Caleb Frank Gates, 1941 March - 1943 November, 1946 February - 1947 August

Series

Identifier: U136.08

Staff Only

Abstract

This series contains the Chancellor's records of Caleb Frank Gates (1903-1955). Gates served two separate terms as Chancellor of the University of Denver, from March 1941 to November 1943 and again from February 1946 to August 1947. When he accepted this position in 1941, he was DU's youngest Chancellor at the age of 37.

Dates

1941 March - 1943 November
1946 February - 1947 August

Biographical / Historical

Caleb Frank Gates (1903-1955) was born in Constantinople, Turkey (now Istanbul) where he received his early education at Roberts College. Gates came to the United States in 1919 and attended the Hill School in Pottstown, Pennsylvania for three years. In 1926, he graduated with honors from Princeton University and continued his studies under a Rhodes scholarship at Balliol College in Oxford. In 1928, while attending college, Gates married Elizabeth Farnum in England. They raised four children: Caleb Jr., Betsy Ann, Mary Ellen, and Gwynne.

The couple returned to Turkey after Gates graduated from Balliol College with both B. A. and M. A. degrees. He taught history and served as Headmaster of the preparatory school at Roberts College from 1932-1933. Gates returned to Princeton for a year of graduate work in history and was eventually appointed History Instructor at Princeton. He also served as Assistant Dean for three years until 1939, when the Dean of the College became incapacitated and the full responsibility of the office rested with Gates.

In 1941, Gates accepted the position of Chancellor at the University of Denver. At the age of 37, he was the youngest chancellor in the university's history. In 1943, Gates received a leave of absence from the University to join the army during WWII with the rank of major.

Gates served two terms as Chancellor at the University of Denver, from 1941-1943 and 1946-1947. Under Gates' leadership the University instituted the School of Hotel and Restaurant Management, the School of Architecture and Planning, and the School of Aeronautics. Additionally, enrollments rose by 57 percent compared to the pre-war enrollments of 1939, and the number of veterans on campus rose to 60 percent. Gates resigned as chancellor in 1947, but remained for two years as professor of history. He joined numerous organizations, including the University Club of Denver, Denver Press Club, American Alpine Club, Princeton Club, American Historical Society, Colorado Education Society, and the Foreign Policy Association.