Franklin Patterson
Encyclopedia
Franklin Kessel Patterson (September 14, 1916 – July 13, 1994) was a professor
and author
, and the first president
of Hampshire College
in Amherst
, Massachusetts
. He was also, along with the other presidents of the Five Colleges
, a co-author of the New College Plan.
, Iowa
. He received his bachelor's degree
from Occidental College
, his master's degree
from the University of California at Los Angeles, and his doctorate
from the Claremont Graduate School.
Patterson served in the U.S. Army Air Force from 1942 to 1946, where he reached the rank
of captain.
Patterson began his teaching career as professor at Tufts University
from 1957 to 1966, and with Charles Longsworth
, helped write The New College Plan
in The Making of the College.
In 1966, Patterson was appointed president of Hampshire college by the founding board of trustees in 1965, initially supervising construction
, and fund-raising, in preparation for the college's opening in 1970. During the first few years, Patterson chose the Deans and senior administrative staff of the college, organized the academic plans, and assisted in faculty hiring
. When the college opened in 1970, Patterson continued as president for the first academic year.
In 1971, Patterson resigned as president to accept the position of chairman of the college's board of trustees, founded as a "center for educational innovation" with four other colleges in central Massachusetts: Smith College
, the University of Massachusetts
, Amherst College
, and Mount Holyoke College
. The Trustees named the college's first academic building
"Franklin Patterson Hall" in his honor.
From 1971, through the early 1980s, Patterson was a professor at the University of Massachusetts in political science
and government
, and served as secretary of the university board, as well as interim president from 1977 through 1978.
, Shelley Katherine, and a son, Eric. Patterson and Shelley later divorce
d. He later married Emily Goldblatt in 1972, with whom he had a son, Nicholas, but that marriage also ended in divorce in 1972. His last partner was Harriet Wittenborg. Patterson died
on July 13, 1994 of natural causes at his home in Framingham, Massachusetts
, at the age of 77.
Professor
A professor is a scholarly teacher; the precise meaning of the term varies by country. Literally, professor derives from Latin as a "person who professes" being usually an expert in arts or sciences; a teacher of high rank...
and author
Author
An author is broadly defined as "the person who originates or gives existence to anything" and that authorship determines responsibility for what is created. Narrowly defined, an author is the originator of any written work.-Legal significance:...
, and the first president
President
A president is a leader of an organization, company, trade union, university, or country.Etymologically, a president is one who presides, who sits in leadership...
of Hampshire College
Hampshire College
Hampshire College is a private liberal arts college in Amherst, Massachusetts. It was founded in 1965 as an experiment in alternative education, in association with four other colleges in the Pioneer Valley: Amherst College, Smith College, Mount Holyoke College, and the University of Massachusetts...
in Amherst
Amherst, Massachusetts
Amherst is a town in Hampshire County, Massachusetts, United States in the Connecticut River valley. As of the 2010 census, the population was 37,819, making it the largest community in Hampshire County . The town is home to Amherst College, Hampshire College, and the University of Massachusetts...
, Massachusetts
Massachusetts
The Commonwealth of Massachusetts is a state in the New England region of the northeastern United States of America. It is bordered by Rhode Island and Connecticut to the south, New York to the west, and Vermont and New Hampshire to the north; at its east lies the Atlantic Ocean. As of the 2010...
. He was also, along with the other presidents of the Five Colleges
Five Colleges (Massachusetts)
The Five Colleges comprises four liberal arts colleges and one university in the Connecticut River Pioneer Valley of Western Massachusetts, totaling approximately 28,000 students. The schools belong to a consortium called Five Colleges, Incorporated, established in 1965...
, a co-author of the New College Plan.
Early life
Patterson was born on September 14, 1916 in EllsworthEllsworth, Iowa
Ellsworth is a city in Hamilton County, Iowa, United States. The population was 531 at the 2000 census.-Geography:Ellsworth's longitude and latitude coordinatesin decimal form are 42.311954, -93.580868...
, Iowa
Iowa
Iowa is a state located in the Midwestern United States, an area often referred to as the "American Heartland". It derives its name from the Ioway people, one of the many American Indian tribes that occupied the state at the time of European exploration. Iowa was a part of the French colony of New...
. He received his bachelor's degree
Bachelor's degree
A bachelor's degree is usually an academic degree awarded for an undergraduate course or major that generally lasts for three or four years, but can range anywhere from two to six years depending on the region of the world...
from Occidental College
Occidental College
Occidental College is a private, coeducational liberal arts college located in the Eagle Rock neighborhood of Los Angeles, California. Founded in 1887, Occidental College, or "Oxy" as it is called by students and alumni, is one of the oldest liberal arts colleges on the West Coast...
, his master's degree
Master's degree
A master's is an academic degree granted to individuals who have undergone study demonstrating a mastery or high-order overview of a specific field of study or area of professional practice...
from the University of California at Los Angeles, and his doctorate
Doctorate
A doctorate is an academic degree or professional degree that in most countries refers to a class of degrees which qualify the holder to teach in a specific field, A doctorate is an academic degree or professional degree that in most countries refers to a class of degrees which qualify the holder...
from the Claremont Graduate School.
Patterson served in the U.S. Army Air Force from 1942 to 1946, where he reached the rank
Military rank
Military rank is a system of hierarchical relationships in armed forces or civil institutions organized along military lines. Usually, uniforms denote the bearer's rank by particular insignia affixed to the uniforms...
of captain.
Career
Tufts University
Tufts University is a private research university located in Medford/Somerville, near Boston, Massachusetts. It is organized into ten schools, including two undergraduate programs and eight graduate divisions, on four campuses in Massachusetts and on the eastern border of France...
from 1957 to 1966, and with Charles Longsworth
Charles Longsworth
Charles R. Longsworth is the current director of Saul Centers, Inc.. He assumed this position in June 1993. He serves as president Emeritus of Hampshire College. He worked as president of The Colonial Williamsburg Foundation from 1977 to 1994, as Chief Executive Officer until November 1992, and...
, helped write The New College Plan
The New College Plan
The New College Plan resulted in the formation of Hampshire College.In 1958, the presidents of Amherst College, Smith College, Mount Holyoke College, and the University of Massachusetts Amherst , all located in the Pioneer Valley of Massachusetts, formed the Committee for an Experimental...
in The Making of the College.
In 1966, Patterson was appointed president of Hampshire college by the founding board of trustees in 1965, initially supervising construction
Construction
In the fields of architecture and civil engineering, construction is a process that consists of the building or assembling of infrastructure. Far from being a single activity, large scale construction is a feat of human multitasking...
, and fund-raising, in preparation for the college's opening in 1970. During the first few years, Patterson chose the Deans and senior administrative staff of the college, organized the academic plans, and assisted in faculty hiring
Hiring
Hiring may refer to:* Recruitment of personnel * Renting of something...
. When the college opened in 1970, Patterson continued as president for the first academic year.
In 1971, Patterson resigned as president to accept the position of chairman of the college's board of trustees, founded as a "center for educational innovation" with four other colleges in central Massachusetts: Smith College
Smith College
Smith College is a private, independent women's liberal arts college located in Northampton, Massachusetts. It is the largest member of the Seven Sisters...
, the University of Massachusetts
University of Massachusetts
This article relates to the statewide university system. For the flagship campus often referred to as "UMass", see University of Massachusetts Amherst...
, Amherst College
Amherst College
Amherst College is a private liberal arts college located in Amherst, Massachusetts, United States. Amherst is an exclusively undergraduate four-year institution and enrolled 1,744 students in the fall of 2009...
, and Mount Holyoke College
Mount Holyoke College
Mount Holyoke College is a liberal arts college for women in South Hadley, Massachusetts. It was the first member of the Seven Sisters colleges, and served as a model for some of the others...
. The Trustees named the college's first academic building
Building
In architecture, construction, engineering, real estate development and technology the word building may refer to one of the following:...
"Franklin Patterson Hall" in his honor.
From 1971, through the early 1980s, Patterson was a professor at the University of Massachusetts in political science
Political science
Political Science is a social science discipline concerned with the study of the state, government and politics. Aristotle defined it as the study of the state. It deals extensively with the theory and practice of politics, and the analysis of political systems and political behavior...
and government
Government
Government refers to the legislators, administrators, and arbitrators in the administrative bureaucracy who control a state at a given time, and to the system of government by which they are organized...
, and served as secretary of the university board, as well as interim president from 1977 through 1978.
Personal life
Patterson married Jessamy Longacre in 1937, and had two children: a daughterDaughter
A daughter is a female offspring; a girl, woman, or female animal in relation to her parents. The male equivalent is a son. Analogously the name is used on several areas to show relations between groups or elements.-Etymology:...
, Shelley Katherine, and a son, Eric. Patterson and Shelley later divorce
Divorce
Divorce is the final termination of a marital union, canceling the legal duties and responsibilities of marriage and dissolving the bonds of matrimony between the parties...
d. He later married Emily Goldblatt in 1972, with whom he had a son, Nicholas, but that marriage also ended in divorce in 1972. His last partner was Harriet Wittenborg. Patterson died
Death
Death is the permanent termination of the biological functions that sustain a living organism. Phenomena which commonly bring about death include old age, predation, malnutrition, disease, and accidents or trauma resulting in terminal injury....
on July 13, 1994 of natural causes at his home in Framingham, Massachusetts
Massachusetts
The Commonwealth of Massachusetts is a state in the New England region of the northeastern United States of America. It is bordered by Rhode Island and Connecticut to the south, New York to the west, and Vermont and New Hampshire to the north; at its east lies the Atlantic Ocean. As of the 2010...
, at the age of 77.