Lotus Coffman

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Lotus Delta Coffman was the fifth president of the University of Minnesota, serving from 1920 until his death in office on September 22, 1938.^[1]

[edit] Notes

Lotus Delta Coffman, son of Mansford Coffman and Laura Davis, was born 7 Jan. 1875 Salem, Washington Co, IN - died 22 Sept. 1938 Minneapolis, Hennepin Co., MN. He married in Salem on 28 Dec. 1899 to Mary Emma Farrell born 12 Sept. 1877 Paoli, Orange Co., IN, daughter of William H.H.P. Farrell & his first wife Mary A. Wible - died 17 Jan. 1957 Minneapolis, both buried Sunset Memorial Gardens, Minneapolis. Coffman was a graduate of Salem High School in 1892 and a graduate of Indiana Normal School at Terre Haute, in 1896. He earned an AB degree from Indiana University, 1906; an AM degree there, 1910; a Ph.D. at Columbia, NY, 1911; a LLD from Indiana University & from Carleton College, 1922; a LLD from Columbia, 1929 & a LLD from the University of Michigan, 1931; a LHD from University of Denver, 1930; a DS degree in education from George Washington University, 1930. Coffman was principal of Salem (IN) schools 1900-1903; Superintendent of Salem schools 1903-1906; superintendent of Connersville School 1906-1908; director of training at Charleston, IL Normal School 1908-1912; dean of education at the University of Illinois 1912-1915; Dean of the College of Education at the University of Minnesota 1915-1920; and President of the Univ. of Minnesota 1920-1938. As a youth he wanted to be a bareback rider in a circus, wearing bright red and riding a white horse. He was a visiting professor for the Carnegie Endowment for National Peace to New Zealand & Australia 1931; visiting lecturer at the Univ. of the Philippines 1932; member of the National Board of Education to do research in Russia and visit Poland & Germany; was a consultant to the US Department of Interior on a Land Grant College Survey 1928-1930; and advisor to the Surgeon General on education of disabled soldiers during WWI. He started at the Univ. of Minnesota with a $12,000/year salary. The University then had 8200 'living, breathing boys & girls actually walking about on the campus every day.' There was $6.5 million spent on maintenance of the campus annually. The School of Education enrolled 600 and had 50 faculty members. The Music School building was under construction in 1920. After 10 years as president, the UM property values had increased more than 100%; the budget increased 68%; enrollment increased 60% in undergraduate classes & over 100% in graduate studies; staff increased from 479 to 825 with 25% having the rank of professor - becoming the 3rd largest university in the US. During Coffman's time the Memorial Stadium was built, Northrup Auditorium & the Library were added; and the Mayo brothers (Wm J. & Charles H.) gave the University $2 million for endowment of the Mayo Foundation for Graduate Medical Study and Research.

(1938) Obituary, Minneapolis Morning Tribune, front page/headline: Lotus D. Coffman died Thursday, Sept. 23, 1938, age 63. Residence: 1005 Fifth St. SE, Minneapolis. He had served as President of the University of Minnesota for 18 years. He had a year's leave of absence (1937-1938) due to a heart attack at his summer home in Battle Lake, MN in July 1937. Coffman had resumed duties last July. On Thursday he spent the morning at his office; went to the Midland Hills Golf Club in the afternoon and was resting while Mrs. Coffman was preparing dinner, and was found dead at about 6:15 pm. Survivors include his wife; a son William Mansford Coffman & a daughter, Mrs. Earl (Catharine) A. Knudtson, both of Minneapolis; grandchildren: Ann West & Farrell Jane Coffman; Catharine Josephine Mary Caroline & William Knudtson; his mother, Mrs. Laura E. Coffman of Salem, IN; and a sister-in-law, Josephine Farrell, a sister of Mrs. Coffman

A more detailed biography appears at: http://www1.umn.edu/pres/05_hist_coffman.html

[edit] References

• American Council on Education (1939), The Educational Record, <http://books.google.com/books?id=sL8VAAAAIAAJ> 
• University of Minnesota Office of the President

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