Harmon White Caldwell
Encyclopedia
Harmon White Caldwell was President of the University of Georgia
(UGA) in Athens
from 1935 until 1948 and Chancellor of the University System of Georgia
from 1948 to 1964
Caldwell was born in the Carmel Community of Meriwether County
, Georgia
, in 1899. He earned an A.B.
from UGA in 1919 after only two years and was a member of the Chi Phi Fraternity and the Phi Kappa Literary Society
. Upon graduation, he taught public school in both Sasser, Georgia
and Taylorsville, Georgia
. In 1921, Caldwell entered the Harvard Law School
and graduated with the degree Bachelor of Law (LL.B.) in 1924. That same year he became a part-time Assistant Professor of Law at Emory University
in Atlanta, Georgia
in addition to practicing law at the firm of King, Caldwell and Partridge. Five years later, Caldwell assumed a professorship at the UGA School of Law
. He returned to the law practice and part-time duties at Emory in 1932; however, he returned to UGA as the dean of the law school in 1933.
Caldwell's accomplishments as president include:
The following buildings were opened during Caldwell's presidential tenure:
Caldwell also served as a trustee of the Berry Schools and Callaway Gardens
in Georgia.
In 1977, Caldwell died in Atlanta, Georgia
. Caldwell Hall, home to the University of Georgia's School of Environment and Design, is named in his honor, as well as the Harmon W. Caldwell Professorship in Constitutional Law in the UGA Law School.
University of Georgia
The University of Georgia is a public research university located in Athens, Georgia, United States. Founded in 1785, it is the oldest and largest of the state's institutions of higher learning and is one of multiple schools to claim the title of the oldest public university in the United States...
(UGA) in Athens
Athens, Georgia
Athens-Clarke County is a consolidated city–county in U.S. state of Georgia, in the northeastern part of the state, comprising the former City of Athens proper and Clarke County. The University of Georgia is located in this college town and is responsible for the initial growth of the city...
from 1935 until 1948 and Chancellor of the University System of Georgia
University System of Georgia
The University System of Georgia is the organizational body that includes 35 public institutions of higher learning in the U.S. state of Georgia. The System is governed by the Georgia Board of Regents. It sets goals and dictates general policy to educational institutions as well as administering...
from 1948 to 1964
Caldwell was born in the Carmel Community of Meriwether County
Meriwether County, Georgia
Meriwether County is a county located in the U.S. state of Georgia. It was created on December 14, 1827. As of 2000, the population was 22,534. The 2009 Census Estimate reflects a population of 22,783...
, Georgia
Georgia (U.S. state)
Georgia is a state located in the southeastern United States. It was established in 1732, the last of the original Thirteen Colonies. The state is named after King George II of Great Britain. Georgia was the fourth state to ratify the United States Constitution, on January 2, 1788...
, in 1899. He earned an A.B.
Bachelor of Arts
A Bachelor of Arts , from the Latin artium baccalaureus, is a bachelor's degree awarded for an undergraduate course or program in either the liberal arts, the sciences, or both...
from UGA in 1919 after only two years and was a member of the Chi Phi Fraternity and the Phi Kappa Literary Society
Phi Kappa Literary Society
The Phi Kappa Literary Society is a college literary society, located at the University of Georgia in Athens, Georgia.The Society was founded in 1820 by Joseph Henry Lumpkin, later to become the first Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of Georgia and eponym for the , and by William Crabbe, Edwin...
. Upon graduation, he taught public school in both Sasser, Georgia
Sasser, Georgia
Sasser is a town in Terrell County, Georgia, United States. The population was 393 at the 2000 census. It is part of the Albany, Georgia Metropolitan Statistical Area.-Geography:Sasser is located at ....
and Taylorsville, Georgia
Taylorsville, Georgia
Taylorsville is a town in Bartow and Polk counties in the U.S. state of Georgia. The population was 3,796 at the 2010 census.-Geography:Taylorsville is located at ....
. In 1921, Caldwell entered the Harvard Law School
Harvard Law School
Harvard Law School is one of the professional graduate schools of Harvard University. Located in Cambridge, Massachusetts, it is the oldest continually-operating law school in the United States and is home to the largest academic law library in the world. The school is routinely ranked by the U.S...
and graduated with the degree Bachelor of Law (LL.B.) in 1924. That same year he became a part-time Assistant Professor of Law at Emory University
Emory University
Emory University is a private research university in metropolitan Atlanta, located in the Druid Hills section of unincorporated DeKalb County, Georgia, United States. The university was founded as Emory College in 1836 in Oxford, Georgia by a small group of Methodists and was named in honor of...
in Atlanta, Georgia
Atlanta, Georgia
Atlanta is the capital and most populous city in the U.S. state of Georgia. According to the 2010 census, Atlanta's population is 420,003. Atlanta is the cultural and economic center of the Atlanta metropolitan area, which is home to 5,268,860 people and is the ninth largest metropolitan area in...
in addition to practicing law at the firm of King, Caldwell and Partridge. Five years later, Caldwell assumed a professorship at the UGA School of Law
University of Georgia School of Law
The University of Georgia School of Law is a graduate school of the University of Georgia. Founded in 1859 and located in Athens, Georgia, USA, Georgia Law was formerly known as the Lumpkin School of Law. The Law School is the second oldest of the University's schools and colleges. The University...
. He returned to the law practice and part-time duties at Emory in 1932; however, he returned to UGA as the dean of the law school in 1933.
Caldwell's accomplishments as president include:
- Reorganization of the Graduate School in 1937
- Stewarding the purchase of the DeRenne Library of Georgianna, which formed the nucleus of the present day Department of Special Collections at University Libraries
- Creation of the University of Georgia PressUniversity of Georgia PressThe University of Georgia Press or UGA Press is a publishing house and is a member of the Association of American University Presses.Founded in 1938, the UGA Press is a division of the University of Georgia and is located on the campus in Athens, Georgia, USA...
- The Navy preflight school
- A rise in attendance from 2,468 in the fall of 1945 to 6,643 in the fall of 1946
The following buildings were opened during Caldwell's presidential tenure:
- Mary Lyndon Hall (1936)
- Four Towers (1937)
- Hoke Smith Building (1937)
- Clark Howell Hall (1937)
- Forestry Resources Building (1938)
- Baldwin Hall (1938)
- LeConte Hall (1938)
- Park Hall (1938)
- Rutherford Hall (1939)
- Dairy Science Building (1939)
- Snelling Hall (1940)
- McPhaul Child and Family Development Center (1940)
- Payne Hall (1940)
- Founders' Memorial Garden (1941)
- Fine Arts Building (1941)
- Alumni House (1943)
- Stegeman Hall (1943).
Caldwell also served as a trustee of the Berry Schools and Callaway Gardens
Callaway Gardens
Callaway Gardens is a resort complex located in Pine Mountain, Georgia, just outside of Columbus, Georgia. The resort draws over 750,000 visitors annually....
in Georgia.
In 1977, Caldwell died in Atlanta, Georgia
Atlanta, Georgia
Atlanta is the capital and most populous city in the U.S. state of Georgia. According to the 2010 census, Atlanta's population is 420,003. Atlanta is the cultural and economic center of the Atlanta metropolitan area, which is home to 5,268,860 people and is the ninth largest metropolitan area in...
. Caldwell Hall, home to the University of Georgia's School of Environment and Design, is named in his honor, as well as the Harmon W. Caldwell Professorship in Constitutional Law in the UGA Law School.