Guide to the Therese Whitcomb papers
Finding aid prepared by Ashley Toutain
University of San Diego, Archives and Special Collections
Copley Library
5998 Alcalá Park
San Diego, CA 92110
Telephone: 619-260-2730
Email: spcoll@sandiego.edu
© 2016
Overview of the Collection
Title:
Therese Whitcomb papers
Date (inclusive): 1971-1995
Collection number: USDA_2009_023
Creator: Whitcomb, Therese Truitt
Extent:
2 boxes, (1.5 linear feet)
Repository:
University of San Diego, Archives and Special Collections
Copley Library
5998 Alcalá Park
San Diego, CA 92110
Abstract:
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.
Languages:
English
Biographical Note
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.
In addition to her involvement at the University of San Diego, Whitcomb served on the board of many art history and community
organizations. She guided the restoration of the San Luis Rey Mission, Irving Gill's Sacred Heart Church in Coronado, the
San Diego Mission Basilica, and other historic buildings. She served as a trustee of the San Diego Museum of Art and the Timken
Museum, and as a chair for the San Diego County Committee of the National Society of the Colonial Dames of America in California.
Scope and Content Note
The Therese Whitcomb papers document Therese Whitcomb's involvement as an instructor and administrator at the University of
San Diego as well as her involvement in the San Diego community. University and community related correspondence make up the
majority of these records. University correspondence documents the variety of roles Whitcomb held at USD including as the
founder and curator of the Founders Gallery, the Chair of the Department of Art, an art professor, and the Director of Institutional
Design. Whitcomb's correspondence in each of these roles reveals University processes in the 1970s through the 1990s.
Records documenting her community involvement include correspondence, research notes, brochures, plans, and proposals that
Whitcomb put together to advance art education and community beautification. Also reflected in these materials are Whitcomb's
close relationships with University staff and faculty, community members, and her students.
Arrangement
This collection is organized into four series:
Each series is organized in chronological order.
Access Information
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.
Preferred citation
[Folder Title], Box # Folder #, Therese Whitcomb papers, Copley Library, University of San Diego, Archives and Special Collections.
Acquisition Information
Gift of Therese Whitcomb.
Processing Information
This collection was initially processed by Tessie Camina in 2009. Further processing was conducted by Ashley Toutain in 2017.
Related Material
More information on Whitcomb's involvement with the Founders Gallery can be found in The Founders Gallery records.
Index Terms
Subjects and Indexing Terms
Whitcomb, Therese Truitt
Hughes, Author E.
Cosgrove, Thomas
Subjects and Indexing Terms
University of San Diego
Subjects and Indexing Terms
San Diego (Calif.)
Subjects and Indexing Terms
fine arts
galleries (display spaces)
art collections
art exhibitions
Subjects and Indexing Terms
curators
professors
Series I:
General Correspondence,
1970-1995
Scope and Content Note
This series includes correspondence between Whitcomb and those she worked with at USD and in the community. Topics largely
center around her role as art professor and Director of Institutional Design.
Box/Folder: 1 / 1
[Henry Gardiner Correspondence],
1970-1981
Box/Folder: 1 / 2
[Correspondence with Sally Furay],
1971-1992
Box/Folder: 1 / 3
[Correspondence with Author Hughes],
1971-1993
Box/Folder: 1 / 4
[Correspondence - San Diego Historical Society],
1972
Box/Folder: 1 / 5
[Correspondence with Ernest Morin],
1972-1973
Box/Folder: 1 / 6
[General Correspondence],
1972,
1975,
1980,
1992
Box/Folder: 1 / 7
[Lilly Rosa Materials],
1973-1987
Box/Folder: 1 / 8
[Correspondence regarding Faculty Lounge],
1974,
1977
Box/Folder: 1 / 9
[Correspondence with Richard Reilly],
1974-1981
Box/Folder: 1 / 10
[Correspondence with Brent Eagan],
1975,
1994,
1995
Box/Folder: 1 / 11
[John Portman Correspondence],
1976
Box/Folder: 1 / 12
[Correspondence - San Gabriel Mission],
1977
Box/Folder: 1 / 13
[Brezzo Correspondence],
1979-1981,
1988
Box/Folder: 1 / 14
[Correspondence with Thomas Burke],
1980-1989
Box/Folder: 1 / 15
[Correspondence regarding Mission San Fernando],
1981 April
Box/Folder: 1 / 16
[Correspondence regarding Vista newspaper],
1981 May
Box/Folder: 1 / 17
[Correspondence regarding artist Yoshi Nagara],
1984
Box/Folder: 1 / 18
[Cara Kennedy Correspondence],
1985
Box/Folder: 1 / 19-20
[Correspondence with G. R. Durenberger],
1985-1993
Box/Folder: 1 / 21
[Anne Moran Correspondence],
circa 1988
Box/Folder: 1 / 22
[Joel Sweimler Correspondence],
1988,
undated
Box/Folder: 1 / 23
[Correspondence regarding Carlota Duarte],
1988-1990
Box/Folder: 1 / 24
[Notes of Appreciation],
1989-1993,
undated
Box/Folder: 1 / 25
[Correspondence - Sacred Heart Cabinet],
1990
Box/Folder: 1 / 26
[Director of Institutional Design Correspondence],
1990-1995
Box/Folder: 1 / 27
[Correspondence regarding Jenny Craig],
1991 January
Box/Folder: 1 / 28
[General University related Correspondence],
1991,
1992
Box/Folder: 1 / 29
[Derrick Cartwright Articles and Correspondence],
1991-1995
Box/Folder: 1 / 30
[Director of Institutional Design Correspondence with Adrianne Smith],
1992
Box/Folder: 1 / 31
[Founders Gallery Correspondence],
1993-1994
Box/Folder: 1 / 32
[Correspondence and Photographs from Lendy Duda],
1994
Box/Folder: 1 / 33
[Correspondence with Marilyn Bennett],
1994 March
Box/Folder: 1 / 34
[Rainforth Donation Correspondence],
1995
Series II:
Faculty Correspondence,
1970-1994
Scope and Content Note
This series consists of correspondence with and about University of San Diego faculty members.
Access Information
A good portion of this series is restricted for 50 years from creation date. Correspondence available for research includes
that with James Rocha, Duncan McCosker, and Marianne Pfau.
Box/Folder: 1 / 35-48
[Correspondence regarding faculty members],
1970-1994
Series III:
University Records,
1978-1984
Scope and Content Note
Records in this series include memoranda, correspondence, meeting minutes, and planning materials for university related activities.
These records document Whitcomb's work at the University of San Diego serving on various committees, curating exhibitions
for the Founders Gallery, and supporting area cultural institutions. Also included are course materials and records pertaining
to Whitcomb's sabbaticals.
Box/Folder: 1 / 49
[Ana Elizabeth Montforte materials],
1970,
1971,
1992
Box/Folder: 1 / 50
[Knights of Columbus Library exhibit],
1971
Box/Folder: 1 / 51
[Founders Gallery Exhibit list],
1971
Box/Folder: 1 / 52
[Founders Gallery materials],
1971,
undated
Box/Folder: 1 / 53
[Founders Gallery],
1972-1995
Box/Folder: 1 / 54
[Docent Training],
1973-1975
Box/Folder: 1 / 56
[Art Fund - Records],
1974-1992
Box/Folder: 1 / 57
[Liturgical Art],
1977-1988
Box/Folder: 1 / 58
[Honors Convocation],
1977-1990
Box/Folder: 1 / 59
[Mission San Diego Exhibition Design course],
1979
Box/Folder: 1 / 60
[Art Management Certification],
1979-1981
Box/Folder: 1 / 61
[Curatorial Work],
1983,
1986
Box/Folder: 2 / 1
[Sabbatical Report],
1983-1988
Box/Folder: 2 / 2
[Student-Faculty Ratio Trends],
1985
Box/Folder: 2 / 4
[Sabbatical 2],
1986,
1988
Box/Folder: 2 / 5
[Copley Library Exhibit - "Ireland and the Hellenic Tradition],
1988
Box/Folder: 2 / 6
[Program in Art in Public Service proposal],
1989,
1991
Box/Folder: 2 / 7
[Correspondence regarding Art 44 course],
1990
Box/Folder: 2 / 8
[Master of Fine Arts - Cultural Context Course],
1990
Box/Folder: 2 / 9
[Ann McFarland Scholarship for the Study of Decorative Arts],
1990-1991
Box/Folder: 2 / 10
[Course Materials - Catholicism and Western Culture - Pachence],
1992 Fall
Box/Folder: 2 / 11
[Museum Studies Alumni],
1994
Box/Folder: 2 / 12
[Director of Institutional Design - Sharon Siegan Memorial Lecture],
1994
Box/Folder: 2 / 13
[Director of Institutional Design - Torero Manual],
1994
Box/Folder: 2 / 14
[Director of Institutional Design - Vista Article],
1994
Box/Folder: 2 / 15
[Thomas Cosgrove],
1994,
1995
Box/Folder: 2 / 16
[Mission San Diego Loans],
1994
Box/Folder: 2 / 17
[Alumni Admissions Advisory Committee],
1994-1995
Box/Folder: 2 / 18
[Ex Corde Ecclesiae Committee Materials],
1995
Series IV:
Community Involvement,
1978-1984
Scope and Content Note
In addition to the 35 years spent in the Department of Art at the University of San Diego, Whitcomb assisted the surrounding
San Diego community in the areas of art and culture. Materials in this series include brochures, design plans, notes, and
correspondence related to some of Whitcomb's community activities.
Box/Folder: 2 / 20
[Mission San Antonio de Pala],
1976
Box/Folder: 2 / 21
[Assorted Material],
circa 1980
Box/Folder: 2 / 22
[Silver Seal Analysis],
1980
Box/Folder: 2 / 23
[Frank Harmon Myers biography],
1981
Box/Folder: 2 / 25
[College Art Association Conference],
1986
Box/Folder: 2 / 26
[Minge International Museum],
1986
Box/Folder: 2 / 27
[Interfaith Forum on Religion, Art, and Architecture],
1988
Box/Folder: 2 / 28
[Alvarado Water Filtration Plant Design],
1992-1993
Box/Folder: 2 / 29
[College Art Association Conference],
1993