Whitman College Alumni Office records

Collection

Identifier: WCA-025

Staff Only

Scope and Contents

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.

Dates

Creation: 1895-2007

Creator

Whitman College. Alumni Office (Organization)

Conditions Governing Access

Collection is open for research.

Biographical / Historical

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.

Extent

45.5 Linear Feet (49 boxes)

Language of Materials

English

Additional Description

Abstract

Records created by the Whitman College Alumni Office and biographical information on individual Whitman alumni.

Arrangement

By series.

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.