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Arminda Fix Family Papers

 Collection
Identifier: WCMss-004

Scope and Contents

The richest sources of documentation in the collection are Fix’s early diaries, which describe her life as a resident of Walla Walla and a Whitman College student and staff member from 1889-1893 and 1902-1907. In them, she describes her work, social activities and relationships with family, friends, and coworkers. Transcriptions of most of the diaries from this period are available for use.

The collection also contains a small correspondence series; of particular interest are Fix’s letters to her sister. Other items include handwritten poems and poem fragments, papers from her student years at Whitman College, nearly 70 photographs, postcard collection primarily featuring images of Walla Walla, the American West and Canada, and Whitman College and Walla Walla ephemera.

Fix , Sanders, and Goodwin family papers round out the collection.

Dates

  • 1871-1980
  • Majority of material found within 1889-1957

Creator

Conditions Governing Access

Collection is open for research.

Biographical Note

Arminda Fix was born October 1, 1872 in Walla Walla, Washington, the third of eight children born to early Walla Walla pioneers Andrew J. Fix and Nancy Sanders Fix. She entered Whitman Academy in 1891 and attended Whitman College from 1894-1899, receiving a B.S. in 1899. She subsequently attended library school in New York and studied at Columbia University and the University of Washington.

Fix became the first librarian of Whitman College in 1899, a post she held until 1916. Her duties included supervising academy students during study hours, running the bookstore, and day to day library operations. She later worked at the Walla Walla Public Library.

Fix had a passion for writing and oration. Her poetry was often published in programs for local events. She was renowned for her speeches given regularly at local club meetings and gatherings, and she kept a diary regularly from 1889 to 1907 and sporadically from 1933 to 1957.

Fix was active in several local organizations, including the Daughters of the Pioneers of Washington, the Narcissa Prentiss Chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution, the Walla Walla and Washington State Historical Societies, the YWCA, the Delta Gamma Sorority, the Delphian Cultural Club, and the Walla Walla Garden Club. She served as an officer in several of these organizations, and was recognized locally for her service.

Fix died March 22, 1965 in Walla Walla.

Extent

5.35 Linear Feet (7 manuscript boxes, 1 flat box, 1 small flat box, 1 tube)

Language of Materials

English

Abstract

The collection consists of personal and family papers of Arminda Fix, the first librarian of Whitman College.

Arrangement

Arranged by series; diaries are organized chronologically; most other series are organized alphabetically.

Immediate Source of Acquisition

Donated to the Whitman College and Northwest Archives by Mrs. Dorothy Cassen in 1980 and added additional materials in 1988. The accession number is retro-0002.

Creator

Title
Guide to the Arminda Fix Family Papers
Author
Colleen McFarland and Lucy Palmersheim
Date
2006
Description rules
Describing Archives: A Content Standard
Language of description
English
Script of description
Latin
Language of description note
Finding aid written in English.
Sponsor
Funding for preparing this finding aid was provided through a grant awarded by the National Historical Publications and Records Commission. Funding for encoding the finding aid was awarded by the National Endowment for the Humanities.

Repository Details

Part of the Whitman College and Northwest Archives Repository

Contact:
345 Boyer Avenue
Walla Walla WA 99362 United States
509-527-5922