Los Angeles County
Biographies
DR. RUFUS B.
VON KLEINSMID
Dr. Rufus B. von Kleinsmid(sic), chancellor of the University of Southern California, was a graduate of Oberlin(Ohio) Academy in 1897; then student at Northwestern University, receiving the A.B. degree in 1905 and the A.M. degree in 1906 (LL.D., 1925). Received Sc.D. degree from University of Arizona in 1915; J.D. degree from National University of Mexico in 1917; Dr. en Philosophia y Lettres, Universidad Major San Marcos, Lima, Peru, in 1920; Dr. en Medicine, Universidad Central, Quito, Ecuador, in 1920; Diploma from French Academy Officier de l’Instruction Publique, by order of French Government, 1926; LL.D. degrees from DePauw University in 1936, from University of New Mexico in 1936, and Boston University in 1944; Doctor en Derecho, National University, Panama, 1936; Ph.D. Andhra Research University, South India, in 1936; F.H.D. College Osteopathic Physicians and Surgeons, 1936, Los Angeles; Dr. en Derecho y Politicos Ciencos, Inter-American University, Panama; LL.D. William Jewell College, 1946.
Dr. Von KleinSmid was instructor at Northwestern University Academy, 1904-05; Professor of Education and principal of De Pauw University Academy, 1905-09; Professor of Education and Psychology, De Pauw University, 1909-14; president of University of Arizona, 1914-21; president of the University of Southern California, 1921-46, and chancellor (for life) since April 1946.
Received the following decorations by foreign governments (partial list; 1930-41); Knight of Legion of Honor, and Societe Academique Histoire Internationale (France); Commander of Order of White Lion (Czechoslovakia); Order of Merit, and Diploma and Insignia from Government of Ecuador, and Comendador de la Condecoracion Nacional “Al Merito” (Ecuador); Grand Prix Humanitaire de Belgique (Belgium); Commander of Order of Orange–Nassu by Queen Wilhelmina of Holland (Netherlands); Commander of Order of Vasco Nenez Balboa (Panama); Commander of Order of Redeemer (Greece); Order of the Jade (China).
Chancellor for Institute of World Affairs throughout its 22nd session; chancellor Los Angeles University of International Relations Affiliated with S.C.; United States Delegate to the International Prison Congress, London, in 1925, to the Pan American Scientific Congress in 1925.
Member of (partial list) Board of Directors of Los Angeles Chamber of Commerce 1935-41 (awarded Foreign Trade Plaque in 1942); Sixth Agricultural District Association since 1935 (by governor of California); Board of Governors, Los Angeles Museum of History and Science, since 1936; State Crime Commission of State of California; Board of Visitors to United States Naval Academy, Annapolis, 1935, ‘36. ‘37, ‘42; Council of National Committees on Prisons and Prison Labor; Los Angeles Public Library Commission (president for fifteen years); Committee on Cultural Relations with Latin America; honorary faculty member of National University of Chile; American Association of Clinical Criminology (founder and president, 1915-1918); Lieut. Co. United States Army, O.R.C., 1926-36; Committee on International Relations (National Educational Association); Association of Colleges and Universities of the Pacific Southwest (president, 1932); California Association of Adult Education (president, 1942-44); Citizens Advisory Committee of State Reconstruction and Re-employment (appointed by Governor in 1944).
Awarded Gold Medal by National Institute of Social Sciences as one of three most distinguished citizens of the United States for 1941 (achievement in field of international relations); award of merit as most outstanding alumnus, Northwestern University, 1934. Member of Phi Kappa Phi (national president for biennial period 1940, also 1942), Phi Beta Kappa, Phi Mu Alpha, Phi Kappa, Sigma Chi, Delta Phi Epsilon (national president, 1914).
Dr. Von KleinSmid is a thirty-third degree Mason; Knight Templar; fellow of American Biographical Society, American Association for Advancement of Science, Royal Geographical Society (Great Britain), and Royal Society of Letters (Great Britain). Author of numerous monographs on education, applied psychology and criminology.
Member of the following clubs: California (Los Angeles), University (Los Angeles); Jonathan; University (New York City); and Bohemian of San Francisco.
Address: University of Southern California, University Park, Los Angeles, California.
Transcribed 12-6-13 Marilyn R. Pankey.
Source: Eminent
Californians 1953, by Lee E. Johnson & C. W. Taylor. Pages 167-168, C. W. Taylor
Publ., Palo Alto, California, 1953.
© 2013 Marilyn R. Pankey.
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