Guide to the Westminster College Board of Trustees records

Westminster College, Salt Lake City, Utah (1902- ) : Westminster College in Salt Lake City, Utah came into official existence as an educational institution when the Board of Trustees approved a name change on Feb. 6, 1902 from the earlier name, Sheldon Jackson College. For a few years, the letterhead on Westminster College stationery included the notation "formerly Sheldon Jackson College". College classes were suspended 1909-1913 but resumed in 1914. Westminster College as a legal entity was closed June 30, 1983 and reopened the next day on July 1, 1983 as "Westminster College of Salt Lake City", technically a new institution. The name was changed back to Westminster College in 1998.

Two earlier institutions are associated with Westminster College: The Salt Lake Collegiate Institute (SLCI) and Sheldon Jackson College in Salt Lake City, Utah.

The Salt Lake Collegiate Institute (1875-1910) : The Institute was founded by First Presbyterian Church of Salt Lake City and opened April 12, 1875 in the basement of the church. In 1896 the Presbyterian Board of Home Missions assumed ownership and administrative control of the institute, and maintained operations until 1910, when it transferred the property to Westminster College. By the 1902-1903 school year the Institute had already become the "Preparatory Department" of Westminster College.

Sheldon Jackson College, Salt Lake City, Utah (1895-1901) Sheldon Jackson College in Salt Lake City, Utah was chartered in 1895 and opened 1897 on the Salt Lake Collegiate Institute campus. The one and only commencement was held on June 4, 1901. The Board of Trustees approved a name change to "Westminster College" on Feb. 6, 1902. Sheldon Jackson and his wife signed an agreement to the name change on April 25, 1902.

Westminster College Boards of Trustees: Trustees came from all areas of the college and community. Many Westminster presidents attended Board meetings, probably in an advisory non-voting role since the president reports to the Board of Trustees, which has the power to hire or fire a president. A few were either members before becoming president (such as B.C.J. Wheatlake), or went on to become members of the board as Presidents Emeritus. The trustees also included major donors, businessmen, community leaders, and ministers. Beginning in the 1970s, the names of some faculty, alumni, and students begin to appear in the list of trustees.

George W. Martin, a Presbyterian missionary, was an early trustee of Westminster College.

The Treasurers of Westminster College were officers of the Board of Trustees; Parke M. Pontz held this office from 1921-1954, followed by Ralph S. Gunn.

Harold R. Waldo, Sr. was Secretary to the Board from 1933-1965.

Below is a partial list of various categories of Trustees who served between 1946-1974, drawn from A short history of Westminster College, Salt Lake City: the first century, 1875-1975 by Emil Nyman, College Archivist. Nyman included a five-page "Appendix D. Trustees 1946-1974 (Alphabetical)" in his publication.

Chairmen of the Westminster College Board of Trustees from 1946-1974:

• 1948-1957, John M. Wallace, Sr.
• 1958-1964, Forrest Walden
• 1965-1967, M.M. Fidlar
• 1968, George T. Hansen, Jr.
• 1968-1970, Haydon Morgan Calvert
• 1970-1973, Joseph Bernolfo
• 1973- , Charles T. Klein

Presidents:

• Herbert Ware Reherd (1913-1939 as 4th President; 1939-1950 as President Emeritus)
• Robert D. Steele (1939-1952 as 5th President)
• J. Richard Palmer (1952-1956 at 6th President)
• Frank E. Duddy (1956-1963 as 7th President)
• W. Fredrick Arbogast (1963-1968 as 8th President)
• B.C.J. Wheatlake (1933-1965; four months from May-Aug. 1952 as Interim President during a presidential search)
• Manford A. Shaw (1940-1964 as a Westminster College 1920s alumnus; 1968-1976 as 9th President)

Faculty:

• Marcus Parr (1972-1973)
• Mack Gift (1973-1974)

Alumni:

• Martin Allred (1973-1975)

Students

• Lori Pinder (1971-1972)
• Stephen Brown (1972-1973)
• Robert Devlin (1972-1973)
• Kimball Duffin (1974-1975)

Donors:

• A.B. Malouf (1953-1965) -- donor of Malouf Hall
• Harry E. Carleson (1955-1965) and Fred A. Carleson (1966-1976) -- donor of the Men's dormitory
• Lawrence "Biggie" Black (1960-1973) -- donor of the foot bridge across Emigration Creek
• Mrs. George S. Eccles (1972- ) –- donor of Dolores Dore Eccles Art Center

Ministers of various churches:

• Bishop A.W. Mouton, Episcopal Bishop of Utah (1942-1947)
• Rev. W.M. Gwaltney, Minister of First Presbyterian Church (1946-1951)
• Warren Bainbridge, Minister of First Methodist Church (1956-1968)
• Rev. S.E. Clark (1958-1964)
• Rev. E.W. Remley, Minister of First Presbyterian Church (1965-1967)
• Rev. Thomas C. Jackson, Minister of First Presbyterian Church (1965-1968)

Other community and educational leaders:

• Harold P. Fabian, lawyer (1960-1961)
• Paul Fawley, professor of education, University of Utah (1965- )
• A.B. Kesler, President and Chairman of Walker Bank (1967-1973)
• John W. Gallivan, Publisher of the Salt Lake Tribute (1967-1978)
• Virginia Frobes, retired Dean of Women, University of Utah (1974-1983)

Sources:

• Westminster College of Salt Lake City : from Presbyterian mission school to independent college / R. Douglas Brackenridge. Logan Utah : Utah State University Press, 1998, p. 3-4 and 74.
• A short history of Westminster College, Salt Lake City : the first century, 1875-1975, Appendix D. Trustees 1946-1974 / Emil Nyman.
• Westminster College Dean Robert G. McNiece correspondence, 1891-1908 (ACC-003A).

This collection is the records of the Board of Trustees of Westminster College and consists of agenda, budget notes, bylaws, correspondence, memoranda, policy statements, proposals, and various reports. The records inform the Board of Trustees of upcoming events, report on college activities and financial affairs, and prepare members for regular and special Board meetings. The reports include statistical, operational, and program accounts on academic affairs, enrollment, faculty, finances, and student affairs.

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 Board of Trustees records, 1913-1979, 1988-1990, ACC-016B, Giovale Library Archives, Westminster College, Salt Lake City, Utah.

Arrangement:

The collection is arranged chronologically by date.

Processing Note:

Processed September 2008 by Tera Mayo.

Creator:

Westminster College (Salt Lake City, Utah : 1902-1983). Board of Trustees

Westminster College of Salt Lake City. Board of Trustees

Language:

Collection materials are in English.

Quantity:

3.5 linear feet

Language of the Finding Aid:

English.

Author of the Finding Aid:

Finding aid written in September 2008 by Tera Mayo

EAD Creation Date:

2010 October 5 by Sarah Shaw

Standard:

Describing Archives : A Content Standard (DACS)

Subarea:

Related Material:

Related collections in Giovale Library Archives:

• Westminster College Board of Trustees minutes, 1892-2004 (ACC-016A)
• Westminster College President's Office records on the Board of Trustees, 1952-1979 (ACC-129)
• Sheldon Jackson College and Westminster College Board of Trustees articles of incorporation records, 1895-1998 (ACC-134)
• Sheldon Jackson College and Westminster College Board of Trustees Academic Affairs Committee minutes, 1984-1998 (ACC-139)
• Paul Fawley Westminster College Board of Trustees Secretary's records, 1962-1981 (ACC-142)
• Westminster College Board of Trustees handbooks, 1983-1998 (ACC-173)
• Westminster College Board of Trustees. Building and Grounds Committee records, 1980-1984 (ACC-174)

Corporate Names:

Westminster College (Salt Lake City, Utah : 1902-1983)--History--Sources
Westminster College of Salt Lake City--History--Sources

Subject Terms:

College trustees--Utah
Presbyterian Church--Education--Utah
Presbyterian universities and colleges--Utah--History--Sources

Form or Genre Terms:

Agendas (administrative records)
Budgets
Bylaws (administrative records)
Correspondence
Memorandums
Proposals
Reports

Geographical Names:

Salt Lake City (Utah)--History--Sources