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 6
- Folder 1: Correspondence: John Amort-President Merrifield, 1900, subject unclear
- Folder 2: Correspondence to Board of Trustees regarding the planting of trees on campus, 1900
- Folder 3: Correspondence: Dinnie Brothers' bid for Old Science Hall, 1900 or 1901
- Folder 4: Correspondence: Robert Oliver-William Budge, 1900, regarding shipment of wood
- Folder 5: Correspondence: Charles Elliott-President Merrifield, 1901, regarding vacant position in English Department
- Folder 6: Correspondence: R. Ferguson-President Merrifield, 1901, regarding student travel arrangements
- Folder 7: Correspondence: C. Gunnlogson-President Merrifield, 1901, regarding transfer credits
- Folder 8: Correspondence: Charles Hamel-President Merrifield, 1901, regarding employment at UND
- Folder 9: Correspondence: J.C. Jones-President Merrifield, 1901, regarding chair of English Department
- Folder 10: Correspondence: A.A. Love-President Merrifield, 1901, regarding vacant faculty position
- Folder 11: Correspondence: John Mahon-President Merrifield, 1901, regarding Cecil Mahon, a student at UND
- Folder 12: Correspondence: Thomas Marshall-President Merrifield, 1901, regarding UND Postmaster
- Folder 13: Correspondence: Arthur Miller-President Merrifield, 1901, regarding the need for a Presbyterian college in North Dakota
- Folder 14: Correspondence: Samuel Radcliffe-President Merrifield, 1901, regarding mortgage on a house
- Folder 15: Correspondence: Vernon Squires-President Merrifield, 1901, regarding Squires' move to Kalamazoo, Michigan
- Folder 16: Correspondence: Vilhjalmur Stefansson-President Merrifield, 1901, regarding employment in the library
- Folder 17: Correspondence: W.L. Stockwell-President Merrifield, 1901, regarding high school football in Grafton
- Folder 18: Correspondence: H.G. Vick-President Merrifield, 1901, regarding chair of the Scandinavian Department
- Folder 19: Correspondence: Frank White (North Dakota Governor)-President Merrifield, 1901, regarding speech at UND
- Folder 20: Correspondence: J.H. Worst-President Merrifield, 1901, regarding salaries at North Dakota Agricultural College (now North Dakota State University)
- Folder 21: Correspondence to President Merrifield regarding Dr. A.G. Leonard, 1902-03
- Folder 22: Correspondence: John Hancock-President Merrifield, 1903, regarding gift of student annual, the Dacotah, to a library in Tower City, North Dakota
- Folder 23: Correspondence: Life and Letters Magazine-President Merrifield, 1903, regarding America's greatest social problem
- Folder 24: Correspondence: Amos Alonzo Stagg-President Merrifield, 1903, regarding the application of Mr. Rex Kennedy
- Folder 25: Correspondence: G.W. Stewart-President Merrifield, 1903, regarding laboratory facilities at UND
- Folder 26: Correspondence: K.S. Thordarson-President Merrifield, 1903, regarding UND advertisements
- Folder 27: Correspondence: Victor Wardrope-President Merrifield, 1903, regarding recruitment of football players
- Folder 28: Correspondence: Frank Weed-President Merrifield, 1903, regarding Weed's grade in Algebra
- Folder 29: Correspondence from alumni on occasion of the first Founder's Day at UND, 1904
- Folder 30: Correspondence: Charles Amidon-President Merrifield, 1904, regarding appointment to visit with Merrifield
- Folder 31: Correspondence: R.B. Bryan-President Merrifield, 1904, regarding UND accreditation
- Folder 32: Correspondence to President Merrifield regarding convocation speaker, 1904
- Folder 33: Correspondence: Durick and Co.-President Merrifield, 1904, regarding a check
- Folder 34: Correspondence: G.E. Hult-President Merrifield, 1904, regarding Hult's visit to UND
- Folder 35: Correspondence: W.L. Nuessle-President Merrifield, 1904, regarding a gift from Merrifield
- Folder 36: Correspondence: Charles Templeton-President Merrifield, 1904, regarding salaries of domestic servants
- Folder 37: Correspondence: George Bancroft-President Merrifield, 1905, theft of a lamp
- Folder 38: Correspondence: David Boise-President Merrifield, 1905, regarding Budge's residency in Budge Hall
- Folder 39: Correspondence: E.C. Carney-President Merrifield, 1905, regarding Merrifield's efforts to assist Carney in finding a job
- Folder 40: Correspondence: George Johnson-President Merrifield, 1905, regarding a voucher
- Folder 41: Correspondence: John Wood-Merrifield, 1905, regarding Wood's residency on campus
- Folder 42: Correspondence: Andrew Drysdale-President Merrifield, 1906, regarding a course in Pharmacy
- Folder 43: Correspondence: James Foley (ND Governor's Office)-President Merrifield, 1906, regarding the uniform divorce congress
- Folder 44: Correspondence: Ella Fulton-President Merrifield, 1906, regarding Kalamazoo (Michigan) College
- Folder 45: Correspondence: A.J. Gronna-President Merrifield, 1906, regarding the metric system
- Folder 46: Correspondence: Charles Hartwell-President Merrifield, 1906, regarding teacher education at UND
- Folder 47: Correspondence: Lydia Hinman-President Merrifield, 1906, regarding Merrifield's comments on Hinman's essay
- Folder 48: Correspondence: Frank Hitchcock-President Merrifield, 1906, regarding UND and the Bachelor of Arts Degree
- Folder 49: Correspondence: Jas. Jensen-President Merrifield, 1906, regarding invitation for students to visit the President's home
- Folder 50: Correspondence: Leroy Jackson-President Merrifield, 1906, regarding letter of recommendation for a job
- Folder 51: Correspondence: John Johnson and Henry Lykken-President Merrifield, 1906, regarding UND debate team
- Folder 52: Correspondence: Louis Larson-President Merrifield, 1906, regarding Merrifield's address at the dedication of the new high school in Minot
- Folder 53: Correspondence: William Lemke-President Merrifield, 1906, regarding Lemke's sister and UND
- Folder 54: Correspondence: Mrs. H.H. Lykken-President Merrifield, 1906, regarding Cora Lykken's absence from class
- Folder 55: Correspondence: L.C. Lord-President Merrifield, 1906, regarding Lord's lecture at UND
- Folder 56: Correspondence: Cameron Mann-President Merrifield, 1906, regarding a speech Merrifield was to give
- Folder 57: Correspondence: L.L. Martineau-President Merrifield, 1906, Martineau's absence from class
- Folder 58: Correspondence and interview with President Merrifield regarding Rhodes Scholarship, 1906
- Folder 59: Correspondence: Gregor Schmid-President Merrifield, 1906, regarding status of Edward Schmid
- Folder 1: Correspondence: John Amort-President Merrifield, 1900, subject unclear
Browse by Box:
[Box 1],
[Box 2],
[Box 3],
[Box 4],
[Box 5],
[Box 6],
[Box 7],
[Box 8],
[Oversize Folder :],
[Photographs :],
[All]