Administrative Information

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Preferred Citation

Tossie P.F. Whiting Papers, MS-0005, Archives and Special Collections Department, L. Douglas Wilder Library, Virginia Union University

Acquisition Information

Received from Edith Whiting of Richmond, VA., sister-in-law of Tossie Whiting

Biographical/Historical Information

Tossie Permelia Frances Whiting, a native of Richmond, Virginia, was graduated from the high school at Hartshorn Memorial College in 1895. She earned a Bachelor's Degree from the University of Chicago and an M.A. from Columbia University. She worked at Virginia Normal and Industrial Institute (now Virginia State University in Petersburg) from 1904 until she retired in 1948. She was their first Dean of Women from 1919, when the position was created, until 1936 when she became an Associate Professor of English. A dormitory, Whiting Hall, was named after her in 1958. Ms. Whiting received an honorary Doctorate of Humane Letters from Virginia Union University in 1945.

Scope and Content Information

The collection consists mainly of materials related to her role as officer in Hartshorn Memorial College and Virginia Union University alumni associations. The bulk of the collection covers the years 1921 to 1947, when Hartshorn considered becoming a women's college and then merged with Virginia Union (1932). Ms. Whiting was concerned with the role of Hartshorn women in Virginia Union's co-educational atmosphere and alumni association. These materials reveal her efforts to keep the memory of Hartshorn alive after the merger through a scholarship, memorial stone marker, and a "museum" in the basement of the dormitory Hartshorn Hall.

The correspondence is largely form letters to Hartshorn alumnae from Ms. Whiting as Secretary and Chair. The minutes and resolutions are from meetings regarding the future of Hartshorn and include miscellaneous fund raising materials. The lists are numerous, undated updates of the names and addresses of Hartshorn alumnae. The Alumnae Journals are an alumnae letter from 1898 as well as two copies of a journal from 1929. The Bulletins and Catalogs span from 1909 to 1940 and are from both Hartshorn and Virginia Union. There are two copies of the alumnae directory of Hartshorn graduates (1895-1928). The few programs are for Hartshorn events.

Arrangement

Collection is arranged by subject.