Herman B Wells
A charismatic academic leader who transformed a provincial Indiana college into a major research university by betting everything on great teachers and free inquiry.
1902–2000 (age 98)·President of Indiana University·Birthday: June 7·The Greatest Generation
Biography
Herman B Wells didn't just run Indiana University; he embodied its spirit for most of the 20th century. Taking the helm in 1938, he saw a modest campus with grand potential. His strategy was deceptively simple: recruit the best faculty minds he could find, give them the freedom to think, and build a beautiful, sprawling campus around them. He was a masterful diplomat and fundraiser, charming donors and politicians to bankroll his vision of 'the crossroads of America' becoming a crossroads of ideas. Wells's commitment was tested during the Red Scare, when he staunchly defended professors accused of communist sympathies, insisting that a university must be a sanctuary for intellectual risk. He championed racial integration, quietly ensuring Black students and scholars had a place at IU long before it was commonplace. When he stepped down as president, he seamlessly became chancellor, remaining the university's beloved patriarch, always seen strolling the Bloomington campus, stopping to talk with any student who approached.
The Greatest Generation
1901–1927
Grew up during the Depression, fought World War II, and built the postwar economic boom. Defined by shared sacrifice, institutional trust, and a belief that hard work and loyalty would be rewarded.
Herman was born in 1902, placing them squarely in The Greatest Generation. The events that shaped this generation — world wars, depression, and rapid industrialization — shaped the world they entered and the choices available to them.
#1 When Herman Was Born
The biggest hits of 1902
Herman's Life & Times
The world at every milestone
1902Born
The eruption of Mount Pelee kills 30,000 in Martinique
President: Theodore Roosevelt
1907Started school
Financial panic grips Wall Street
President: Theodore Roosevelt
1915Became a teenager
The Lusitania is sunk by a German U-boat
President: Woodrow Wilson
1918Could drive
World War I ends; Spanish flu pandemic kills millions
President: Woodrow Wilson
1920Could vote
Women gain the right to vote in the US
Home: $3,395President: Woodrow Wilson"Swanee" — Al Jolson
1923Turned 21
The Great Kanto earthquake devastates Tokyo
President: Calvin Coolidge"Yes! We Have No Bananas" — Billy Jones
1932Turned 30
Amelia Earhart flies solo across the Atlantic
Gas: $0.18/galPresident: Herbert Hoover"Night and Day" — Fred AstaireBest Picture: Grand Hotel
1942Turned 40
Battle of Midway turns the tide in the Pacific
Gas: $0.20/galHome: $3,175Min wage: $0.30/hrPresident: Franklin D. Roosevelt"White Christmas" — Bing CrosbyBest Picture: Mrs. Miniver
1952Turned 50
Queen Elizabeth II ascends the throne
Gas: $0.27/galHome: $8,350Min wage: $0.75/hrPresident: Harry S. Truman"Blue Tango" — Leroy AndersonBest Picture: The Greatest Show on Earth
1962Turned 60
Cuban Missile Crisis brings the world to the brink
Gas: $0.31/galHome: $12,800Min wage: $1.15/hrPresident: John F. Kennedy"Stranger on the Shore" — Acker BilkBest Picture: Lawrence of Arabia
1972Turned 70
Watergate break-in; last Apollo Moon mission
Gas: $0.36/galHome: $19,550Min wage: $1.60/hrPresident: Richard Nixon"The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face" — Roberta FlackBest Picture: The Godfather
1982Turned 80
Michael Jackson releases Thriller
Gas: $1.22/galHome: $55,200Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: Ronald Reagan"Physical" — Olivia Newton-JohnBest Picture: Gandhi
2000Died at 98
Y2K passes without incident; contested Bush-Gore election
Gas: $1.51/galHome: $119,600Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"Breathe" — Faith HillBest Picture: Gladiator
Key Achievements
- As president, oversaw the dramatic growth of Indiana University, increasing enrollment from 5,000 to over 30,000 students.
- Recruited a world-class faculty, including Nobel laureates, by fiercely defending academic freedom during the McCarthy era.
- Initiated a massive campus building and beautification program, shaping the iconic look of the Bloomington campus.
- Actively promoted racial integration, supporting the admission of Black students and inviting figures like Ralph Bunche to campus.
Did You Know?
The 'B' in his name doesn't stand for anything; it's just the letter.
He lived in a modest on-campus house, now named Wells House, for over 60 years.
He was an avid collector of rare books and manuscripts, with a focus on monetary history.
A campus legend says he kept a secret fund to bail students out of minor jail charges.
“A great university is a place where the mind can be bold and free.”
