Richard M. Nixon Collection, 1930-1994

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Summary

Creators:
Whittier College Peck, Bryam Nixon, Richard M. -- (Richard Milhous), -- 1913-1994 Whittier College Special Collections & Archives Bryam Peck
Abstract:
Extent:
110 boxes (577 linear feet)
Language:
Preferred citation:

Richard M. Nixon Collection . Whittier College - Wardman Library

Background

Scope and content:

The Collection includes various materials pertaining to Nixon’s college years, Congressional, Senatorial, Vice Presidential and Presidential offices; an eclectic collection of campaign ephemera, political cartoons, memorabilia, general correspondence, appearances, invitations, foreign trips, gifts, newspaper clippings, photographs, souvenirs, brochures, audio visual, periodicals and monograph publications.

Biographical / historical:

United States politician Richard Milhous Nixon served as a member of the House of Representatives (1947-1950), the Senate (1950-1952), as Vice President (1952-1961), and as the thirty-seventh president of the United States (1968-1974). He was born on the Nixon family lemon farm in Yorba Linda, California, on January 9, 1913. During childhood, Nixon regularly attended Quaker services in Whittier, California, where the family moved in 1922 after the farm failed and where Nixon's father ran a grocery store. Nixon attended Whittier College where he excelled as a student and debater. He was president of his freshman class and president of the student body during his senior year, participated in the football, basketball, track, and debate teams, and co-founded the Orthogonian Society. Graduating second in his class in 1934, he won a scholarship to study law at Duke University. At the age of 26, Nixon was elected to the Whittier College Board of Trustees. During this time, Nixon met Thelma Catherine Patricia (Pat) Ryan, a high school teacher. They married in 1940 and had two daughters, Patricia and Julie. Nixon entered the Navy as a lieutenant junior-grade in August 1942 in order to serve in the Second World War. After the Navy, a group of Whittier Republicans asked him to run for Congress; Nixon agreed and began his political career in earnest. That career concluded on August 9, 1974 when he resigned from the Presidency after being impeached for his role in the Watergate scandal. As a private citizen, Nixon visited a variety of countries on behalf of the U.S., consulted with the Bush and Clinton Administrations, and wrote memoirs and books on international politics. Nixon died of a stroke on April 22, 1994. The Nixon Collection contains one sub-series, the Gloria Gae Gellman Papers. This finding aid was created by Paige Harris in 2023.

Acquisition information:
A significant portion of this collection was donated by Bryam Peck. Other contributors include Irwin F. Gellman.

Access and use

Restrictions:

The collection is open for research use except where otherwise noted.

Terms of access:

Authorization to publish, quote, or reproduce must be obtained from Wardman Library, Whittier College.

Preferred citation:

Richard M. Nixon Collection . Whittier College - Wardman Library

Location of this collection:
7031 Founders Hill Road
Whittier, CA 90602, US
Contact:
(562) 907-4247
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