Office of the President. Lewis Griffin Gorton Papers
UA.2.1.6

Summary Information

Repository
Michigan State University Archives and Historical Collections
Creator
Gorton, Lewis Griffin, 1859-1933
Title
Lewis Griffin Gorton papers
ID
UA.2.1.6
Date [inclusive]
1893-1895
Extent
0.25 Cubic feet
Language
English

Preferred Citation

Researchers wishing to cite this collection should include the following information: "Item title, Collection title, Collection Identifier, Michigan State University Archives & Historical Collections, East Lansing, Michigan."

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Biographical Note

Lewis Griffin Gorton, sixth president of Michigan Agricultural College, was born November 18, 1859 at Waterloo, Michigan, the son of Aaron T. Gorton. He was a graduate of Chelsea High School, as well as of the Michigan Normal College (1879). He later obtained a M.S. degree from the South Dakota Agricultural College. He was married and had one son, Guy R. Gorton. Gorton taught science at the Michigan Military Academy and later became the principal of Duffield School (1883-1885) and Bishop School (1885-1893) both in Detroit, Michigan. In 1893 he was selected to succeed Oscar Clute as the president of M.A.C. because of his youth, educational experience and ability to maintain student discipline at the Bishop School.

He was apparently well liked by the students and successfully eliminated rowdy student behavior. He also directed the establishment of the short course program in which individuals received six weeks of intensive instruction on farm related topics. However, the Secretary and the President of the State Board of Agriculture did not agree with Gorton's policy relative to the students. In addition, a segment of the faculty did not support Gorton, feeling that he had been ill chosen. As a result in the fall of 1895 the Board asked Gorton to resign. He refused on the grounds that any charges against him be first specified and that he be given an opportunity to answer these charges. The Board refused to do this and placed him on temporary suspension, with pay until January 1, 1896 (the suspension was never made permanent).

Following his dismissal from M.A.C., Gorton returned to Detroit and began a successful business career. Gorton first sold life insurance, but later became a stockbroker. He helped establish the Detroit Stock Exchange in which he later served as president and later still as secretary. He also was a director of the Guaranty Trust Company as well as the State Savings Bank. Lewis Gorton died on January 3, 1933 in Detroit, Michigan.

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Scope and Content

The Lewis Griffin Gorton papers consist of correspondence during Gorton's years as president of Michigan Agricultural College. Also included is Gorton's inaugural address.

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Administrative Information

Publication Information

Michigan State University Archives and Historical Collections  March 1979

Conrad Hall
888 Wilson Road, Room 101
East Lansing , MI, 48824
517-355-2330
archives@msu.edu

Revision Description

  April 1999

Conditions Governing Access

Collection is open for research.

Legal Status note

Copyright: Michigan State University. Property Rights: Michigan State University.

Conditions Governing Use

Permission to publish material from this collection must be obtained from University Archives & Historical Collections, Michigan State University.

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Controlled Access Headings

Corporate Name(s)

  • Michigan Agricultural College.

Genre(s)

  • Letters (correspondence)
  • Speeches, addresses, etc.

Personal Name(s)

  • Kuhn, Madison

Subject(s)

  • College presidents -- Michigan

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Collection Inventory

Correspondence 

 1893 
Box Folder

A 

 873 1

B 

 873 2

C 

 873 3

D 

 873 4

F 

 873 5

G 

 873 6

H 

 873 7

J 

 873 8

L 

 873 9

M 

 873 10

P 

 873 11

S 

 873 12

T 

 873 13

V 

 873 14

W 

 873 15

 1894 
Box Folder

A 

 873 16

B 

 873 17

C 

 873 18

D 

 873 19

E 

 873 20

F 

 873 21

G 

 873 22

H 

 873 23

I 

 873 24

J 

 873 25

K 

 873 26

L 

 873 27

M 

 873 28

N 

 873 29

O 

 873 30

P 

 873 31

R 

 873 32

S 

 873 33

T 

 873 34

U 

 873 35

V 

 873 36

W 

 873 37

 1895 
Box Folder

A 

 873 38

B 

 873 39

C 

 873 40

D 

 873 41

F 

 873 42

G 

 873 43

H 

 873 44

I 

 873 45

J 

 873 46

K 

 873 47

L 

 873 48

M 

 873 49

N 

 873 50

O 

 873 51

P 

 873 52

R 

 873 53-54

T 

 873 55

V 

 873 56

W 

 873 57
Box Folder

Inaugural Address 1893 

 873 58

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