Cole, Charles Woolsey, 1906-....

Charles Woolsey Cole (1906-1978), Amherst College Class of 1927, received M.A. and Ph.D degrees from Columbia University and taught economics at Amherst (1935-1940) and history at Columbia University (1928-1934, 1940-1946). As the 12th President of Amherst College (1946-1960), he oversaw the introduction of the "New Curriculum," which included new distribution requirements for students. In 1948 Cole was appointed an advisor to the Hoover Commission's Committee on the National Security Organization (the Eberstadt Committee). His other appointments included the Educational Testing Service (trustee, 1949-1956); Merrill Foundation for the Advancement of Financial Knowledge (trustee, 1956-?); the Rockefeller Foundation (vice-president, 1960-1961); Hampshire College (trustee, 1965-); and the U.S. Federal Reserve Bank, Boston (director, 1966-1968). Cole also served as U.S. Ambassador to Chile, 1961-1964. He was the author of several books on European economic history. Cole married Katharine Salmon (Smith College, 1928) in 1928. After her death in 1972 he married Marie Greer Donahoe. Cole died on February 6, 1978.

From the description of Cole papers, 1906-1979 (bulk 1920-1960) (Unknown). WorldCat record id: 54471623

• 1906: Feb 8: Born in Montclair, New Jersey, son of Charles Buckingham and Bertha Woolsey (Dwight) Cole. Attends Montclair High School.
• 1923: Enrolls at Amherst College, where he is a member of Delta Kappa Epsilon fraternity, The Amherst Student, and Phi Beta Kappa.
• 1926: April-December: serves as Editor-in-Chief of The Amherst Student.
• 1927: June: Graduates summa cum laude from Amherst College.
• 1928: MA degree, Columbia University. Teaches economic history at Columbia while pursuing doctorate Aug 28: Marries Katharine Salmon (Smith College, 1928) in St. Louis
• 1931: PhD, Columbia University Book: French Mercantilist Doctrines Before Colbert is published
• 1935 - 1940 : Professor of Economics, Amherst College
• 1939: Book: Colbert and a Century of French Mercantilism is published
• 1940 - 1946 : Professor of History, Columbia University
• 1941 - 1945 : During World War II, Cole spends a year with the Office of Price Administration in Washington and two years in New York City as Regional Price Executive
• 1942: LHD (hon.), Amherst College
• 1943: Book: French Mercantilism, 1683-1700 is published.
• 1946 - 1960 : 12th President, Amherst College. Under Cole's administration the "New Curriculum" is introduced, in which each student is required to take a course in science, English, European civilization and a foreign language. Also, the teaching faculty is strengthened, the student body grows in size from 1,000 to 1,200 and its endowment grows from $16 million to $42 million. Upon his retirement he is elected President Emeritus by the Board of Trustees.
• 1948 Oct: Cole is appointed advisor to the Committee on the National Security Organization (Ferdinand Eberstadt, Chairman), one of many U.S. governmental task forces making up the Hoover Commission on the Organization of the Executive Branch of Government
• 1949: Book: History of Europe (with Carlton J. H. Hayes and Marshall W. Baldwin) is published
• 1949 - 1956 : Trustee, Educational Testing Service
• 1952: Book: Economic History of Europe (with S. B. Clough) is published Joins the Board of Directors of Fund for the Republic, Inc.
• 1956 - : Trustee, Merrill Foundation for the Advancement of Financial Knowledge, Inc.
• 1960 - 1961 : Vice-President, Rockefeller Foundation
• 1961 - 1964 : Cole serves as U.S. Ambassador to Chile in Santiago
• 1965 - : Trustee, Hampshire College stee, Clarke School for the Deaf (Northampton, Mass.)
• 1966 - 1968 : Director, U.S. Federal Reserve Bank, Boston
• 1967: Book: History of Western Civilization is published
• 1970: Book: A Free People (2 vols.) is published
• 1972: Wife Katharine dies of a heart attack at home
• 1974: Marries Marie Greer Donahoe Moves to Seattle, Washington
• 1978: Feb 6: Dies of a heart attack while at sea returning from a trip through the Caribbean. Burial in Wildwood Cemetery, Amherst

Children: Elizabeth (wife of Hugh M. Hamill, Jr. AC 1951) Katharine (wife of John C. Esty, Jr. AC 1950)

Honorary degrees: American International, Amherst, Clarkson, Columbia, Doshisha, Hamilton, Trinity, University of Massachusetts, Wagner, Wesleyan, Williams

Hobbies: Gardening, trout fishing

From the guide to the Charles W. Cole Papers, 1906-1979, 1920-1960, (Amherst College Archives and Special Collections)