Lillian Witmer Papers, 1884-1993
Collection Overview
Title: Lillian Witmer Papers, 1884-1993
ID: OGLMC245
Primary Creator: Witmer, Lillian (1903-1993)
Extent: 10.25 Linear Feet
Date Acquired: 11/04/1993. More info below under Accruals.
Subjects: Organizational Records, University of North Dakota - Alumni, University of North Dakota - Presidents, Women's History
Languages: English
Abstract
Scope and Contents of the Materials
The Lillian Witmer Papers include correspondence, both of a personal nature as well as related to UND. Much of the UND correspondence is from the presidency of Webster Merrifield, 1891-1909. It is unclear how Witmer came into possession of this correspondence, although she did serve as an assistant registrar at UND for a short time.
Also included are materials about a variety of organizations including the North Dakota Dames Club, the Franklin Club, and P.E.O. Chapter D. These are mostly remarks delivered by Witmer for each organization. Miscellaneous materials include scrapbooks kept by Witmer and her eventual husband, R.B., when both were students at UND, a selection of Witmer's personal bookmarks, and subject files.
Collection Historical Note
"Lillian I. Witmer, 90, 739 S. 30th St., died Monday, Sept. 13, 1993, in Deaconess Health Center, Northwood, N.D.
Lillian I. Leith was born Jan. 16, 1903, in Grand Forks, the daughter of Dr. John D. and Isabella (Whitson) Leith. She graduated from Larimore (N.D.) High School and in 1923 from UND. She was assistant registrar of the University until 1930. She married Robert B. Witmer in 1927. He died Feb. 24, 1972. She was active in a number of university, community, and national organizations. She was a member of the UND Alumni Association board. She also was district governor of Alpha Phi International Fraternity and later its treasurer. She was on the public library board and secretary of the Grand Forks County Historical Society, of which she was a charter member. For more than 50 years, she was a member of the Franklin Club, Chapter D of the P.E.O. Sisterhood, the North Dakota Dames Club. the Alpha Phi Alumni Chapter and the UND Faculty Wives and Women's Club, serving as president of each.
Survivors are her daughter, Jean (Mrs. Charles W.) Meline, Macomb, Ill., two grandsons; and two great-granddaughters.
She was preceded in death by a brother, J. Douglas."
Source: Grand Forks Herald, September 19, 1993, p. 2B.
Subject/Index Terms
Organizational Records
University of North Dakota - Alumni
University of North Dakota - Presidents
Women's History
Administrative Information
Repository: Elwyn B. Robinson Department of Special Collections
Additional material was donated by:
Jean (Witmer) Meline, Macomb, Illinois, on November 4, 1993; 93-1930
Dawn Lykken, UND Medical School, on September 14, 1994; 94-1974
Jean Meline, Macomb, Illinois, and Mary Ellen Caldwell, Grand Forks, North Dakota, in September 1993; 93-1914
Access Restrictions: Open for inspection under the rules and regulations of the Elwyn B. Robinson Department of Special Collections.
Acquisition Method: Donation; the original acquisition records are unavailable
Preferred Citation: (Description of Item). Lillian Witmer Papers. OGLMC 245, Box #, Folder #. Elwyn B. Robinson Department of Special Collections, Chester Fritz Library, University of North Dakota, Grand Forks.
Finding Aid Revision History: Finding aid added to Archon in December 2014.
Box and Folder Listing
Browse by Box:
[Box 1],
[Box 2],
[Box 3],
[Box 4],
[Box 5],
[Box 6],
[Box 7],
[Box 8],
[Oversize Folder :],
[Photographs :],
[All]
- Box 1
- Folder 1: Graduation from Larimore High School, Commencement programs (8th grade 1916 and high school 1919), graduation speech
- Folder 2: Brief history of organizations and happenings at UND while Lillian attended
- Folder 3: Public speaking oration "True Culture" by Lillian Leith
- Folder 4: Commencement programs, 1921 and 1926
- Folder 5: Lillian's graduation from UND - commencement program, class list, invitations, 1923
- Folder 6: Commencement, Founder's Day, and other addresses, 1946-1958
- Folder 7: Mortar Board members list, 1922-1965
- Folder 8: Grand Forks Herald - copy of first page of first issue, June 26, 1897
- Folder 9: Alpha Phi, 1921-1966
- Folder 10: Alpha Phi, miscellaneous thoughts and programs
- Folder 11: Alpha Phi Plaque
- Folder 12: Pi Plant, 1924-1933
- Folder 13: Pi Plant, 1935-1952
- Folder 14: Miscellaneous programs of events attended by Lillian, 1921-1922
- Folder 15: "Kane for President", 1932
- Folder 16: Grand Forks Public Library Board information, 1947-1948, 1960
- Folder 17: Newspaper clipping - R.B. Witmer (Arts College Dean), July 1949
- Folder 18: Miscellaneous correspondence
- Folder 19: Cora E. Smith - Smith Hall Dedication by Lillian Witmer, May 1964
- Folder 20: Tributes: Raymond R. Hitchcock, William G. Bek, Mrs. O. H. Bridston, Mrs. Orin Grant Libby, Donald H. Miller, Mrs. Howard Edwin Simpson, George Abbott, Hazel Hauk, Dr. Frederick Brooks, Mrs. Maxwell Brown, Margaret Starcher
- Folder 21: Lillian Leith Witmer "A Career of Service", May 1973
- Folder 22: North Dakota Dames Club History and constitutions, 1933-1974
- Folder 23: 75th anniversary of North Dakota Dames Club, November 1984
- Folder 24: "Ellen Terry and Bernard Shaw: A Correspondence" Dames Club, May 1933
- Folder 25: "The Life of Sir William Osler" Dames Club, 1934
- Folder 26: "Modern Trends in Medicine" Dames Club, October 1937
- Folder 27: "Consumers' Forum" and "Consumers Cooperatives: How to Budget" Dames Club, 1936-1938
- Folder 28: "Hallmarks of Silver" Dames Club
- Folder 29: "The Story of Allergies" Dames Club, February 1945
- Folder 30: "The Split Atom as a Healing Force" Dames Club, March 1947
- Folder 31: "Our Public Library" Dames Club, October 1948
- Folder 32: "New Horizons in Government" Dames Club, November 1952
- Folder 33: "Scottish Kilts" Dames Club, October 1954
- Folder 34: "Trends in Education" Dames Club, March 1958
- Folder 35: "Comparative Religions" Dames Club, February 1959
- Folder 36: "Understanding Old Age" Dames Club, February 1961
- Folder 37: "Political Prairie Fire" Dames Club, February 1961
- Folder 38: "Dr. Fred G. Lundy" Dames Club, 1962
- Folder 39: Dr. G.A. Henry's "Letters to Virginia" Dames Club, March 1960
- Folder 40: "Hope" Dames Club, January 1964
- Folder 41: "Wedgewood" Dames Club, April 1966
- Folder 42: "Fans" History, style, etc., Dames Club, February 1968 and P.E.O., April 1979
- Folder 43: Fans resource materials
- Folder 44: "Dr. James Grassick" Dames Club, 1971 and P.E.O., April 1979
- Folder 45: Li Ling Ai and her book "Life is for a Long Time" Reviewed for Dames Club, September 1973
- Folder 1: Graduation from Larimore High School, Commencement programs (8th grade 1916 and high school 1919), graduation speech
Browse by Box:
[Box 1],
[Box 2],
[Box 3],
[Box 4],
[Box 5],
[Box 6],
[Box 7],
[Box 8],
[Oversize Folder :],
[Photographs :],
[All]