John Prentice Allen Papers

John Prentice Allen Papers, 1918-1992

Overview of the Collection

Creator: Allen, John Prentice
Title: John Prentice Allen Papers
Dates: 1918-1992 (inclusive)
19181992

1930s-1970s (bulk)
19301979
Quantity: 10 linear feet, (9 record cartons, 3 manuscript boxes)
Collection Number: WCMss.351
Summary: The John Prentice Allen Paper, which date from 1930 to 1979, contains correspondence, travel brochures and concert programs, work-related records, and documents relating to military service.
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 open for research.
Languages: English

Biographical NoteReturn to Top

John Prentice Allen was born November 26, 1918, in Seattle, Washington to Rudolph and Anna Farrar Allen. He attended schools in Seattle and Aberdeen, Washington and graduated from Roosevelt High School in Seattle in 1936. He attended Whitman College, the University of Hawaii at Honolulu, the University of Colorado at Boulder, and the University of Kentucky at Lexington. He was a clerical worker at Whitman College from 1946 to 1950. He received a bachelor's degree from the University of Washington, and in 1952 received a master's degree in librarianship from the University of Washington. John also served during World War II in the U.S. Navy as a Japanese language officer. He was a librarian at Central Washington University in Ellensburg between 1952 and 1965, when he moved to Washington State University. He retired in 1981. He was a co-owner of the Hilltop Restaurant and Motel at Pullman. He died June 25, 1991.

Content DescriptionReturn to Top

The John Prentice Allen Papers includes correspondence between John and his parents and friends, and material describing travel and entertainment experiences. This collection, which dates from 1930 through 1979, also holds records of his career in library administration, genealogical materials relating to his family, and Japanese language materials relating to his service in the U.S. Navy during World War II.

Administrative InformationReturn to Top

Acquisition Information

Donated to the Whitman College and Northwest Archives between 1985 and 1992 by John P. Allen. The accession number associated with this donation is Retro-0759.

Detailed Description of the CollectionReturn to Top

Series 1: Correspondence, 1932-1989Return to Top

The majority of this series is correspondence between Allen and his parents, Rudolph and Anna.

Container(s)		Description	Dates
Box	Folder
1	10	Letters from Allen's mother Anna "Muddie" Farrar Allen	1945
1	11	Letters from Allen's mother Anna "Muddie" Farrar Allen Includes two letters Allen wrote to his parents in 1934	1945
1	12	Letters from Allen's mother Anna "Muddie" Farrar Allen	1944
1	13	Letters from Allen's mother Anna "Muddie" Farrar Allen	1944
1	14	Letters from Allen's father Rudolph Allen	1942-1949
1	15	Letters from Allen's friend "Fritz" from Germany	1934-1938
1	16	Correspondence from relatives	circa 1932-1946
1	17	Correspondence from family and friends	circa 1940-1945
1	18	Correspondence with mother, Anna Allen	1941-1947
1	19	Letters from mother, Anna Allen	1947
1	20	Letters from mother, Anna Allen	1948
1	21	Letters from mother, Anna Allen	1950
1	22	Family correspondence	1952-1955
2	1	Correspondence, family and friends	circa 1945-1955
2	8	Correspondence: Family and friends	1947-1948
3	8	Family correspondence	1942
3	9	Family correspondence	1943
4	4	Correspondence between Allen and Whitman College and some academic documents	circa 1941-1951
5	1	Family correspondence	1952-1959
4	2	Correspondence relating to employment	1947-1950
4	3	Correspondence with friends and associates	1949-1950
7	24	Rudolph Allen correspondence	1959-1969
7	1-3	Family correspondence and postcards (3 folders)	circa 1960s-1980s
7	8	Correspondence re: Allen bequest to Whitman College	1989
7	9	ACLU correspondence	1976
10	1-2	Get well cards for Rudolph Allen following an accident (2 folders)	1969
10	7	Correspondence with parents and friends	circa 1960s
10	12	Family correspondence	1969-1970
10	13	Correspondence between Allen and friends	Various
10	14	Correspondence received by Allen during illness	1932
10	19	Miscellaneous correspondence	circa 1945-1949
1	4	Holiday greeting cards	Undated
3	1	Scrapbook of post cards	Undated
10	29	Correspondence between John Allen and parents	1939
10	30	Correspondence between John Allen and parents	1940
10	31	Correspondence between John Allen and parents	1941
10	32	Correspondence between John Allen and parents	1942
10	33	Correspondence between John Allen and parents	1943
10	34	Correspondence between John Allen and parents	1944
10	35	Correspondence between John Allen and parents	1944
10	36	Correspondence between John Allen and parents	1945-1949

Series 2: Educational and employment materials, 1919-1965Return to Top

Materials relating to John Allen's educational career, including high school and college yearbooks and a draft of his master thesis from the University of Washington. Records from his library career at Central Washington State and Washington State Universities are included.

Container(s)		Description	Dates
Box	Folder
1	2	Seattle Public Schools Special Certificate in Music	1928-1930
1	3	Seattle Public Library Vacation Reading Club	1931
1	6	Certificates of Advancement in schools and report cards	circa 1928
1	8	Cradle roll certificates Seattle First Baptist Sunday School	1919
3	5	Roosevelt High School graduation announcement	1936
5		Roosevelt High School yearbooks	1933-1936
5		The Hyakem, Central Washington College of Education yearbooks	1956-1958
7		The Hyakem, Central Washington University yearbooks	1958, 1965
	Folder
11	3	Draft of Allen's Master of Librarianship thesis	1952
7	6	Bibliography of Lectures delivered at Oxford University	1952
7	7	"The Introduction and Development of Writing in Japan", a paper by John P. Allen	1950
6	4-6	University of Washington Library School materials (3 folders)	circa 1952
10	7	Diplomas from University of Washington	1952
10	13	Colorado University Sigma Chi information	1948-1949
10	20	Seattle public school records	1932-1936
10	13	U. of Washington library program documents and employment letters	1952
10	16	Application for Rhodes Scholarship	1947

Series 3: Travel and entertainment materials, 1906-1982Return to Top

Travel brochures, concert programs, events, scrapbooks of travel

Container(s)		Description	Dates
Box	Folder
1	5	Concert program Central Washington College of Education	January 29, 1958
2	4	Central Washington College Commencement programs	1953-1959
2	7	Travel brochures and receipts	Various
2	9	Ellensburg sports car rally	1957-1958
2	10	Map of Alaska (Alaska Steamship Company)	Undated
3	4	Musical and theatre programs	Undated
4	2	Concert and theatre programs	circa 1930s-1940sUndated
1	1	Church service programs	circa 1930s-1940s
4	3	Travel tickets and receipts	Undated
6	14	Ship passenger rate sheets	1906
6	11	Lions Club Quartet scrapbook of Rudolph Allen	circa 1926
6	15	Enchanters Quartet photographs and publicity (Rudolph Allen)	1929
6	17	Chinese restaurant menu	Undated
7	27	John Allen passport and travel information	circa 1980
9	8	Travel itinerary and brochures	1982
7	10	Travel log	1969
10	11	Travel itinerary and brochures	1982

Series 4: Personal items, family memorabilia, and genealogical materials, 1857-1990Return to Top

Container(s)		Description	Dates
Box	Folder
1	1	Ancestors and descendants of Benjamin Gregory and Abigail Starr Sanford	1951
1	7	Service award American Red Cross (Mrs. Rudolph Gregory Allen)	Undated
1	9	Pencil drawing of nude	Undated
2	2	Bill receipts	Various
2	3	Musical score books	Undated
2	5	Simplified Swedish Grammar by Edwin Vickner	Undated
1		Genealogical chart showing ancestry of Anna Clough Farrar	Undated
	Folder
2	11	Financial records, bank, investments	Undated
3		Expense ledger	1937-1938
	Folder
3	2	Newspaper clippings, random	circa 1940s
3	6	Two photographs of Allen; Librarians of CES	1936, 1954
4	9	Certificate of membership Longfellow Society	Undated
4	10	Diary	1934-1935
4	6	University of Washington academic papers	1948-1952
4	7	Income and tax information	1940-1942
4	8	Music manuscripts	circa 1932
4	4	Here and There in United States History, by John Dukes McKee United States map.	1956
4	5	Ellensburg Telephone Co. receipts	1956-1957
4	6	Postcards	Undated
4	7	National Bank of Washington statements	1958
1	8	Stenotype instruction materials	Undated
5		Boy Scout First Aid Kit	Undated
5		Two boxes matchbook collection and miscellaneous collectibles	Undated
	Folder
5	1	Copy of New York Herald (Lincoln assassination)	April 15, 1865
5	2	Copy of New York Chronicle	October 17, 1857
5	3	Milwaukee Monthly Magazine	July 1874 and November 1874
5	4	Little Corporal, vol. XX, no.2	February 1875
5	5	Rudolph Allen obituary, memorial book and other memorabilia of Hawaii trip	1969
5	6	Letter to Pullman mayor re property dispute	March 15, 1977
10	7-9	Central Washington State College library correspondence (3 files)	circa 1950-1960s
5	10	American Civil Liberties Union celebration program	December 12, 1981
6	12	Hugh Johnson's Pocket Encyclopedia of Wine	1977
6		The Oxford Self-Pronouncing Bible (gift to John Allen in 1935)	1897
6		Holy Bible (S.S. Teacher's edition) - Inscribed to Mary J. Clough	1891
6		Manuscript - "The Destiny of Personality" by Allan Alden McRea	1921
6		Since Spindletop: A Human story of Gulf's first half-century by Craig Thompson	1952
	Folder
6	18	Graduation and wedding announcements	Various
6	1	Papers relating to the estate of Anna Allen	1978
6	2	Memorial service for Anna Allen	1977
7	19	Roosevelt High School 50th reunion files	1986
7	22	John P. Allen retirement documents	1981
7	23	S.W. Willard & Co. re: postage stamp collection	1990
7	25	Rudolph Allen certificate for service	May 17, 1968
1	26	Genealogical chart - Clough and Farrar families, Society of Colonial Dames	Undated
8		Anna Farrar Allen diaries, journals, correspondence, and travel brochures	Various
9		Rotary Club Pictorial History, University District, Seattle	1939-1968
9		Daily Reminder	1943
	Folder
9	8	Correspondence re: Allen's bequest to Whitman College	February 15-17, 1989
7	11	Baby book of John Allen including photo with mother	1919
7	12	Documents pertaining to sale of property in Kittitas County, Washington	1965
7	13	Marriage certificate, invitation to wedding of Anna Farrar and Rudolph Allen	1917
7	14	Marriage certificate of John P. Farrar and Florence B. Clough	1890
7	15	World War I medallion and other keepsakes of Anna Farrar "Muddie" Allen	Undated
9		Small box with announcements of John Allen's birth and congratulatory cards	1918
10		Miscellaneous diaries of Allen and Farrar families	Various
10		J.P. Farrar passport (in small box)	Undated
10		Ledger book of investment transactions	Undated
10		Two framed photographs of John P. Allen in military dress	circa 1940s
	Folder
9	12	Inventory of Rudolph Allen's art work	Undated
10	14	"Highlights of European Beer Industry" by Quentin J. Talbot (manuscript)	May 12, 1958
10		Slide rule	Undated
	Folder
10	3	Post Cards and envelopes (empty) probably saved for Allen's stamp hobby	Various
10	4	"A Tribute to Mother" pamphlet by F.D. van Amburgh (contains photos of John Allen's mother "Muddie"	1923
11	5	Holiday greeting cards	Various
10	6	Boy Scout and Cub Scout badges	circa 1930s
10	8	Map and addresses of movie star homes	Undated
10	9	Birthday and other greeting cards	Various
10	11	Sympathy notes and cards upon the death of Rudolph Allen	1969
10	16	Banking records	circa 1960s
10	17	Honda 450 motorcycle owners manual	Undated
12		Anna Farrar "My Commencement" memorabilia from school in Colorado	circa 1900
12		Pocket-size books: Book of Common Prayer, Japanese-English dictionaries, New Testament, "The Fairy Album",	Undated
	Folder
11	1-2	Biographical sketch of Bradley Tillinghast and other family genealogical materials of Anna Farrar Allen. (2 folders)	Undated
10	8	"Stuff and Junk" collected by J.P.A., humorous limericks and poems	Undated
10	9	Calling cards and various forms of identification	Undated
10	11	Certified copies of birth certificate John P. Allen	November 26, 1918
10	12	Telegrams	circa 1950
10	15	Mutual Life Insurance Co. correspondence	1939
10	17	Papers regarding purchase of 1940 Chevrolet	1941
10	18	Musical programs and newspaper clippings	1947
10	21	University National Bank records	circa 1950
10	22	Snapshots of John Allen	circa 1940s
10	23	University of Washington Daily newspaper	May 2, 1950
10	24	Social Security receipts	1937-1940
10	25	Insurance documents	1952
10	26	Photographs of construction project at University of Washington	1961
10	27	Jokes and humorous stories	Undated
10	28	Descriptive depictions of sexual intercourse	Undated

Series 5: Materials related to employment, business, and military service, 1940-1980 Return to Top

Some material included in this series is foreign language material relating to Allen's work in the military translating Japanese.

Container(s)		Description	Dates
Box	Folder
2	6	Naval communication bulletin	January 1951
2		Kaigun Tokuhon (The Navy Reader)	circa 1940
2		Japanese Military and Technical Terms pamphlets	circa 1940
	Folder
3	1	Gleanings from the Book of Books, by Alfred Irving Ludlow, translated into Korean	Undated
3	3	Lessons in Shoso (Japanese language text)	1943
3	7	Three spiral notebooks (appear to be shorthand)	Undated
4	4	Navy materials (maps, language studies)	circa 1940
5		Three Japanese vocabulary books	circa 1940
	Folder
6	3	Humorous work-related materials	circa 1960s
7	4-5	Hilltop Development Corporation Documents (2 folders)	circa 1980s
6	1-8	Internal memos and personnel correspondence, WSU library (multiple folders)	circa 1970s
9	9	Newspaper article from Pullman, WA on WSU faculty collective bargaining plan	Undated
9	10	John P. Allen employment documents	Various
11	14	John Allen military papers (Navy)	circa 1940s
10	10	Employment memos and correspondence at Whitman College	1946-1950

Names and SubjectsReturn to Top

Subject Terms

Librarians
World War, 1939-1945

Personal Names

Allen, Anna Farrar
Allen, Rudolph Gregory

Corporate Names

Whitman College

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