John Prentice Allen Papers, 1918-1992
Table of Contents
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
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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
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Collection is open for research.
- Languages
- Collection is in English and Japanese.
Biographical Note
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 Description
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 Information
Return to TopDetailed Description of the Collection
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1: Correspondence, 1932-1989
The majority of this series is correspondence between Allen and his parents, Rudolph and Anna.
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Description: Letters from Allen's mother Anna "Muddie" Farrar AllenDates: 1945Container: Box 1, Folder 10
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Description: Letters from Allen's mother Anna "Muddie" Farrar Allen
Includes two letters Allen wrote to his parents in 1934
Dates: 1945Container: Box 1, Folder 11 -
Description: Letters from Allen's mother Anna "Muddie" Farrar AllenDates: 1944Container: Box 1, Folder 12
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Description: Letters from Allen's mother Anna "Muddie" Farrar AllenDates: 1944Container: Box 1, Folder 13
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Description: Letters from Allen's father Rudolph AllenDates: 1942-1949Container: Box 1, Folder 14
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Description: Letters from Allen's friend "Fritz" from GermanyDates: 1934-1938Container: Box 1, Folder 15
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Description: Correspondence from relativesDates: circa 1932-1946Container: Box 1, Folder 16
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Description: Correspondence from family and friendsDates: circa 1940-1945Container: Box 1, Folder 17
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Description: Correspondence with mother, Anna AllenDates: 1941-1947Container: Box 1, Folder 18
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Description: Letters from mother, Anna AllenDates: 1947Container: Box 1, Folder 19
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Description: Letters from mother, Anna AllenDates: 1948Container: Box 1, Folder 20
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Description: Letters from mother, Anna AllenDates: 1950Container: Box 1, Folder 21
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Description: Family correspondenceDates: 1952-1955Container: Box 1, Folder 22
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Description: Correspondence, family and friendsDates: circa 1945-1955Container: Box 2, Folder 1
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Description: Correspondence: Family and friendsDates: 1947-1948Container: Box 2, Folder 8
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Description: Family correspondenceDates: 1942Container: Box 3, Folder 8
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Description: Family correspondenceDates: 1943Container: Box 3, Folder 9
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Description: Correspondence between Allen and Whitman College and some academic documentsDates: circa 1941-1951Container: Box 4, Folder 4
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Description: Family correspondenceDates: 1952-1959Container: Box 5, Folder 1
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Description: Correspondence relating to employmentDates: 1947-1950Container: Box 4, Folder 2
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Description: Correspondence with friends and associatesDates: 1949-1950Container: Box 4, Folder 3
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Description: Rudolph Allen correspondenceDates: 1959-1969Container: Box 7, Folder 24
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Description: Family correspondence and postcards (3 folders)Dates: circa 1960s-1980sContainer: Box 7, Folder 1-3
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Description: Correspondence re: Allen bequest to Whitman CollegeDates: 1989Container: Box 7, Folder 8
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Description: ACLU correspondenceDates: 1976Container: Box 7, Folder 9
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Description: Get well cards for Rudolph Allen following an accident (2 folders)Dates: 1969Container: Box 10, Folder 1-2
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Description: Correspondence with parents and friendsDates: circa 1960sContainer: Box 10, Folder 7
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Description: Family correspondenceDates: 1969-1970Container: Box 10, Folder 12
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Description: Correspondence between Allen and friendsDates: VariousContainer: Box 10, Folder 13
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Description: Correspondence received by Allen during illnessDates: 1932Container: Box 10, Folder 14
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Description: Miscellaneous correspondenceDates: circa 1945-1949Container: Box 10, Folder 19
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Description: Holiday greeting cardsDates: UndatedContainer: Box 1, Folder 4
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Description: Scrapbook of post cardsDates: UndatedContainer: Box 3, Folder 1
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Description: Correspondence between John Allen and parentsDates: 1939Container: Box 10, Folder 29
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Description: Correspondence between John Allen and parentsDates: 1940Container: Box 10, Folder 30
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Description: Correspondence between John Allen and parentsDates: 1941Container: Box 10, Folder 31
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Description: Correspondence between John Allen and parentsDates: 1942Container: Box 10, Folder 32
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Description: Correspondence between John Allen and parentsDates: 1943Container: Box 10, Folder 33
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Description: Correspondence between John Allen and parentsDates: 1944Container: Box 10, Folder 34
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Description: Correspondence between John Allen and parentsDates: 1944Container: Box 10, Folder 35
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Description: Correspondence between John Allen and parentsDates: 1945-1949Container: Box 10, Folder 36
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Description: CorrespondenceDates: 1938-1947Container: Box 14, Folder 2
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2: Educational and employment materials, 1919-1965
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.
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Description: Seattle Public Schools Special Certificate in MusicDates: 1928-1930Container: Box 1, Folder 2
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Description: Seattle Public Library Vacation Reading ClubDates: 1931Container: Box 1, Folder 3
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Description: Certificates of Advancement in schools and report cardsDates: circa 1928Container: Box 1, Folder 6
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Description: Cradle roll certificates Seattle First Baptist Sunday SchoolDates: 1919Container: Box 1, Folder 8
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Description: Roosevelt High School graduation announcementDates: 1936Container: Box 3, Folder 5
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Description: Roosevelt High School yearbooksDates: 1933-1936Container: Box 5
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Description: The Hyakem, Central Washington College of Education yearbooksDates: 1956-1958Container: Box 5
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Description: The Hyakem, Central Washington University yearbooksDates: 1958, 1965Container: Box 7
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Description: Draft of Allen's Master of Librarianship thesisDates: 1952Container: Box 11, Folder 3
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Description: Bibliography of Lectures delivered at Oxford UniversityDates: 1952Container: Box 7, Folder 6
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Description: "The Introduction and Development of Writing in Japan", a paper by John P. AllenDates: 1950Container: Box 7, Folder 7
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Description: University of Washington Library School materials (3 folders)Dates: circa 1952Container: Box 6, Folder 4-6
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Description: Diplomas from University of WashingtonDates: 1952Container: Box 10, Folder 7
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Description: Colorado University Sigma Chi informationDates: 1948-1949Container: Box 10, Folder 13
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Description: Seattle public school recordsDates: 1932-1936Container: Box 10, Folder 20
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Description: U. of Washington library program documents and employment lettersDates: 1952Container: Box 10, Folder 13
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Description: Application for Rhodes ScholarshipDates: 1947Container: Box 10, Folder 16
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Description: Japanese learning materials, Naval certificate in JapaneseDates: 1944Container: Box 14, Folder 1
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3: Travel and entertainment materials, 1906-1982
Travel brochures, concert programs, events, scrapbooks of travel
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Description: Concert program Central Washington College of EducationDates: January 29, 1958Container: Box 1, Folder 5
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Description: Central Washington College Commencement programsDates: 1953-1959Container: Box 2, Folder 4
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Description: Travel brochures and receiptsDates: VariousContainer: Box 2, Folder 7
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Description: Ellensburg sports car rallyDates: 1957-1958Container: Box 2, Folder 9
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Description: Map of Alaska (Alaska Steamship Company)Dates: UndatedContainer: Box 2, Folder 10
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Description: Musical and theatre programsDates: UndatedContainer: Box 3, Folder 4
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Description: Concert and theatre programsDates: circa 1930s-1940sUndatedContainer: Box 4, Folder 2
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Description: Church service programsDates: circa 1930s-1940sContainer: Box 1, Folder 1
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Description: Travel tickets and receiptsDates: UndatedContainer: Box 4, Folder 3
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Description: Ship passenger rate sheetsDates: 1906Container: Box 6, Folder 14
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Description: Lions Club Quartet scrapbook of Rudolph AllenDates: circa 1926Container: Box 6, Folder 11
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Description: Enchanters Quartet photographs and publicity (Rudolph Allen)Dates: 1929Container: Box 6, Folder 15
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Description: Chinese restaurant menuDates: UndatedContainer: Box 6, Folder 17
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Description: John Allen passport and travel informationDates: circa 1980Container: Box 7, Folder 27
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Description: Travel itinerary and brochuresDates: 1982Container: Box 9, Folder 8
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Description: Travel logDates: 1969Container: Box 7, Folder 10
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Description: Travel itinerary and brochuresDates: 1982Container: Box 10, Folder 11
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4: Personal items, family memorabilia, and genealogical materials, 1857-1990
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Description: Ancestors and descendants of Benjamin Gregory and Abigail Starr SanfordDates: 1951Container: Case 1, Drawer 4, Folder 1
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Description: Service award American Red Cross (Mrs. Rudolph Gregory Allen)Dates: UndatedContainer: Box 1, Folder 7
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Description: Pencil drawing of nudeDates: UndatedContainer: Box 1, Folder 9
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Description: Bill receiptsDates: VariousContainer: Box 2, Folder 2
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Description: Musical score booksDates: UndatedContainer: Box 2, Folder 3
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Description: Simplified Swedish Grammar by Edwin VicknerDates: UndatedContainer: Box 2, Folder 5
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Description: Genealogical chart showing ancestry of Anna Clough FarrarDates: UndatedContainer: Box 1
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Description: Financial records, bank, investmentsDates: UndatedContainer: Box 2, Folder 11
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Description: Expense ledgerDates: 1937-1938Container: Box 3
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Description: Newspaper clippings, randomDates: circa 1940sContainer: Box 3, Folder 2
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Description: Two photographs of Allen; Librarians of CESDates: 1936, 1954Container: Box 3, Folder 6
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Description: Certificate of membership Longfellow SocietyDates: UndatedContainer: Box 4, Folder 9
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Description: DiaryDates: 1934-1935Container: Box 4, Folder 10
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Description: University of Washington academic papersDates: 1948-1952Container: Box 4, Folder 6
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Description: Income and tax informationDates: 1940-1942Container: Box 4, Folder 7
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Description: Music manuscriptsDates: circa 1932Container: Box 4, Folder 8
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Description: Here and There in United States History, by John Dukes McKee
United States map.
Dates: 1956Container: Box 4, Folder 4 -
Description: Ellensburg Telephone Co. receiptsDates: 1956-1957Container: Box 4, Folder 5
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Description: PostcardsDates: UndatedContainer: Box 4, Folder 6
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Description: National Bank of Washington statementsDates: 1958Container: Box 4, Folder 7
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Description: Stenotype instruction materialsDates: UndatedContainer: Box 1, Folder 8
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Description: Boy Scout First Aid KitDates: UndatedContainer: Box 5
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Description: Two boxes matchbook collection and miscellaneous collectiblesDates: UndatedContainer: Box 5
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Description: Copy of New York Herald (Lincoln assassination)Dates: April 15, 1865Container: Box 5, Folder 1
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Description: Copy of New York ChronicleDates: October 17, 1857Container: Box 5, Folder 2
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Description: Milwaukee Monthly MagazineDates: July 1874 and November 1874Container: Box 5, Folder 3
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Description: Little Corporal, vol. XX, no.2Dates: February 1875Container: Box 5, Folder 4
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Description: Rudolph Allen obituary, memorial book and other memorabilia of Hawaii tripDates: 1969Container: Box 5, Folder 5
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Description: Letter to Pullman mayor re property disputeDates: March 15, 1977Container: Box 5, Folder 6
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Description: Central Washington State College library correspondence (3 files)Dates: circa 1950-1960sContainer: Box 10, Folder 7-9
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Description: American Civil Liberties Union celebration programDates: December 12, 1981Container: Box 5, Folder 10
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Description: Hugh Johnson's Pocket Encyclopedia of WineDates: 1977Container: Box 6, Folder 12
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Description: The Oxford Self-Pronouncing Bible (gift to John Allen in 1935)Dates: 1897Container: Box 6
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Description: Holy Bible (S.S. Teacher's edition) - Inscribed to Mary J. CloughDates: 1891Container: Box 6
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Description: Manuscript - "The Destiny of Personality" by Allan Alden McReaDates: 1921Container: Box 6
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Description: Since Spindletop: A Human story of Gulf's first half-century by Craig ThompsonDates: 1952Container: Box 6
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Description: Graduation and wedding announcementsDates: VariousContainer: Box 6, Folder 18
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Description: Papers relating to the estate of Anna AllenDates: 1978Container: Box 6, Folder 1
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Description: Memorial service for Anna AllenDates: 1977Container: Box 6, Folder 2
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Description: Roosevelt High School 50th reunion filesDates: 1986Container: Box 7, Folder 19
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Description: John P. Allen retirement documentsDates: 1981Container: Box 7, Folder 22
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Description: S.W. Willard & Co. re: postage stamp collectionDates: 1990Container: Box 7, Folder 23
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Description: Rudolph Allen certificate for serviceDates: May 17, 1968Container: Box 7, Folder 25
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Description: Genealogical chart - Clough and Farrar families, Society of Colonial DamesDates: UndatedContainer: Box 1, Folder 26
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Description: Anna Farrar Allen diaries, journals, correspondence, and travel brochuresDates: VariousContainer: Box 8
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Description: Rotary Club Pictorial History, University District, SeattleDates: 1939-1968Container: Box 9
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Description: Daily ReminderDates: 1943Container: Box 9
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Description: Correspondence re: Allen's bequest to Whitman CollegeDates: February 15-17, 1989Container: Box 9, Folder 8
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Description: Baby book of John Allen including photo with motherDates: 1919Container: Box 7, Folder 11
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Description: Documents pertaining to sale of property in Kittitas County, WashingtonDates: 1965Container: Box 7, Folder 12
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Description: Marriage certificate, invitation to wedding of Anna Farrar and Rudolph AllenDates: 1917Container: Box 7, Folder 13
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Description: Marriage certificate of John P. Farrar and Florence B. CloughDates: 1890Container: Box 7, Folder 14
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Description: World War I medallion and other keepsakes of Anna Farrar "Muddie" AllenDates: UndatedContainer: Box 7, Folder 15
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Description: Small box with announcements of John Allen's birth and congratulatory cardsDates: 1918Container: Box 9
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Description: Miscellaneous diaries of Allen and Farrar familiesDates: VariousContainer: Box 10
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Description: J.P. Farrar passport (in small box)Dates: UndatedContainer: Box 10
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Description: Ledger book of investment transactionsDates: UndatedContainer: Box 10
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Description: Two framed photographs of John P. Allen in military dressDates: circa 1940sContainer: Box 10
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Description: Inventory of Rudolph Allen's art workDates: UndatedContainer: Box 9, Folder 12
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Description: "Highlights of European Beer Industry" by Quentin J. Talbot (manuscript)Dates: May 12, 1958Container: Box 10, Folder 14
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Description: Slide ruleDates: UndatedContainer: Box 10
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Description: Post Cards and envelopes (empty) probably saved for Allen's stamp hobbyDates: VariousContainer: Box 10, Folder 3
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Description: "A Tribute to Mother" pamphlet by F.D. van Amburgh (contains photos of John Allen's mother "Muddie"Dates: 1923Container: Box 10, Folder 4
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Description: Holiday greeting cardsDates: VariousContainer: Box 11, Folder 5
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Description: Boy Scout and Cub Scout badgesDates: circa 1930sContainer: Box 10, Folder 6
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Description: Map and addresses of movie star homesDates: UndatedContainer: Box 10, Folder 8
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Description: Birthday and other greeting cardsDates: VariousContainer: Box 10, Folder 9
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Description: Sympathy notes and cards upon the death of Rudolph AllenDates: 1969Container: Box 10, Folder 11
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Description: Banking recordsDates: circa 1960sContainer: Box 10, Folder 16
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Description: Honda 450 motorcycle owners manualDates: UndatedContainer: Box 10, Folder 17
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Description: Anna Farrar "My Commencement" memorabilia from school in ColoradoDates: circa 1900Container: Box 12
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Description: Pocket-size books: Book of Common Prayer, Japanese-English dictionaries, New Testament, "The Fairy Album",Dates: UndatedContainer: Box 12
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Description: Biographical sketch of Bradley Tillinghast and other family genealogical materials of Anna Farrar Allen. (2 folders)Dates: UndatedContainer: Box 11, Folder 1-2
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Description: "Stuff and Junk" collected by J.P.A., humorous limericks and poemsDates: UndatedContainer: Box 10, Folder 8
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Description: Calling cards and various forms of identificationDates: UndatedContainer: Box 10, Folder 9
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Description: Certified copies of birth certificate John P. AllenDates: November 26, 1918Container: Box 10, Folder 11
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Description: TelegramsDates: circa 1950Container: Box 10, Folder 12
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Description: Mutual Life Insurance Co. correspondenceDates: 1939Container: Box 10, Folder 15
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Description: Papers regarding purchase of 1940 ChevroletDates: 1941Container: Box 10, Folder 17
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Description: Musical programs and newspaper clippingsDates: 1947Container: Box 10, Folder 18
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Description: University National Bank recordsDates: circa 1950Container: Box 10, Folder 21
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Description: Snapshots of John AllenDates: circa 1940sContainer: Box 10, Folder 22
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Description: University of Washington Daily newspaperDates: May 2, 1950Container: Box 10, Folder 23
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Description: Social Security receiptsDates: 1937-1940Container: Box 10, Folder 24
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Description: Insurance documentsDates: 1952Container: Box 10, Folder 25
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Description: Photographs of construction project at University of WashingtonDates: 1961Container: Box 10, Folder 26
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Description: Jokes and humorous storiesDates: UndatedContainer: Box 10, Folder 27
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Description: Descriptive depictions of sexual intercourseDates: UndatedContainer: Box 10, Folder 28
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Description: Poetry and erotica found in a box with John Prentice Allen papers (authorship unconfirmed)Dates: undatedContainer: Box 14, Folder 3
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5: Materials related to employment, business, and military service, 1940-1980
Some material included in this series is foreign language material relating to Allen's work in the military translating Japanese.
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Description: Naval communication bulletinDates: January 1951Container: Box 2, Folder 6
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Description: Kaigun Tokuhon (The Navy Reader)Dates: circa 1940Container: Box 2
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Description: Japanese Military and Technical Terms pamphletsDates: circa 1940Container: Box 2
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Description: Gleanings from the Book of Books, by Alfred Irving Ludlow, translated into KoreanDates: UndatedContainer: Box 3, Folder 1
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Description: Lessons in Shoso (Japanese language text)Dates: 1943Container: Box 3, Folder 3
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Description: Three spiral notebooks (appear to be shorthand)Dates: UndatedContainer: Box 3, Folder 7
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Description: Navy materials (maps, language studies)Dates: circa 1940Container: Box 4, Folder 4
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Description: Three Japanese vocabulary booksDates: circa 1940Container: Box 5
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Description: Humorous work-related materialsDates: circa 1960sContainer: Box 6, Folder 3
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Description: Hilltop Development Corporation Documents (2 folders)Dates: circa 1980sContainer: Box 7, Folder 4-5
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Description: Internal memos and personnel correspondence, WSU library (multiple folders)Dates: circa 1970sContainer: Box 6, Folder 1-8
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Description: Newspaper article from Pullman, WA on WSU faculty collective bargaining planDates: UndatedContainer: Box 9, Folder 9
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Description: John P. Allen employment documentsDates: VariousContainer: Box 9, Folder 10
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Description: John Allen military papers (Navy)Dates: circa 1940sContainer: Box 11, Folder 14
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Description: Employment memos and correspondence at Whitman CollegeDates: 1946-1950Container: Box 10, Folder 10
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Description: ScrapbookContainer: Box 13
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Names and SubjectsReturn to Top
Subject Terms
- Librarians
- World War, 1939-1945
Personal Names
- Allen, Anna Farrar
- Allen, Rudolph Gregory
Corporate Names
- Whitman College
