HTM_WCA157.xml Guide to the Whitman College Overseers Records Whitman College Overseers Records Dana Bronson Whitman College and Northwest Archives 2019
345 Boyer Avenue Walla Walla, WA 99362 Business Number: 509-527-5922 Archives@whitman.edu https://library.whitman.edu/archives/
This finding aid was produced using ArchivesSpace on 2025-10-27. Finding aid written in English. Finding aid based on DACS (Describing Archives: A Content Standard), 2nd Edition. Whitman College and Northwest Archives Whitman College Overseers Records Whitman College. Board of Overseers WCA.157 6.6 linear feet 6 record cartons, 2 manuscript boxes 1907-2012 The Board of Overseers, which was reconfigured into the President's Advisory Board in 2017, focuses on ensuring support for the strategic priorities of Whitman College. The Board of Overseers records contain materials describing the function, duties, and organization of the Whitman College Board of Overseers. English .

Records of the Board of Overseers 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.

The majority of the records were transferred to the Archives in 2006 by the Office of the President. Additional records have been periodically transferred by the Office of the President and the Office of the Chief Financial Officer.

Arranged into three series: 1. Meeting Materials, 2: Committee Records, 3. Subject Files.

In a 1908 report to the Whitman College Board of Trustees, the Dean of the College, Archer W. Hendrick, advocated for the creation of a Board of Overseers. The Board of Overseers was approved by the Board of Trustees. At that time, the Board of Overseers consisted of 64 members that served five-year terms, and were given the power to establish departments of study, elect a school treasurer, direct the financial and educational policy of the institution, and take measures to develop Whitman's history, traditions, and purpose. The first Overseers included men from Oregon, Washington, and Idaho, and their first meeting was held on November 17-18, 1908.

In 2017, the Board of Overseers was reconfigured into the President's Advisory Board. The advisory board focuses on ensuring support for the strategic priorities of Whitman. They serve both as advisors to the president and cabinet and as special ambassadors for Whitman with students, alumni, friends and prospective students

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 Overseers 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.

The Board of Overseers records contain materials describing the function, duties, and organization of the Whitman College Board of Overseers, 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.

 Whitman College Meeting Materials 1 1908-2012 English.

This series contains minutes and materials from the meetings of the Board of Overseers. The minutes document the Board of Overseers' concerns with overall policy and administration of the College. The other records provide context to the minutes, in the form of background material, especially correspondence and reports.

Arranged chronologically by meeting date.

 Meeting Materials 1908 November 17-18 1 1 Meeting Materials 1908 1 2 Meeting Materials 1909 June 15 1 3 Meeting Materials 1910 February 16-17 1 4 Meeting Materials 1911 June 20-21 English. 1 5-6 Meeting Materials 1912 June 18-19 1 7 Meeting Materials 1913 June 17-18 1 8 Meeting Materials 1914 June 16 1 9 Meeting Materials 1915 June 15 1 10 Meeting Materials 1916 June 20 1 11 Meeting Materials 1917 June 19 1 12 Meeting Materials 1918 June 18 1 13 Meeting Materials 1919 June 11 1 14 Meeting Materials 1920 June 15 1 15 Meeting Materials 1921 June 18 1 16 Meeting Materials 1922 June 17 1 17 Meeting Materials 1923 June 9 1 18 Meeting Materials 1924 February 8 1 19 Meeting Materials 1925 June 13 1 20 Meeting Materials 1926 June 12 1 21 Meeting Materials 1927 1 22 Meeting Materials 1928 1 23 Meeting Materials 1929 1 24 Meeting Materials 1930 1 25 Meeting Materials 1931 1 26 Meeting Materials 1932 1 27 Meeting Materials 1933 1 28 Meeting Materials 1934 1 29 Meeting Materials 1935 1 30 Meeting Materials 1936 1 31 Meeting Materials 1937 1 32 Meeting Materials 1938 1 33 Meeting Materials 1939 1 34 Meeting Materials 1940 1 35 Meeting Materials 1941 1 36 Meeting Materials 1942 1 37 Meeting Materials 1943 1 38 Meeting Materials 1944 1 39 Meeting Materials 1945 1 40 Meeting Materials 1946 1 41 Meeting Materials 1947 1 42 Meeting Materials 1948 1 43 Meeting Materials 1949 1 44 Meeting Materials 1950 1 45 Meeting Materials 1951 1 46 Meeting Materials 1952 1 47 Meeting Materials 1953 1 48 Meeting Materials 1954 1 49 Meeting Materials 1955 1 50 Meeting Materials 1956 1 51 Meeting Materials 1957 1 52-53 Meeting Materials 1958 1 54-56 Meeting Materials 1959 1 57 Meeting Materials 1960 2 1 Meeting Materials 1961 2 2 Meeting Materials 1962 2 3 Meeting Materials 1963 2 4 Meeting Materials 1964 2 5 Meeting Materials 1965 2 6 Meeting Materials 1966 2 7 Meeting Materials 1967 2 8 Meeting Materials 1968 2 43718 Meeting Materials 1969 2 11 Meeting Materials 1970 2 12 Meeting Materials 1971 2 13 Meeting Materials 1972 2 14 Meeting Materials 1973 2 15 Meeting Materials 1974 2 16 Meeting Materials 1975 2 17 Meeting Materials 1976 2 18 Meeting Materials 1977 2 19-20 Meeting Materials 1978 2 21-22 Meeting Materials 1979 2 23-24 Meeting Materials 1980 May 23 2 25 Meeting Materials 1980 2 26 Meeting Materials 1981 May 22-23 2 27 Meeting Materials 1981 2 28 Meeting Materials 1982 2 29 Meeting Materials 1983 2 30 Meeting Materials 1984 2 31 Meeting Materials 1985 May 18 2 32 Meeting Materials 1986 2 33-35 Meeting Materials 1987 2 36-39 Meeting Materials 1988 2 40-42 Meeting Materials 1989 2 43-45 Meeting Materials 1990 2 46-47 Meeting Materials [Folder restricted until 2021] 1991 English. 2 48-49 Meeting Materials [Folder restricted until 2022 and partial contents restricted until 2067] 1992 English. 3 1-5 Meeting Materials [Folder restricted until 2023 1993 May 21-22 3 6 Meeting Materials [Folder restricted until 2023] 1993 English. 3 7-10 Meeting Materials [Folder restricted until 2024] 1994 English. 3 11-13 Meeting Materials [Folder restricted until 2025] 1995 3 14-15 Meeting Materials [Folder restricted until 2026] 1996 3 16-17 Meeting Materials [Folder restricted until 2027] 1997 3 18-19 Meeting Materials [Folder restricted until 2028] 1998 May 8-9 3 20 Meeting Materials [Folder restricted until 2029] 1999 April 30-May 1 3 21 Meeting Materials [Folder restricted until 2030] 2000 May 5-6 3 22 Meeting Materials [Folder restricted until 2031] 2001 May 4-5 3 23 Meeting Materials [Folder restricted until 2032] 2002 May 4 3 24 Meeting Materials [Folder restricted until 2032] 2002 September 19-21 3 25 Meeting Materials [Folder restricted until 2033] 2003 May 17 3 26 Meeting Materials [Folder restricted until 2034] 2004 May 15 3 27 Meeting Materials [Folder restricted until 2035] 2005 May 15 3 28 Meeting Materials [Folder restricted until 2036] 2006 May 13 3 29-30 Meeting Materials [Folder restricted until 2037] 2007 April 28 3 31-32 Meeting Materials [Folder restricted until 2038] 2008 May 9-10 3 33 Meeting Materials [Folder restricted until 2039] 2009 May 9-10 3 34 Meeting Materials [Folder restricted until 2042] 2012 May 2-4 4 75-76 Committee Records 2 1926-1997 English.

This series contains records of the various committees of the Board of Overseers. These files provide information on Overseers' actions taken through their appointed committees but not necessarily recorded in the minutes, including correspondence, draft reports, and planning documents.

Arranged alphabetically by committee, and chronologically within each committee.

 Ad Hoc music facility committee 1982 4 1 Academic affairs committee materials 1983 4 2 Academic affairs committee materials 1984 4 3 Academic affairs committee materials 1985 4 4 Academic affairs committee materials 1986 4 5 Academic affairs committee materials 1987 4 6 Academic affairs committee materials 1988 4 7 Academic affairs committee materials 1989 4 8 Academic affairs committee materials 1990 4 9 Academic affairs committee materials [Folder restricted until 2031] 1991 4 10 Academic affairs committee materials [Folder restricted until 2032] 1992 4 11 Budget review committee meeting materials 1988 4 12 Budget review committee meeting materials 1989 4 13 Budget review committee meeting materials 1990 4 14 Budget review committee meeting materials [Folder restricted until 2032] 1992 4 15 Budget review committee mission statement 1992-1993 English. 4 16 Buildings and grounds committee 1909-1982 English. 4 17-20 Buildings and grounds committee: Agendas 1982-1983 English. 4 21 Committees on resolutions 1902-1940 English. 4 22 Committee on new bookkeeping system 1908-1909 English. 4 23 Committee to select a Vice President 1926 4 24 Committee on budget 1926-1930 English. 4 25 Committee on recommendations 1926-1930 English. 4 26 Committee on nominations 1928 4 27 Committee to consider communication from the faculty re: Salary increase 1928-1929 English. 4 28 Committee on president's report 1929 4 29 Committee on recently received funds 1930 4 30 Committee on Treasurer's Report 1931 4 31 Committee appointed to consider resignation of President Penrose 1933 4 32 Committee to study implications of federal aid on higher education 1965-1966 English. 4 33-34 Committee on international studies: Report to Skotheim 1978 4 35 Committee on career planning and placement: Reports and program descriptions 1978-1979 English. 4 36 Committee to study career planning and placement center 1979 4 37 Committee on deans Undated 4 38 Committee on education Undated 4 39 Committee on library 1910-1911 4 40 East coast sub-committees 1950-1976 4 41 Executive committee meeting agenda 1960 December 9 4 42 Executive committee meeting agenda 1961 April 15 4 43 Executive committee meeting materials 1963 4 44 Executive committee meeting materials 1964 4 45 Executive committee meeting materials 1965 4 46 Executive committee meeting materials 1966 4 47 Executive committee meeting materials 1967 4 48 Executive committee meeting materials 1968 4 49 Executive committee meeting materials 1969 4 50 Executive committee meeting materials 1970 4 51 Executive committee meeting materials 1971 4 52 Executive committee meeting materials 1972 4 53 Executive committee meeting materials 1973 4 54 Executive committee meeting materials 1974 4 55 Executive committee meeting materials 1975 4 56 Executive committee meeting materials 1976 4 57 Executive committee meeting materials 1977 4 58 Executive committee meeting materials 1978 4 59 Executive committee meeting materials 1979 4 60 Executive committee meeting materials 1980 4 61 Executive committee meeting materials 1981 4 62 Executive committee meeting materials 1982 4 63 Executive committee meeting materials 1983 4 64 Executive committee meeting materials 1984 4 65 Executive committee meeting materials 1985 4 66 Executive committee meeting materials 1986 4 67 Executive committee meeting materials 1987 4 68 Executive committee meeting materials 1988 October 1 4 69 Executive committee meeting materials 1988 4 70 Executive committee meeting materials 1989 4 71 Executive committee meeting materials 1990 4 72-73 Executive committee meeting materials [Folder restricted until 2021] 1991 4 74 Executive committee meeting materials [Folder restricted until 2022] 1992 5 1 Executive committee meeting materials [Folder restricted until 2023] 1993 March 6 5 2 Executive committee meeting materials [Folder restricted until 2023] 1993 5 3 Executive committee meeting materials [Folder restricted until 2024] 1994 5 4 Marketing committee correspondence 1988 5 5 Marketing committee correspondence 1989 5 6 Marketing committee meeting materials 1990 5 7 Marketing committee meeting materials [Folder restricted until 2021] 1991 5 8 Marketing committee meeting materials [Folder restricted until 2022] 1992 5 9 Marketing committee meeting materials [Folder restricted until 2023] 1993 5 10 Nominating committee 1930-1970 English. 5 11 Nominating committee letters [Folder restricted until 2023] 1993 5 12 Pre-nominating committee materials [Folder restricted until 2058] Undated 5 13 Pre-nominating committee materials 1968 5 14 Pre-nominating committee materials 1969 5 15 Pre-nominating committee materials 1971 5 16 Pre-nominating committee materials 1972 5 17 Pre-nominating committee materials 1973 5 18 Pre-nominating committee materials 1974 5 19 Pre-nominating committee materials 1977 5 20 Pre-nominating committee materials 1979 5 21 Pre-nominating committee materials 1980 5 22 Pre-nominating committee materials [Folder restricted until 2056] 1981 5 23 Pre-nominating committee materials 1982 5 24 Pre-nominating committee materials 1983 5 25 Pre-nominating committee materials 1984 5 26 Pre-nominating committee materials [Folder restricted until 2060] 1985 5 27 Pre-nominating committee materials [Folder restricted until 2061] 1986 5 28 Pre-nominating committee materials [Folder restricted until 2062] 1987 5 29 Pre-nominating committee materials [Folder 31 restricted until 2063] 1988 5 30-31 Pre-nominating committee correspondence [Folder restricted until 2064] 1989 5 32 Pre-nominating committee materials [Folder restricted until 2065] 1990 5 33 Pre-nominating committee materials [Folder restricted until 2066] 1991 5 34 Pre-nominating/budget review committee meeting [Folder restricted until 2022] 1992 5 35 Pre-nominating committee materials [Folder restricted until 2022] 1992 5 36 Pre-nominating committee materials [Folder restricted until 2023] 1993 5 37 Self-study committee 1976-1980 English. 5 38 Student life committee materials 1981 5 39 Student life committee materials 1982 5 40 Student life committee materials 1983 5 41 Student life committee materials 1985 5 42 Student life committee materials 1986 5 43 Student life committee materials 1987 5 44 Student life committee materials 1988 5 45 Student life committee meeting materials 1989 5 46 Student life committee meeting materials 1990 5 47 Student life committee materials [Folder restricted until 2021] 1991 5 48 Student life committee [Folder restricted until 2023] 1993 5 49 Student life committee agenda [Folder restricted until 2024] 1994 5 50 Student life committee meeting agenda [Folder restricted until 2025] 1995 5 51 Visitor committee on international affairs: Meetings and memoranda 1978-1979 English. 5 52-53 Visitor committee on international affairs: Reports 1979 5 54 Visitor committee on career planning and placement: Meetings and memoranda 1978-1979 English. 5 55 Visitor committee on performing arts 1978-1979 English. 5 56 Visitor committee on residence halls 1978 5 57 Visitor committee on residence halls: Meetings and memoranda 1978-1979 English. 5 58 Ways and means committee 1927 5 59 Subject Files 3 1907-2005 English.

This series contains subject files that document the work of the Board of Overseers. These files include biographical information on Overseers, correspondence, reports, and handbooks.

Arranged chronologically.

 Inception of the Board of Overseers 1907-1908 English. 5 60 Endowment and building fund 1908 English. 5 61 Board of overseers general correspondence 1908-1910 English. 5 62 Membership lists 1909-1989 English. 5 63 Reports 1910-1912 English. 5 64 Resolutions 1911 5 65 Board of overseers general correspondence 1925-1936 English. 5 66 Financial proposal for Whitman College 1927 5 67 Agreement with Equitable Life Assurance Society 1928-1929 English. 5 68 Resignations 1935 5 69 Statement on Business 1938 5 70 Marquis, G.B: Correspondence 1939-1949 English. 5 71 Anderson, Winslow: Correspondence 1944-1945 English. 5 72 Correspondence 1945 5 73 Memoranda, correspondence, and reports 1945-1946 English. 5 74 Anderson, Winslow: Correspondence 1946-1947 English. 5 75 List of approved graduates 1947 5 76 Correspondence 1949 5 77 Tax Exemption Circa 1950 5 78 Biographical information for Board of Overseers [Folder restricted until 2030] 1956-2000 English. 5 79 Biographical information for Board of Overseers [Folder restricted until 2030] 1956-2000 English. 6 1-4 Governing board organization circa 1957-1959 6 5 Sherwood, Cameron 1962-2000 English. 6 6 Board of overseers general correspondence 1963-1977 English. 6 7 Templeton Hall [Folder restricted until 2023] 1963-1993 English. 6 8 Membership lists 1964-1975 English. 6 9 Brome, Robert H. [Folder restricted until 2025] 1964-1995 English. 6 10 Brome, Robert H. correspondence 1950-1966 8 1 Brome, Robert H. correspondence 1967-1973 8 2 Cowles, W.H. II 1966-1992 English. 6 11 Johnston, Ina 1967-1978 English. 6 12 Baldwin, Loren E. [Folder restricted until 2022] 1968-1992 English. 6 13 House Bill No.13270 1969 6 14 King, S.J. 1970-1990 English. 6 15 Edgerton, Ralph [Folder restricted until 2024] 1970-1994 English. 6 16 Suggested candidates for Board of Overseers [Folder restricted until 2062] 1972-1987 English. 6 17-19 Corliss, C.C. 1972-1988 English. 6 20 Higley, M.O.[Folder restricted until 2022] 1973-1992 English. 6 21 Odgen, Charles 1974-1988 English. 6 22 Committee legislation report 1975 6 23 Constitutional amendment 1975-1977 English. 6 24 Membership lists 1975-1979 English. 6 25 Williams, R.J. [Folder restricted until 2025] 1975-1995 English. 6 26 Schmidt, Theodore [Folder restricted until 2025] 1975-1995 English. 6 27 LeRoux, F.M. 1976-1988 English. 6 28 Board of Overseers general correspondence 1978-1979 English. 6 29 Clise, A.H. 1978-1988 English. 6 30 Foreign study programs: Specials report 1978-1979 English. 6 31 Fairbank, W.M. 1978-1989 English. 6 32 Eells, Richard [Folder restricted until 2022] 1978-1992 English. 6 33 Fry, Dr. K.E. [Folder restricted until 2022] 1978-1992 English. 6 34 Membership lists 1979-1982 English. 6 35 Hayner, James: Biographical information 1979-1988 English. 6 36 Farmer, Sam [Folder restricted until 2027] 1979-1997 English. 6 37 Overseer handbook 1980 6 38 General correspondence 1980-1981 English. 6 39 Peterson, Carl 1981-1988 English. 6 40 Waldo, James 1981-1989 English. 6 41 Masse, S. [Folder restricted until 2068] 1981-1993 English. 6 42 General correspondence 1982-1984 English. 6 43 Membership lists 1982-1984 English. 6 44 Richards, Robert R. [Folder restricted until 2024] 1982-1994 English. 6 45 Overseer handbook 1983 6 46 Membership lists 1984-1987 English. 6 47 Anderson, J.L. [Folder restricted until 2024] 1985-1994 English. 6 48 Abshire, A.D. [Folder restricted until 2026] 1985-1996 English. 6 49 Ashlock, D.L. [Folder restricted until 2027] 1985-1997 English. 6 50 New member articles [Folder restricted until 2034] 1985-2004 English. 6 51-53 Overseer correspondence 1986 6 54 Duzan, S.A. 1986-1989 English. 6 55 Lomen, L. [Folder restricted until 2026] 1986-1996 English. 6 56 Walker, Sarah M. [Folder restricted until 2025] 1986-1995 English. 6 57 Spencer, George [Folder restricted until 2025] 1986-1995 English. 6 58 Membership lists 1987-1988 English. 6 59 Overseer correspondence 1988 7 1 Annual report 1988-1989 English. 7 2 Membership lists 1988-1989 English. 7 3 Morgan, Edward P. [Folder restricted until 2022] 1989-1992 English. 7 4 Moore-Ratte, Sara [Folder restricted until 2024] 1989-1994 English. 7 5 Kinney, Mary Jane [Folder restricted until 2025] 1989-1995 English. 7 6 Materials mailed to overseers [Folder restricted until 2021] 1990-1991 English. 7 7 Wiley, Dr. William R. [Folder restricted until 2026] 1990-1996 English. 7 8 Development report to the Board of Trustees [Folder restricted until 2021] 1991 May 16 7 9 Overseer mailing [Folder restricted until 2022] 1992 February 5 7 10 Overseer mailing [Folder restricted until 2022] 1992 April 22 7 11 Governing board newsletters [Folder restricted until 2022] 1992 7 12 Overseers' newsletter [Folder restricted until 2022] 1992 7 13 Overseers' newsletter [Folder restricted until 2023] 1992-1993 English. 7 14 Overseer mailings [Folder restricted until 2023] 1992-1993 English. 7 15-17 Overseer mailings [Folder restricted until 2024] 1993-1994 English. 7 18 Coon, Roberta Fancher [Folder restricted until 2025] 1993-1995 English. 7 19 Materials mailed to overseers [Folder restricted until 2025] 1994-1995 English. 7 20-21 Constitution and by-laws circa 1995 7 22 Overseer mailings [Folder restricted until 2025] 1995-1996 English. 7 23 Newspaper clippings [Folder restricted until 2033] 2003 7 24 President's council retreat [Folder restricted until 2035] 2005 7 25 List of members Undated 7 26 Memoir excerpts from President Penrose's "Whitman, An Unfinished Story" on the founding of the Board of Overseers Undated 7 27 "The Organization and Procedure of the Board of Trustees" Undated 7 28 Proposal for student membership on Board of Overseers Undated 7 29 Report to the Board of Overseers Undated 7 30 Union-Bulletin Progress Edition, Education Section Undated 7 31 Constitution and by-laws of Whitman College as amended and revised 1964 7 32