Fred D. Fagg, Jr. (1896-1981) was born in Brooklyn, New York, but moved to California to attend the San Diego Army and Navy Academy in Pacific Beach, California. He then entered the University Redlands but left during his sophomore year to enlist in the U.S. Army Signal Corps. He completed flight training and was soon assigned to the 92nd Aero Squadron, U.S.A.E.F, and in 1918 was flying night patrols across the English Channel.

When the war was over, Fagg returned to the United States and re-entered the University of Redlands where he received his B.A. in 1920; he earned his M.A. the following year at Harvard where he then taught economics. Two years later, Fagg was teaching economics at Northwestern University while also studying law. In 1927 he received his J.D. degree and returned to California where he taught economics at the University of Southern California and lectured in the School of Law. Fagg returned to Northwestern in 1929 where he served in many capacities including Vice President and Dean of Faculties where he remained until 1947.

From 1947 to 1957, Fagg served as the sixth president of the University of Southern California . During his tenure, the University underwent a great deal of post-war growth, especially when the GI Bill afforded recent veterans numerous educational opportunities and the University needed to expand its facilities. In April 1948, USC dedicated some 29 buildings-- most of them former U.S. Army barracks-- that were donated by the Federal Works Agency and relocated from Santa Ana Air Base. Fagg also initiated the construction of much-needed new buildings, including a cafeteria and residence halls as well as classroom and research facilities. As the University grew in significance nationally and internationally, Fagg instituted modern cost-accounting practices, establishing a development office and increasing library holdings by two-thirds. He also began a program of land acquisition, expanding the boundaries of the University Park campus, and then purchasing land near the county hospital to create the Health Sciences campus. (The Health Sciences campus opened in 1952, the same year in which the Norris Dental Science Center opened on the University Park campus.) Fagg resigned as President of USC in 1957 due to poor health.

This small collection is comprised of the typed transcripts of all USC's commencement programs from 1948 through 1955. A notebook for each year contains the commencement program, the text of the commencement address, and the scripts for the awarding of certificates, degrees, and honorary degrees.