John Garland Flowers papers

Collection

Identifier: 21.900-03-Flowers

Staff Only

Scope and Contents

The papers document the career of John Garland Flowers during the years of his presidency (1942-1964). Materials are arranged into seven series: Personal Correspondence, General Correspondence, Publications, Presidential Activities, Professional Activities, Community Associations, and Reference Material. These materials include personal and administrative correspondence, financial records and budgets, newspaper clippings, and reference materials such as reports and other publications. The general correspondence series includes correspondence with Lyndon B. Johnson. The Presidential Activities series is divided into 9 subseries: Correspondence, Rosters, Reports and Minutes, Board of Regents Reports and Correspondence, Foreign Affairs Correspondence and Reports, Campus Construction and Maintenance, State of Texas Agencies, Federal Agencies, and University Policies, Reports, and Correspondence.

Dates

1936-1965, undated

Creator

Flowers, John Garland (Person)

Conditions Governing Access

Open to researchers without restriction.

Conditions Governing Use

Copyright held by Texas State University. Educational reproduction is allowed without permission. Authorization to publish must be obtained from the Special Collections and Archives.

Archives and Records Request Form

Biographical note

John Garland Flowers was born on October 17, 1895 in Karnes County, Texas, in a small community southeast of San Antonio. He enrolled in Southwest Texas State Normal School in the fall of 1912 and took a full year of classes. He earned his B.A. degree in 1924 from East Texas State College, and continued his education at Columbia University where he earned an M.A. in 1925 and a Ph.D. in 1932.

From 1913 to 1921 Flowers taught and served as a principal in Texas public schools, and was an educational director in army campus during World War I. He then transitioned into the role of a college administrator as president of Pennsylvania State College at Lock Haven from 1937 to 1942. In 1942 Flowers became the third president of Southwest Texas State Teachers College, a title he held for 22 years until his retirement in 1964.

The first native Texan and first Texas State alumnus to hold the presidency took office as the campus faced the effects of World War II. Enrollment plummeted to a low of 434 in 1944, followed by dramatic enrollment increase as veterans took advantage of the benefits afforded them by the G.I. Bill. By the end of Flowers’ tenure, enrollment climbed to 3,852, the physical plant added 55 properties, and the college dropped “teachers” from its name.

Extent

15.7 Linear Feet (38 boxes and 1 vertical hanging file)

Language of Materials

English

Additional Description

Abstract

John Garland Flowers became the third president of Southwest Texas State Teachers College in 1942; he held this position for twenty-two years until his retirement in August 1964. The Flowers papers document his professional activities during the years of his presidency, including topics related to his administrative duties as a college president and his leadership role in education at both state and national levels.

Physical Location

Materials may be stored off-site. Advance notice may be required for use.

Immediate Source of Acquisition

Provenance information is unknown at this time. Transferred at unknown date.

Related Materials

Related materials can be found in James H. McCrocklin and Billy Mac Jones papers (21-900-04-05-McC-Jones), as the time period of the collection over laps with the time period Flowers was University President.

Bibliography

Derrick, L. E., "FLOWERS, JOHN GARLAND," Handbook of Texas Online (http://www.tshaonline.org/handbook/online/articles/ffl22), accessed April 25, 2013. Published by the Texas State Historical Association.
Ball, Tommy Ruth Zarnow, "The Administration of John Garland Flowers: Third President of Southwest Texas State College" (1967). Theses and Dissertations-History. https://digital.library.txstate.edu/handle/10877/3844
Texas State University Office of the President, Past Presidents page, accessed May 20, 2013: http://www.president.txstate.edu/presidents-office/past-presidents.html