James Ralph Scales and Family Papers
James Ralph Scales was a college professor and administrator at Oklahoma Baptist University, Oklahoma State University, and Wake Forest University, serving as WFU's eleventh president. This collection contains materials pertaining to Scales' personal life and professional work, as well as materials related to his family members including wife Elizabeth (Betty) Ann; parents Katie and John Grover Scales, Sr.; brother John Grover Scales, Jr.; and daughters Ann Catherine Scales and Laura Elizabeth Scales as well as in-laws Clara and Clyde Randel. Materials include biographical materials, genealogical files, education files, subject files, writings including speeches and articles, professional files of work done at other institutions, and photographs. The collection does not include Scales' activities as president of Wake Forest; those are located in the University Records collection for his presidency.
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Summary Information
- Repository
- Z. Smith Reynolds Library Special Collections and Archives
- Title
- James Ralph Scales and Family Papers
- Date
- 1890-2018 (inclusive)
- Extent
- 46 Linear Feet / 77 document boxes, 2 record cartons, 7 oversize boxes
- ID
- MS311
Biographical and Historical Note
James Ralph Scales was the eleventh president of Wake Forest University, leading the institution 1967-1983. He was born May 27, 1919, in Jay, Oklahoma, to John Grover Scales, Senior, and Katie Whitley Scales. Scales was of partial Cherokee descent - John Grover Scales was an enrolled member of the Cherokee nation - and was active throughout his life in Cherokee matters, even after leaving his native Oklahoma. After graduating from Oklahoma Baptist University (OBU) in 1939, Scales earned his master's (1941) and doctoral degrees (1949) from the University of Oklahoma, focusing on state politics. In 1944, Scales married Elizabeth Ann Randel; they had two children together, Laura Elizabeth (1949-1969) and Ann Catherine (1952-2012).
Scales began his career as an educator shortly after graduating from OBU, though it was interrupted by service in the U.S. Navy from 1942 to 1945 during World War II, where he earned medals of honor and distinction. Scales continued his career in higher education as an associate professor and professor at OBU (1947-1961). He rose through the ranks as vice president (1950-1953), executive vice president (1953-1961), and president (1961-1965). In 1965, Scales left OBU for Oklahoma State University, where he served as dean of the College of the Arts and Sciences and as a professor of political science. In 1967, he became the eleventh president of Wake Forest.
During his time at Wake Forest, Scales oversaw an increased undergraduate enrollment and an expanded academic curriculum. He was responsible for a fine arts center building project, later named for him, and the acquisition of Worrell House in London, England, and Casa Artom in Venice, Italy. Scales resigned from the Office of the President in 1983. Later in life, he took up painting and had at least one exhibit, documented in this collection. James Ralph Scales died in Winston-Salem on March 12, 1996.
Elizabeth Ann (Randel) Scales was born in Osage County, Oklahoma, in 1918 to Clyde and Clara Wolcott Randel. Elizabeth, known as Betty Ann, earned her B.A. from Oklahoma Baptist University (1939), where she met James Ralph Scales. At Wake Forest University, Betty Ann helped lead the University Club and participated in other social and Baptist organizations. She passed away on August 11, 1992, predeceasing James Ralph.
Ann Catherine Scales was born in 1952. She received her B.A. in History and Philosophy in 1974 from Wellesley College. Ann Catherine earned her J.D. in 1978 from Harvard University School of Law. She died in Denver, Colorado, in June 24, 2012.
Laura Elizabeth was born in 1949 and died at the age of 20 on March 28, 1969, before she was able to complete her undergraduate degree. She attended Oklahoma State University, was a member of Pi Beta Phi sorority, studied abroad in the United Kingdom, and attended classes at Wake Forest before she passed away.
John Grover Scales, Sr., was born April 19, 1889, in Spavinaw Creek, Indian Territory. He married Katie Whitley on April 25, 1914. He was a Baptist pastor in Oklahoma City until he died on August 13, 1971, at the age of 82. Together with Katie he had two sons, James Ralph Scales and John Grover Scales, Jr.
John Grover Scales, Jr., the only brother of James Ralph Scales, was born September 30, 1923. He devoted much of his life to studying the piano and had a music career in New York. He died at age 29 on September 1, 1953, in Bay Shore, N.Y., after an illness. His wife survived him.
Collection Overview
This collection documents the professional and personal life of James Ralph Scales. Materials include artifacts, certificates, correspondence, course materials, lecture materials, news clippings, newsletters and other publications, notes, photographs, items collected for scrapbooks, a couple of scrapbooks, speeches and writings, and subject files. A small number of materials are printed in Cherokee.
Correspondents include other extended family members, former colleagues from his places of work, organizations he was involved with, and friends. Some materials from the period of his long tenure as president of Wake Forest University (1967-1983) are present, but most are in the University records collection, Office of the President. James Ralph Scales Records (RG1.11).
The collection also contains materials related to members of his family: his parents, John Grover Scales, Sr., and Katie Whitley Scales; brother John Grover Scales, Jr.; his wife, Elizabeth (Betty) Ann Randel Scales, and her parents, Clyde Randel and Clara Walcott Randel; daughters Laura Elizabeth and Ann Catherine Scales. These materials are not extensive but provide some evidence of their lives and work; material types include correspondence, event items, memorial and obituary materials, and photographs. For Laura Scales, the collection also contains extensive condolence correspondence and legal and financial documents related to the foundation in her name.
Collection Arrangement
This collection is arranged alphabetically into nine series: Series 1. Artifacts, Series 2. Biographical materials, Series 3. Correspondence, Series 4. Course and education materials, Series 5. Family materials. Series 6. Oklahoma Baptist University materials, Series 7. Oklahoma State University materials, Series 8. Speeches and writings, and Series 9. Subject files.
Series 5, Family materials, is divided into seven subseries: Subseries A. Randel, Clara Walcott; Subseries B. Scales, Ann Catherine; Subseries C. Scales, Elizabeth (Betty) Ann Randel; Subseries D. Scales, John Grover, Junior; Subseries E. Scales, John Grover, Senior; Subseries F. Scales, Katie Whitley; and Subseries G. Scales, Laura Elizabeth.
Administrative Information
- Publication Information
- Z. Smith Reynolds Library Special Collections and Archives
- Revision Description
- Revised by Mia Harris, Faith Geraghty, Anna Hathcock, Sayeda Islam, Stephanie Bennett, Finley Turner, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022
- Access Restrictions
- This collection is open for use.
- Copyright Notice
- The nature of the WFU Z. Smith Reynolds Library Special Collections and Archives means that copyright or other information about restrictions may be difficult or even impossible to determine despite reasonable efforts. The Archives and Special Collections of ZSR Library claims only physical ownership of most materials. The materials from our collections are made available for use in research, teaching, and private study, pursuant to the U.S. Copyright Law. The user must assume full responsibility for any use of the materials, including but not limited to, infringement of copyright and publication rights of reproduced materials. Any materials used for academic research or otherwise should be fully credited with the source.
- Preferred Citation
- James Ralph Scales and Family Papers (MS311), Z. Smith Reynolds Library Special Collections and Archives, Wake Forest University, NC, USA.