The Finding Aid of the Voorhis Vikings Alumni Association Records 0048

David Baeza

California State Polytechnic University, Pomona. Special Collections and Archives

2011

3801 West Temple Avenue

Pomona, CA 91768

speccollections@cpp.edu

909-869-3775

Title: Voorhis Vikings Alumni Association Records

Creator: Voorhis Vikings Alumni Association

Identifier/Call Number: 0048

Contributing Institution: California State Polytechnic University, Pomona. Special Collections and Archives

Language of Material: English

Physical Description: 1.5 Linear Feet 1 Container

Date (inclusive): 1964-2002

Abstract: The Voorhis Vikings Alumni Association was an alumni group for former students of the Voorhis School for Boys in San Dimas, California. The School operated from 1928-1938 and served underpriveleged boys from diverse backgrounds. After the School closed in 1938, the campus was donated to the California Polytechnic College (Cal Poly) and would eventually grow into Cal Poly Pomona. The collection includes administrative records of the association, a scrapbook, clippings, and materials about the School's headmaster Jerry Voorhis.

Conditions Governing Access

Advance notice required for access.

Conditions Governing Use

Unpublished manuscripts are protected by copyright. Permission to publish, quote, or reproduce must be secured from the repository and the copyright holder.

Preferred Citation

[Box/folder# or item name], Voorhis Vikings Alumni Association Records, Collection no. 0048, University Archives, Special Collections and Archives, University Library, California State Polytechnic University, Pomona.

Immediate Source of Acquisition

The collection was donated to California State Polytechnic University, Pomona by Ben O'Brien in 2007.

Biographical / Historical

The Voorhis School for Boys was founded Nash Motor Company executive Charles Voorhis in 1928. The Voorhis School was located in San Dimas, California and provided an education and room and board to underprivileged boys. Charles Voorhis' son, Jerry Voorhis (Horace Jeremiah Voorhis, 1901-1984), served as headmaster of the school. The younger Voorhis had developed an interest in education while a student at Yale University and later went on to earn a master's degree in education from the Claremont Graduate School.

Jerry Voorhis ran for Congress at the urging of his friends and, to his surprise, was elected representative of California's 12th congressional district in 1936. He was unable to continue as headmaster of the Voorhis School while serving in Congress and in 1938 his father decided to close the school and donate the campus to the California State Polytechnic College (Cal Poly). The campus operated as the southern satellite of the main campus in San Luis Obispo and eventually developed into the separate university Cal Poly Pomona.

Jerry Voorhis kept in touch with alumni while the School was still in operation. Former students were welcomed back to the campus on weekends and one of the cottages was designated as the Alumni House. After the School closed, alumni formed the Voorhis Viking Alumni Association and would organize reunions at either at the San Dimas campus or at the School Camp in Mammoth Lakes. The Voorhis Vikings maintained the camp for many years until transferring it, along with an endowment to fund "camperships" for especially needy children, to the Boys and Girls Club of East San Gabriel Valley in 1965. They later endowed scholarships at the Claremont Graduate School and Cal Poly Pomona.

Although the Voorhis School was only in operation for ten years, the Alumni Association was active for six decades. Voorhis Vikings went on to distinguish themselves in the armed forces during World War II and the Korean and Vietnam wars, as well as in their professions and ongoing community service.

Scope and Contents

This collection contains files from the Voorhis Viking Alumni, this include meeting minutes, correspondence, newspaper clippings of Jerry Voorhis and the Voorhis campus, materials written by Jerry Voorhis and stories written about him. Also years of the Voorhis Vikings newsletter, directories for members from the Voorhis Alumni and a scrapbook filled with pictures, more newspaper clippings, and items from Jerry Voorhis' memorial.

Related Materials

Beall, Robert S. "History of the Voorhis School for Boys 1928-1938". Senior Project, California State Polytechnic College, Kellogg-Voorhis Campus, 1960.

California State Polytechnic University, Pomona University Archives Oral History Collection, Collection no. 0023, University Archives, Special Collections and Archives, University Library, California State Polytechnic University, Pomona.

Jerry Voorhis Papers. Special Collections, Honnold Mudd Library, Claremont University Consortium.

Kenneth Haun Kitch Papers, Collection no. 0085, University Archives, Special Collections and Archives, University Library, California State Polytechnic University, Pomona.

Voorhis, Jerry. The Education of the Institution Boy: A General Outline of Policies for the Voorhis School for Boys. Dissertation. Pomona College, 1928.

Voorhis, Jerry. The Story of Voorhis School for Boys. San Dimas, CA: Viking Print Shop, Voorhis School for Boys, 1932.

Voorhis Family Collection. Collection no. 0090, University Archives, Special Collections and Archives, University Library, California State Polytechnic University, Pomona.

Processing Information

The collection was processed by David Baeza in 2011. The collection number was changed from UA2011.1 to 0048 and the collection title changed from Voorhis Vikings Alumni Collection to Voorhis Vikings Alumni Association Records in 2020.

Subjects and Indexing Terms

Voorhis School for Boys

California State Polytechnic University, Pomona

Box 1 1964-2002

Physical Description: 1 boxLetter to Ben O'Brien from Ronald R. Simons, thanking him for the donation Print-outs of Voorhis Vikings pages from University Archives website - 2002 Voorhis Campus Historical Photos Voorhis Vikings Association By-laws/ Articles of Incorporation Voorhis Vikings Asssociation Meeting Minutes 1976-2000 Voorhis Alumni Mailing list Voorhis Vikings Newsletter 1978-1989 Voorhis Vikings Christmas Message 1970 - 1978 Voorhis Vikings Christmas Message 1979 - 1984, 1996 Correspondence Between Ben O'Brien and Jerry Voorhis Correspondence Between Ben O'Brien and Gordon Haskell Correspondence of Mary Glasgow Newspaper Clippings about Voorhis Campus Newspaper Clippings about Jerry Voorhis Newspaper Clippings about Jerry Voorhis' Death - 1984 Luncheon Menu with Jerry Voohis Handwritten Notes A speech of Jerry Voorhis - February 15,1964 (includes transcript, notes, and pictures) Voorhis Ecological Reserve Pamphlet and Newspaper Article - 1983 "Poems" book by Jerry Voorhis "The Story Of A High Sierra Camp" by Jerry Voorhis "The Careers of Jerry Voorhis" by Arthur S. Calderwood "Jerry Voorhis As I Knew Him" by Al Berg David S. Burgess Family Letter 1992-1995, 2000 Photocopy of "Poly Vue" 1939 Cassette Tape Labeled Gordon Haskell - Bulgaria June 1990 3-ring Binder contents: Pictures and papers from Voorhis Park Dedication/ Reunion, Photocopies of Historic Photos of Voorhis Campus Newspaper Clippings and Business cards of Robert Minear Items from Jerry Voorhis Memorial Service Photocopies of articles from "Poly Views"