Illinois Institute of Technology - Chicago, Illinois

Raymond J. Spaeth Papers

1998.278
Boxes 1-4
Abstract: Raymond J. Spaeth (1907-1982) served the community of the Illinois Institute of
Technology from 1940-1960, first as Treasurer and then in other areas of the university
administration. The Raymond J. Spaeth Papers chronicle in particular the universitys
participation in the Navy V-12 program during WWII, as well as the day to day transactions and
operations overseen by Spaeth in his role as Treasurer. The four boxes of material span the years
1941-1964.
History:
Per the Social Security death index, Raymond J. Spaeth of Hinsdale, Illinois was born on
November 13, 1907 and died in February of 1982. Raymond J. Spaeth joined Illinois Institute of
Technology (IIT) in 1940. He directed the redevelopment of the main campus and the Near
South Side. Under his stewardship, IIT expanded from its original seven acres to one hundred
and ten acres. Spaeth oversaw the construction of thirty four educational and research buildings
on the main campus (i.e., State Street location). From 1950 until his resignation in 1960 he
served as IITs Treasurer, Assistant Secretary and as a Vice President. Spaeth briefly returned to
duty at IIT in his former capacity as Treasurer in 1964 during the renaming of the auditorium in
Seigel Hall to The A. Montgomery Ward Auditorium.
During Spaeths tenure as treasurer, the university participated in the Naval V-12 program,
which was established by the War Department to provide the Navy with a continuous supply of
officers during World War II. During World War II, the U.S. Navy supported a large
shipbuilding program which required a large number of officers to man those ships. To help meet
this need, the Navy created the V-12 training program in partnership with approximately 130
colleges and universities across the country. Launched in early 1943, the V-12 program provided
for an accelerated course of college level education and military training to prepare young men
to become Navy officers. The purpose of the V-12 program was to generate a large number of
officers for both the U.S. Navy and Marine Corps. The goal of the program was for the
participants to complete a degree in their field of study; while supplementing their course work
with Navy classes, for which the colleges awarded regular academic credits.
Between July 1, 1943, and June 30, 1946, more than 125,000 participants were enrolled in the V12 program. The federal government paid the tuition to participating colleges and universities
for college courses that were taught to qualified candidates in the V-12 program. After the
program was established, college and university enrollment increased by 100,000 participants,
helping reverse the sharp wartime downward trend. Depending on the V-12 enrollees' past
college curriculum, they were enrolled in three school semesters, which lasted four months each.

Illinois Institute of Technology - Chicago, Illinois

Additionally, students were paid $50 per month, required to wear service uniforms and engaged
in physical training.
Description of the Series
The Navy V-12 series chronicles the Illinois Institute of Technologys relationship with the
Navy, in particular the schools involvement in the Navy V-12 program. This includes
documentation of the undertaking of turning fraternity housing on campus over for Navy use, as
well as more domestic aspects of the project including laundry lists, cafeteria reports,
inspections, and inventories. Highlights of this collection include pictures of Graduate House at
the time of the Navy V-12 program and blueprints of the various fraternity homes that housed the
program. Dates range from 1943-1946.
The University Reports and Documentation series documents the more day to day activities
and transactions that took place at the Illinois Institute of Technology during Raymond Spaeths
tenure. This includes accident reports, daily recaps, bills, inventories, and various
correspondence between Spaeth and his colleagues and external contacts. Documents of note in
this collection include a poster announcing upcoming classes with a mail in card intact, as well
as resumes and completed job applications. Most folders date from 1941-1948, with one
additional folder from 1963-1964 with documents concerning the renaming of the auditorium in
Seigel Hall to The A. Montgomery Ward Auditorium, in recognition of a gift received from
the A. Montgomery Ward Foundation.
Original folder titles have, for the most part, been preserved. The collection has then been
alphabetized after being divided into the two series. It fills four files boxes.
Provenance: Found in collection.
Restrictions: One folder restricted, with the remainder open access with permission from the
archivist.
Separations: Approximately inch of duplicates have been removed.
Processor: Sara Calkins and Kim Nevins 2015

Illinois Institute of Technology - Chicago, Illinois

Container List:
Series I: Navy V-12

1941-1946

1/1

Alpha Sigma Phi

1943-1946

1/2

Barber Shop

July 1943

1/3

Billings

August 1943

1/4

Coca-Cola

1943

1/5

Delta Tau Delta

1941-1943

1/6

Financial

Undated

1/7

Fire Inspections

1943

1/8

Fraternities, General Correspondence

1943

1/9

George Williams - Contract &

Correspondence (1)

1943

1 / 10

George Williams - Contract &

Correspondence (2)

1944-1945

1 / 11

Graduate House

1941-1943

1 / 12

Laundry

1943-1946

1 / 13

Lt. R. F. Sessions

1943-1946

1 / 14

Phi Kappa Sigma

1943-1945

1 / 15

Pi Kappa Phi

1943-1946

2/1

Supplies & Equipment

1943-1945

2/2

Theta Xi

1943-1945

2/3

Triangle

1943-1946

2/4

Navy: Book Store

Nov 1943

2/5

Navy: Cafeteria

1943

2/6

Navy: Cafeteria (Daily Reports)

1946

2/7

Navy: Cafeteria (Recap)

1944-1946

2/8

Navy: Higher Education & National

Affairs

1946

Series II: University Reports and

Documentation

1941-1964

Accident Reports - Public Liability

1946

2/9

Illinois Institute of Technology - Chicago, Illinois

Student - Resident
2 / 10

Accident Reports - Workmen's

Compensation

1942-1943

2 / 11

Accident Reports - Workmen's

Compensation

1944

2 / 12

Accident Reports - Workmen's

Compensation

1945

2 / 13

Accident Reports - Workmen's

Compensation

1946

3/1

Armour (Daily Reports) Cafeteria

1944-1946

3/2

Armour (Recap) Cafeteria

1944-1946

3/3

Buick Motors Division

1941-1945

3/4

Cafeteria - North Daily Reports

Nov 1947

3/5

Cafeteria - North Recap

Nov 1947

3/6

Cafeteria - South Daily Reports

Nov 1947

3/7

Cafeteria - South Recap

Nov 1947

3/8

Chicago & Eastern Illinois Railroad

1942-1945

3/9

Community Fund

1945-1946

3 / 10

Correspondence

1943-1946

3 / 11

Employee Records

1943-1946

3 / 12

Financial Records

1944-1946

3 / 13

George Williams College Bulletins

1941-1942

3 / 14

George Williams College Financial

Statements

1941-1942

3 / 15

Graduate House Cafeteria - Daily

Reports

Sept- Dec 1946

3 / 16

Graduate House Cafeteria - Recap

Sept- Dec 1946

3 / 17

Graduate House - Daily Reports

Jan-Jun 1947

3 / 18

Graduate House Dormitory

1946-1948

3 / 19

Graduate House - Recap

Jan-Jun 1947

3 / 20

Inventories: (Departments) (1)

1946

4/1

Inventories (Departments) (2)

1946

Illinois Institute of Technology - Chicago, Illinois

4/2

Inventories: Offices and Navy

1946

4/3

Memos

1943-1946

4/4

Printing and Photocopying

1943-1945

4/5

Publication Requisitions

1944-1945

4/6

Sigma Alpha Mu

1946

4/7

Ward, A. Montgomery Foundation

grant

1963-1964

Restricted Materials