OFFICE OF THE REGISTRAR
RECORDS OF JOHN C. WELDIN (1946-1957)
1906-1966
RG#7-1
HISTORICAL NOTE
John Chilcote Weldin served as Registrar of the
University of Rhode Island
from 1946 until his retirement in 1957, ending a thirty-year career with the
University. He was born in Washington, Iowa, on August 4, 1891. From the elementary and
secondary schools of his native state, Dr. Weldin went on to Iowa State College from which
he graduated with high honors in 1916. Following a period of war service, he
returned to Iowa State and earned an M.S. degree in 1923, and a Ph.D. in Bacteriology in
1926. While in graduate school, he established himself both as an outstanding
student and also as an excellent instructor in bacteriology.
John Weldin came to URI in September of 1927 to serve as Professor of
Bacteriology and Chief of the Division of Animal Breeding and Pathology, Experiment
Station. He would serve as Professor of Bacteriology until, in 1939, rapidly
increasing administrative duties pulled him away from the classroom. In 1932, while
still serving as Professor of Bacteriology, he was appointed Chairman of the Freshman
Advisors Committee and in August of 1933 he was appointed Vice-Dean of Freshmen. In
1935 he was named Director of Summer School. By September of 1938 his appointment
had been changed to Dean of Freshmen and Professor of Bacteriology and by the fall of 1939
he became Dean of Administration, at which time he relinquished his teaching duties.
In 1946 he would agree to accept the demanding duties of Registrar and was
appointed Dean of Administration and Registrar, the post he would retain until his
retirement in 1957.
Throughout the thirty-year span of his career at URI, Dean Weldin played a
significant and inspiring role in the social and intellectual life of the University.
He guided the Registrar's Office through the growing pains of development from a
small college to an expanding University. As Dean of Administration, he served on
numerous committees (see Series II), skillfully bridging the gap between the opposing
interests of diverse groups, earning him the title "Mr. Committeeman."
Known for his extraordinary patience and sense of humor, he openly welcomed
students and their problems. He constantly offered his assistance to the
University honor societies in their recognition of worthy students (see Series
IV.)
Illness would force his retirement from
University service in 1957.
He was subsequently accorded the title of Dean of Administration and Registrar,
emeritus, in May of 1957and in May of 1958 he received the URI Award. Further
honors bestowed upon him include a scholarship cup in his name presented annually by Phi
Kappa Phi Honor Society for academic excellence, and the dedication of a residence hall
built in October of 1963 as Weldin Hall.
