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Whitman College Board of Trustees records, 1907-2019

Overview of the Collection

Title
Whitman College Board of Trustees records
Dates
1907-2019 (inclusive)
Quantity
23.7 linear feet, (2 flat boxes, 4 manuscript boxes, 20 record cartons)
1 cds
11 videoreels (1/2 inch)
Collection Number
WCA.078
Summary
The Board of Trustees are responsible for the overarching policies that guide the trajectory of Whitman College. The Board of Trustees records contain materials describing the function, duties, and organization of the Whitman College Board of Trustees.
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

Records of the Board of Trustees and its committees are closed for 30 years from the date of creation. Access to files spanning multiple years will be opened to researchers based on the date of the most recent materials. Student educational records such as credentials, grade sheets, correspondence, reports, notes, applications, and all other records pertaining to past and present students are governed by the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act of 1974 and are restricted for 75 years from the date of creation. Personnel related files of the college's faculty and staff, including search, review, promotion, reappointment, tenure, and disciplinary/grievance records, are restricted for 75 years from the date of creation. Additional restrictions may apply to other materials in this collection. Restrictions are noted at the file level in the finding aid, and on red flags in the folders.

Languages
English
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Historical Note

Since Whitman College's founding in 1859 as a seminary and its rechartering as a four-year college in 1883, the Board of Trustees has served as the institution's highest governing body. Its role has been to oversee major strategic decisions, including campus development, financial stewardship, academic vision, and leadership appointments. From the earliest years, trustees like Elkanah Walker helped establish the college's foundation, even donating land for Whitman's first building.

The archives house the Board of Trustees records from 1907 to 2012, totaling approximately 23.7 linear feet. The collection includes meeting minutes, committee records, subject files, correspondence, bylaws, and governance documents. These materials reveal how the Board has guided Whitman through significant periods of transformation, including presidential transitions, curriculum reforms, capital campaigns, and endowment management.

While some of the more recent records remain closed due to a 30-year restriction policy, available documents include critical moments such as the Board's discussions on divestment from South Africa in the 1980s, the expansion of campus facilities, and strategic planning during financial challenges. Notably, President Stephen B. L. Penrose, who served from 1894 to 1934, played a dual role as trustee and president, shaping many of the college's formative years alongside the Board.

The Board of Trustees records provide a detailed institutional memory of Whitman College's governance. They highlight how the college's leadership navigated social, political, and financial shifts over more than a century, offering rich insight into the philosophy and structure behind decision-making at one of the Pacific Northwest's oldest liberal arts institutions.

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Content Description

The Board of Trustee records contain materials describing the function, duties, and organization of the Whitman College Board of Trustees, including the by-laws, as well as information on various members throughout college history. The collection contains records of activities such as building construction, college planning, committees, and donor relations. Types of materials include correspondence, memoranda, reports, and meetings minutes.

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Administrative Information

Arrangement

Arranged into five series: 1. Meeting Materials, 2. Committee Records, 3. Subject Files, 4. Ashton O. Donnell Files, and 5. Governing Boards correspondence.

Acquisition Information

Records have been periodically transferred by the Office of the President, the Office of the Chief Financial Officer, and members of the Board of Trustees.

Processing Note

This collection was processed by Dana Bronson, and the following students under her supervision: Kacey Godwin, West Bales, Rayana Weller, Colby Dragon, Zoe Henderson, and Katy Sassara.

The majority of the Trustees Records created prior to 1990 were kept in binders, and organized chronologically into two series: Meeting Materials and Committee Records. This order was maintained, and materials were placed in new acid-free folders and boxes. The collection was arranged into series based on the original order of the records, and original folder titles were maintained when possible. Contents were not always verified against the folder titles for accuracy. While efforts were made to remove duplicate materials, there is likely some duplication across the different series because of the ad hoc manner in which these records were maintained and donated to the Archives. The entire collection was screened for restricted content by Dana Bronson in October 2019, and the appropriate restrictions were applied at the file-level.

Preservation Note

The Whitman College and Northwest Archives cannot provide access to Audiovisual materials due to lack of required hardware. For more information, please contact the Archives.

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Detailed Description of the Collection

Names and SubjectsReturn to Top

Corporate Names

  • Whitman College

Dana Bronson
2019

CC Attribution
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.

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