Oliver Cromwell Carmichael was born October 3, 1891 on a farm near Goodwater, Alabama the eighth child and fifth son of the eleven children of Daniel Monroe, a farmer and school teacher and Amanda Lessley Carmichael, also a school teacher and homemaker.

Known as one of the outstanding University administrators and experts on educational philosophy in the country, Oliver Carmichael was the third chancellor of Vanderbilt University during the years 1937–1946.

While at Vanderbilt, Chancellor Carmichael was instrumental in creating in 1937 the Joint University Libraries serving Vanderbilt, Peabody, and Scarritt Colleges. Later, in 1940 he led the efforts to establish the Vanderbilt University Press in order “to emphasize Vanderbilt’s commitment to scholarly research and publication.” Both of these he considered as his most important accomplishments while at Vanderbilt. He also led the university through the years of World War II.

In March of 1967, shortly after his death in September 1966 Carmichael Towers, residence halls at Vanderbilt, were dedicated in his memory. Carmichael Hall at the University of Alabama and the Carmichael Library at Montevallo are also named in his honor.

Collections of his papers are held by Vanderbilt University, the University of Alabama, and by the Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching in New York.

Education:

Alabama Presbyterian College, Anniston, Alabama for two years

University of Alabama, B.A. 1911; M.A. 1914

Rhodes Scholar from Alabama 1913-1917 at Wadham College, Oxford University taking a B.Sc. diploma in Anthropology.

He was awarded honorary degrees from 21 colleges and universities in the United States over the course of his professional career. They are listed below.

Career:

U.S. Army, World War I

Herbert Hoover’s Commission for Belgian Relief

YMCA work in India and East Africa

Birmingham, Alabama City Schools High School teacher, 1919-1920

High School Principal, 1920–1922

Dean and assistant to the President at Alabama College at Montevallo, 1922-1926

President of Alabama College (a woman’s college), 1926-1935

He was the third Chancellor of Vanderbilt University, serving from 1937–46. Previously he served as Dean and then Vice Chancellor of the University from 1935 until he became Chancellor in 1937.

President of the Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching 1946–1953

Executive Associate and Member of the Board of Trustees of Carnegie Corporation of New York

President of the University of Alabama 1953-1956

Educational Consultant for the Ford Foundation and Fund for Advancement of Education, 1957 – until his death in September of 1966.

Personal Life:

While a Rhodes Scholar at Wadham College, Oxford, he and a fellow student Harvie Branscomb worked for Herbert Hoover’s Commission for Relief in Belgium and smuggled a politically sensitive letter from Cardinal Mercier through the German lines. Carmichael’s friendship with Harvie Branscomb who succeeded him as the 4th Chancellor of Vanderbilt University shaped Vanderbilt’s destiny for nearly three decades.

He married Ruth Mae Crabtree on July 13, 1918, and they had two sons Oliver C. Carmichael, Jr. born in 1920 and Fred H. Carmichael born in 1922.

Golf and Bridge are the sports he enjoyed most, and reading historical and philosophical essays and novels was his favorite pastime.

He died in Asheville, North Carolina on September 25, 1966 at the age of 74.

Biographical Chronology

• 1891 Born on October 3 in Goodwater, Alabama
• 1910 Teacher, one room country school, summer 1910
• 1911-1914 Received A.B. and M.A. degrees, University of Alabama
• 1911-1912 Instructor of French and German, secretary of the faculty, Univ. of Ala.
• 1912-1913 Acting professor of foreign languages, Florence Normal School
• 1917 Received B. Sc. Degree, Oxford University, England as a Rhodes Scholar at Wadham College
• 1918 Married Ruth Mae Crabtree on July 13
• 1919 High school teacher of European history, March–June
• 1919-1920 Instructor of French, high school
• 1920-1921 Principal, Henly Elementary School
• 1921-1922 Principal, Woodlawn High School
• 1922-1926 Dean and Assistant to President, Alabama College
• 1926-1935 President, Alabama College
• 1935-1937 Dean, Graduate School and Senior College, Vanderbilt University
• 1936-1937 Vice–Chancellor, Vanderbilt University
• 1937-1946 Chancellor, Vanderbilt University
• 1946-1953 President, Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching
• 1946-1953 Executive Associate and member of the Board of Trustees of the Carnegie Corporation of New York
• 1948-1953 Chairman of the Board of Trustees of the New York State University System
• 1953-1956 President, University of Alabama
• 1957-1966 Educational Consultant, Ford Foundation, and Fund for Advancement of Education
• 1966 Died September 25 in Asheville, North Carolina

1891

Born on October 3 in Goodwater, Alabama

1910

Teacher, one room country school, summer 1910

1911-1914

Received A.B. and M.A. degrees, University of Alabama

1911-1912

Instructor of French and German, secretary of the faculty, Univ. of Ala.

1912-1913

Acting professor of foreign languages, Florence Normal School

1917

Received B. Sc. Degree, Oxford University, England as a Rhodes Scholar at Wadham College

1918

Married Ruth Mae Crabtree on July 13

1919

High school teacher of European history, March–June

1919-1920

Instructor of French, high school

1920-1921

Principal, Henly Elementary School

1921-1922

Principal, Woodlawn High School

1922-1926

Dean and Assistant to President, Alabama College

1926-1935

President, Alabama College

1935-1937

Dean, Graduate School and Senior College, Vanderbilt University

1936-1937

Vice–Chancellor, Vanderbilt University

1937-1946

Chancellor, Vanderbilt University

1946-1953

President, Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching

1946-1953

Executive Associate and member of the Board of Trustees of the Carnegie Corporation of New York

1948-1953

Chairman of the Board of Trustees of the New York State University System

1953-1956

President, University of Alabama

1957-1966

Educational Consultant, Ford Foundation, and Fund for Advancement of Education

1966

Died September 25 in Asheville, North Carolina