Chapter XV – THE CASE ADMINISTRATION 1942-1962
When Josiah Quincy brought his history of Harvard University, published in 1840, to 1780 he stated that he had reached “our times,” a period too close for proper perspective and that he, therefore, would restrict it to “an outline of events.” Though Colgate’s history is far shorter than Harvard’s, 1942 can be viewed as ushering in a modern era best treated by a brief recording of what seem to be high points, subject to revision as perspective lengthens.
Everett Needham Case, the ninth president, formally entered on his duties at his inauguration September 24, 1942. He had graduated from Princeton in 1922 and studied at Harvard from 1924 to 1927 following study for an honors degree in modern history at Cambridge University. After experience in industry he became assistant dean of the Harvard Graduate School of Business Administration in 1939. From 1927 to 1933 he had been assistant to Owen D. Young of the General Electric Company whose daughter he married and who was to make her own contribution to the Colgate community through gracious hospitality, membership on a variety of committees, her scholarly interests, publications, and stimulating and creative ideas.
The new president, in his first address to faculty and students, stressed Colgate’s obligation to see that its facilities were used with the greatest possible effectiveness in the war training program. In fulfilling this responsibility the University would not only contribute to military victory but also keep itself alive; its Navy contracts were to prove most helpful in meeting basic operating costs. The enrollment for the fall term was 873 which was only 15 percent below normal but there was every reason to expect it would be drastically reduced by calls to the armed services; by July, 1944, the figure stood at 77 civilian students.