Dr. Harry Pitkin Bowes records

Record Group

Identifier: RG10

Staff Only

Scope and Contents

The Dr. Harry Pitkin Bowes records (1964-1971) contains materials and correspondence from Bowes' presidency. Dr. Bowes' presidency is of particular significance due to the "Master Plan" written by Richard Gibbs in 1970, which proposed the closing of General Beadle State College. Dr. Bowes, along with students and Madison residents, prevented the school's closing and its subsequent merger with South Dakota State University.

Dates

1964 - 1971

Creator

Bowes, Harry Pitkin, Dr. (1935-2017) (Person)

Conditions Governing Access

This collection is open to research, and no special permissions are necessary to access its materials. Researchers requiring extended access to the collection are asked to contact the archivist to make arrangements.

Conditions Governing Use

Copyright status for some collection materials may be unknown. Responsibility and potential liability based on copyright infringement for any use rests exclusively and solely with the user.

Biographical / Historical

Dr. Harry P. Bowes was born in Des Moines, Iowa. Bowes received his B.S and M.S degrees from Northwest Missouri State University and completed graduate work at Illinois State University, and the University of Illinois before earning his doctorate from the University of Colorado.

Bowes was appointed Assistant Dean of Students at NW Missouri State in 1957, Director of Men’s Residence Halls at the University of Colorado in 1960, and Dean of Students at General Beadle State College in 1962. He became Administrative Assistant to the President in 1964.

In March of 1967 Bowes was appointed acting President and named President two months later, becoming the nation's youngest college president at 31. During his tenure the Trojan Center, the Karl Mundt Library, the Tyrrell Physical Plant, and the Trojan Field facilities were planned and constructed. Kennedy Hall, East Hall, and Heston Hall were renovated. Funds were also appropriated for the construction of the Ruth C. Haberger Science Center.

When the new State Commissioner of Higher Education Dr. Richard Gibb announced in his Master plan for South Dakota the recommendation to close Dakota State College in 1970, President Bowes successfully protested for DSC with the support of faculty, students, alumni, community, and state legislators. Bowes and local leaders also successfully opposed legislation to make DSC a branch of South Dakota State University.

Dr. Bowes left DSC in August of 1971 to become President of the University of Southern Colorado in Pueblo.

Bowes was honored with the Distinguished Service Award from the International Council on Teacher Education awarded at the 1976 World Assembly held in Washington, D.C. In the spring of 1978, Bowes accepted the appointment as Executive Director and CEO of Colorado Counties, Inc. Bowes died in 2017.