Established in 1953 as a women’s cooperative residence, Azalea House had its roots in a 1945 proposal by the Oregon Home Economics Extension Council to address the shortage of campus housing for women. A fundraising drive to raise money for the construction met its goal in 1952 and by fall term of 1953 Azalea House was opened. The name “Azalea” was chosen in a naming contest to honor Mrs. Azalea Sager, an Extension Specialist in Clothing and State Home Demonstration Leader. The building was designed to house 58 residents. Located at 1050 Madison Street, Azalea House's immediate neighbors on the block were three other cooperative living residences (Avery Lodge, Dixon Lodge, and Oxford House). In 2014, citing concerns about costs and needed building renovations, the OSU University Housing and Dining Services closed Azalea House and the other cooperative residences at OSU.
The bulk of these records were transferred to SCARC by Azalea House residents in 2014 and were added to an existing collection of Azalea House records that had been received in 1991.
Collection is open for research.
Azalea House Records (MSS Azalea), Oregon State University Special Collections and Archives Research Center, Corvallis, Oregon.
There are collections documenting other cooperative houses that operated at OSU, including: Avery Lodge,
The Azalea House Records are arranged into 27 Series: 1. Articles of Incorporation, Tax, and Insurance Records, 1992-2008; 2. Budgetary Materials, 1993-2009; 3. Certificates, 1999-2013; 4. Committees, 1967-2005; 5. Constitutions and Bills of Rights, 1967-2007; 6. Contracts, 1965-2008; 7. Correspondence, 1987-2007; 8. Executive Training and Retreats, 1985-2008; 9. Guestbooks, 1972-2011; 10. Handbooks, 1996-2014; 11. Historical Essays, 1970-ca. 1995; 12. Intercooperative Council/Judicial Board Records, 1965-2011; 13. Meeting Minutes, 1956-2003; 14. Membership Lists, 1958-2014; 15. Notebooks, 1953-2013; 16. Policies and Procedures, 1965-2006; 17. Publications, 1953-2008; 18. Reports, 1953-1999; 19. Signage, ca. 2000-2010; 20. Songs, 1982; 21. Surveys, 1980-1997; 22. Weekly Menus, ca. 2010; 23. Photographs, 1954-2011; 24. Photograph Albums, 1987-2006; 25. Scrapbooks, 1958-2014; 26. Plaques and Trophies, 1960-2014; and 27. Banners, 2014.
The Azalea House Records reflect the administration of Azalea House through articles of incorporation, budgetary materials, meeting minutes, contracts, handbooks, constitutions, notebooks, policy statements, reports, signage, and surveys. Activities documented in these materials include: budgetary management, convening of house meetings, employment of the house cook, officer training, generation of resident lists, disciplinary action of rule violations, building maintenance, the formation of policies/rules, the tracking of gifts to the house, and assignment of rooms/beds to residents. Social activities, events, and honors/awards received by Azalea House residents are reflected in scrapbooks, photographs, photograph albums, guestbooks, songs, certificates, plaques, trophies, and banners.
Series 1 consists of records relating to taxes, insurance, and incorporation status reflecting the management of Azalea House as a cooperative/non-profit corporation.
Series 2 is made up of budgetary documentation reflecting the cooperative’s management of their accounts.
Series 3 is comprised of certificates awarded to Azalea House for various honors and recognitions. One of the certificates was awarded to the Azalea House President Jane Stump for her service on the Executive Council.
Series 4 contains materials reflecting Azalea House committee activity and is made up of committee member lists, constitutions, notes, and quarterly reports.
Series 5 is comprised of constitutions and bill of rights statements. This series includes documentation of proposed amendments, voting tallies, and constitutional changes.
Series 6 is made up of contracts relating to the employment of the cook for Azalea House, the taking of group shot photographs, and for applying to reside in Azalea House and the OSU cooperative houses. Most of the contracts are completed there are also blank forms.
Series 7 consists of correspondence received by Azalea House as well as informational letters sent to new and returning residents.
Series 8 contains handouts, handbooks, and other reference materials generated for Azalea officer executive training workshops and retreats. Also included among these materials are meeting minutes, notes, and completed questionnaires.
Series 9 is made up of three guestbooks listing visitors and attendees of various special events at Azalea House.
Series 10 consists of handbooks and manuals prepared for management of the budget and service on the Judicial Board.
Series 11 is comprised of essays and writings on the history of Azalea House.
Oregon Association for Family and Community Education
A photocopied section of a scrapbook.
Series 12 contains records generated by the Inter Cooperative Association and the Judicial Board that includes bylaws, handbooks, meeting minutes, memoranda, mission statements, notes, policy statements, and reports. Documentation from the Judicial Board reflects the management of house rule violations.
Series 13 is made up of minutes and agendas from house-wide meetings and meetings of the Azalea House Advisory Council.
Series 14 is made up of lists of Azalea House residents.
Series 15 consists of notebooks and journals containing information about donations given to the house by former residents, colors used in the painting of various rooms, the occurrences of the “candle passing” ceremony, and notes reflecting the work of house executive officers.
Series 16 is made up of checklists, guidelines, and rules outlining policies and procedures for house maintenance, alcohol usage, residential chores, executive officer duties, fire safety, and regulations regarding visitors.
Series 17 consists of published material about Azalea House and it's residents. It is made up of newsletters, brochures, and event programs. The programs reflect participation by Azalea House residents in campus events such as the Interfraternity Sing and Mom’s Weekend Turtle Derby races.
Series 18 contains reports generated by Azalea executive officers and the Benton County Environmental Health Division.
Series 19 is made up of signage posted throughout Azalea House indicating quiet hours, rules, and bathroom stall identification. The signs are on sheets of paper and most are laminated.
Series 20 consists of flyers and booklets with songs written for, and sung by, Azalea House residents.
Series 21 consists of blank and completed questionnaire and survey forms reflecting Azalea House resident opinion on various topics.
Series 22 is made up of flyers listing breakfast/lunch/dinner offerings for several weeks.
Series 23 is made up of photographic images depicting Azalea House residents in group shots and involved in various activities at the house. In total, there are 585 images in this series (292 negatives, 264 prints, and 29 slides).
Series 24 is comprised of three photograph albums containing images of events at Azalea House. The albums contain a total of 288 photographic prints.
Series 25 consists of scrapbooks assembled by Azalea residents that contain a combination of photographs, newspaper clippings, dance cards, letters, invitations, greeting cards, event programs, and poems. The scrapbooks document everyday life and special events at the cooperative house as well as news about the members. This series contains 1500 photographic prints, which include images found loose in the scrapbooks.
Not in folder. Includes reel-to-reel sound recording of initiation speech given annually by Mrs. Sager. Recorded November 5, 1969.
Series 26 contains plaques and trophies recognizing Azalea House's participation in various campus competitions and events.
Series 27 is made up of two banners containing handwritten messages from Azalea House residents about their favorite memories there.