Papers of Francis T. Spaulding

Francis Trow Spaulding (1896-1950), second dean of the Harvard Graduate School of Education, worked at Harvard University from 1924 to 1942 in several positions, including instructor, professor, and associate dean. He received his AB from Harvard College in 1916, his EdM in 1921 and EdD in 1926 from the Harvard Graduate School of Education, as well as his AM degree from Columbia University in 1926. Spaulding was appointed as instructor in education at the Harvard Graduate School of Education in 1924, successively became assistant professor in 1926, associate professor in 1929, and achieved full professorship in 1936. In 1939, Spaulding became associate dean and was quickly promoted to dean in 1940. During his tenure as dean, Spaulding helped guide Harvard out of a difficult financial period by increasing the number of students enrolled at the School, thus generating more income.

In early 1942, Spaulding took a leave of absence from Harvard to serve as a colonel in the United States Army’s Information and Education Division. Following the war, he became Commissioner of Education and president of the University of the State of New York, remaining in that position until his untimely death in 1950.