Ralph Brown Draughon Papers
Scope and Contents
This collection consists of personal and professional correspondence and telegrams (1922-1968) from family, friends and professional colleagues; material on Auburn University history, including letters from alumni (1967-1968) reminiscing about their student days; Draughon's lecture notes (1930-1935); administrative notes(1936-1950); speeches (1938-1967); clippings (1928-1968) about Draughon and Auburn; scrapbooks; and congratulatory letters (1965) upon Draughon's retirement.
Dates
- 1920 - 1968
Conditions Governing Access
This collection is open for research.
Biographical / Historical
Ralph Brown Draughon was born in Hartford, Alabama, on September 1, 1899, the son of John William and Vasht (Roney) Draughon. He attended local public schools until 1918 when he attended Alabama Polytechnic Institute (presently Auburn University). In 1922, he received his Bachelor of Science degree. After graduation he taught at Choctaw County High School from 1922 to 1923 and as principal of Sumter County High School from 1923 to 1927. From 1927 to 1931, he served as principal at Louisville and later Orrville High School. In 1929, he received his Master of Science degree from Alabama Polytechnic Institute and during the summers between 1923 and 1939 attended the University of Chicago. In 1931 he was appointed Associate Professor of History and Political Science at Alabama Polytechnic Institute until he resigned to serve as Executive Secretary and Secretary to Board of Trustees at the Institute in 1937. He remained in that position until 1944 when he became Director of Instruction. In 1947 he was appointed Acting President of the college and in 1948 became President of Alabama Polytechnic Institute. Later in 1948 he received a honorary LL.D. from Birmingham-Southern, and a L.H.D. from Howard College in 1962. A year later he acquuired a LL.D from the University of Alabama.
He was a member of the American Academy of Political and Social Science; the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools; the Alabama Education Association; the National Education Association; the Alabama Historical Association (President); the Alabama Academy of Sciences; the American Institute of Engineers and Contractors (National Board of Advisors); the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools; Southern Regional Education Board; the Southern Regional Education Board (Executive Committee); and the Southern Association of Land-Grant Colleges and State Universities (President).
He also served as Director of the State Survey on Rural Tax Delinquency in 1934; the Regional Supervisor at the Bureau of Agricultural Economics in 1936; the Director of Survey of Farm Mortgages and Sales for Five Southeastern States in 1936; the Director of the Governor's Emergency Commission on Higher Education in 1946; a member of the Committee on Defense Programs; Chairman for the Council of Presidents, Association of State Universities and Land-Grant Colleges from 1954 to 1955; the Man of Year to Alabama Agriculture in 1954; the Civilian Coordinator of Army and Navy Programs from 1942 to 1945; Chairman of the Tennessee Valley Conference from 1960 to 1961; and an inductee to the South's Hall of Fame for the Living in 1959. He was the author of several articles published in various journals. Dr. Draughon retired from Auburn University in 1965 and died in August, 1968.
Extent
7.75 Cubic Feet (Seven record center boxes, one document box, and one half document box.)
Language of Materials
English
Arrangement
This finding aid is organized by accessions. Each accession represents an addition to the collection. Each accession also represents a transfer of physical and legal custody of archival materials from the originating department to Auburn University Special Collections and Archives.
Physical Characteristics and Technical Requirements
This collection is in good and fair condition.
Separated Materials
The separated materials listed below can be found in Special Collections and Archives at the Ralph Brown Draughon Library.
Photograph Collection:
Two photographs of 1925 Senior Class of Sumter County High School, York, Alabama. Labeled Seniors I and Seniors II.
Ralph Draughon at desk. Taken May 12, 1949, Inaugration of Ralph Draughon.
Speaker at installation exercises.
Ralph Draughon shaking hands with Gov. Folsom at installation exercises.
Speaker at dedication of Forestry Building.
Two photos of Military Review day of inaugration. (1) Draughon with three military officers during reviewing. (2) Draughon and Officers shaking hands with men.
Two photos of speaker at dedication of Men's Dormitory, Magnolia Hall.
Two photos of Ralph B. Draughon (believe taken in 1965).
Photo of William Samuel Ricardson.
Photo of officer and three boys holding model airplanes.
Photo of Dr. Thomas Marben.
Photo of three men standing by a airplane, one on left is Dr. Draughon, January 22, 1953.
Photo of Upper Quadrangle, A. P. I., artist conception.
Photo of Dr. Draughon, three men, one boy.
Three photos, same pose, Dr. Draughon with Gov. Patterson, and military officer on platform - one larger photo signed by Gov. Patterson, May 30, 1962.
Two photos of Alabama Maid of Cotton, 1962, in R. B. D.'s office.
Photo of first woman to graduate from Auburn University 1864, picture taken in 1949(?).
Two photos of Gov. Wallace and group including RBD.
Photo of R. B. Draughon with three men behind podium.
Photo of R. B. Draughon shaking hands with L. B. Johnson.
Two photos of RBD and Col. Townsend August 24, 1953.
Four photos from opening ceremonies, Dorn and Mitchell Laboratoris, Inc., from Elmore Hudgins, M.B.
Photo of college presidents in Ala. who were present for the inaugration of Pres. Leslie S. Wright, Howard College, June 1959.
Photo of R. B. Draughon in front of Samford.
Two photos of R. B. Draughon and other gentlemen in caps and gowns.
Photo of R. B. Draughon in his office, rifles in background.
Photo of R. B. Draughon and man in his offic, folder open.
Photo of (8 by 10) of R. B. Draughon and gentlemen in cap and gown.
Two photos in AU folder of 50th reunion of AU's championship teams of 1913 and 1914, November 6, 1964 and photo of original team.
Photo of steamboat Mary S. Blees, see certificate to R. B. Draughon, August 20, 1964.
Photo of seven men playing foorball, labeled ranch type football, see letter to RBD from Miles A. Askew, June 8, 1967, with letters from old graduation.
Motion Picture Films:
Movie film of Ralph Brown Draughon inaugration, May 12, 1949. MPF (Motion Picture Film) #464. See also: MPF# 482.
Oversize Cabinet Items:
Diploma conferring degree Bachelor of Science upon Ralph Brown Draughon, A. P. I., August 24, 1922.
Proclamation from President, Trustees, Faculties of University of Pennsylvania to Trustees and Faculty of A. P. I. greetings and congratulations upon installation of Ralph B. Draughon as President, April 25, 1949.
Proclamation appointing R. B. Draughon Ambassador of Air Defense, February 28, 1864 by Lt. Gen. Charles B. Duff, Colorado Springs.
Proclamation by Mayor H. H. Hines of Monroeville, Alabama designating Tuesday, August 9, 1966 as "Official Auburn Day".
Boxes scrapbook titled: Resolution of the Board of Trustees of Auburn University Honoring Dr. Ralph Brown Draughon.
Other:
Folders of Correspondence: Educational Television, March 1951 - April 1953; Educational Television, May 1953 - February 1954; Educational Television, February 1954 - October 1954. Educational Television/Telecommunications Records Record Group 394, Accession 85-118, Series: Off-Campus Correspondence, Box 1.
Postcard Collection:
P.C. 413 Jefferson Davis Hotel, Montgomery, Alabama
P.C. 414 President's Mansion, API, Auburn, Alabama
P.C. 415 Rainbow Viaduct, Birmingham, Alabama
P.C. 416 Jay's Caboose and Museum, Greensboro, Alabama
P.C. 417 Home of William James Samford, 31sst Governor of Alabama, Opelika, Alabama
P.C. 418 The S. S. City of Birmingham
The separated materials listed below can be found on the first floor of the Ralph Brown Draughon Library and in Special Collections and Archives.
Newspapers:
Seven issues of The Auburn Alumnews: September 1947; February 1948; July 1948; September 1948; October 1948; November 1948; August-September 1968. https://catalog.lib.auburn.edu/vufind/Record/362323 and Call Number folio LD 271 .A886
Eight issues of The Auburn Plainsman: August 13 and 20, 1947; October 4, 1947; January 28, 1948; May 26, 1948; October 18, 1948; October 20; 1948; September 29, 1949. Copies available in the digital library https://content.lib.auburn.edu/digital/collection/plainsman/search/order/title/ad/asc
Processing Information
Accession 1968 was acquisitioned by Thomas Belser and was processed by FJC, March, 1972.
Accession 92-94 was listed by Jimmy Purvis and Michael Morris, July, 1992.
The 1968 and the 1992 accessions were reliisted by Dieter C. Ullrich, September, 2003 on the HTML finding aid.
Accession 04-020 was processed by Angela Cook, September 2, 2004.
Finding aid entered into ArchivesSpace by Tori Buchanan, September, 2022.
- Title
- Guide to the Ralph Brown Draughon Papers
- Subtitle
- Record Group 107
- Language of description
- English
- Script of description
- Latin
Repository Details
Part of the Auburn University Special Collections and Archives Repository
Auburn University
Ralph Brown Draughon Library
231 Mell Street
Auburn Alabama 36849
334-844-1732
archives@auburn.edu
