Carr was born and raised in
Cleveland, Ohio, and graduated from
Shaw High School. While in high school, he made a living by
trapping. He went on to earn a bachelor's degree from
Dartmouth College in 1929, and then did his graduate work at
Harvard University, earning an M.A. in 1930 and a Ph.D. in 1935. While completing his doctoral studies, Carr taught at the
University of Oklahoma Norman. He joined the department of government at Dartmouth in 1937 and remained there until 1960. From 1957 to 1958, he served as the general secretary of the
American Association of University Professors. Carr served as the president of
Oberlin College during a tumultuous period of student activism. Under his presidency, he increased the school's physical plant, with 15 new buildings completed. Under his leadership, student involvement in college affairs increased, with students serving on nearly all college committees as voting members (including the Board of Trustees). Despite these accomplishments, Carr clashed repeatedly with the students regarding issues related to the
Vietnam War. He left office in 1969, with History professor Ellsworth C. Carlson taking over as acting President, and was forced to resign as President in November 1970, succeeded by the 33-year-old Oberlin & Princeton alumnus
Robert W. Fuller. == Bibliography ==