The Finding Aid for the George Pepperdine College Records 0087
Jamie Henricks, Lindsey Gant, and Kelsey Knox
The processing of this collection and the creation of this finding aid was funded by the generous support of the National
Historical Publications and Records Commission.
Pepperdine University. Special Collections and University Archives.
March 2013
24255 Pacific Coast Highway
Malibu 90263-4786
specialcollections@pepperdine.edu
Language of Material:
English
Contributing Institution:
Pepperdine University. Special Collections and University Archives.
Title: George Pepperdine College Records
Identifier/Call Number: 0087
Physical Description:
11.76 Linear Feet
(12 Hollinger boxes, 1 double VHS box holding a scrapbook (9"), 3 large scrapbook boxes (15" each), and 2 oversize photographs)
Date (inclusive): 1937-1970s
Abstract: The collection contains materials produced by and related to George Pepperdine College. Items in the collection include school
records; recruitment material; memorabilia; publicity and newspaper clippings; programs; college history; photographs of educational
departments, university events, and student life; scrapbooks; and other printed materials. Materials in the collection range
from 1937 to the early 1970s.
Conditions Governing Access
Advance notice required for access.
Conditions Governing Use
Permission to publish, quote, or reproduce must be secured from the repository and the copyright holder.
Preferred Citation
[Box/folder# or item name], George Pepperdine College Records, Collection no. 0087, Special Collections and University Archives,
University Libraries, Pepperdine University.
Immediate Source of Acquisition
Materials were gathered from University Archives files.
Historical note
George Pepperdine College was founded by George Pepperdine, a businessman from Kansas who founded the Western Auto Supply
Company. He made his fortune in the auto supply business and moved to Los Angeles in 1916. Mr. Pepperdine was approached
in 1937 by a friend, Hugh Tiner (a fellow member of the Churches of Christ and supervisor of Los Angeles County high schools),
asking for help starting a Christian college on the west coast. George Pepperdine and Hugh Tiner met with Dr. Batsell Baxter
(former president of Abilene Christian University and David Lipscomb College) in February 1937, and decided to create a four-year
liberal arts college with teachings based in the Christian faith.
They decided on a property in Los Angeles on 79th Street and Vermont Avenue, and George Pepperdine College opened on September
21, 1937 (the date is commemorated annually as Founder’s Day) after only seven months of construction. Approximately 2,000
people came to the school’s opening, with the California governor and Los Angeles Mayor speaking, in addition to Mr. Pepperdine
and Dr. Baxter (the college’s first president).
The campus was formerly a 34-acre estate, with the main home being turned into the President’s House. Two dormitories, an
administration, and a dining hall were the first four buildings built. The school adopted the colors blue and orange and
the nickname "Waves" was suggested by Dr. Baxter. The school newspaper,
The Graphic, also began in 1937 (its name incorporating the initials GPC for George Pepperdine College).
The first commencement graduated four students. Dr. Baxter only stayed as Pepperdine’s president for two years, until June,
1939, when Hugh Tiner took over as President. By 1944, the first graduate degree was being offered (a MA in Religion). After
World War II, many returning soldiers enrolled at Pepperdine. The number of students increased to 1,830 students in 1949.
President Tiner resigned in 1957 and was replaced in July by M. Norvel Young, a former Pepperdine professor and well-known
Churches of Christ pastor, previously at Broadway Church of Christ in Lubbock, Texas.
Enrollment increased from approximately 1,000 students in 1957 to approximately 1,500 students in 1966. Extension programs
for distance education opened around the country and on military bases around the world, starting in 1958. By 1963, the Year-in-Europe
program was established to give students the opportunity to study abroad in Heidelberg, Germany. (Other locations in other
countries were added later.)
By 1968, the administration began looking to expand Pepperdine beyond its Los Angeles campus and selected a site in Malibu
donated by the Adamson family. William S. Banowsky became the next president in 1971. January 1, 1971, was when Pepperdine
officially became a university. In the fall of 1972, the Malibu campus was opened to students. Other programs off campus
were added, such as the School of Law, School of Continuing Education, the Graduate School, and others.
Enrollment declined and programs were dropped on the Los Angeles campus after the Malibu campus opened. Eventually, the Los
Angeles college of letters, arts, and sciences (reorganized as the School of Professional Studies) was closed down after the
1980-1981 school year. The Los Angeles Campus was sold in part for housing development, but most of the property is used by
the Crenshaw Christian Center church.
Historical information taken from information gathered from the University Archives as well as from the Pepperdine History
page (http://www.pepperdine.edu/about/pepperdine/history/).
Scope and Content
The collection contains materials produced by and related to George Pepperdine College, before Pepperdine became a university.
Items in the collection include school records (such as grade books for a range of classes from the late 1930s; a physical
plant survey of campus buildings with construction information and photographs; registrar schedules for a range of classes;
a manual of standard procedures; policy and organization manuals;
The Graphic statement of ownership; work study application forms; and a ten year building plan from 1960-1970); recruitment material
(such as a copy of
Speech Activities magazine advertising courses at Pepperdine; and materials for a range of academic programs, such as brochures, flyers and
applicant instructions); publicity and newspaper clippings (about campus events, individuals, and issues including the Larry
Kimmons shooting case); chapel bulletins from 1959 to 1961; college historical information (including the chain of title of
the Pepperdine land, a history of buildings on campus, and other papers); committee meeting minutes (for the GPC Departmental
Council, Curriculum Committee, and Scholarship and Academic Life Committee); and other printed materials.
Other items include memorabilia (including decals and stickers); photographs (of subjects such as coaching clinics, gifts,
educational departments, debates, conferences, the Delores statue, Normandy Village, registrar, religious life, musical groups,
campus life, building constructions, campus buildings, and the intersection of 79th and Vermont at 5-year intervals between
1920 and 1940); VHS and DVD copies of the film
21 Years (an advertising film describing Pepperdine's history after 21 years of being open); and six scrapbooks (on general college
topics as well as specific departments including the music department, and one commemorative scrapbook showing Mercury cars
around Pepperdine). Materials in the collection range from approximately 1937 to the early 1970s.
Arrangement
The collection is organized in the following series: Series 1. Printed Materials; Series 2. Photographs; Series 3. Film --
21 Years; and Series 4. Scrapbooks.
Processing Information note
The collection was arranged and described by Jamie Henricks and Lindsey Gant in March, 2013. It was updated by Kelsey Knox
in June, 2015.
Related Archival Materials
Earl Vivon Pullias Papers, Collection no. 0009, Special Collections and University Archives, University Libraries, Pepperdine
University.
George Pepperdine Family Papers, Collection no. 0026, Special Collections and University Archives, University Libraries, Pepperdine
University.
Howard A. White Papers, Collection no. 0010, Special Collections and University Archives, University Libraries, Pepperdine
University.
Hugh Marvin Tiner Papers, Collection no. 0101, Special Collections and University Archives, University Libraries, Pepperdine
University.
James L. Lovell Papers, Collection no. 0011, Special Collections and University Archives, University Libraries, Pepperdine
University.
M. Norvel and Helen Young Papers, Collection no. 0014, Special Collections and University Archives, University Libraries,
Pepperdine University.
Pepperdine University Annual Reports, Collection no. 0071, Special Collections and University Archives, University Libraries,
Pepperdine University.
Pepperdine University Archives Publications, Collection no. 0064, Special Collections and University Archives, University
Libraries, Pepperdine University.
Pepperdine University School of Professional Studies Records, Collection no. 0092, Special Collections and University Archives,
University Libraries, Pepperdine University.
Pepperdine University Student Life Collection, Collection no. 0079, Special Collections and University Archives, University
Libraries, Pepperdine University.
Subjects and Indexing Terms
Memorabilia
Memorandums
Fliers (Printed matter)
Handbooks, manuals, etc.
Los Angeles (Calif.) -- History
Universities and colleges -- California -- History
Photographs
Programs
Brochures
Clippings
Advertisements
Articles
Scrapbooks
Pepperdine College
box 1, box 2, box 3, box 4, box 5
Series 1:
Printed Materials
box 2, folder 1
ACA Program Brochures
1941-1970
box 2, folder 3
Arlene Fulmer Interview Transcript
History of Pepperdine College Property
1964 October
box 2, folder 4
Audrey Gardner's Paper on Pepperdine History
1975
box 2, folder 7
Case Statement (Pepperdine College)
1968
box 2, folder 8
Chain of Title. from Mexican Government to GPC
1937- 1938
box 2, folder 10
Chapel Bulletins GPC
1960- 1961
box 1
City of Los Angeles Proclamation "Pepperdine Day"
2 April
box 2, folder 11
Curriculum Committee
1958
box 2, folder 12
Decals and Stickers
unknown
box 2, folder 13
Departmental Council Meeting Minutes
1960 October
box 2, folder 14
ELEM Credential Bulletin
1940
box 2, folder 15
Faculty Bulletin
1945 September
box 2, folder 16
Forest Lawn Writing Contest
1948- 1964
box 2, folder 17
Forum Arts Brochures
1949- 1958
box 2, folder 18
GPC Application Blanks, Work Study
unknown
box 1
George Pepperdine College Gradebook
1938-1939
box 1
George Pepperdine College Gradebook
1937-1939
box 3, folder 1
George Pepperdine College History
1950's to 1960's
box 3, folder 2
GPC Housing Booklet
1970 January
box 3, folder 3
George Pepperdine College Instructional Staff
1946- 1947
box 3, folder 4
George Pepperdine College Memorabilia
unknown
box 3, folder 5
George Pepperdine College Memorabilia
1946- 1997
box 3, folder 6
GPC Newspaper Clippings
1940- 1997
box 5, item 1
GPC Physical Plant Survey
1952 January 26
box 5, item 2
GPC Physical Plant Survey Folder no.2
1953 June 23
box 3, folder 7
GPC Recruitment Material
1945-1947
box 3, folder 9
Graphic Statement of Ownership
1965
box 3, folder 10
History of Pepperdine Newspaper Clippings
1950's-1960's
box 3, folder 11
History of Pepperdine Newspaper Clippings
1960
box 3, folder 12
Interview transcript on Pepperdine's Board of Trustees
1997
box 3, folder 13
Larry Kimmons Shoot Clip
16 March 1969
box 4, folder 1
Letter from Batsell Baxter to Dr. Coons
1937 July 20
box 4, folder 2
Master Calendar
1963-1964
box 4, folder 3
Music Department Brochures GPC
1944-1971
box 4, folder 4
Notes on GPC building style (typed)
undated
box 4, folder 5
Pepperdine Alma Mater Fight Song
1990 January
box 4, folder 6
Pepperdine: Brainstorming Session
1990 January
box 4, folder 7
Pepperdine College Manual of Standard Procedures
1967-1971
box 4, folder 8
Pepperdine College Miscellaneous
1940-1994
box 4, folder 9
Policy and Organizational Manual
1967 April
box 4, folder 10
Prominent Alumni
2001-2005
box 4, folder 11
Publicity Items
1942-1945
box 4, folder 12
Publications for Publicity
undated
box 4, folder 13
Recruitment Materials from George Pepperdine College
1966
box 1
Religion 5A Bible Course Study Guide
unknown
box 4, folder 14
Religion Division File
1963
box 4, folder 15
Scholarship and Academic Life Committees
1960
box 4, folder 16
Skit Script for First Yearbook
1939
box 5, folder 1
"Speech Activities" feature on Pepperdine College
1949 Autumn
box 5, folder 2
10 Year Building Plan
1960-1970
box 5, folder 3
Tracts and Advertisements
1949-1962
box 6, box 7, box 8, box 9, box 10, box 11
University Events Misc. Photos
1973
box 3
Negatives of George Pepperdine College Memorabilia
box 6, folder 1
Academic Life Building
undated
box 6, folder 2
Administration Building
1963, undated
box 6, folder 3
Album with Dick Whittington Photographs--mostly groups of people
1944-1945
box 6, folder 4
Annual Pepperdine College Event
1970 April
box 6, folder 6
Auxiliary Services
undated
box 6, folder 7
Aviation Management
undated
box 6, folder 10
Business Administration Building
1961
box 7, folder 1
Cafeteria, Bookstore, Oasis
undated
box 7, folder 2
Chemistry Department
1969-1970
box 7, folder 3
Coaching Clinic Photos
1973
box 7, folder 5
Corner Building with Tower
undated
box 7, folder 10
Early Photographs
1938-1972
box 7, folder 11
Early Individual Photos
undated
box 7, folder 12
Education Centers- Negatives
undated
box 7, folder 13
Education Department Photos
1964-1978
box 8, folder 1
English Department
undated
box 8, folder 2
Ethnic Studies Department
box 8, folder 3
Fine Arts Building
undated
box 8, folder 4
First Graduating Class
1938 June 6
box 8, folder 6
George Pepperdine College Slides
undated
box 8, folder 7
George Pepperdine College
undated
box 8, folder 9
History and Political Science
undated
box 8, folder 11
Home Economics Building
undated
box 8, folder 12
Journalism Department
1970-1975
box 8, folder 13
LA Campus and First Graduating Class
1938
box 8, folder 14
LAC Architectural Renderings
undated
box 8, folder 15
LA Campus Building
undated
box 9, folder 1
LA Campus General Photographs
1970-1974
box 9, folder 2
Language Department
undated
box 9, folder 3
Last Days of George Pepperdine College
undated
box 9, folder 4
Lawhorn and Baxter Halls
1963, undated
box 9, folder 5
Los Angeles Campus
1977 March 14
box 9, folder 6
Los Angeles Campus
1977 June 8
box 9, folder 7
Marilyn Hall
1960-1961, undated
box 9, folder 8
Manchester and Vermont Intersection--Panoramas Every 5 Years
1920-1940
box 9, folder 10
Merlyn Lund Collection
1960-1962
box 9, folder 11
Musical Groups and Events
undated
box 9, folder 13
Normandie Village Photographs
undated
box 9, folder 15
Original LA Campus Slides
1937-1972
Scope and Contents
Includes many slides from "Crest of a Golden Wave."
box 10, folder 2
Photo Negatives of GPC Memorabilia
undated
box 10, folder 3
Photographs from Fred Woflforth
undated
box 10, folder 5
Physical Education Department
undated
box 10, folder 6
Photographs and Negatives of L.A. Campus
undated
box 10, folder 8
Private Music Lessons
undated
box 10, folder 10
Psychology Department Photographs
1975-1976
box 11, folder 2
Religion Department
undated
box 11, folder 4
School of Professional Studies, Los Angeles Campus
1978 March 9
box 11, folder 6
Seaver Learning Center / School of Education
undated
box 11, folder 7
Slides of Los Angeles Campus
1950-1970
box 11, folder 8
Social Science Department
undated
box 11, folder 9
Speech Department
1959-1971
box 11, folder 11
Unlabeled Photographs
undated
box 11, folder 13
University Events: Misc. Photos
1973
box 11, folder 14
Various Early GPC Photographs
undated
box 11, folder 16
Various Music Department
undated
box 11, folder 17
Various Photographs
1986, undated
box 12
Series 3:
Film --
21 Years
box 12
"21 Years" DVD and ticket
1958
box 12
"21 Years" VHS tape
1958
Existence and Location of Copies
3 copies in Box 12
Scrapbook Dedicated to Henry Ford and George Pepperdine
undated
George Pepperdine College Scrapbook
undated
Scrapbook
1938-1939
Scope and Contents
Scrapbook filled with newspaper clippings about George Pepperdine College.
George Pepperdine College Newspaper Clipping Scrapbooks
undated
Mu Phi Epsilon Scrapbook
undated
Light Fixture from GPC campus
undated