www.union.edu/Presidents/
Eleventh president of Union College, January 20, 1929–August 10, 1933
Frank Parker Day was born on May 9, 1881 in Shubenacadia, Nova Scotia, one of three children of a migrating Methodist minister. Educated at Pictou Academy and Mount Allison University in Nova Scotia and a Rhodes Scholar, Day took an MA at Oxford University in 1909.
Day’s first professional position was as an English professor at the University at New Brunswick. Two years later, Day accepted a position as head of the English department at the Carnegie Institute of Technology. The outbreak of the First World War interrupted his time at the Carnegie Institute of Technology. Day returned to Nova Scotia to help recruit the 185th Cape Breton Highlanders. His distinguished battlefront record included a field promotion to colonel.
Colonel Day returned to the Carnegie Institute of Technology in 1919 as dean of freshmen and director of general studies. His time in Pittsburgh was to come to a close after his first novel was accepted for publication in 1926. But soon afterward President Aydelotte of Swarthmore invited his fellow Rhode Scholar to become a member of the Swarthmore English Department, and Day accepted for a year. One year turned into two and in that time he had published his second novel, The Autobiography of a Fisherman, when the trustees of Union College invited him to become the College president. Day served as Acting President from December 1, 1928, eventually taking over as president on January 20, 1929 and inaugurated May 1, 1929.
Day had, and was prepared to act upon, strong ideas about the reform of college education, but two unexpected developments diverted him into a new war on two fronts: first, a battle with the great Depression; and second, a struggle with physical problems that were eventually found to be caused primarily by a long-neglected infected gall bladder.
When Day arrived at Union, the forty-eight year-old regularly played tennis, but by 1931 he was often in severe pain from what he thought was a back problem. In January 1933, he underwent gall bladder surgery. Slow to recuperate, Day’s leave was extended by the trustees so that he might accelerate his recovery in the mild climes of Florida.
Events from this time on unfold in unexpected ways. On June 9, in a letter from his summer home in Lake Annis, Nova Scotia to Dr. Edwin Rice, chairman of the Board of Trustees, President Day noted that he was "getting better beyond any doubt. By September, I hope to be as I was when I first came to Union College." In the mail dated that same day, was a letter from Dr. Rice to the president, announcing that the trustees had, as of June 9, appointed a committee, with power, to consider what action should be taken in the mater of the presidency of the college. The chairman continued, "at a subsequent meeting of this committee, after full discussion, it was decided that considering all circumstances it would soon be desirable to find a new President for Union College".
On June 22 Chairman Rice wrote, "Day’s ill health seemed to be uppermost in the minds of the Committee, reinforced by the fear that this unfortunate situation might be indefinitely prolonged. However, I must add hat also there was a general expression that you had not shown that quality and strength of administrative ability which had been expected.".
Day agreed to resign if a financial settlement were worked out. After resigning, Day spent the remainder of his life at his cottage at Lake Annis in Nova Scotia.
Following Day’s resignation, Edward Ellery served as Acting President from April 1933 until the Dixon Ryan Fox’s arrival on July 1934.
Condensed from Wayne Somers, compiler and editor, Encyclopedia of Union College History (Schenectady: Union College Press, 2003), page 221.
Image courtesy of Union College, Schaffer Library Special Collections and Archives, Photograph Collection