Rufus B. von KleinSmid
Encyclopedia
Rufus Bernhard von KleinSmid (1875-July 9, 1964) was the Seventh President of the University of Arizona
(1914-1921). and the Fifth President of the University of Southern California
(1921–1947).
von KleinSmid started his academic career at DePauw University
where he was a Professor of Education and Psychology.
Rufus Bernhard von KleinSmid became USC's fifth president in 1921. A high priority of his administration was to expand professional training programs, and President von KleinSmid also presided over a building program that added nine major structures to the university campus. By the end of his first decade in office, USC had attained full national accreditation, established a graduate school to unify graduate work across the university, and had become a large non-denominational institution.
With the onset of the Great Depression
at decade’s end, USC was forced to retrench in the 1930s. During World War II (1939–1945), army barracks were constructed on campus, and the curriculum reflected a wartime emphasis on international relations, history, geography, languages, science and the like. Some 2,000 military trainees added to crowded conditions on campus. After the war, the lack of space at USC grew even worse, as the G.I. Bill brought former servicemen to the university for study. Enrollment soared from 8,500 in 1945 to more than 24,000 in 1947. In 1946 von KleinSmid, then 70 years old, elected to step down and became USC's chancellor for life.
He was recognized as "one of three of the nation's most distinguished citizens" through the National Institute of Social Sciences Gold Medal Award. On an international level, von KleinSmid received awards from 20 national governments for his achievements. However, it has been widely speculated that von KleinSmid was a Nazi sympathizer; according to USC's Dean of Religious Life, Rabbi Susan Laemmle, "Depending on who you believe, [von KleinSmid] was somewhere between liking Germans and being a Nazi."
The Swiss-born American artist Adolfo Müller-Ury
(1862-1947) painted his three-quarter length portrait in 1931; it was the gift of the Doheny family to the University of Southern California, who de-accessioned it in the 1980s.
Von KleinSmid was a skilled fencer, and helped found the USC Fencing Club
.
Von KleinSmid died on July 9 1964.
University of Arizona
The University of Arizona is a land-grant and space-grant public institution of higher education and research located in Tucson, Arizona, United States. The University of Arizona was the first university in the state of Arizona, founded in 1885...
(1914-1921). and the Fifth President of the University of Southern California
University of Southern California
The University of Southern California is a private, not-for-profit, nonsectarian, research university located in Los Angeles, California, United States. USC was founded in 1880, making it California's oldest private research university...
(1921–1947).
von KleinSmid started his academic career at DePauw University
DePauw University
DePauw University in Greencastle, Indiana, USA, is a private, national liberal arts college with an enrollment of approximately 2,400 students. The school has a Methodist heritage and was originally known as Indiana Asbury University. DePauw is a member of both the Great Lakes Colleges Association...
where he was a Professor of Education and Psychology.
Rufus Bernhard von KleinSmid became USC's fifth president in 1921. A high priority of his administration was to expand professional training programs, and President von KleinSmid also presided over a building program that added nine major structures to the university campus. By the end of his first decade in office, USC had attained full national accreditation, established a graduate school to unify graduate work across the university, and had become a large non-denominational institution.
With the onset of the Great Depression
Great Depression
The Great Depression was a severe worldwide economic depression in the decade preceding World War II. The timing of the Great Depression varied across nations, but in most countries it started in about 1929 and lasted until the late 1930s or early 1940s...
at decade’s end, USC was forced to retrench in the 1930s. During World War II (1939–1945), army barracks were constructed on campus, and the curriculum reflected a wartime emphasis on international relations, history, geography, languages, science and the like. Some 2,000 military trainees added to crowded conditions on campus. After the war, the lack of space at USC grew even worse, as the G.I. Bill brought former servicemen to the university for study. Enrollment soared from 8,500 in 1945 to more than 24,000 in 1947. In 1946 von KleinSmid, then 70 years old, elected to step down and became USC's chancellor for life.
He was recognized as "one of three of the nation's most distinguished citizens" through the National Institute of Social Sciences Gold Medal Award. On an international level, von KleinSmid received awards from 20 national governments for his achievements. However, it has been widely speculated that von KleinSmid was a Nazi sympathizer; according to USC's Dean of Religious Life, Rabbi Susan Laemmle, "Depending on who you believe, [von KleinSmid] was somewhere between liking Germans and being a Nazi."
The Swiss-born American artist Adolfo Müller-Ury
Adolfo Müller-Ury
Adolfo Muller-Ury was a Swiss-born American portrait painter and impressionistic painter of roses and still life.-Heritage and early life in Switzerland:...
(1862-1947) painted his three-quarter length portrait in 1931; it was the gift of the Doheny family to the University of Southern California, who de-accessioned it in the 1980s.
Von KleinSmid was a skilled fencer, and helped found the USC Fencing Club
USC Fencing Club
The University of Southern California Fencing Club has a long and colorful history. Founded in 1926, the Club has been home to a number of world class fencers and has won multiple championships. The USC Fencing Club is one of many U.S...
.
Von KleinSmid died on July 9 1964.
See also
- University of Southern California School of International RelationsUniversity of Southern California School of International RelationsThe University of Southern California School of International Relations is the 3rd oldest school of international relations in the world...
- Von KleinSmid MansionVon KleinSmid MansionThe von KleinSmid Mansion was built for the von KleinSmid family of the DeKalb County city of Sandwich, Illinois in the mid-nineteenth century. It was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1985. The building is located on Sandwich's West Center Street, and is under private...