George C. S. Benson P’61

cmc_peo_0073.jpg

George C. S. Benson, CMC's first president from 1946 to 1969.

George Charles Sumner Benson was born in New York on January 16, 1908 to Helen Sumner Benson and the Reverend Eugene H. Benson, then a first-year rector of an Episcopalian mission church in Harlem. After moving to California, George’s father relinquished his ministry of a church in San Francisco in 1914 and bought a ranch near Ukiah, California. After graduating from high school, George would follow his three elder siblings and attend Pomona College. Benson’s maternal grandfather, Charles Burt Sumner, had founded the College in 1887 and all seven of the Benson children would attend Pomona, financed by their uncle George Sumner. Entering Pomona College in 1924, Benson was elected to Phi Beta Kappa, established a straight A-record, and often attended gatherings at the homes of Alexander McKenna and Russell Story, where he and a wide-range of guests would engage in broad intellectual discussions. The early connections built from attending these gatherings would prove important in Benson’s later professional career in ClaremontRussell Story would become the president of Claremont Colleges and Alexander McKenna’s son Donald, a fellow Pomona College alumnus, would serve as a founding trustee of Claremont Men’s College.

Benson_POM_1928.jpg

George Benson’s Pomona College senior photograph, 1928.

Following his graduation from Pomona College in 1928, Benson began graduate study at the University of Illinois, where he received his M.A. in 1929, followed by a second M.A. and a Ph.D. in government and political science from Harvard University in 1930 and 1931. Benson remained at Harvard as instructor in government from 1931 to 1934. After leaving Harvard, Benson was appointed as research director for the Council of State Governments in Chicago, while also serving as lecturer at the University of Chicago. There he met his future wife, Mabel “Mabs Gibberd, and the couple were married in 1935. Throughout the late 1930s and early 1940s, Benson continued his professional career in academia, first as associate professor at the University of Michigan from 1936 to 1941, and later holding an appointment as professor of political science at Northwestern University from 1941 to 1945. During this time Benson also published four well-received monographs–Financial Control and Integration (1933), Civil Service in Massachusetts (1934), The State Administrative Board in Michigan (1938), and The New Centralization (1941)–edited the journal State Government for two years, and served a term on the State of Michigan Planning Commission. When Congress declared war in December 1941, Benson was eager to support the war effort, initially joining the Office of Price Administration in Washington D.C. as director of personnel and administration. The following year, in 1942, Benson entered the U.S. Army first as a management analyst in the Pentagon, before transferring to G-5, military affairs, and civil government. Benson’s wartime service saw him organize and supervise civilian governments in occupied areas in North Africa, Italy, and Austria. He left the Army in March 1946 with the rank of lieutenant colonel.

New School_Claremont Courier_1946 June 28.jpg

A June 28, 1946 Claremont Courier article discusses the new Undergraduate School for Men in Claremont and introduces its founding director, George C. S. Benson.

In April 1946, Benson returned to Claremont to reunite with his wife and two young sons, Sumner (who subsequently would graduate from CMC in the Class of 1961) and Brien, who had been living in Claremont at the Sumner family home at 105 College Avenue during the War. It was during this visit that Benson met Robert J. Bernard, then managing director of Claremont College, and reunited with his old classmate Donald McKenna and was offered the position of director of the new Undergraduate School for Men. Benson accepted the position and, despite needing to fulfill a previously accepted appointment at the Harvard Summer School, he worked over the summer months by letter and telephone to recruit a strong founding faculty for the new college.

Over the next two decades, Benson led the College to become one of the premier liberal arts colleges in the United States with a strong reputation in economics and government. His goal throughout the era was to create a balance of representation between liberal and conservative views to provide a well-rounded education in public policy. Throughout his tenure, Benson remained strongly committed to the Claremont Colleges group plan, playing a leading role with Robert Bernard in the founding of Harvey Mudd College (1955) and Pitzer College (1963), also assisting in bringing the Rancho Santa Ana Botanic Garden (now California Botanic Garden) to Claremont. In 1966, Benson established CMC’s first research institute, the Henry Salvatori Center for the Study of Individual Freedom in the Modern World, and remained a staunch supporter of the Reserve Officer Training Corps (ROTC) program on college campuses throughout the 1960s.

Pomona College Convocation_1969_Benson receives honorary degree Doctor of Laws.jpg

On April 1, 1969, President Benson received an honorary degree of Doctor of Laws from his alma mater, Pomona College. Here, Benson walks with Pomona College President E. Wilson Lyon and speaker Kenneth E. Boulding before the Spring Convocation ceremonies.

Salvatori Library_01.jpg

Benson returned to CMC three years after his retirement as president to serve as director of the Salvatori Center.

Benson retired from CMC in 1969 to accept the position of deputy assistant secretary of defense for reserve affairs under President Richard Nixon. In this position, Benson was responsible for reviewing education in the armed forces and was instrumental in persuading many universities to keep their ROTC programs during a difficult period of student unrest and protests on college campuses across the nation. Benson’s time away from CMC was short-lived, however, and he returned to Claremont in 1972 to become the director of the Salvatori Center, also eventually holding the title chancellor from 1978 to 1981. During this period, Benson published a trilogy of books on ethics in American life, Amoral America (1975), Political Corruption in America (1978), and Business Ethics in America (1982). These books drew on his beliefs growing up in a Protestant family and contributed to the national movement to teach ethics in schools and colleges. Dr. Benson remained an active presence on campus well into his late 80s, pursuing his research and writing and participating in college events.

Benson and Nixon_02.jpg

Former Vice President, California Senator, and future President, Richard M. Nixon visits Claremont for a speaking engagement at Bridges Auditorium on behalf of Senator Barry Goldwater, Republican presidential candidate, 1964.

Throughout his life, Benson held an interest in public service in addition to his academic pursuits. Benson was active in Republican Associates of Los Angeles, supported the early career of Congressman Richard Nixon, served as research director for President Eisenhower's Commission on Intergovernmental Relations, and chaired all campaigns of former Congressman and Claremont McKenna College alumnus David Dreier ’75 from 1978 through 1996. 

Mabel Benson died on July 22, 1983. George would later marry Katharine Corbett Lowe Benson, who passed away on March 1, 1999. George C. S. Benson died in Claremont on March 22, 1999. 

Listen to a series of interviews with George Benson conducted by Professor Ladell Payne and click on the transcript links to follow along:

May 24 (transcript) & May 30, 1969 (transcript) 

Interview with George Benson, May 1969 - Part 1 of 3

Abstract: George Benson discusses the founding of Claremont Men's College and individuals who played a leading role in its establishment; his professional background, including how and why he was chosen as the College's first president; the Claremont Colleges Group Plan; CMC's early faculty, staff, and board of trustees; and the College's early campus. 

Interview with George Benson, May 1969 - Part 2 of 3

Abstract: George Benson discusses CMC trustee Russell Pitzer and the founding of Pitzer College; teaching and other responsibilities while serving as president; the establishment of political science and economics as CMC's preeminent majors; the Korean War era at CMC; admissions and college recruiting; standards for faculty members; and his hesitancy to become CMC's founding president.

Interview with George Benson, May 1969 - Part 3 of 3

Abstract: George Benson discusses CMC's student body, including student government and regulations; CMC traditions; dean of students and dean of faculty positions; early faculty members and faculty recruitment; differences between CMC and Pomona College; and CMC's reputation as a conservative institution.

January 10, 1970 (transcript)

Interview with George Benson, January 1970 - Part 1 of 8

Abstract: George Benson discusses construction of early campus buildings and land acquisition efforts for expansion of the CMC campus.

Interview with George Benson, January 1970 - Part 2 of 8

Abstract: George Benson discusses construction of campus buildings, including Pitzer Hall, Wohlford Hall, McKenna Auditorium, and Collins Hall; and funding and financial responsibilities for construction projects, faculty salaries, and scholarships.

Interview with George Benson, January 1970 - Part 3 of 8

Abstract: George Benson discusses construction of Pitzer Hall South, Pitzer Hall North, Baxter Science building, and Marks Hall; and the relationship between CMC and Pomona College.

Interview with George Benson, January 1970 - Part 4 of 8

Abstract: George Benson continues his discussion on CMC's relationship with Pomona College, land acquisition from Pomona College, the Claremont Colleges Group Plan, and the expansion of CMC's majors.

Interview with George Benson, January 1970 - Part 5 of 8

Abstract: George Benson discusses student class sizes and enrollment limits at the Claremont Colleges, Henry Salvatori's gift for the Salvatori Center at CMC, CMC's early decision to reject federal funds for the College, political beliefs at CMC, and Mabel Benson's role at CMC.

Interview with George Benson, January 1970 - Part 6 of 8

Abstract: George Benson discusses Pitzer College, the establishment of CMC's Lincoln School and Salvatori Center, a decline in interest in economics at CMC, and Phi Beta Kappa.

Interview with George Benson, January 1970 - Part 7 of 8

Abstract: George Benson discusses founding board of trustee members, including Donald McKenna and Russell Pitzer.

Interview with George Benson, January 1970 - Part 8 of 8

Abstract: George Benson discusses CMC donors, benefactors, and trustees.

An Interview with CMC's Distinguished Founders, George C. S. Benson and Donald C. McKenna, April 1993