University Presidents >> John C. West

RG 3.9 - John C. West (Acting President, October 1937 – August 1938)

Biography
Scope & Content
Container List

Portrait of John C. West courtesy of the Elwyn B. Robinson Department of Special Collections, Chester Fritz Library, University of North Dakota

John C. West was born in Clearwater, Minnesota on December 25, 1885. He married Edith Jane Enke in 1908 and they had two children. Although he attended St. Cloud Teacher's College, St. Cloud, Minnesota, he received his BA from Fargo College, Fargo, ND in 1915, and an MS and an Ed.D. from the University of North Dakota [UND] in 1926 and 1930 respectively.

He was a rural school teacher from 1904-1907. He was a Superintendent of various village schools in Minnesota and North Dakota from 1907-1918; Superintendent of City School, Sauk Centre, MN (1918-1920), Bemidji, MN (1920-1929), and Grand Forks, ND (1929-1933). He was selected as President of the University of North Dakota in 1933 and served in that capacity until his resignation in 1954. From October 1937- August 1938, he was Acting President of North Dakota Agricultural College [NDAC], as well as President of the University of North Dakota.  West returned to his presidency at UND, full-time, after a new president was appointed at NDAC.

The papers of John C. West include some biographical material; general correspondence; applicant, position, and travel correspondence; budget information; a petition from the Cass-Clay Cooperative Creamery Association; hearings on the Lower Yellowstone project; and correspondence regarding the American Association of University Women.

See Also: President's Office Records, Collection: UA #42, 1884- at Elwyn B. Robinson Department of Special Collection, Chester Fritz Library, University of North Dakota.

Finding Aid

Biographical folder - John C. West

Application, references and approved appointment of Ralph E. Dunbar as Instructor in chemistry – 1937

Correspondence on applicant references; position approvals and appointment, and travel approval by Board of Administration – 1937

Correspondence, general -1937-1938

Correspondence and petitions – Cass-Clay Cooperative Creamery Association – purchasing of dairy products for the Agricultural College - 1938

Correspondence on salary, position approvals and appointment, and travel approval by Board of Administration – 1938

Statement of Budgets, February 1938.

“Minutes of a conference of the Board of Administration, Dr. West, and Representatives of Local No. 73,” March 11, 1938.

Lower Yellowstone project, correspondence and hearing copy – March 19, 1938.

Payroll, NDAC - July 1, 1938.

Correspondence regarding School of Engineering Deanship - July 1938.

Correspondence regarding the American Association of University Women, 1938-1939.