Title:: Alumni Association Records 1842-[ongoing]1842-2007

Access and use

Location of collection:
College of William and Mary
Special Collections Research Center
Earl Gregg Swem Library
College of William and Mary
400 Landrum Drive
PO 8795
Williamsburg, VA 23187-8795
Contact for questions and access:
Phone: (757) 221-3090
Fax: (757) 221-5440
Restrictions:

This collection is open to all researchers.

Terms of access:

Before publishing quotations or excerpts from any materials, permission must be obtained from the Special Collections Research Center, and the holder of the copyright, if not Swem Library.

Preferred citation:

Alumni Association Records, Special Collections Research Center, Earl Gregg Swem Library, College of William and Mary.

Summary

Extent:
45.73
Creator:
Society of the Alumni. College of William and Mary. Alumni and alumnae College of William and Mary. Society of the Alumni. Alumni Band Organization. College of William and Mary. Office of University Development. Fund for William and Mary College of William and Mary. Alumni Association. Order of the White Jacket arrangement
Abstract:
Acc. 1983.100 contains records from the Richmond Chapter of the William and Mary Alumnae Association, including correspondence, a constitution, lists of alumnae, and one notebook of meeting minutes.
Language:
The records are in: English
Preferred citation:

Alumni Association Records, Special Collections Research Center, Earl Gregg Swem Library, College of William and Mary.

Background

Scope and content:

Acc. 1983.100 contains records from the Richmond Chapter of the William and Mary Alumnae Association, including correspondence, a constitution, lists of alumnae, and one notebook of meeting minutes.

Acc. 1993. 50 contains records of the Alumni Association from the 1920s-1920s. Records from the first three executive secretaries of the association-George Willis Guy, Charles A. Taylor, and Charles P. McCurdy-include correspondence regarding recruiting members, chapters, address changes, meetings, the board, etc. The files are arranged mostly by the last name of the correspondent (for incoming mail) or recipient (for outgoing mail). Correspondence of the Alumni Association from the 1940s files of B. D. Peachy include letters regarding a new William and Mary president, the honor code, fraternity houses in trouble, agenda for meetings, and financial reports. There are also responses to a questionnaire sent in 1932 received from 1866-1932 alumni for the new alumni catalog including names, place and date of birth, occupation, other education, and some personal remarks. There are also letters from living alumni who attended between 1866 and 1881 regarding attending a memorial service for Ewell at the 1933 Alumni Day. The "Necrology" files hold obituaries of alumni. There is one small box of correspondence of Oscar Shewmake from the 1920s. Finally, there are nine boxes of office correspondence arranged in party by subjects, e.g. senior essay contest.

Acc. 1994.010 contains seven sheets of stationary and four envelopes with the "Homecoming 1992" logo; three red, white, and black plastic cups with "W&M Homecoming '92" on them; a small red, white, and black box shaped like a tuxedo with "150" marked in gold; and a black and red bag with the "Homecoming '92" logo.

Acc. 1999.085 contains Alumni Association subject files, 1976-1986.

Acc. 2008.149 are files from the desk of Alumni Association Jeb Stuart Rosebrook. Included are numerous letters from alumni providing their memories related to stories published in the Alumni Gazette or Magazine including the Wren Building, WWII on campus, family trees, and the book Traditions, Myths, and Memories.

A significant amount of records from the Alumni Association were accessioned as part of the University Archives Publications Collection. Included are meeting minutes, fliers, publications, and related material. Some of the headings include:

Addresses before the society 1842-1962.

Alumni Band

Alumni Tours

Alumni Day 1933-1958.

Awards

Alumni House Medallion

Calendars

Chapters

Fund Raising

Gift Giving

Surveys.

The 1775 Sentinel newsletter.

Board of Directors Minutes and Agendas 1889-1998 and handbook.

Homecoming/Class Reunions 1892-present day

Colonial Re-Echo

Olde Guard

Young Guard

Hulon Willis Association

Roster of the Dead

Special events office.

The Special Collections Research Center also holds publications from the Alumni Association including the Alumni Gazette and William and Mary magazine.

Biographical / historical:

The William and Mary Alumni Association was founded on July 4, 1842, and is the sixth-oldest alumni organization in the country. All graduates and former students of the College of William and Mary are considered members of the Alumni Association. The Alumni Association is an independent, nonprofit organization that serves William and Mary and its many alumni, students, parents and friends and is governed by a 17-member Board of Directors.

The generally accepted date for the founding or the William and Mary Alumni Association is July 4, 1842. An alumni organization of some sort may have been in existence before this time. However, this is the date that the Honorable Nathaniel Beverly Tucker, a judge and professor of national and municipal law and of the science of government at the College delivered the first Alumni Day oration. Further information about this individual or organization may be available in the Special Collections Research Center Wiki: <a href="http://scrc.swem.wm.edu/wiki/index.php/Society of the Alumni.">http://scrc.swem.wm.edu/wiki/index.php/Society of the Alumni.</a>.

Acquisition information:
The materials were acquired by Special Collections Research Center from Various transfers and gifts. on 04/14/1960.
Custodial history:

Portions of this collection were previously part of the University Archives Publications Collection.

Processing information:

Acc. 2008.149 accessioned from the backlog 12/11/2008 by Amy C. Schindler.

Accruals:

Accruals are anticipated on an ongoing basis. For updated information, see Special Collections Research Center Collections Database

Physical / technical requirements:

Portions of this collection are stored offsite. Consult a staff member for assistance.