Guide to the Westminster College Northern and Southern California alumni associations scrapbook

Maintaining connections between Westminster College and its alumni and alumnae has been an important activity throughout the college's existence. The Alumni Relations Office maintains the Westminster Alumni webpage. The site links to information on alumni services, events (such as Reunion weekends), continuing education opportunities, the Alumni Board, Alumni House, news, publications, and contact information for the Alumni Office staff.

This collection consists of a single scrapbook. The materials describe the activities of the Southern and Northern California alumni associations of Westminster College (Salt Lake City, Utah) from their creations in 1932 and 1935, respectively, until 1940.

Each section (Southern and Northern California) contains a typescript draft of a letter, with pencilled edits, from College President H.W. Reherd entitled "A suggested Constitution" in which he outlines creation and organizational points for the two alumni associations. The text begins with "The name of this organization shall be the Westminster College Alumni Association of No. Cal. (pencilled So.). Regarding membership, President Reherd suggests "former students, teachers and trustees of the Salt Lake Collegiate Institute, and of Westminster College shall be considered members of this Association." He goes on to proposed officers, methods of record-keeping, and concludes with his wishes for continued prosperity for the association.

The Southern California association materials are in the first section of the scrapbook. Following the "Constitution" letter is a history of the Association -- brief 1-paragraph descriptions (summary minutes) of nine meetings held between the winter of 1932 and March 15, 1940 in the case of the Southern California association. While the first three annual meetings were held in Winter, January, and April, the later ones were all held in March of each year. All meetings were held in Los Angeles and included a dinner. The location was either the New Rosslyn Hotel (1932-1935, 1938-1940) or the Mona Lisa Restaurant (1936-1937). The association is referred to as either the "Westminster College Alumni Association of Southern California" or as the "Southern California Alumni Association of Westminster College."

The Northern California Alumni Association's history (in the second section of the scrapbook) provides similar information on six annual meetings between March 12, 1935 and March 9, 1940. Four were held in March, the other two in February. Meetings included a dinner and took place in San Francisco at the William Taylor Hotel (1935), the Plaza Hotel (1936 and 1938), the Olympic Hotel (1937), the Victoria Hotel (1939). The last meeting documented by materials in the scrapbook took place at the Claremont Hotel in Berkeley, California (1940). This "Bay Area" association is referred to as either the "Westminster College Alumni Association of Northern California" or as the "Northern California Alumni Association of Westminster College."

Many of the accounts of the annual meeting include a list of attendees. All meetings were attended by President Reherd, often accompanied by his wife. Reherd even attended some following his 1939 resignation as president. The election of new alumni executive officers is also included for 1940. Most meetings consisted of members singing their favorite Westminster songs and reminiscing about their days at Westminster College (the earliest campus on 200 North and 200 East in Salt Lake City, life in the boys' dormitories, etc.). The current state of Westminster College events and organizations was also of interest, including the Women's Association activities and outstanding student work on campus. A personal memorandum by President Reherd describes the business and joviality of the ninth Southern California meeting. Overall, the scrapbook shows the growth of the organizations and the desire of alumni to remain connected with Westminster College.

Restrictions on Access:

Open to public research.

Access to parts of this collection may be restricted under provisions of state or federal law.

Twenty-four hours advance notice is encouraged.

Restrictions on Use:

It is the responsibility of the researcher to obtain any necessary copyright clearances.

Permission to publish material must be obtained from the director of the Giovale Library.

Preferred Citation:

Westminster College Northern and Southern California alumni associations scrapbook, 1932-1940, ACC-080, Giovale Library Archives, Westminster College, Salt Lake City, Utah.

Arrangement:

The scrapbook is separated into two sections, the first half concerning the Westminster College Alumni Association of Southern California, and the second half concerning the Westminster College Alumni Association of Northern California. The materials in each section are in chronological order.

Processing Note:

Processed June 2004 by Alana Dela Cruz. One letter, unrelated to the contents of the scrapbook, was removed from the collection.

Creator:

Westminster College (Salt Lake City, Utah : 1902-1983). Northern California Alumni Association

Westminster College (Salt Lake City, Utah : 1902-1983). Southern California Alumni Association

Language:

Collection materials are in English.

Quantity:

0.2 linear feet

Language of the Finding Aid:

English.

Author of the Finding Aid:

Finding aid written June 2004 by Alana Dela Cruz; expanded October 2012 by Sarah Shaw.

EAD Creation Date:

2012 October 29 by Sarah Shaw

Standard:

Describing Archives : A Content Standard (DACS)

Subarea:

Related Material:

Related collections and photographs in Giovale Library Archives:

• Herbert Ware Reherd Westminster College President's subject files, 1887-1951 (ACC-004C), Box 1, Folders 1-3
• Westminster College Alumni Affairs sports alumni scrapbook, 1921-1976, bulk 1921-1936 (ACC-136)
• Westminster College Advancement and Alumni Relations alumni records, 1939-2008 (ACC-165)
• Photograph of San Diego 1972 Alumni Group
• Photograph of Westminster College Faculty, 1920 (with President Reherd in middle wearing hat)
• Photograph of Westminster College student body, 1923 (with President Reherd standing at left wearing hat)

Corporate Names:

Westminster College. Northern California Alumni Association--Archives
Westminster College. Southern California Alumni Association--Archives
Westminster College (Salt Lake City, Utah : 1902-1983)--Alumni and alumnae

Subject Terms:

Universities and colleges--Alumni and alumnae--Utah--Salt Lake City

Form or Genre Terms:

Scrapbooks

Personal Names:

Reherd, Herbert Ware, 1869-1952
Reherd, Louise McClure, 1875-1945

Geographical Names:

Salt Lake City (Utah)
California, Northern
California, Southern