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

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.

"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.

Organizational Records
University of North Dakota - Alumni
University of North Dakota - Presidents
Women's History

Repository: Elwyn B. Robinson Department of Special Collections

Accruals:

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.