Haas, Leonard C.
Biography
Leonard Clarence Haas was born on February 17, 1915, and grew up in Altoona, Wisconsin. Haas graduated from Eau Claire State Teachers College in 1935 with his bachelor’s degree in education. He earned a master’s degree in history from UW-Madison in 1938, and a Ph.D. from the University of Minnesota in 1954. He married Dorellen M. Lambert on May 31, 1941, and returned to UW-Eau Claire that year as a history and government instructor. From 1959-1971, Haas served as President of Wisconsin State College at Eau Claire until 1964, and Wisconsin State University-Eau Claire (1964-1971). From 1971-1973, he served as Executive Vice-President of the University of Wisconsin System where he played a major role in the merging of state colleges and universities into one system. He returned to UW-EC in 1973 and served as chancellor until 1980. Haas remained at the university as a history professor from 1980 until his retirement in 1985. The Fine Arts Center was dedicated to Haas and his wife in 1986. Haas died at the age of 83 on March 14, 1998.
During Haas' tenure the university grew from five to 25 buildings and from 1,700 to nearly 11,000 students. The proportion of students coming from outside the Eau Claire area, and even from outside Wisconsin, increased greatly. Bachelor's degree programs in nursing and business were initiated. Acknowledgment of their high quality came from the college's membership and recognition of excellence in 30 honor societies and accreditations. At the suggestion of his mentor, Professor Laura Sutherland, he adopted "Excellence" as the university's motto.
Occupations
- President -- Date: 1959 - 1971
- Chancellor -- Date: 1973 - 1980
Found in 17 Collections and/or Records:
Assistant Chancellor for Budget and Development Budget Records, 1919-1975
Budget records for the University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire and its predecessors, and UW-System budget reference materials, 1917-1975.
Bill Zorn Papers, 1916-1987
Willis Lawrence “Bill” Zorn was a Dean of Men, athletic director and a celebrated coach of the UW-Eau Claire basketball and football teams from 1928-1969 at the University of Wisconsin--Eau Claire. The collection includes personal and administrative files, Eau Claire athletics and NAIA files, and records of the Air Force Training Program that was housed on the Eau Claire campus from 1943-44.
Centennial Oral History Collection, 2012-2013
Oral history interviews conducted by students and staff, prior to the University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire's Centennial in 2016. The interviews cover a wide range of topics related to the history of the school. Includes digital materials.
Eau Claire Area Committee and Citizen Advisory Council Records, 1946-1983
Haas Oral History Interviews Project, 1985-1991
Leonard Haas Papers, 1923-1991
Personal and professional papers of UW-Eau Claire President and Chancellor Leonard C. Haas (1959-1971, 1973-1980). Papers include class notes and papers as a student, lecture notes, teacher preparation files, and materials related to UW-EC on the President’s Club, economic impact of the university on the community, and evaluation of administration.
Putnam Park Records, 1896-2022
University Archives Photograph Collection, 1916-2011
University Archives Slides Collection, 1916-2002
University Historical Films, 1934-1994
Reel to reel films documenting various events at the Eau Claire State Teachers College (1927-1951), Wisconsin State College at Eau Claire (1951-1964), Wisconsin State University-Eau Claire (1964-1971), and University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire, dating from 1934 to post 1976. Some of these films are available digitally at: University Historical Films
Additional filters:
- Subject
- Correspondence 8
- Photographs 8
- University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire--History 8
- Chancellor 7
- Eau Claire (Wis.) 7
- Audio recordings 5
- Campus School (Eau Claire, Wis.) 5
- Faculty 5
- Meeting Minutes 5
- Programs 5
- University Records 5
- Committee Reports 4
- Football 4
- Homecoming 4
- Interviews 4
- President 4
- Schofield Hall 4
- Student Housing--Wisconsin--Eau Claire 4
- Transcripts 4
- University of Wisconsin--Eau Claire--Alumni and Alumnae 4
- University of Wisconsin—Eau Claire--Students 4
- Art 3
- Athletics 3
- Budgets 3
- Commencement 3
- Davies Student Center 3
- Financial Records 3
- Footbridge 3
- Hilltop 3
- McPhee Physical Education Center 3
- Newspaper clippings 3
- Oral Histories 3
- Organization Files 3
- Putnam Park (Eau Claire, Wis.) 3
- School of Nursing Building 3
- Singing Statesmen 3
- Staff 3
- Student Life 3
- Student Organizations 3
- Student activities—Wisconsin—Eau Claire 3
- University of Wisconsin--Eau Claire—Administration 3
- University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire--Public relations 3
- Viennese Ball 3
- Winter Carnival 3
- World War II 3
- Administrative Records 2
- Annual Reports 2
- Brewer Hall 2
- Bridgman Hall 2
- Buildings 2
- Cabaret 2
- College teachers--Wisconsin--Eau Claire 2
- Council Oak Tree 2
- Dormitories--Wisconsin 2
- Haas Fine Arts Center 2
- Hibbard Humanities Hall 2
- Horan Hall 2
- Katharine Thomas Hall 2
- L.E. Phillips Science Hall 2
- Little Niagara Creek 2
- McIntyre Library 2
- Music 2
- Newsletters 2
- Periscope 2
- Posters 2
- Publications 2
- Putnam Hall 2
- Putnam Park Drive 2
- Saint Bede Priory (Eau Claire, Wis.) 2
- Schneider Social Science Hall 2
- Slides 2
- Sutherland Hall 2
- The Forum Series 2
- Towers Hall 2
- Universities and colleges—Wisconsin—Eau Claire—History 2
- University of Wisconsin--Eau Claire--Faculty 2
- University of Wisconsin--Eau Claire--Finance 2
- University of Wisconsin--Eau Claire--Funds and scholarships 2
- University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire-Bands 2
- University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire-Sports 2
- AIDS memorial quilts 1
- Academic Affairs Commission 1
- Academic Disciplines 1
- Accreditation (Education) 1
- Alcohol Task Force 1
- Artists Series 1
- Audits 1
- Basketball coaches – Wisconsin – Eau Claire 1
- Basketball—Wisconsin—Eau Claire 1
- Beaver Control 1
- Brochures 1
- Business Records 1
- Bösendorfer piano 1
- Campus Mall 1
- Carson Park (Eau Claire, Wis.) 1
- Chancellors Hall 1
- Chemistry--Study and teaching 1
- Chippewa River 1
- Circle of Excellence 1
- Citizen Advisory Council 1 + ∧ less