Malott led the university before, during, and after World War II. These records illustrate the many issues associated with running a university during wartime and how Malott faced those challenges.

WWII was not the only notable event that happened under Malott’s chancellorship: like many of his predecessors, Malott also presided over the construction of many new buildings, including Lindley Hall and the Military Science Building.

More broadly, Malott’s chancellorship occurred during a time of political and social upheaval. The issue of segregation was becoming more prominent, for example, and Malott was widely criticized for allowing de facto segregation at the university to continue unimpeded.