President Alan Carson Rankin Records - Page 1

Description:	Records of President Alan C. RankinIndiana State University ArchivesRecord Group UAR1.2.7Biographical or Historical Information: President Rankin received his B.S. in Education and an A.B. in PoliticalScience from Fort Hays State University in 1937. During his time at Fort Hays, he was editor of the yearbook, amember of student council, president of the student body, an active fraternity member, and a cellist in the collegeorchestra, quartet and trio as well as a bass in the Mens Glee Club. He also founded Seventh Cavalry, a leadershiphonorary which is still in existence. He was also a member of Pi Gamma Mu, a social science honorary and Phi MuAlpha, a music and social fraternity. In 1939 Rankin was awarded a Resident Advisorship at Syracuse Universitywhere he earned a masters degree in political science at the Maxwell Graduate School of Citizenship and PublicAffairs. He returned to Syracuse to earn his Doctorate in Social Science in 1955. In 1940, Rankin went to the CanalZone where he was the personnel assistant for the Panama Canal. He eventually was appointed Chief of theResearch and Service Bureau of the Panama Canal. During World War II he served as Chief of the Salary and WageAdministration section of the Panama Canal Department and the Caribbean Defense Command. Following WorldWar II Rankin taught at Miami University in Oxford, Ohio from 1946‐1954. During his time as a faculty member, hetook an extended leave of absence in Japan where he acted as a consultant to the National Personnel Authorityand participated in the reorganization of the Japanese Civil Service. Rankin also served as the Vice Chancellor ofthe University of Pittsburgh. Rankin was nominated as a Presidential candidate by Dr. William P. Tolley, chancellorof Syracuse University when he was questioned by Dr. Wayne Crockett, a trustee and alumnus of Indiana StateUniversity, as to whom would make the best candidate to serve as president of Indiana State University. Afterweeks of meetings with many faculty members as well as members of the search committee, James D. Archer, theBoard president, appointed Alan C. Rankin as the new President of Indiana State University. Rankin served aspresident from 1965 to 1975, a time during which there were many social as well as academic tensions and unrest.Rankins presidency was challenged by student protests, sit‐ins, streakers, anti‐war and anti‐prostitutiondemonstrations, same‐sex dormitory rooms, and even a major incidence involving the burning of an American flagin a classroom. Accompanying the challenges provided by an ever changing moral and ethical view of society andgovernment, Ranking was also faced with accommodating a rapidly growing university. During his presidency,Rankin was responsible for overseeing and erecting many new buildings for the university including but not limitedto: Cunningham Library, Hulman Center, Holmstedt Hall, Lincoln Quadrangle, Residence Halls (Hines, Jones,Rhoads, and Mills) and the now School of Business and School of Education towers. Rankin submitted hisresignation in the spring of 1974 and continued to serve as President until Dr. Richard Landini assumed office onMay 15, 1975.Scope and Contents: The President Alan C. Rankin records consists of documents of Rankins leadership theactivities of Indiana State Universitys (ISU) colleges, departments, and other research and administrative units ISUs involvement in community affairs, and Rankins speaking engagements at and beyond ISU. Records includeannual reports, appointment books, campus planning and development records, correspondence and memoranda,reports, meeting agenda and minutes, brochures, pamphlets, handbooks, newsletters, newspaper clippings,statistical information, notes, cards, proposals, surveys, and writings. Also found in this collection are documentsof President Rankins participation in higher education in Indiana as well as expanding ISUs campus by creatingand executing a plan for a new campus location in Evansville, Indiana. Finally, a collection of inaugural greetingsand congratulations presented to Rankin as well as Rankins personal records consisting of his own works andmemorabilia are found here.
Source:	http://indstate.contentdm.oclc.org/cdm/ref/collection/isuarchive/id/55559
Collection:	Indiana State University Archives

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