Therese Truitt Whitcomb was the first graduate of the University of San Diego College for Women and taught at the University of San Diego for 35 years. These papers document her work at the University and in the San Diego community between 1971 and 1995.

Therese Whitcomb was the first and only graduate of the San Diego College for Women in 1953 when she received her Bachelor of Arts. She then attended the Art Students League in New York City, and received a Master of Arts from San Diego State University. Upon completion of her MA, Whitcomb became a full-time faculty member at the University of San Diego in 1969 where she taught for 35 years. Whitcomb chaired the Department of Art, established the Founders Gallery, and was the first Director of Institutional Design. In that role, Whitcomb was tasked with preserving the consistency of Spanish Renaissance architecture on campus and ensuring the beautification of building interiors. Whitcomb received the Davies Award for Faculty Achievement in 1985, and was awarded a Doctor of Humane Letters in 2015. As of 2017, she was a Professor Emerita of Art.

The majority of this collection is open for research. Some materials in the Faculty Correspondence series have been restricted for 50 years from creation date.