R-MC 009

Guide to the William Harder Cole Papers, 1910-1967

By Karen Kilpatrick

April, 1992

Special Collections and University Archives, Rutgers University Libraries


Descriptive Summary

Creator: Cole, William Harder, (1892-1967)
Title: Guide to the William Harder Cole Papers
Dates: 1910-1967
Quantity: .8 cubic ft. (2 manuscript boxes)
Abstract: William Cole served as a distinguished professor of physiology and biochemistry at Rutgers University from 1928 to 1959. His papers include correspondence, drafts of speeches and articles, reprints of published materials, and other research files that document his scientific career.
Collection No.: R-MC 009
Language English.
Repository: Rutgers University Libraries. Special Collections and University Archives.

Biographical Sketch

William Harder Cole, a science educator, was born June 23,1892 in Cayuga, New York. He married Florence Augusta Hanagan in 1918; had no children. He died on February 6, 1967. He graduated from Ballston Spa High School in 1910 and received a B.A. from Hamilton College in 1914. A year was spent studying at Bonn University, Germany, in 1914. He next obtained an M.A. in 1916 and his Ph.D. in 1921 at Harvard University.

Cole's teaching experience included positions of instructor of zoology at Penn State, 1916-20; Austin teaching fellow at Harvard, 1920-21; professor of biology at Lake Forest College, 1921-24; professor of biology at Clark University, 1924-Jan. 1928; and professor of physiology and biochemistry at Rutgers University, 1928-59. Other positions held at Rutgers were Assistant Dean of Arts and Sciences in 1943 and Chairman of the Department of Physiology and Biochemistry in 1953.

Research activities included trustee of the Mt. Desert Island Biological Lab, 1931-52; director of same, 1931-40; investigator at Bermuda Biological Lab, 1915; Woods Hole, 1925; Pacific Grove, 1929; Cold Spring Harbor, 1930, (director, 1930-52); California Institute of Technology, 1937; Office of Scientific Research and Development at Columbia University, 1942-43. Cole's research work focused on skin transplantation, animal behavior, chemical stimulation, composition of invertebrate bloods, gravity and hemorrhagic shock, and protein metabolism. He served in the Army, Sgt., 1st Class, in the Sanitary Corps from 1917-19 and helped develop a typhoid vaccine.

One of Cole's greatest achievements was his involvement with the Rutgers Research Council. He played an integral role in its development and was the first director, serving from 1944 to 1959. He helped expand research opportunites, especially beyond the sciences to include to other colleges and departments in the humanities.

Cole was involved with numerous science and civic organizations, professional and honorary societies. (For a complete list, see folder "Biographical Data." He was also chairman of the Demarest Motion Picture committee 1949-51 which was set up tosupport the filming of a documentary on William H.S. Demarest, president of Rutgers from 1906 to 1924.

After retiring from Rutgers in 1959, William Cole remained quite active. In 1962, he dedicated the Nelson Biological Labs at Rutgers. In 1966, he was involved in attempting to preserve two historical buildings in the New Brunswick area. From 1965 up to his death in 1967, Cole was involved in a project with Beatrice and Milt Harris of Florida on seashells It began as a display project for the library and schools of Naples, Florida and evolved into the publication of a booklet, Some Marine Molluscs From the Central West Coast of Florida.

Cole published close to one hundred articles in professional journals, magazines and newspapers. He was honored with a portrait at a testimonial dinner in 1958, and made Emeritus Professor at Rutgers in 1959.

Return to the Top


Scope and Content Note

The records in this collection date from 1910 to 1967 and are divided into three series: Personal Files, Science and Research, and Projects. Correspondence, drafts of speeches and articles, and reprints of published materials constitute the majority of the content. Within each series, files are arranged from general to specific, and in some cases, chronologically or alphabetically. Within each file, documents are arranged chronologically.

Although there is some material on his time at other colleges, such as Hamilton and Lake Forest, there is little or no material from his days at Harvard, Penn State and Clark. Of the numerous research facilities Cole worked at, there is specific material only relating to the Office of Scientific Research and Development (Columbia), and affiliations with Rutgers. Material on Mt. Desert, Woods Hole, Cold Spring Harbor, etc. is not included in this collection. There is also little information relating to Cole's involvement in the Rutgers Research Council despite the significance of his work. One file documents his retirement from the Council. Worth noting is the "Report of Root Fellowship," (Box 2, Folder 4) which documents his indebtedness to financial aid for scholars and explains his dedication to helping students and promoting research opportunities throughout his career.

Cole put together two notebooks of reprints of his published articles, entitled "Papers By William H. Cole, Vol. I" and "Vol. II." The documents were filed in acid free folders, retaining the original order. There is some minor water damage in Volume I and acidification of some papers in Volume II from decaying scotch tape. An index (written by Cole) is included for each of the volumes. Due to lack of space, Series 2 is split between Box 1 and 2. Cole's notebook materials are in Box 2.

Return to the Top


Arrangement Note

The records in this collection are from 1910 to 1967 and are divided into three series: Personal Files, Science and Research, and Projects. Correspondence, drafts of speeches and articles, and reprints of published materials constitute the majority of the content. Within each series, files are arranged from general to specific, and in some cases, chronologically or alphabetically. Within each file, documents are arranged chronologically.

Return to the Top


Name and Subject Index Terms

Personal Names

Clothier, Robert C. (Robert Clarkson), 1885-1970.
Cole, William Harder, 1892-1967.
Demarest, William H. S. (William Henry Steele), 1863-1956.
Harris, Beatrice
Royce, Stephan J.

Corporate Names

American Association for the Advancement of Science.
Hamilton College.
Lake Forest College.
Rutgers University--Faculty.
Rutgers University--History--Sources.
Squibb Corporation.
United States. Army.
Upjohn Company.

Subjects

Animal experimentation.
Associations, institutions, etc.
Biologists.
College publications.
Creative writing.
Education, Higher--Research.
Education.
Educators.
Greek letter societies.
Historic buildings.
Historic preservation.
Military research.
Research grants.
Research institutes.
Research.
Science publishing.
Science--Research
Scientific literature.
Scientists in government.
Seashore.
Serial publications.
Universities and colleges--Alumni and alumnae.
Universities and colleges--United States--Buildings.
Universities and colleges--United States--Faculty.
World War, 1939-1945.

Return to the Top


Detailed Description of the Collection/Container List

I. Personal Files, 1910-1964 (10 folders)
Folders are arranged from general to specific.
All documents in the files in this series are arranged chronologically. Biographical Data (1910-1955) includes daily record of purchases from college (1910), senior class group photograph in The Sans Souci, (high school), and his personnel data from Rutgers. General Correspondence (1914-1964) covers a variety of subjects, such as a letter to his wife while in Germany, and letters on possible text-writing for a publisher. Other correspondence files (1911-1965) are arranged alphabetically and cover publications, research, The Squibb Institute, and Stephen J. Royce, a fellow classmate at Hamilton College. (Box 1, Folders 1-6) Honorary Degrees and Awards (1919-1958) covers a variety of materials, highlighted by the announcement of his portrait presentation at a testimonial dinner (photograph of portrait and text of announcement is included as well as photocopies of clippings). (Box 1, Folder 7) Materials on Hamilton (1910-1916?) and Lake Forest College (1921-1963), and his hiring by and other appointments at Rutgers University (1927-1958). Photocopies of clippings relating to the latter included. (Box 1, Folders 8-10)
Box Folder
1 1 Biographical Data, 1910-1955
2 General Correspondence, 1914-1964
3 Correspondence - Relating to Publishing, 1945-1960
4 Correspondence - Relating to Research, 1911-1961
5 Correspondence - The Squibb Institute, 1949-1950
6 Correspondence - Stephen J. Royce, 1940-1965
7 Honorary Degrees and Awards, 1919-1958
8 Hamilton College, 1910-[1916?]
9 Lake Forest College, 1921-1963
10 Rutgers University - Hiring By and Appointments, 1927-1958
II. Science and Research, 1926-1962 (8 folders)
Folders are arranged from general to specific.
All documents in the files in this series are arranged chronologically. Science at Rutgers - Notes (undated) covers different aspects of the study of science; historically, including both program structure and professors' backgrounds and teachings, course content and general information. (Box 1, Folder 11) Research Grant Funds (1926-1942) covers primarily correspondence relating to applications for research grants while at Clark University and Rutgers University. (Box 1, Folder 12) Series 2 - Science and Research (cont.) Nelson Biological Labs - Dedication, 1962, includes correspondence, copies of speeches, booklet of diagrams of lab building, and photocopies of clippings about ceremony. Research Council at Rutgers - Retirement of Directorship (1958-1959), mostly correspondence, only deals with his retirement, not his specific work at the Council. Drafts of Early Research Papers (ca. 1917-1922), includes two lists of research publications, papers relating to Cole's army years (1917-1919) and work on the Japanese beetle, which includes three photographs. (Box 1, Folders 13-15) Reprints of Published Research Papers by Cole (Volumes I and II), 1917-1951 are split between three folders, and cover the entire span of his research work mentioned in the Biographical Sketch. Each volume has an index prepared by Cole. (Box 2, Folders 1-3)
Box Folder
1 11 Science at Rutgers - Notes, n.d.
12 Research Grant Funds, 1926-1942
13 Nelson Biological Labs - Dedication, 1962
14 Research Council at Rutgers - Retirement of Directorship, 1958-1959
15 Drafts of Early Research Papers, ca. 1917-1922
Box Folder
2 1 Reprints of Published Research Papers by William H. Cole Vol. I (1-22), 1917-1925
2 Reprints of Published Research Papers by William H. Cole Vol. I (23-58), 1926-1935
3 Reprints of Published Research Papers by William H. Cole Vol. II (59-94), 1936-1951
III. Projects, 1914-1967 (6 folders)
Folders are arranged from general to specific.
Both the files (except Misc.) and the documents in each file are arranged chronologically. Non-Research Writings (1914-1966) includes his "Report of Root Fellowship" and other drafts for articles and speeches, as well as creative writings. (Box 2, Folder 4) Demarest Motion Picture Fund (1949-1951) includes correspondence on contributions in two clipped sections, script, proposed structure, and list of sponsors. Also correspondence relating to the premiere, and a copy of speech by Dr. Demarest at New Brunswick Historical Club. Also a photograph of Cole and Van Der Meulen (faculty member). (Box 2, Folder 5) Historic Buildings - Preservation (1966) has papers on Cole's attempt to preserve the Matthias Smock House, 1720 and the Symen Van Wickle House, ca. 1720. Includes a history of the Matthias House and a photocopy of a newspaper article. (Box 2, Folder 6) Series 3 - Projects (cont.) Florida Shell Project - Correspondence and Rough Drafts (1965-1967) covers primarily correspondence between Cole and Bea Harris, relating to the different phases of the project. Includes correspondence returned from Bea to Cole's wife after his death, at end of folder. Naples Shell Club - Naples, FLA (1967) has two copies of publications of the Naples Shell News (February and March, 1967 issues). (Box 2, Folders 7-8) Miscellaneous (1946 and undated items), includes a 1946 American National Red Cross award for Cole's wife; a printed card of a pencil drawing of "Old Queens" - Rutgers, The State University; an apparent joke degree from "Octagonal University" for Cole; and a poster entitled "All Hail Queen Florence," (in reference to his wife), from friends. (Box 2, Folder 9)
Box Folder
2 4 Non-Research Writings, 1914-1966
5 Demarest Motion Picture Fund, 1949-1951
6 Historic Buildings - Preservation, 1966
7 Florida Shell Project - Correspondence and Rough Drafts, 1965-1967
8 Naples Shell Club - Naples, FLA, 1967
9 Miscellaneous, 1946, n.d.