Historical/Biographical Note
Francis Hovey Stoddard, university educator and administrator, was born on April 25, 1847 in Middlebury, Vermont, the son of Solomon and Francis Elizabeth (Greenwood) Stoddard. Between 1884 and 1886 Stoddard studied English philology at Oxford University, England. In 1869 he earned the A.B. degree from Amherst College. After graduating Stoddard taught in Northampton, Massachusetts and was later employed in the cotton manufacturing business there. In 1873 he married Lucy Maria Smith of Springfield, Massachusetts. They had one daughter, Lucy. In 1887 he served as Instructor of English at the University of California. In 1888 Stoddard came to New York University assuming a position in the newly created Department of English Language and Literature. In 1910 Stoddard was appointed Dean of University College of Arts and Pure Science. In 1896 he was awarded an honorary Ph.D. degree from Western University of Pennsylvania (now the University of Pittsburgh) and in 1914 an honorary LL.D degree from New York University. His memberships included the Century Association, the Authors' Club and the American Philological Association. Stoddard retired from New York University in 1914 and died in New York City in 1936.
Francis Stoddard authored many books, including: The Modern Novel (1883), The ideal in Literature (1884), Psycho-Biography (1885), Women in the English Universities (1886), The Caedmon Poems (1887), Conditions of Labor in England (1887), Miracle Plays and Mysteries (1887), Tolstoi and Matthew Arnold (18?), The uses of Rhetoric: Introductive Work in College Classes (1890), Literary Spirit in the Colleges (1893), The Study of the English Language (1899), The Introduction to the Works of Lord Byron (1899), The Evolution of the English Novel (1900) and Life and Letters of Charles Butler(1903). Stoddard's articles appear in The University Magazine, Inductive Work in College Courses (NYU 1, Series 10). He edited Poems of National Spirit (1904), and contributed to Anglia Enghische Studien, New Englander, Andover Review, Academy and other publications. In 1886 Stoddard helped found the University Senate and served until his retirement in 1914. Between 1904-1914 Stoddard was Secretary of the Senate and worked on several Senate committees including the Senate Committee for the State of High School Education in the City of New York established in 1898. Stoddard developed a high school visitation program with members of the faculty.
Although Stoddard's tenure as Dean of University College was relatively short he succeeded in substantially reducing the College deficit, established the honors program, initiated the Summer-Spring academic year and examined the issues of standardizing admission credentials and requirements, student conduct, academic scholarship and grades.
Sources:
Annual Reports, 1910-1914. Report of the Dean of the College of Arts and Pure Science.
Chamberlain, Joshua., ed., Universities and Their Sons: New York University. Vol.1 (183- ), Boston: R. Herdon Company, 1901.
Jones, Theodore F., ed., New York University 1832-1932 . New York: New York University Press, 1933.
Marquis, Albert Nelson, ed., Who's Who in America . Vol.16. Chicago: A.N. Marquis Company, 1930-1931.
New York University Catalogue , vols. 1888-1914. New York: New York University Press, 1888-1914.
National Encyclopedia of American Business . Vol.XXVII. "A Talk with professor Stoddard. ca.1912. A report by a former student on a visit with Stoddard."
The 20th Century Biographical Dictionary of Notable Americans. University Senate Minutes, 1896-1914.
Return to topScope and Content Note
The papers of Francis Hovey Stoddard, 1904-1915 (2.0 l.f.) reflect the administrative functions of the Office of Dean of the University College of Arts and Pure Science held by Stoddard from 1910-1914. There are also some items relating to his years on the University Senate(1896-1914). Stoddard's papers document issues being debated at colleges and universities across the nation including; the value of standardization of high school credentials, college entrance requirements, of college-level scholarship and of university standards.
The papers of Francis Hovey Stoddard have been arranged into three series: GENERAL CORRESPONDENCE A-Z, CORRESPONDENCE (NAMES) and SUBJECT FILES. The documents are arranged within the series either by author, institution, recipient of the correspondence, or by subject.
I. General Correspondence A-Z contain letters that document the administrative functions of the Office of the Dean of University College. The issues addressed include faculty hiring, M.A. thesis approval, student records and chapel and class attendance. Aside from the general duties of the office, the papers reflect Stoddard's interest in English language and literature, the standardization of high school credentials, and the University's own admissions, transfer, and degree requirements. The series is arranged alphabetically.
II. General Correspondence (names) contains Stoddard's correspondence with University personnel, including Chancellor Elmer Ellsworth Brown, Marshall S. Brown (Dean of the Faculties), and John H. MacCracken (Syndic of the University).
III. Subject Files focus on topics and issues of interest to Stoddard and to the Office of the Dean. The files contain correspondence with numerous authors represented in each folder. The material is arranged alphabetically, then chronologically within each folder. Of particular interest are files on "Preparatory Schools Committee" that document a program where faculty visited New York High Schools to promote New York University and to recruit students. The "New York State Department of Education" files illustrate initial efforts of New York State to standardize education.
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Arrangement |
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| Folders are arranged alphabetically. | ||
| The files are grouped into 3 series: | ||
| I, General Correspondence A-Z | ||
| II, Correspondence (named) | ||
| III, Subject Files | ||
Related Material at the New York University Archives
The Administrative Papers of Chancellor Henry Mitchell MacCracken, 1884-1910.
The Administrative Papers of Chancellor Elmer Ellsworth Brown, 1900-1937.
The Charles Butler Papers, 1817-1908.
Return to topSeparated Material
There is no information about materials that are associated by provenance to the described materials that have been physically separated or removed.
Return to topRestrictions
Access Restrictions
Open for research without restrictions.
Use Restrictions
Permission to publish materials must be obtained in writing from the:
New York University Archives
Elmer Holmes Bobst Library
70 Washington Square South
New York, NY 10012
Phone: (212) 998-2646
Fax: (212) 995-4070
E-mail: university.archives@library.nyu.edu
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Administrative Information
Provenance
The administrative records of Francis Hovey Stoddard, 1904-1915, form part of Record Group 18.0.1. Records of the Office of the Dean, University College of Arts and Pure Science. The papers were presumably deposited in the Treasure Room of Memorial Library on the University Heights campus of New York University along with the files of Archibald L. Bouton who succeeded Stoddard as dean. The records were subsequently transferred to the Washington Square campus following the sale of University Heights in 1972. In October 1977 the University Archives accessioned both the Stoddard and Bouton papers.
Preferred Citation
Published citations should take the following form:
Identification of item, date (if known); The Records of the Office of the Dean, University College of Arts and Pure Science;
RG 18. 0. 1.; box number; folder number;
New York University Archives
Elmer Holmes Bobst Library
70 Washington Square South
New York, NY 10012, New York University Libraries.
Container List
[The following section contains a detailed listing of the materials in the collection.]
| Series I: General Correspondence |
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| Box | Folder | Title | Date |
| 1 | 1-15 | General Correspondence: "A-P" | 1910-1914 |
| Box | Folder | Title | Date |
| 2 | 1-7 | General Correspondence: "R-Z" | 1910-1914 |
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