Caleb Frank Gates Papers

Caleb Frank Gates (1903-1955), born in Constantinople (now Istanbul), received his early education at Roberts College in Istanbul. His father served as President of the Institution. 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.

In 1943, Gates received a leave of absence from the University to join the army during WWII with the rank of major. He was stationed first in England with the American Military Government and then as an attaché to the American Ambassador in Belgrade, Yugoslavia. His duties included handling prisoners of war and displaced persons.

Gates served two terms as Chancellor of the University of Denver, from 1941-1943 and 1946-1947. Enrollments rose by 57 percent compared to the pre-war enrollments of 1939. The percent of veterans on campus rose to 60 percent. Under Gates' leadership, the University organized the School of Hotel and Restaurant Management, the School of Architecture and Planning and the School of Aeronautics. 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. Gates and his first wife, Elizabeth Farnum, divorced in 1954. He remarried in 1955, to Mable Ridge. Also i n 1955, Gates relocated to Santa Rosa, California, to operate the Cedar Shake Guest Lodge. There, on the eve of his 52nd birthday, Dec. 21, 1955 Gates died of a heart attack.

He taught in the History Department at Princeton prior to serving at the University of Denver as Chancellor. Gates was named Chancellor at the University in 1941. 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 returned to his post of Chancellor in 1946. Gates resigned as chancellor in 1947, but remained for two years as Professor of History.Gates died December 21, 1955 in California. His papers at the University of Denver cover his years as Chancellor.