• Collection Description
• James McChord Papers
• Jeremiah Chamberlain Papers
• Gideon Blackburn Papers
• John C. Young Papers
• Series A. Correspondence, 1823-1946
• Series B. Miscellaneous Reports
• Series C. Speeches and Addresses
• Series D. Biographical Data
• Series E. Inaugural Programs
• CC-2.1 Presidents Office - Subject files, 1904-1954
• CC-2.2 Robert L. McLeod, Jr. Papers, 1938-1942
• CC-2.3 Walter A. Groves Papers, 1947-1957
• CC-2.4 Thomas A. Spragens Papers, 1957-1981
• CC-2.5 Richard L. Morrill Papers, 1982-1989

See Centre College Digital Archives - Presidents for digitized versions of selected items from the following inventory

The early Centre College Presidents Papers were compiled from a mass of documents found in various campus locations in the early 1980's. Since there was no comprehensive order, and since no complete runs of papers existed for any one President, the main body of the presidential papers were not delineated by sub-groups. Instead, all the material was simply divided by type of document, assigned a series designation, and arranged chronologically.

Sometime later two complete sets of presidential files were located in the basement of Old Centre. The first was a series of files on various subjects maintained by Centre presidents approximately from the 1920's to the 1940's, although a few documents from earlier and later years had been interfiled. This collection was designated CC-2.1 President's Office - Subject Files. The second set comprised the office files of President Walter A. Groves, and was designated CC-2.3 Walter A. Groves Papers.

A large precentage of the early presidential papers center on three presidents: John C. Young (1830-1857), Ormond Beatty (1868-1888), and Frederick W. Hinitt (1904-1915). Much of President Young's correspondence concerns his efforts at fund raising, scholarships, the hiring of faculty, and discussions of slavery. Several of the letters are typed transcripts or photocopies of documents held in other repositories, and collected by Dr. Frank H. Heck, Centre College history professor. Dr. Beatty's correspondence concerns fund raising, the building and dedication of Old Main, faculty relations, land and investing, relations between the northern and southern synods of the Presbyterian Church, and the conferring of honorary degrees. Dr. Hinitt's correspondence concerns the Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching, intercollegiate athletics, campus buildings, the General Education Board (Rockefeller Fund), and public schools. There is a small run of correspondence during William Ganfield's term concerning the student Army Training Corps and World War I, reports of the state of Centre, endowments, and the General Education Board. There is a significant amount of correspondence during Hewlett's term as acting president (1942-1944), almost all of which concerns Centre and the Army Air Corps' 20th College Training Detachment.

Series B contains miscellaneous reports by various Centre presidents, the most significant ones by John C. Young.

Series C consists of printed pamphlets containing the texts of speeches, addresses, and sermons given by various Centre presidents, including several inaugural speeches.

Series D contains miscellaneous biographical material.

Series E contains inaugural programs and related documents.

CC-2.1 consists of the previously mentioned President's Office Subject Files. The subjects are largely self-explanatory, but it should be pointed out that the college's annual reports to the Board of Trustees from 1922-1947 are contained in the subject file "Board of Trustees, Reports to". Earlier annual reports may be found in CC-13 Early Centre Financial Papers.

CC-2.2 contains the Robert L. McLeod, Jr., Papers. A recent donation of additional McLeod papers led to the establishment of a separate sub-group, consisting largely of correspondence concerning McLeod's acceptance of Centre's presidency, his inauguration, the Civilian Pilot Training program at Centre during World War LL, and his military service record as a chaplain in the U.S. Navy.

CC-2.3 contains the Walter A. Groves Papers, covering his presidency from 1947 to 1957. The order of the collection indicates his files survived fairly intact. The majority of the collection consists of college and general correspondence and special subject files.

CC-2.4 contains the Thomas A. Spragens Papers, a large and significant collection of material from an important period in the history of Centre College and of American higher education. The bulk of the collection is essentially President Spragens' office files, and maintains the original order of the files. Another group of records concerns Centre's relations with the Presbyterian Church (U.S.) and (U.S.A.). Smaller collections deal with other aspects of the Spragens' presidency.

CC-2.5 contains the Richard L. Morrill Papers. Consisting almost entirely of office files, the group maintains the original order and folder designation of the records.