Finding Aid for the Edward C. Barrett Collection on Early Caltech History 1891-1950

Processed by Caltech Archives Staff.

Caltech Archives

Archives

California Institute of Technology

1200 East California Blvd.

Mail Code 015A-74

Pasadena, CA 91125

Phone: (626) 395-2704

Fax: (626) 793-8756

Email: archives@caltech.edu

URL: http://archives.caltech.edu/

Descriptive Summary

Title: Edward C. Barrett Collection on Early Caltech History,

Date (inclusive): 1891-1950

Collection number: 10036-MS

Creator: Barrett, Edward C. 1880-1952

Extent: 1 linear foot

Repository: California Institute of Technology. Caltech Archives

Pasadena, California 91125

Abstract: Edward Cecil "Ned" Barrett was for many years the only business officer of the California Institute of Technology and of its forerunner institution, Throop University/Polytechnic Institute. The collection contains historical and administrative documents relating to the early years of Caltech and Throop, as well as correspondence of Caltech's founders and early leaders, including A. A. Noyes, James A. B. Scherer, Arthur Fleming, George Ellery Hale, and Robert A. Millikan.

Physical location: Archives, California Institute of Technology.

Language of Material:

Languages represented in the collection:

English

Access

The collection is open for research. Researchers must apply in writing for access.

Publication Rights

Copyright may not have been assigned to the California Institute of Technology Archives. All requests for permission to publish or quote from manuscripts must be submitted in writing to the Caltech Archivist. Permission for publication is given on behalf of the California Institute of Technology Archives as the owner of the physical items and, unless explicitly stated otherwise, is not intended to include or imply permission of the copyright holder, which must also be obtained by the reader.

Preferred Citation

[Identification of item], Edward C. Barrett Collection on Early Caltech History, 10036-MS, Caltech Archives, California Institute of Technology.

Acquisition Information

The Edward C. Barrett collection was preserved in the Caltech president's office until 1967, when the material was transferred to the Millikan Library. In 1968 the papers were turned over to the newly created Institute Archives.

Biography

Edward Cecil "Ned" Barrett was born March 20, 1880, in Springfield, Massachusetts. As a boy, he moved with his family to Iowa, where he attended the University of Iowa, receiving a bachelor's degree in 1906. In 1911 he began his long tenure at Caltech--then still Throop Polytechnic--as business agent and secretary to the Board of Trustees. He became assistant treasurer to the Board in 1912 and was appointed lecturer in business law in 1914. He was secretary of the Executive Council during the whole period of that body's existence under the leadership of Robert A. Millikan, from 1921 to 1945. In 1934 Barrett was named comptroller of the Institute.

Barrett died in Pasadena on February 23, 1952.

Scope and Content

The Barrett collection was revisited in 2007, at which time it was decided not to disturb the original arrangement of the papers, which dates back to circa 1970. Despite Barrett's long tenure at Caltech--41 years--the collection is small. There are three short series. The first contains an assortment of files pertaining to the business matters of the Institute, as well as some notes by Barrett himself about the history of Caltech, which he planned to write. The second series consists of correspondence pertaining to the founders and early leaders of Caltech, namely George Ellery Hale, Arthur Amos Noyes, Robert A. Millikan, Arthur Fleming, Henry M. Robinson, James A. B. Scherer, and a number of early trustees, donors, and faculty members. There is overlap between the two series, in that correspondence is interfiled among administrative papers in the first series. The third series represents a small miscellany pertaining to the history, governance, and early finances of Caltech.

The collection is organized into the following series:

Series 1. Historical and Administrative Papers
Series 2. Correspondence
Series 3. Miscellaneous Papers

Related Material

Related collections in the Caltech Archives with important material on the early history of Caltech are: the James A. B. Scherer Papers, the George Ellery Hale Papers, and the Robert A. Millikan Papers.

Indexing Terms

The following terms have been used to index the description of this collection in the library's online public access catalog.

Subjects

California Institute of Technology--History

Series 1. Historical and Administrative Papers

Box 1, Folder 1

Writings and notes on the history of Caltech undated

Physical Description: 127 pages.

Box 1, Folder 2

Writings and notes on the history of Caltech: Notes on J. A. B. Scherer correspondence undated

Physical Description: 83 pages.

Note

Includes some shorthand notes.

Box 1, Folder 2.1

Throop University: Articles of incorporation 19 Sep 1891

Physical Description: Three copies.

Box 1, Folder 3

Throop Polytechnic Institute: Subscription papers 1894-1898, undated

Physical Description: 26 items.

Box 1, Folder 4

Throop Polytechnic Institute: Subscription papers 1908-1910, undated

Physical Description: 6 items.

Box 1, Folder 5

Throop Polytechnic Institute: Financial records 1908-1920

Physical Description: 28 items.

Box 1, Folder 6

Administrative documents, folder 1

Scope and Content Note

Resolutions of Executive Committee 1904
James A. B. Scherer to Wallace Buttrick 1909
Arthur H. Fleming to Board of Trustees, Throop Polytechnic Institute 1909
Edward C. Barrett to James A. B. Scherer 1914-1915
C. J. Willett to Edward C. Barrett 1915
Cornell University undated
Harvard University to Edward C. Barrett 1916
Stanford University to Edward C. Barrett 1916
Columbia University to Edward C. Barrett 1916
University of California, Berkeley, to Edward C. Barrett 1916
Arthur A. Noyes to Edward C. Barrett 1916
Norman Bridge to Edward C. Barrett 1916
George S. Patton to Edward C. Barrett 1916
Finance Committee 1917
Board of Trustees 1917, ca. 1920
T. W. Haymond to Edward C. Barrett 1917
Faculty Tea 1918
Edward C. Barrett to Arthur H. Fleming 1919

Box 1, Folder 7

Administrative documents, folder 2

Scope and Content Note

Plan for the Development of Throop College into the California Institute of Science and Engineering 1920
James A. B. Scherer to Arthur H. Fleming 1920
Faculty Administrative Committee 1920-1921
Report of the Administrative Committee of the Faculty 1921
Report of Direction, Aims, Accomplishments, Needs and Financial Condition 1923
Report of the Committee on Student Health 1923
Report: Robert A. Millikan to Board of Trustees 1923
William Lacey to Frederic Hinrichs 1923
Executive Council 1924
V. Kalichevsky and B. Golikoff to James A. B. Scherer 1924
Report: Robert A. Millikan 1924
Pledge: Arthur H. Fleming and Henry M. Robinson 1925, 1927-1929
Board of Trustees minutes 1926
H. W. O'Melveny to Edward C. Barrett 1926
Henry M. Robinson to Edward C. Barrett 1926
Edward C. Barrett to Arthur H. Fleming 1926
Henry M. Robinson to George E. Farrand undated
Edward C. Barrett to Henry M. Robinson 1926
Synopses of Trust Agreements and Annuity Agreements 1927
Summaries of Agreements with Respect to Funds [1927?]
George E. Farrand to Edward C. Barrett 1927
Board of Trustees announcement 1927
General Education Board to Robert A. Millikan 1927
Robert A. Millikan to Allan C. Balch 1927
Edward C. Barrett to Executive Council 1928
William R. Smythe to Executive Council 1930
Athenaeum: Constitution and By-Laws undated

Box 1, Folder 8

Administrative documents, folder 3

Scope and Content Note

Robert R. Blacker to Institute 1929
Edward C. Barrett to Allan C. Balch 1929
Memorandum for Finance Committee 1930, 1934
Board of Trustees minutes 1930
Arthur H. Fleming to E. F. Duke 1931
Henry M. Robinson to Edward C. Barrett 1931
Crellin annuity 1931
H. W. O'Melveny to Edward C. Barrett 1931
Executive Council minutes 1931, 1934
E. F. Duke to Finance Committee 1931
Memorandum regarding Student Houses 1932
R. L. Daugherty to Board of Trustees 1932
Harvey S. Mudd to Robert A. Millikan 1932
George Ellery Hale and others to Allan C. Balch 1933
Edward C. Barrett to Trustees 1933
Edward C. Barrett to Robert A. Millikan 1933
William W. Clary to Edward C. Barrett 1934
Harry Chandler to Edward C. Barrett 1933-1934
Edward C. Barrett to Harry Chandler 1934
Henry M. Robinson to George Ellery Hale 1934
Frederic C. Walcott to Henry M. Robinson 1934
Charles J. Dunn to William B. Munro 1943
William B. Munro to Charles J. Dunn 1943

Box 1, Folder 9

Report of the Chairman of the Executive Council (Robert A. Millikan) 1922

Physical Description: 3 items.

Box 2, Folder 1

Norman Bridge Laboratory

Scope and Content Note

BSS to Mr. Mayers 1920
William C. Crowell to Board of Trustees 1920
Arthur H. Fleming to Walter Lloyd Smith 1920
George E. Hale to Arthur H. Fleming 1920
Announcement of the dedication of the building 1922
Expression of Appreciation to Norman Bridge 1922
Expression of Appreciation to Mrs. Norman Bridge 1925
Robert A. Millikan to Henry W. O'Melveny 1926
Edward C. Barrett to Arthur H. Fleming 1932

Box 2, Folder 2

Fleming Trust 1920, 1922-1923, 1935, undated

Physical Description: 18 items.

Box 2, Folder 3

Faculty

Scope and Content Note

Robert A. Millikan to J. P. Buwalda 1925
Chester Stock to Robert A. Millikan 1925
Robert A. Millikan to Chester Stock 1925
Arthur A. Noyes to Edward C. Barrett 1928
Clinton Judy to Edward C. Barrett 1929
Thomas Hunt Morgan to Arthur A. Noyes 1930
Royal Sorensen to Executive Council 1931
Charles Palache to Ian Campbell 1934

Box 2, Folder 4

Student Affairs

Scope and Content Note

Harvard University 1928
Occidental College 1928
Pomona College 1928
Princeton University 1928
University of Redlands 1928
University of Southern California 1928
Yale University 1928
Tuition increase 1930
Minutes of a Meeting of the House Presidents 1931
Report of the Committee on Campus Life and Interests 1934
Regulations in Regard to Fellowships and Graduate Scholarships 1934-1935

Box 2, Folder 5

Miscellaneous 1915, 1918, 1949, undated

Physical Description: 8 items.

Series 2. Correspondence

Box 2, Folder 6

George Ellery Hale

Scope and Content Note

Edward C. Barrett to Hale 1920-1921
Agence de Librairie et de Publications to Hale [1920?]
Hale to Edward C. Barrett 1920-1921
Robert A. Millikan to Hale 1920
Hale to Arthur H. Fleming 1920-1921
A. O. Leuschner to Hale 1920
Monroe E. Deutsch to Hale 1920
Hale to Arthur A. Noyes 1921
Arthur H. Fleming to Hale 1921
Arthur A. Noyes to Hale 1921
Hale and Arthur A. Noyes to Edward C. Barrett 1921

Box 2, Folder 7

Arthur A. Noyes

Scope and Content Note

Noyes to Edward C. Barrett 1929-1932, undated
Edward C. Barrett to Noyes 1929, 1931-1932
Linus Pauling to Edward C. Barrett 1929
Noyes to Mrs. Edward C. Barrett 1930
Noyes to Mrs. Herman E. Dolk 1932

Box 2, Folder 8

James A. B. Scherer, folder 1

Scope and Content Note

Edward C. Barrett to Scherer 1911, 1917
Arthur H. Fleming to Scherer 1911
Henry M. Robinson to Scherer 1911, 1913
Henry M. Robinson to Throop Polytechnic Institute 1912
Scherer to Henry M. Robinson 1912-1913
Nellie C. [Mrs. Robert R.] Blacker to Scherer 1917
Scherer to Edward C. Barrett 1917
Norman Bridge to Edward C. Barrett 1917
Scherer to Seward C. Simons 1917

Box 2, Folder 9

James A. B. Scherer, folder 2

Scope and Content Note

Edward C. Barrett to Scherer 1918
Walter H. Adams to Scherer 1918
Scherer to Edward C. Barrett 1918
Scherer to Arthur H. Fleming 1918
Clinton K. Judy to Scherer 1918
Edward C. Barrett to Chief of Air Service 1918
Edward C. Barrett to Arthur H. Fleming 1918
Edward C. Barrett to Adjutant General, War Department 1918
P. L. Campbell to Scherer 1918
Edward C. Barrett to P. L. Campbell 1918
George Ellery Hale to Scherer 1918
Students to Executive Committee of the Faculty 1918
Scherer to George Ellery Hale 1918
Robert A. W. Bultmann to H. C. Van Buskirk 1918
Joseph Maier and Frank Bridgeford to Frederick Beckman 1918
Munson J. Dowd to Frederick Beckman 1918
R. E. Hambrook to Frederick Beckman 1918
Munson J. Dowd to Professor Thomas 1918
R. I. Rees and others to Scherer 1918
Edward C. Barrett to War Department Committee on Education and Special Training 1918
Scherer [?] to Frederick Beckman 1918
Executive Committee Meeting minutes 1918 Oct 28
Inga Howard to Edward C. Barrett 1918

Box 2, Folder 10

James A. B. Scherer, folder 3

Scope and Content Note

Inga Howard to Edward C. Barrett 1919
Edward C. Barrett to Scherer 1919
Inga Howard to Scherer undated
Edward C. Barrett to James B. Pond 1919
Earnest C. Watson to Scherer 1919
Edward C. Barrett to Dr. Eyting 1919
Glen Levin Swiggett to Scherer 1919

Box 2, Folder 11

Miscellaneous correspondence

Scope and Content Note

Edward C. Barrett to Henry M. Robinson 1920
M. H. Sherman to Harry Chandler 1920
Harry Chandler to Arthur H. Fleming 1920
Henry M. Robinson to Arthur H. Fleming 1921
H. H. G. Nash to Edward C. Barrett 1939

Series 3. Miscellaneous Papers

Box 2, Folder 12

Engineering and Science 1950 Jan

Box 2, Folder 13

Budget reports 1919-1924

Box 2, Folder 14

Endowment funds 1918-1948

Box 2, Folder 15

Papers of historical value various