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Special Collections

CARL R. WOODWARD PAPERS
1928-1974

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BIOGRAPHICAL NOTE

Carl Raymond Woodward was born on a New Jersey farm in 1890, and began his educational career in a one-room rural school near his home.  After graduation from Rutgers in 1914, and a year of teaching high school, he joined the staff of his alma mater.  There he served in various positions, including five years as Secretary of the University, meanwhile earning a Ph.D. at Cornell.  In 1941, he came to Rhode Island to accept the presidency of the growing Rhode Island State College at Kingston.  Under his tenure, the college attained university status in 1950.  He served as President until his retirement in 1958.  He was awarded honorary doctorates by Brown University, Bryant College, Providence College, Rhode Island College and the University of Rhode Island, as well as several universities outside the state of Rhode Island.  Deeply attached to Rhode Island, Dr. and Mrs. Woodward retired to Myrtlewood, the home he built in Kingston.  Woodward remained quite active during his retirement, publishing several articles, including "From College to University, 1941-1958 - A Summary Report by the Fifth President of the University of Rhode Island".  Woodward lead the effort to save the original farm house, Watson House, from demolition in the early 1960s.  The house was ultimately restored, furnished, and serves as a museum to this day.  He also authored the book, Plantation in Yankeeland, and partially completed another, Boy With a Hoe, before succumbing to a heart attack on October 2, 1974, at the age of 84.  

TIME LINE

1890  Born July 20 at Tennent, Monmouth County, NJ
1906  Graduate from Freedhold High School
1906-1908 Worked on family farm
1908-1910 Taught in one room school, Monmouth County
1910-1914 Attended Rutgers University, majored in science and education
1914 Earned BS degree; taught in Rutgers summer school
1914-1915 Taught physics, chemistry, biology, and mathematics at Madison High School in New Jersey
1915-1916 Editor and Librarian, New Jersey Agricultural Experiment Station and College of Agriculture at Rutgers University
1916 Married Lulu A. Ryno, April 5th
1916-1927 Editor and Secretary, New Jersey Agricultural Experiment Station and College of Agriculture at Rutgers University
1917 Carl R., Jr. born October 21st
1919 MA, Rutgers University; second child. Mildred Ryno born October 1st
1926 PhD,  Cornell University
1920-1941 Held various positions at Rutgers.
1932 Third child, William Neste born July 2nd
1941 Appointed President of Rhode Island State College
1950 First President of University of Rhode Island
1958 Retires from URI
1963 In January $20,000 is raised to restore Watson House. The Board of Trustees pledged the additional restoration costs. Restoration and refurbishing of the house was  completed in 1964.
1974 Dies October 2nd

See Also the Records of the Office of the President, Carl Woodward