Archives and Special Collections
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Archives and Special Collections Finding Aids

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Collection Overview
Title: Carl Stephens Ell papers
Dates:1912-1981
Location:73/1
Call Number:M02
Volume:4.00 cubic ft. (8 boxes)
Scope and Content Abstract:The collection documents the personal interests and activites of Carl Stephens Ell. It includes correspondence, diplomas and certificates, biographies, newspaper clippings, honors and awards, annual reports, a scrapbook, and various personal objects from Carl Stephens Ell's office.
Historical Abstract:Carl Stephens Ell was the second President of Northeastern University from 1940 to 1959. He was born in Staunton, Indiana on November 14, 1887, son of Jacob and Alice (Stephens) Ell. His education included an A.B. in 1909 from DePauw University, a S.B. in 1911 and M.S. in 1912 in Civil Engineering from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology and an Ed.M. in 1932 from Harvard University. He married Etta May Kinnear on June 10, 1913 and had one daughter, Dorothy. He began teaching at Northeastern in 1910, and remained affiliated with the university until his death on April 17, 1981.
Arrangement:Organized into two series: I. Subject files; II. Material Culture.
Subjects and Contributors:
  • Ell, Carl Stephens, b. 1887.

  • Northeastern University (Boston, Mass.) -- Presidents.

  • College presidents -- Massachusetts -- Boston.
  • Engineers -- Massachusetts -- Boston.
Restrictions:The collection is unrestricted.
Related Materials:

Office of the President (Ell) records (A02)
Processor:Finding aid prepared by Abigail Schoolman, April 1996

Scope and Content Note

The papers of Carl Stephens Ell (CSE) consist of approximately 4 cubic feet of material spanning the years 1912-1981. The collection was transferred to the Archives in four groups. The first two accessions were prior to August 1994. The third accession was transferred in June 1995; the fourth was donated in April 1996. The personal papers of CSE were intermingled with his professional records (see Northeastern University, Office of the President (Ell), 1940-59 (A2)). The personal materials were separated from the archival collection; however, all of CSE's writings and speeches are located in A2 (boxes 6 and 34-39) as the bulk are professional rather than personal.

The collection is arranged in two series: Subject Files and Material Culture. Series I. Subject Files is arranged alphabetically. Curriculum vitae, newspaper clippings and narrative summaries of CSE's life can be found in Biographical Material, n.d., 1924-78 (Box 1, folders 2-7 and Box 5, folder 30); materials relating to honors and awards received by CSE, including notes written by CSE's secretary Marjorie Prout regarding his honorary degrees, are arranged alphabetically by folder title under the headings General and Honorary Degrees in Honors and Awards, 1927-1981 (Box 1, folders 9-22; Box 2, folders 23-25; Box 3, folder 28; Box 5, folders 32-34; box 7; Box 8; flat file 1, drawer 1, folder 1; and flat file 3, drawer 3).

Papers documenting CSE's activities as a fund raiser for his alma mater, DePauw University, and as head of alumni contributions for the Class of 1909 are found in Box 1, folder 8 and Box 5, folder 31. Also in the collection are two signed poems by the writer Edwin Markham (1852-1940) (Box 3, folder 29) and CSE's scrapbook from his early years at NU (Box 6).

Series II. Material Culture comprises various personal objects from CSE's office.

Historical Note

Carl Stephens Ell was born in Staunton, Indiana on November 14, 1887, son of Jacob and Alice (Stephens) Ell. He graduated from DePauw University with an A.B. in 1909. Ell went on to receive an S.B. from the Massachusetts Institue of Technology in 1911, an M.S. in Civil Engineering in 1912 from the sameinstitution, and an Ed.M. from Harvard University in 1932. He married Etta May Kinnear on June 10, 1913 and had one daughter, Dorothy. Ell was the second president of Northeastern University, from 1940-59, and was associated with Northeastern from 1910 to his death on April 17, 1981.

In the fall of 1910, as a student in Civil Engineering at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Ell became a part-time Instructor of surveying at the Co-operative School of Engineering of the Boston YMCA. After graduating from MIT with an M.S. in Civil Engineering in 1912, Ell became a full-time member of the faculty at what was to become Northeastern University. Over the years, Ell was promoted until, in 1940, he became the second president of Northeastern University (see chronology of Ell's career at NU below).

Ell was also director of the Arkwright Mutual Insurance Company, and a corporator of Charlestown Savings Bank. He was a member of the corporation and trustee of New England Deaconess Hospital and Northeastern University. CSE was also an active member of Newtonville Methodist Church. He was a Trustee of the church from 1935 until 1966, when he resigned from the Board due to circumstances related to the merging of Newtonville Methodist Church and Newton Methodist Church into a single congregation, Newton Methodist Episcopal Church.

Ell was a Fellow of the American Society of Arts and Sciences, and a member of the American Society of Engineering Education, the Engineering Societies of New England, the New England Association of Colleges and Secondary Schools, the Boston Society of Civil Engineers, the Boston Chamber of Commerce, the Society for Advancement of Education, Tau Beta Pi, Phi Beta Kappa, Delta Upsilon, and Phi Delta Kappa. Ell was also a Mason and a member of the Union, Algonquin, University, and Brae Burn Country Clubs.

Ell received many honors and awards throughout his career, both from NU and from other institutions and organizations. Many of his awards are documented in the collection.The following is a list of honorary degrees Ell received:

DePauw University, Sc.D (Hon.) 1935

Tufts College, LL.D (Hon.) 1948

Boston University, L.H.D. (Hon.) 1952

University of Rhode Island, LL.D. (Hon.) 1955

Emerson College, LL.D. (Hon.) 1956

Northeastern University, D.S.Ed. (Hon.) 1959
Chronology
1910-1912Instructor, Civil Engineering
1912-1917Head of the Department of Civil Engineering
1914-1917Assistant Dean of the School of Engineering
1917-1940Dean of the School of Engineering
1925-1940Vice President of the University
1940-1959President of the University
1959-1981Honorary Chencellor and President Emeritus
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Series:
1. Subject Files, 1912-1981
Volume:3.7 cubic ft.
Arrangement:

Alphabetical
Summary:

Correspondence, diplomas and certificates, biographies, newspaper clippings, annual reports, etc. reflecting CSEs personal interests and activities.
BoxTitleDate
1"America's Secret Weapon" by Ernest R. Breech1950
Biographical Material
1Biographies1940-1958
1Biographies and Obituariesn.d., 1960-1966, 1981
1Newspaper Clippings (CSE)n.d., 1924-1971
190th Birthday "NU Today"1978
2Notesn.d.
1Official1935-1960
1"This is Your Life"1954
DePauw University
1Alumni Class Giving1966-1974
2Index Cardsn.d.
Honors and Awards
General
7American Academy of Arts and Sciences, Certificate of Fellowship1948
1Atlantic Methodist Church: Letters of Tribute1958
FF1/D1Boston Society of Civil Engineers, Ralph W. Horne Fund Award1968
FF1/D1Commonwealth of Massachusetts Citations in Honor of 90th Birthday1977
DePauw University
FF1/D1Letter of Tribute Upon 65th Anniversary of Graduationn.d.
1Golden Anniversary Certificate1959
1Old Gold Goblet1957
1, 2Phi Beta Kappa (2 folders)1939-1940
1, 8Engineering Societies of New England: New England Award (2 folders)1958
2National Society of Scabbard and Blade1955
1, 8New Hampshire: Honorary Whooper (2 folders)1954
1NU Alumni Association of the Day Colleges: Honorary Membership1947
FF1/D1NU Certificate of Appreciation: Inauguration1940
FF1/D1NU Certificate of 25 Years of Service1955
FF1/D1NU Certificate of Distinguished Service1973
FF1/D1NU Class of 1926: Certificate of Appreciation1966
FF1/D1NU Engineering Alumni Association: Certificate of Honorary Life Membership1927
FF1/D1NU School of Business: Sigma Epsilon Rho Fraternity1958
FF3/D7NU Tribute1981
1Rotary Club of Newton: Certificate of Appreciation1954
2Tau Beta Pi1942
Honorary Degrees
1, 3Boston University (2 folders)1952
1, FF1/D2DePauw University (2 folders)1935
1Emerson College1956
6Hoodsn.d.
1Notes, Mrs. Proutn.d.
1Northeastern University1959
2, FF1/D2Tufts College (2 folders)1948
2University of Rhode Island1955
3Markham, Edwin: Signed Poems1930
2New England Deaconess Hospital1971-1974
2Newtonville Methodist Church1965-1968
2Organization Memberships1942-1967
2Professional Engineer Registrationca. 1936-1950
2Utah Traveln.d.
5YMCA Co-operative School of Engineering Scrapbook1912-1921
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Series:
2. Material Culture, n.d.
Volume:0.3 cubic ft.
Arrangement:

Alphabetical
Summary:

Personal items from CSE's office.
BoxTitleDate
4Address Stampn.d.
4Biblen.d.
4Clockn.d.
4Drafting Scales (2)n.d.
4Eyeglasses with Casen.d.
4Paperweightn.d.
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