his bachelor's (1920) and master's (1927) from the University of Chicago and his doctorate in school administration from Yale (1934).  In 1937 he received an honorary Doctor of Divinity degree from Marietta College.

He was the Principle and instructor at Columbia High School in Columbia, IL (1913-1916) and Troy High School, Troy IL (1916-1921). For 1921-1922, he was an instructor in psychology and bible at Presbyterian Training School, Chicago, IL. From 1922-1928, he was the Principle at the Woodward School in St. Louis, MO and then Principle at East St. Louis High School in East St. Louis, MO, from 1928-1933. While working on his doctorate at Yale, he served as an instructor in education for 1933-1934. In 1934 he became President of Huron College, Huron, SD, which he held until assuming the presidency of North Dakota Agricultural College in August 1938.

Eversull's presidency at NDAC followed in the wake of the Purge of 1937*.  His first major task was to regain accreditation for the college.  He was successful, and NDAC was re-accredited on March 23, 1939.  Other dilemmas that Eversull also had to deal with were shortages and other problems during World War II, and then the return of veterans, resulting in overcrowding on campus.  Eversull also aided in establishing several programs at NDAC: Officer Candidate School, the Air Corp Administration School , and the Army special training program.  He resigned in May of 1946, and went to Seoul, Korea, where he was Chief of Colleges for the 24th US Corp Command for eight months.  Eversull returned to the United States and to the ministry, where he served in a pastorate in Belleville, Illinois, for nine years before his retirement in 1957.  Frank Eversull passed away in September of 1964.

Eversull was a member of several organizations.  He was a Mason and a Shriner, a member of the National Education Association, Phi Gamma Mu, and the American Association of Land Grant Colleges and Universities.  He was also vice president of the North Central Association for several years.

*Because of differences between then NDAC President Shepperd and the Board of Administration, Shepperd resigned in 1937 and was made president emeritus in July of that year.  This precipitated the Purge of 1937, when, in an attempt to gain administrative control over the college, the Board of Administration discharged seven of the senior staff at NDAC in July, giving them 4 hours to vacate their offices.  In turn, the Purge resulted in the loss of the college's academic accreditation.

The papers of Frank Eversull include presidential correspondence; correspondence with A. F. Arnason, Commissioner of the State Board of Higher Education; articles from the NDAC Bulletin; correspondence with the Board of Administration; an application to the North Central Association regarding the re-accreditation of NDAC; budget reports; annual reports; biennial reports; correspondence regarding the Purge of 1937; financial reports; minutes of meetings of the Presidents' Council; correspondence, reports, and contracts regarding military affairs at NDAC; and correspondence, reports, statements, pamphlets, brochures, and other publications regarding agriculture and NDAC affairs. Primarily, the papers are arranged chronologically.

Finding Aid

Biographical material – Frank L. Eversull

“Joint Statement by the Association of Land Grant Colleges and Universities and the USDA on Building and Agricultural Land Use Programs,” July 8, 1938.

The NDAC Bulletin, Eversull's inauguration, October 28, 1938.

The NDAC Bulletin, “The American Way,” 1939.

Application for re-accreditation to the NCA, 1938-1939.

Correspondence with the Board of Administration; general, January-October, 1939.

Correspondence regarding the dismissal of Roy L. Olson, 1939-1940.

Correspondence, general, 1935, 1938-1939.

News clippings regarding Purge, audit of NDAC, and loss of accreditation, March-July, 1938.

Correspondence regarding the Board of Administration and Purge, 1938.

Correspondence with the Board of Administration and general, 1938.

Budgets for the Department of Animal Husbandry and Dairy Husbandry, n.d..

Buildings surveys - regarding floor space.- n.d.

Looking Ahead with the Agricultural College – address by President Eversull, September 29, 1938.

North Dakota Agricultural Experiment Station, Annual Report for July 1, 1938-June 30, 1939.

Correspondence and memoranda regarding Extension Service, Boys' and Girls' Club, 1939.

North Dakota Agricultural Advisory Council-correspondence, meeting minutes, 1939.

Report on staff and students to the Office of Education for 1938-1939.

“National Farm and Home Hour,” Land Grant College Series-radio program script, May 15, 1940.

USDA correspondence regarding the barberry eradication program; Agriculture scholarships, 1939-1940.

The University of the State of New York-correspondence , registration of curriculum, general report of colleges and universities, transcript records, 1939.

North Dakota Agricultural Experiment Station-Biennial and Annual reports, 1939-1941.

Correspondence with the American Association of University Women, USDA, State Board of Higher Education, general, 1940.

The Accrediting of Institutions of Higher Learning, May 8, 1940.

“Report to the Board of Review of the Commission of Institutions of Higher Education,” NCA, 1939.

Correspondence with Professor I. W. Smith regarding Purge, 1939.

Correspondence with Dean Alba Bales regarding Purge, 1937-1940.

Correspondence with Burt Gorman regarding Purge, 1939.

Correspondence with Dr. P. J. Olson regarding Purge, 1939.

Correspondence with Professor A. H. Parrot regarding Purge, 1939.

Correspondence regarding the Walster-Hanson Case, Purge, 1939.

Correspondence with R. M. Dolve regarding Purge, general, 1938-1939.

Commencement (Golden Jubilee) - program and news clipping, 1940.

“Proposed Plan for Giving and Supervising of Final Examinations at NDAC” – n.d.

Material Breakdown and Labor for Library Addition – November 1940.

Speeches by H. L. Walster, 1940.

Survey of student employment, May 8, 1940.

US Office of Education-fiscal reports, staff and student survey; 1939-1940.

YMCA Dugout-statements of receipts and disbursements, 1940-1941.

Correspondence regarding NDAC Adams Project; memoranda to faculty; general correspondence, 1941-1942.

Correspondence regarding and minutes of the meeting of the Athletic Board of Control, January 18, 1941.

“Pre-Vitamin Days: A Tale from My Calendar Stick,” by J. F. Breazeale, June 1, 1941.

Financial reports to the NCA, February 24, 1941.

“The Travels of Rudolph Frederick Kurz in North Dakota 1851-1852,” by Harry G. Anderson, Extension Economist at NDAC; correspondence.

President's emergency fund-receipts, statements, deposit slips, 1941.

Promotions, 1941.

Minutes of meetings of North Dakota Higher Education Presidents' Council, 1941.

Official Notices - from the President to the Staff - 1941-1943 [gaps]

Correspondence, 1941-1942.

Correspondence with the NCA regarding re-accreditation, 1942.

Experiment Station-statement of policy, annual report, 1942.

Commencement program, 1942.

Report-“Cost of Higher Education in North Dakota,” 1942.

“Exercise Book for Slide Rule,” by A. Glenn Hill and Matilda B. Thompson, 1942.

General reports, statements, 1942-1943.

Report-“Geographical Distribution of the Homes of AC Freshman Students, 1936-1941.”

NDAC Library statistical report, 1942.

Report-“Men's Residence Hall,” correspondence, 1942.

Military affairs at NDAC, reports and statements, 1942.

Correspondence regarding military affairs at NDAC, 1942.

Bulletin-“War Activities of the NDAC,” 1942; program for Officer Candidate School opening exercises, September 21, 1942.

Minutes of meetings of North Dakota Higher Education Presidents' Council, 1942.

President's emergency fund-correspondence, statements, deposits, 1941-1943.

Report-“ School of Pharmacy,” 1942.

“Solid Geometry,” by Ruby M. Grimes and A. Glenn Hill, 1942.

Statement of receipts and disbursements, 1941-1942.

Report-“Suggested Changes in the Programs of the Institutions of Higher Education That Could Be Made By the State Board of Higher Education,” 1942.

General correspondence with President Eversull; general, 1943.

Correspondence with A. F. Arnason, Acting Commissioner-Secretary of the State Board of Higher Education; general correspondence, 1943.

Correspondence regarding the Army Specialized Training Program; military affairs, 1943.

Army Specialized Training Program-contracts, correspondence, 1943.

Army Specialized Training Program-financial receipts, statements, reports, 1943.

Army Specialized Training Program-pamphlets, 1943.

Army Specialized Training Program-graduation programs, church program, 1943.

“A Report of the Testing Program at NDAC for Army Specialized Training Program,” August 1943.

Budget, correspondence regarding financial matters, 1943.

Budget for 1941-1943.

Minutes of meetings of North Dakota Higher Education Presidents' Council, 1943.

School of Religious Education-agreement with NDAC, 1943.

Land-Grant Colleges and University Library report, 1942-1943.

Meeting of the Post-War Planning Committee, December 5, 1943 .

Commencement program; Honors Day Convocation program, 1943.

Correspondence, reports regarding the School of Agriculture , 1943.

Annual report of the North Dakota Agricultural Experiment Station, 1943.

“Central Staff of North Dakota Extension Service,” March 15, 1943.

“Statement of the State Board of Higher Education to the State Governmental Survey Commission,” 1943.

US Office of Higher Education- Staff & Student - 1942-1943 academic year.

“Annual Report of the YMCA,” 1943.

Box 2

Correspondence, general, 1944.

Correspondence with A. F. Arnason, Commissioner of the State Board of Higher Education; general correspondence, January-June, 1944.

Correspondence with A. F. Arnason; general correspondence, July-December, 1944.

Annual report of the North Dakota Agricultural Experiment Station, 1944.

Biennial report of the North Dakota Agricultural Experiment Station, 1944.

Correspondence regarding the State Board of Higher Education, 1944.

Commencement program, 1944.

Council of College Presidents-minutes of meetings, programs, correspondence, 1944.

Correspondence regarding the Extension Service, 1944.

Fargo School of Religious Education-general, 1944.

YMCA-correspondence, reports, general, 1944.

Correspondence regarding financial matters, 1944.

Correspondence regarding appointment of Bruce T. Stanton, 1943-1944.

Correspondence regarding NCA and NDEA, 1943-1944.

Correspondence regarding the 4th Ferrying Service Detachment, 1943-1944.

Correspondence regarding the Army Specialized Training Program, 1943-1944.

Military Army Administration Schools-correspondence regarding housing, classrooms, recreational training facilities, 1943-1944.

General reports and correspondence to President Eversull, 1944.

Correspondence regarding military affairs; military pamphlets, 1944.

Military contracts with NDAC, 1944.

Army Specialized Training Program-expenses, payroll, report of operating costs, health report, Basic Engineering, contract, 1944.

Military-general, 1944.

Correspondence regarding ASTP-ROTC, 1944.

Correspondence with NCA, 1944.

NDAC - Report of the Post-War Planning Committee, 1944.

Report-“A Proposed Health Program for College Students,” May 9, 1944.

North Dakota Agricultural Experiment Station-correspondence, memoranda, general, 1944.

School of Arts and Sciences-general, 1944.

Correspondence with the Senate and House of Representatives; general, 1944.

Correspondence regarding the Student Loan Fund Committee, Student Health Commission, 1944.

US Office of Education-correspondence, memoranda, statistical reports, 1944.

Correspondence, general, 1945.

Correspondence with A. F. Arnason, Commissioner of the State Board of Higher Education, January-June, 1945.

Correspondence with A. F. Arnason, July-December, 1945.

Report-“An Evaluation of Extension,” January 9, 1945 .

Army Specialized Training Reserve Program-contracts, 1943-1945.

Correspondence regarding the Army Specialized Training Reserve Program, 1945.

Army Specialized Training Reserve Program - Financial-rations; military-statements, correspondence, 1945.

Army Specialized Training Reserve Program-commencement, 1945.

Correspondence-House of Representatives Committee on Education; minutes of a meeting of the American Council of Education; financial statement, 1945.

Association of Land Grant Colleges and Universities-correspondence, general, 1945.

Financial statement of the Board of Publications, 1945.

Correspondence regarding budgets, promotions, 1945.

Budget summaries, budget statements, 1945.

President's Council-minutes of meetings, correspondence, pamphlets, 1945.

Correspondence with the Senate and House of Representatives; general, 1945.

Educational Conference at NDAC-notes, statements, April 30-May 1, 1945.

“ND Production,” “Looking Ahead with ND Farmers: Some Trends and Choices,” “Financial and Economic Situation in ND,” 1945.

Post-War Planning Committee-correspondence, reports, 1945.

Correspondence regarding ROTC programs, 1945.

School of Agriculture and North Dakota Agricultural Experiment Station-correspondence; “North Dakota Agricultural Statistics, 1943 & 1944,” 1945.

Correspondence regarding the School of Chemical Technology, 1945.

Correspondence regarding the School of Engineering, 1945.

Correspondence regarding government surplus property; general correspondence, 1945.

US Office of Education-opinion poll, correspondence, statistics report, 1945.

YMCA-constitution and by-laws, 1945.

Honor Roll, statistics, enrollments, 1945.

Correspondence with A. F. Arnason, Commissioner of the State Board of Higher Education, January-May, 1946.