Whitman College Alumni Office Records, 1895-2007

Overview of the Collection

Creator
Whitman College
Title
Whitman College Alumni Office Records
Dates
1895-2007 (inclusive)
Quantity
45.5 linear feet, (49 boxes)
Collection Number
HTM_WCA25
Summary
Records created by the Whitman College Alumni Office and biographical information on individual Whitman alumni.
Repository
Whitman College and Northwest Archives
Whitman College and Northwest Archives
Penrose Library, Room 130
345 Boyer Avenue
Walla Walla, WA
99362
Telephone: 5095275922
Fax: 5095264785
archives@whitman.edu
Access Restrictions

Languages

Historical NoteReturn to Top

In January 1944, at the suggestion of Whitman President Winslow S. Anderson, the Whitman College Alumni Association established an Alumni Office on campus. The Alumni Office was created to aid and support the Alumni Association, founded in 1895, in accomplishing its purpose of promoting the interests of its members and their Alma Mater.

Since its creation, the office has taken on and developed a large number of programs. The office helps alumni stay connected with each other and the college through the organization of reunions, area events, alumni travel, and the use of the web. In 2006 it created Whitman Online, a web based directory which provides alumni with updated information on Whitman alumni all over the world.

The office also supplies many services for members of the Alumni Association. It offers alumni education programs such as faculty lectures in cities where alumni reside, on campus Alumni Colleges, and both international and domestic faculty-led trips. The Alumni Office also created the Career Consultant Network for alumni to offer employment guidance to students and alumni which is now housed in the Whitman Career Center. Lastly, the office offers Fitness Center access for local alumni and has a guest room available for alumni and parents visiting Walla Walla.

Another program of the Alumni Office is alumni recognition. Beginning with the Alumnus of Merit Award in 1968, the office now gives four annual awards to alumni who exemplify outstanding achievement in their careers, communities, or through service to Whitman College, as well as an award for service to a Whitman faculty member. Recognition awards are chosen by the Alumni Board, a thirteen member advisory group.

In addition to its programs, the Alumni Office has also produced many of the college’s publications. Originally the office published The Whitman Alumnus, now the Whitman magazine, and in the 1990s it produced a local newsletter titled Whitty-Gritty. Currently the Alumni Office produces the newsletters Fifty-Plus News, for alumni who graduated over fifty years ago, and Livewire for young alumni, and a monthly e-newsletter, Whittie News.

Content DescriptionReturn to Top

This collection consists of records kept by the Alumni Office. There are five main groups of records: records concerning the Alumni Association, including meeting minutes, documents concerning the rules of the association, and correspondence; statistical records on alumni classes; records of events and programs, including flyers, schedules, and reunion memorabilia; records concerning Alumni Office staff retreats and conferences, and individual files for deceased alumni. Files for deceased alumni, dating back to the 1900s, include questionnaires, newspaper articles, photographs, birth and marriage announcements, and obituaries.

The records also include individual and group photographs of alumni involved in activities as well as fraternities, sororites, and living groups.

Use of the CollectionReturn to Top

Alternative Forms Available

Restrictions on Use

Researchers are responsible for using in accordance with 17 U.S.C. for copyright not held by Whitman College.

Preferred Citation

Whitman College Alumni Office Records, Whitman College and Northwest Archives.

Administrative InformationReturn to Top

Arrangement

By series.

Location of Originals

Acquisition Information

Donated to the Whitman College and Northwest Archives

Separated Materials

Related Materials

Alumni publications are found in the Whitman College Publications Collection. The publication Whitman Gay and Lesbian Alumni Journal, published by members of the WGALA club, can also be found in this collection. Alumni photos are found in the Whitman College Photo Collection. Some of the faculty and alumni lectures advertised in the Alumni Events and Programs Series are available in the Whitman College Media Collection. The Marcelle Wynn Vernaza Papers have information on the class of 1931 reunions. Information on alumni fundraising and giving can be found in the Whitman College Development Records. Information on the Alumni Admissions Programs can be found in the Whitman College Admissions Office Records.

Detailed Description of the CollectionReturn to Top

The following section contains a detailed listing of the materials in the collection.

Series 1:  Alumni Association Records, 1895-2004Return to Top

4 linear feet

This series contains all the records of the Alumni Association. Records include: minutes of the Executive Committee and Council (1895-1966) and Alumni Board meetings (1966-2004), By-Laws (1897-2004), Constitutions (?), Five Year Plans (1982-1994), special reports (1895-2003), some general alumni statistics (?-?) and correspondence (1973-2004). Also filed with the records are two photos from the March 1983 Board meeting that were published in the August 1983 edition of the Whitman Magazine.

Container(s) Description Dates
Box
1
Minutes, By-Laws, Consitutions, Five Year Plans, Reports, and Correspondence
1/11/1992-4/3/2004
2
Minutes, By-Laws, Constitutions, Five Year Plans, Reports, Correspondence, and Photos
circa 1970s-11/1/1991
3
Minutes, By-Laws, Constitutions, Five Year Plans, Reports, and Correspondence
Undated
3.5
Books of Alumni Board Records
Undated
3.6
Minutes, By-Laws, Constitutions, Five Year Plans, Reports, and Correspondence
Undated

Series 2:   Alumni Class Statistics,  1925 – 1991 (bulk 1962 – 1968)Return to Top

1 linear foot

This series contains statistical data for various alumni classes and lists of alumni that fall into certain job descriptions or awards categories.

Container(s) Description Dates
Box
4
Statistics on Alumni Classes, Lists of Alumni, and the GMA Research Corporation’s Whitman College Alumni Study
1925-1991
4.5
Statistics on Alumni Classes
Undated
4.6
Alumni Board Minutes
1999-

Series 3:   Alumni Events and Programs,  1907-2007Return to Top

This series contains all the records concerning the events and programs organized and executed by the Alumni Office.

Container(s) Description Dates
Sub-Series 1: Class Reunions
5 linear feet : Organized chronologically by class year
This sub-series contains information on class reunions from the graduating classes of 1899 through 1992. It includes mailings, flyers, schedules, photos, and 50th reunion booklets.
1907-2007
Box
5
General Information Concerning Reunions at Whitman College, Spring and Fall Reunion Weekends, and Special Reunions
6
Class of 1956-1999
7
Class of 1949-1956
8
Class of 1940-1948
9
Class of 1899-1939
Sub-Series 2: Area Events, Travel, and Educational Programs
5 linear feet : Divided into sections and then organized chronologically
This sub-series contains flyers and schedules from events put on by the alumni office with the purpose of keeping alumni connected and continuing education after graduation. These activities include lectures and presentations, Area Events, Young Alumni events, Whitman College Gay and Lesbian Alumni events, Alumni Colleges, Volunteer Leadership Conferences, Senior Class Events, Career Networking programs, and faculty-led international and domestic trips.
1932-2004 (bulk 1991-1999)
Box
10
Event and Program Flyers and Schedules
1932-2004
10.1
Event and Program Flyers and Schedules
Undated
10.2
Event and Program Flyers and Schedules
Undated
10.3
Event and Program Flyers and Schedules
Undated
10.4
Event and Program Flyers and Schedules
Undated
10.5
Event and Program Flyers and Schedules
Undated
10.6
Event and Program Flyers and Schedules
Undated
10.7
Event and Program Flyers and Schedules
Undated

Series 4:   Alumni Office Staff Retreats and Workshops,  circa 1980-1999Return to Top

1 linear foot

This series contains information on Alumni Office Staff retreats, as well as the two workshops SCAD and CASE

Container(s) Description Dates
Box
11
Event Schedules, Notes, and Correspondence
Undated
11.5
Event Schedules, Notes, and Correspondence
Undated

Series 5:   Deceased Alumni Files,  1900-2008Return to Top

32 linear feet : Organized alphabetically by last name

These files contain records of nearly every deceased Whitman Alumni. Records consist of biographical information and photos collected by the Alumni Office during the alumni’s lifetime.

Container(s) Description Dates
cabinet
26-33
Deceased Alumni Files
1900-2012

Series 6:  PhotographsReturn to Top

Container(s) Description Dates
Box
12-16
Alumni individual photographs, filed alphabetically
17
Alumni group photographs, filed chronologically
17a
Fraternity, sorority, and living group photographs
c. 1970-1990
18
Indexes, lists, and information on notable Alumni
undated

Names and SubjectsReturn to Top

Names and SubjectsReturn to Top

Names and SubjectsReturn to Top