Archives West Finding Aid
Table of Contents
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
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