Thomas C. Mendenhall (historian) - Professional Career

Professional Career

In 1937, Mendenhall was appointed an instructor in history at Yale University, promoted to assistant professor in 1942, and then to associate professor in 1946. He served additionally as assistant to the provost at Yale from 1943 to 1950; director of foreign area studies, 1944-46; director Office Teacher Training, 1958-59, and Master of Berkeley College, 1950-59. In 1951-52, he became the first occupant of the academic chair at the United States Naval War College that in 1953 would be named and carry the title of Ernest J. King Professor of Maritime History. While teaching in the Yale History Department between 1937 and 1959, he served on the University's Rowing Committee and for thirty years was a reporter on rowing events for the Yale Alumni Magazine. He also wrote numerous articles on the history of crew and collegiate rowing for The Oarsman.

In 1959, he was named Professor of History and President of Smith College, retaining that post until his retirement in 1975.

Mendenhall's collection of 24 feet (7.3 m) of his correspondence, research materials, and writings on the history of collegiate rowing is deposited in the G. W. Blunt White Library at Mystic Seaport (Manuscript Collection 263). His personal papers and his official papers as president of Smith College (Record Group 32) are located in the Five Colleges Archives and Manuscript Collections at Smith College.