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Washington State University Libraries
Manuscripts, Archives, and Special Collections
Pullman, WA 99164-5610 USA
(509) 335-6691
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Archives 131
Washington State University Classes
Records, 1900-1966

The records of the class governments have been deposited in the Washington State University Manuscripts-Archives Division from a variety of sources: individual student leaders, faculty advisors, and, for the post-war era, from among the records of the ASWSU Activity Center which provided administrative and secretarial services to student organizations. These records were inventoried by Terry Abraham and Ross James Pegler, April and May 1976.

Number of Containers: 3
Linear Feet of Shelf Space: 1.5
Approximate Number of Items: 550

Records of the class governments include minutes, correspondence, programs, broadsides, class lists and other papers.

Among the major student political organizations during the first fifty years of Washington State University were the class governments. Each group of students would, when entering school as freshmen, establish a political organization that would often far outlast their four years of college attendance. Remnants are still seen today in class reunions and Golden Grad celebrations every spring. But up until the post-war years, the student government as provided by the class organizations was the principle means of student organization and activities. With the rise of the Associated Students of Washington State University (ASWSU) the class organizations were relegated to a more social than political role. The student's voice to the university administration was now channelled through the ASWSU, thereby drawing on the support of all the students en masse rather than the approximately one-quarter of the student body which comprised an individual class. And in the early days particularly there was sufficient inter-class rivalry that any unified action was nearly prohibited. E. A. Bryan's Historical Sketch of the college has almost no mention of the associated students although he lists the presidents of that group from 1901.

CONTAINER LIST

Box  Description
1W.S.U. Classes
   Papers, 1900-
   Announcements, broadsides, programs, class lists and other miscellaneous papers.
W.S.U. Class of 1904
   Minutes, 1903-1904. 1 v. ms.
W.S.U. Class of 1908
   Minutes, 1905-1908. 1 v. ms.
W.S.U. Class of 1910
   Minutes, 1906-1910. 1 v. ms.
W.S.U. Class of 1914
   Minutes, 1910-1914.1 v. ms.
   Includes minutes of the W.S.U. Department of Elementary Science Class of 1910.
   Gift of Mrs. A. T. Flagg, 1964.
W.S.U. Class of 1922
   Minutes, 1918-1922. 1 v. ms.
W.S.U. Class of 1924
   Minutes, 1920-1924. 1 v. ms.
W.S.U. Class of 1940
   Papers, 1939-1940. 5 items.
   Letters and constitution, bills and receipts.
   Gift of H. J. Deutsch.
W.S.U. Class of 1946
   Annual senior ball dance program, May 18, 1946.1 item.
2W.S.U. Class of 1947
   Papers, 1946-1947. 13 items.
   Class constitution, organization membership lists, Class President's reports and clippings.
W.S.U. Class of 1948
   Papers, 1946-1949. 23 items.
   Class President's reports, correspondence, annual organization membership lists, clippings, Junior and Senior Ball information.
W.S.U. Class of 1949
   Papers, 1945-1949. 28 items and 1 v.
   Annual dances information and arrangements, membership lists, correspondence, clippings, treasurer's records, and announcements.
W.S.U. Class of 1950
   Papers, 1946-1950. 110 items and 1 v.
   Minutes, financial records, broadsides, correspondence, membership lists, President's report, and clippings.
W.S.U. Class of 1951
   Papers, 1948-1951. 20 items and 1 v.
   Minutes, financial records, correspondence, constitution, clippings, and memorandum.
W.S.U. Class of 1952
   Papers, 1948-1953. 50 items and 1 v.
   Minutes, financial records, Correspondence, class officers roster, prom committee organization, and class treasurer's record book.
W.S.U. Class of 1953
   Papers, 1950-1952. 15 items.
   Minutes, financial and budget records, correspondence, and advisory report.
W.S.U. Class of 1954
   Papers, 1950-1954. 2 items and 1 v.
   Budget and request forms; treasurer's record book.
3W.S.U. Class of 1955
   Papers, 1953. 1 item.
   Facilities request form.
W.S.U. Class of 1956
   Papers, 1953-1956. 4 items.
   Treasurer's records, minutes, and Junior Prom report.
W.S.U. Class of 1958
   Papers, 1957-1958. 56 items.
   Minutes and agendas, correspondence, financial records, and commencement arrangement information.
W.S.U. Class of 1959
   Papers, 1956. 1 item.
   Sophomore class notes and minutes.
W.S.U. Class of 1960
   Papers, 1956-1960. 14 items.
   Correspondence, budget records, and telegrams.
W.S.U. Class of 1961
   Papers, 1948-1966. 46 items and 1 v.
   Memoranda, reports, minutes, correspondence, and leadership conference records and information.
W.S.U. Class of 1962
   Papers, 1960. 4 items.
   Correspondence and leadership conference records and materials.
W.S.U. Class of 1963
   Papers, 1960-1963. 32 items.
   Correspondence; financial records; and leadership conference records, evaluations, reports, arrangements, minutes, and agendas.
W.S.U. Class of 1964
   Papers, 1962-1964. 13 items and 1 v.
   Treasurer's records and budgetary information; committee membership, reports, minutes and agendas.
W.S.U. Class of 1965
   Papers, 1963-1965. 37 items.
   Memoranda, minutes, agendas, broadsides, reports, correspondence, and leadership conference materials.
W.S.U. Class of 1966
   Papers, 1962-1965. 32 items.
   Minutes, reports, broadsides, clippings, and committee assignment rosters.
W.S.U. Class of 1967
   Papers, 1963-1965. 24 items.
   Minutes and organizational materials, leadership conference records, memoranda, correspondence, clippings, broadsides, reports, and membership lists.
W.S.U. Class of 1968
   Papers, 1964-1966. 9 items.
   Minutes, memoranda and final report on class government evaluation.