Young, Herrick B. (Herrick Black), 1904-

Herrick Black Young served as President of Western College from 1953 to 1969. Born in Wisconsin in 1904, he was educated at Indiana University (AB) and Columbia (MA). He served as Executive Secretary of the Presbyterian Board of Foreign Missions for 15 years and Executive Director of Columbia University's International House Association. The group had international houses in 33 countries and Herrick Young visited every one of them. Young traveled extensively establishing connections in many countries and was considered an expert on international education. He made many significant decisions while at Western. Young was responsible for the recruitment of international students and the reinstatement of overseas seminars to the college. He allowed Civil Rights workers to train on the Western campus in the summer of 1964 before going to Mississippi to register African American voters. Three of the volunteers who trained at Western that summer entered Mississippi and were murdered. This brutal act focused national attention on the Civil Rights Movement. Thomson Hall was completed during his administration in 1963. Following his departure he worked as a consultant to the President of Tunghai University in Taiwan and also served as President of the Near East Foundation.

From the guide to the Herrick Black Young Collection, 1956-1968, 1953-1969, (Miami University)

Herrick B. Young was born on February 8, 1904 and died on February 15, 1990. Young obtained three degrees: A.B. in English from Indiana University in 1925, a M.A. in Indo-Iranian Studies from Columbia University in 1928, and a Ph.D. in Education Administration from the University of Pennsylvania in 1936. Upon receiving his A.B., Young went to Tehran, Iran. There he taught English and Literature at Alborz College. While in Iran he met his future wife, Charlotte, who he married in 1928.

From 1936 to 1950 Young was the Executive Secretary of the Presbyterian Board of Foreign Missions, and in this position traveled extensively to Africa, China, Japan, the Philippines, the Middle East, South America and southern Europe. From 1950-1953, Young was Executive Director of the International House, Inc., and from 1954-1969, Young served as President of the Western College for Women. In 1972, Young became President of the Near East Foundation. In the late 1970s, the Youngs returned to the United States and settled in Mt. Pleasant, Ohio, with a winter residence in Florida.

During his lifetime, Young published nine books, thirty articles, and was managing editor of a magazine. Young also received numerous awards and honors including being named a Fellow of the Royal Geographic Society and of the Royal Central Asian Society, awarded honorary doctorates from two universities, served as a trustee and board member of numerous institutions, and was recipient of the Institute of International Education Award and of the Reader's Digest Foundation Award.

From the guide to the Herrick B. Young papers, 1925-1984, (bulk 1935-1970), (Indiana University Office of University Archives and Records Management http://www.libraries.iub.edu/archives)