Thomas E. Cronin Papers, 1999-2005

Overview of the Collection

Creator
Cronin, Thomas E.
Title
Thomas E. Cronin Papers
Dates
1999-2005 (inclusive)
Quantity
0.8 linear feet, (2 boxes)
Collection Number
HTM_WCMss17
Summary
Personal correspondence and photographs of the twelfth president of Whitman College
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

Collection is restricted until 2015. Researchers may contact Tom or Tania Cronin for written permission to view the collection before 2015.

Languages
English
Sponsor
Funding for encoding this finding aid was provided through a grant awarded by the National Endowment for the Humanities.

Biographical NoteReturn to Top

Thomas E. Cronin, originally from Milton, Massachusetts, earned a B.A. in history from Holy Cross College (Worcester, Massachusetts) and a Ph.D. in Political Science from Stanford University. Before entering academe, he served as a White House Fellow and staff member in 1966-67. Cronin was on the faculty of several colleges and universities, including the University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill (1967-1970), Brandeis University (1975-1977), University of Delaware, Newark (1977-1979), and Colorado College (1979-1992). He was also a visiting professor at the University of California (1973-1974) and Princeton University (1985-1986). His research focuses on the American presidency, and he is the author of many scholarly publications on the presidency and American politics. Cronin was selected as Whitman College’s 12th president in the spring of 1993, and he and his wife, Tania Z. Cronin, arrived at Whitman the following August. During his tenure as president, several building renovations and additions were completed, a new campus center was built, construction on a new fitness center began, more than 20 sculptures and 1000 trees were added to the campus grounds, the college’s endowment tripled, and student applications for admission increased over 100%.

Cronin announced his retirement in January 2004 and stepped down from the Whitman College presidency on May 31, 2005.

Content DescriptionReturn to Top

This collection consists primarily of personal correspondence received by Tom Cronin during the last 18 months of his presidency. The correspondence includes letters, cards, and printed emails of thanks, appreciation, and congratulations on his professional successes sent by students and their parents, faculty, staff, alumni, and friends of the college. Some official incoming and outgoing correspondence may be found in the various correspondence files. Also in the collection are photographs of Cronin with student groups, newspaper clippings about his career, and a photocopy of a book of letters presented to Cronin on the occasion of his retirement.

Use of the CollectionReturn to Top

Restrictions on Use

Researchers are responsible for using in accordance with 17 U.S.C. Copyright not transferred to Whitman College.

Preferred Citation

Thomas E. Cronin Papers, Whitman College and Northwest Archives.

Administrative InformationReturn to Top

Arrangement

Flat arrangement; organized alphabetically by file.

Acquisition Information

Donated to the Whitman College and Northwest Archives by Tom Cronin in June 2005.

Detailed Description of the CollectionReturn to Top

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

Container(s) Description Dates
Box/Folder
1/1 Book of Letters Presented Upon Retirement 2005
1/2-3 Correspondence, Incoming 1999-2005
1/4 Correspondence, Outgoing 2004
2/1 Fan Mail 2002-2005
2/2 Letters from Parents 2002-2005
2/3 Miscellaneous 2005
2/4 Photographs Undated
2/5 Re: 1/04 Announcement (Retirement) 2004-2005

Names and SubjectsReturn to Top

Subject Terms

  • College Presidents--Washington (state)--Walla Walla

Personal Names

  • Cronin, Thomas E.--Correspondence

Corporate Names

  • Whitman College