Describes the debate over how and when the community college movement spread from the Midwest to California. Presents evidence that the University of Chicago's William Rainey Harper was working in 1900 to convince three California colleges to drop their upper division and become junior colleges. Considers the role of David Starr Jordan in the…

Contests the conclusions of Wattenbarger and Witt concerning the role of William Rainey Harper in the founding of the California community college movement. Argues that Harper's ideals differ sharply from the legislation proposed by Senator Anthony Caminetti to fund high-school-based junior colleges and the goals of Fresno Junior College. (MAB)

Questions whether William Rainey Harper was responsible for David Starr Jordan's and Benjamin Ida Wheeler's advocacy of the municipal junior college in California; whether Jordan and Wheeler introduced the idea to Senator Anthony Caminetti prior to his introduction of the bill permitting six-year high schools; and what constitutes sufficient…