Access & Use

Biography
William Whitcomb Whitehouse began his career at Albion College in the fall of 1918. Unable to serve during World War II as an army chaplain due to a lack of citizenship papers, he offered his services to the YMCA instead. First sent to Fort Custer, Michigan, to work as an educational secretary, he was transferred in September of 1918 to Albion College to work with SATC men. At the end of WWII, he left Albion and moved to a pastorate in Parma, MI.

In 1922, Dr. John Laird, then President of Albion College, offered Whitehouse a faculty position as Professor of Economics and Sociology. Whitehouse held this position for 7 years before accepting the Deanship from President John Seaton on March 2, 1929. During his time as Dean, Whitehouse helped to institute the sabbatical at Albion: a semester at full pay and a year at half pay. He was also much beloved by faculty, staff and students alike, as was illustrated by the dedication in the 1930 Albionian: "Dedication to Dean William W. Whitehouse, who during the past year as Dean, has won the respect, admiration and love of all the students, we dedicate this book."

In 1939, however, Whitehouse was offered a position as the Dean of the College of Liberal Arts at Wayne University for considerably more compensation than what he was receiving at Albion. His colleagues insisted he take the position and wished him well in his future endeavors.

His future endeavors, in 1945, turned out to be the Presidency of Albion College. William W. Whitehouse was inaugurated as the 15th president of Albion College on April 26, 1946.

During his term of office, Whitehouse was able to raise the "book value" of the College endowment from $2,500,000 in 1945 to $7,000,000 in 1959. He also managed to build 2 additional facilities on campus and renovate 4 more:

• October 15, 1948: Men's dormitory cornerstone laid (Seaton Hall)

• 1949: North Hall renovated

• 1951: Additions to Seaton Hall

• August 1952: Building of the Baldwin Hall dining facility begun

• October 9, 1954: Additions to Susannah Wesley Hall begun

• 1956: Goodrich Memorial Chapel dedication ceremony

Scope & Content
The Presidential Papers of William Whitcomb Whitehouse cover the years 1922 to 1996, with the bulk of the collection from 1950 to 1959. The collection is primarily comprised of notes for speeches and lectures. There are some newspaper clippings, receipts and miscellaneous documents as well. Many of the documents deal with aspects of education.

The Collection consists of 8 series:

Series 1: Speeches, Lectures and Notes
Series 2: Miscellaneous
Series 3: Newspaper Clippings
Series 4: Receipts
Series 5: Autograph Books
Series 6: Awards & Certificates
Series 7: Artifacts
Series 8: Photographs

Series Description
Series 1: Correspondence, 1955-1960, n.d.
This series is arranged chronologically and contains letters related to Albion College publications and events.

Series 2:  Speeches, Lectures and Notes, 1939-1964 (1.25 lin. ft.)
This series is arranged alphabetically and includes notes, research and handwritten manuscripts for speeches and lectures given by W.W. Whitehouse. These speeches were presented to various organizations and conferences, as well as Albion College Baccalaureate Services. Most of them were focused around the subject of education, but others were concerned with democracy and the future of America.

Series 3:  Miscellaneous, 1960
Included in this series is a publication by Dr. Whitehouse, dated January 1960, entitled, “Some Philosophical Thoughts on Albion College and Higher Education.  There is another publication from 1960, “Can We Win: The Economic Race With Russia.”  This was an address given by Carrol M. Shanks of the Prudential Insurance Company of America.  Also included in this series are several itineraries and a poem titled, “Dr. Whitehouse’s Soliloquy (On Meeting John Bromley, an Old Grad).”

Series 4:  Newspaper Clippings, 1948-1964
This series contains news clippings about politics.  The Cold War, social reforms, education, and socialism are primary topics.  Other topics include depression, commerce, a new defense budget and “paperback pornography.”  In this series there is a speech titled, “Formula for Living,” which appears to be based on the research gathered from the enclosed clippings.

Series 5:  Receipts, 1949-1959
Receipts included in this series from various hotels date from 1949 to 1952 and 1958 to 1959.  There are also transportation receipts.  These are for airplane tickets, train tickets, and receipts from the Automobile Club of Michigan.  These are dated between 1950 and 1959.

Series 6: Certificates & Awards, 1922-1996
This series contains diplomas awarded Dr. Whitehouse, as well as certificates and plaques presented to him and his wife, Adele, in recognition of their service to the College.

Series 7: Artifacts, 1946
Artifacts in this series consist of the robe, hoods and cap from Dr. Whitehouse’s inauguration as Albion president. 

Series 8: Photographs, 1931-1964, n.d.
This series contains black and white images of the dedication ceremonies and construction for the William W. Whitehouse Residence Hall, the Dorothy McVittie Dining Room, Goodrich Chapel, and married student housing. There are also images of new buildings and additions during Whitehouse’s tenure, including the east and west wings of the Susannah Wesley Residence Hall and the Baldwin Dining Hall with the Mary Sykes Dining Room and student center. There are also a number of group photographs of Whitehouse attending an A Club dinner, the Michigan Colleges Foundation Proclamation ceremony, a birthday celebration for the 125^th anniversary of the college charter, and the Battle Creek Country Club spring “informal” from 1931. In addition, there are images of Dr. Whitehouse standing with his wife inside 501 Michigan Avenue, speaking on University of Michigan television, riding in the parade and cutting the ribbon for the Whitehouse Hall dedication and receiving the plaque found in Box 4. The Albion Gambles and hardware stores are in the background of the parade images. Other photographs include those of former President Seaton, an aerial view of the campus, a group at the 1959 Homecoming, a sketch of the Stockwell Memorial Library, and a photograph of Whitehouse at the presentation of a plaque and portrait in honor of Dale R. Sprankle.

Inventory