Harry Augustus Garfield

Of the eleven Presidents who have planned and furthered the development of Williams College since its founding in 1793 Harry Augustus Garfield, more than any other (not excepting even Mark Hopkins) introduced enduring factors, tangible and intangible, that have given to his Alma Mater just claim to recognition among the forefront of American institutions of higher learning. Though he would have been the last to regard himself as entitled to distinction on the grounds of outstanding scholarship, he was a born educator. And to the cause of education he devoted the best years of his life—not education merely for education’s sake, but as a means to the attainment of the larger life. Only once during his long service as President of the College did he yield to any demand that would interfere with the full-time performance of his academic duties. This was during the years 1917–1919, when, at the urgent request of President Wilson, he accepted a seat in his Economic Cabinet as Fuel Administrator. While engaged in the active practice of law at his home in Cleveland he had delivered lectures at the Law School in that city; but he did not devote himself entirely to the academic life until he accepted a position of Professor of Politics at Princeton. From there, in 1908, he was called to assume the office of President of Williams, a post which he held until his retirement in 1934 at the age of seventy-one.

His theory that education was not an end in itself but a means shaped the whole policy of his administration. As he saw it, the function of the college was to train young minds, to develop their intellectual power and capacity, thereby opening the door to a fuller life, not only for the individual, but for the community. For him, however, “the community” was not to be identified with narrow metes and bounds. In the new-born League of Nations he envisioned a world community the very life of which depended upon a complete, intelligent and sympathetic mutual understanding among its members. Moved by the hope of making some contribution looking to the attainment of such an ideal condition, his active mind conceived, and his boundless energy brought into being and fostered the Institute of Politics, an international forum, which, beginning in 1921, for a number of summers enjoyed a world-wide reputation, and brought to Williamstown as lecturers and round-table leaders such outstanding personalities as the late Lord Bryce, the late Lord Lothian (then the Hon. Philip KerrMember profile currently not available; contact Archivist for information on this Centurion), the late William Howard Taft (then Chief Justice of the United States Supreme Court), and many others, only less distinguished.

Socially, Dr. Garfield’s shyness and distaste for publicity, coupled with an innate dignity and courtliness of manner, led some to regard him as unapproachable, even as cold. But to those privileged to know him intimately he was ever the delightful companion, the gracious, considerate and loyal friend.

Geoffrey Parsons
1942 Century Memorials