By Karl McCreary
Collection Overview
Title: Azalea House Records, 1953-2014
ID: MSS Azalea
Primary Creator: Azalea House (Corvallis, Or.)
Extent: 15.0 cubic feet. More info below.
Arrangement: The Azalea House Records are arranged into 27 Series: 1. Articles of Incorporation, Tax, and Insurance Records, 1992-2008; 2. Budgetary Materials, 1993-2009; 3. Certificates, 1999-2013; 4. Committees, 1967-2005; 5. Constitutions and Bills of Rights, 1967-2007; 6. Contracts, 1965-2008; 7. Correspondence, 1987-2007; 8. Executive Training and Retreats, 1985-2008; 9. Guestbooks, 1972-2011; 10. Handbooks, 1996-2014; 11. Historical Essays, 1970-ca. 1995; 12. Intercooperative Council/Judicial Board Records, 1965-2011; 13. Meeting Minutes, 1956-2003; 14. Membership Lists, 1958-2014; 15. Notebooks, 1953-2013; 16. Policies and Procedures, 1965-2006; 17. Publications, 1953-2008; 18. Reports, 1953-1999; 19. Signage, ca. 2000-2010; 20. Songs, 1982; 21. Surveys, 1980-1997; 22. Weekly Menus, ca. 2010; 23. Photographs, 1954-2011; 24. Photograph Albums, 1987-2006; 25. Scrapbooks, 1958-2014; 26. Plaques and Trophies, 1960-2014; and 27. Banners, 2014.
Date Acquired: 00/00/2014
Languages of Materials: English [eng]
Abstract
The Azalea House Records were generated and collected by the Azalea House women's cooperative residence at Oregon State University and document the management of the co-op and the daily lives of the residents there during its operation from 1953 to 2014.
The materials in Series 22, Weekly Menus, have been digitize and are available upon request.
Scope and Content Notes
The Azalea House Records reflect the administration of Azalea House through articles of incorporation, budgetary materials, meeting minutes, contracts, handbooks, constitutions, notebooks, policy statements, reports, signage, and surveys. Activities documented in these materials include: budgetary management, convening of house meetings, employment of the house cook, officer training, generation of resident lists, disciplinary action of rule violations, building maintenance, the formation of policies/rules, the tracking of gifts to the house, and assignment of rooms/beds to residents. Social activities, events, and honors/awards received by Azalea House residents are reflected in scrapbooks, photographs, photograph albums, guestbooks, songs, certificates, plaques, trophies, and banners.
The materials in Series 22, Weekly Menus, have been digitize and are available upon request.
Biographical / Historical Notes
Established in 1953 as a women’s cooperative residence, Azalea House had its roots in a 1945 proposal by the Oregon Home Economics Extension Council to address the shortage of campus housing for women. A fundraising drive to raise money for the construction met its goal in 1952 and by fall term of 1953 Azalea House was opened. The name “Azalea” was chosen in a naming contest to honor Mrs. Azalea Sager, an Extension Specialist in Clothing and State Home Demonstration Leader. The building was designed to house 58 residents. Located at 1050 Madison Street, Azalea House's immediate neighbors on the block were three other cooperative living residences (Avery Lodge, Dixon Lodge, and Oxford House). In 2014, citing concerns about costs and needed building renovations, the OSU University Housing and Dining Services closed Azalea House and the other cooperative residences at OSU.
Author: Karl McCreary
Administrative Information
More Extent Information:
2373 photographs; 1 sound recording; 13 boxes, including 7 oversize boxes, and 1 map folder; 9 digital files, 323 KB
Statement on Access:
Collection is open for research.
Acquisition Note:
The bulk of these records were transferred to SCARC by Azalea House residents in 2014 and were added to an existing collection of Azalea House records that had been received in 1991.
Related Materials:
The Special Collections and Archives Research Center holds materials documenting several OSU cooperative houses including the Avery Lodge Records (MSS Avery), the Campus Club Alumni Collection (MSS CampusClub), the Dixon Lodge Records (MSS Dixon), the Kupono Cooperative House Scrapbook (MSS Kupono), the Oxford House Records (MSS Oxford), and the Maple Manor Cooperative House Records (MSS MapleManor).
The University Housing and Dining Services Records (RG 145) reflect the administration of cooperative housing at OSU and contain scrapbooks assembled by residents of Heckart Lodge and Reed Lodge cooperative residences.
Preferred Citation:
Azalea House Records (MSS Azalea), Oregon State University Special Collections and Archives Research Center, Corvallis, Oregon.
Creators
Azalea House (Corvallis, Or.)
People, Places, and Topics
Azalea House (Corvallis, Or.)
College students--Oregon--Corvallis--Social life and customs.
Housing, Cooperative--Oregon--Corvallis.
University History
Women--Education (Higher)--Oregon--Corvallis.
Women--Oregon--Corvallis--Societies and clubs.
Forms of Material
Born digital.
Dance cards.
Film negatives.
Menus.
Notebooks.
Pamphlets.
Photograph albums.
Photographic prints.
Scrapbooks.
Songs (documents).
Sound recordings.
Tape reels.
Box and Folder Listing
- Series 1: Articles of Incorporation, Tax, and Insurance Records, 1992-2008
- Series 1 consists of records relating to taxes, insurance, and incorporation status reflecting the management of Azalea House as a cooperative/non-profit corporation.
- Box-Folder 1.1
- Series 2: Budget Materials, 1993-2009
- Series 2 is made up of budgetary documentation reflecting the cooperative’s management of their accounts.
- Box-Folder 1.2
- Series 3: Certificates, 2014
- Series 3 is comprised of certificates awarded to Azalea House for various honors and recognitions. One of the certificates was awarded to the Azalea House President Jane Stump for her service on the Executive Council.
- Box-Folder 1.3
- Series 4: Committees, 1967-2005
- Series 4 contains materials reflecting Azalea House committee activity and is made up of committee member lists, constitutions, notes, and quarterly reports.
- Box-Folder 1.4
- Series 5: Constitutions/Bill of Rights Statements, 1967-2007
- Series 5 is comprised of constitutions and bill of rights statements. This series includes documentation of proposed amendments, voting tallies, and constitutional changes.
- Box-Folder 1.5: Constitutions/Bill of Rights Statements, 1967-1997
- Box-Folder 1.6: Constitutions/Bill of Rights Statements, 1998-2007
- Series 6: Contracts, 1965-2008
- Series 6 is made up of contracts relating to the employment of the cook for Azalea House, the taking of group shot photographs, and for applying to reside in Azalea House and the OSU cooperative houses. Most of the contracts are completed there are also blank forms.
- Box-Folder 1.7: House Cook, 1979-2008
- Box-Folder 1.8: Photographic Services, 1990-1995
- Box-Folder 1.9: Residence in Azalea House/Cooperatives, 1965-1992
- Series 7: Correspondence, 1987-2007
- Series 7 consists of correspondence received by Azalea House as well as informational letters sent to new and returning residents.
- Box-Folder 1.10: General, 1992-2000
- Box-Folder 1.11: Letters from Alumni, 1991-2007
- Box-Folder 1.12: Summer Letters to New and Returning Members, 1987-2007
- Series 8: Executive Training and Retreat Materials, 1985-2008
- Series 8 contains handouts, handbooks, and other reference materials generated for Azalea officer executive training workshops and retreats. Also included among these materials are meeting minutes, notes, and completed questionnaires.
- Box-Folder 1.13: Executive Training and Retreat Materials, 1985-1999
- Box-Folder 1.14: Executive Training and Retreat Materials, 2003-2008
- Series 9: Guestbooks, 1972-2011
- Series 9 is made up of three guestbooks listing visitors and attendees of various special events at Azalea House.
- Box-Folder 1.15: Guestbooks, 1972-2011
- Box-Folder 1.16: Guestbooks, 1980-2002
- Box-Folder 1.17: Guestbooks, 1993-2005
- Series 10: Handbooks, 1996-2014
- Series 10 consists of handbooks and manuals prepared for management of the budget and service on the Judicial Board.
- Box-Folder 1.18: Food Purchasers’ Manual, 1998
- Box-Folder 1.19: Inter-Cooperative Association Judicial Board Orientation and Training Manual, 2000
- Box-Folder 1.20: Job Packets, 2011/12-2013/14
- Box-Folder 1.21: Treasurer’s Handbooks, 1996-2008
- Series 11: Historical Essays, 1970 - circa 1995
- Series 11 is comprised of essays and writings on the history of Azalea House.
- Box-Folder 1.22: "The Impossible Dream", circa 1995
- Oregon Association for Family and Community Education
- Box-Folder 1.23: Student Cooperative Housing at OSU: 1935-1981, 1981
- Box-Folder 1.24: "This Is Azalea", 1970
- A photocopied section of a scrapbook.
- Series 12: InterCooperative Association and Judicial Board Records, 1965-2011
- Series 12 contains records generated by the Inter Cooperative Association and the Judicial Board that includes bylaws, handbooks, meeting minutes, memoranda, mission statements, notes, policy statements, and reports. Documentation from the Judicial Board reflects the management of house rule violations.
- Box-Folder 1.25: 1965-1993
- Box-Folder 1.26: 1995-2005
- Box-Folder 1.27: 2005-2011
- Series 13: Meeting Minutes, 1953-2003
- Series 13 is made up of minutes and agendas from house-wide meetings and meetings of the Azalea House Advisory Council.
- Box-Folder 2.1: Azalea House Advisory Council, 1958-1961
- Box-Folder 2.2: House Meetings, 1953-1956
- Box-Folder 2.3: House Meetings, 1981-1982
- Box-Folder 2.4: House Meetings, 1991-1993
- Box-Folder 2.5: House Meetings, 1994-1997
- Digital File 6: House Meetings, 2003
- Series 14: Membership Lists, 1958-2014
- Series 14 is made up of lists of Azalea House residents.
- Box-Folder 2.6: Alumni Room Identification Sign-In Sheets, 2014
- Box-Folder 2.7: Executive Officers, 1987-2005
- Box-Folder 2.8: General, 1958-1999
- Series 15: Notebooks, 1953-2013
- Series 15 consists of notebooks and journals containing information about donations given to the house by former residents, colors used in the painting of various rooms, the occurrences of the “candle passing” ceremony, and notes reflecting the work of house executive officers.
- Box-Folder 2.9: Alumni Donors, 2003
- Box-Folder 2.10: Azalea House Journal of Candle Passings, 1997-2009
- Box-Folder 2.11: Azalea Paint Book for Rooms, 2000-2007
- Box-Folder 2.12: Contributions and Gifts to Azalea House, 1953-1957
- Box-Folder 2.13: Executive/Chair Notes, 2003
- Box-Folder 2.14: Executive/Chair Notes, circa 2002
- Box-Folder 2.15: House Manager, circa 2005
- Box-Folder 2.16: Officer Installation Record Keeping, 2006-2010
- Box-Folder 2.17: Vice President's Notes, 1997-2002
- Box-Folder 2.18: Vice President's Notes, 2009-2013
- Series 16: Policies and Procedures, 1965-2006
- Series 16 is made up of checklists, guidelines, and rules outlining policies and procedures for house maintenance, alcohol usage, residential chores, executive officer duties, fire safety, and regulations regarding visitors.
- Box-Folder 2.19: Alcohol Policies, 1992
- Box-Folder 2.20: Associated Women Students (AWS) Regulations, 1965-1967
- Box-Folder 2.21: Cooperative House Director Searches, 1978-1998
- Box-Folder 2.22: Duty Rules and Training, circa 2010
- Box-Folder 2.23: Elections, 1982-1992
- Box-Folder 2.24: Fire Drill and Evacuation Procedures, 1996-2003
- Box-Folder 2.25: House Rules, 1978
- Box-Folder 2.26: Housing Maintenance, 1998
- Box-Folder 2.27: Initiation, 2006
- Box-Folder 2.28: Policy Compliance Statements/Agreements, 1979-1997
- Box-Folder 2.29: President/Vice President Duties, 1986-2004
- Box-Folder 2.30: Room Assignment and Bed Sign Up, 2006
- Box-Folder 2.31: Room Regulations, circa 1995
- Box-Folder 2.32: Tours of the House, circa 1992-2010
- Box-Folder 2.33: Visitation and Security Regulations, 1970-2005
- Box-Folder 2.34: Walk-Ins and Walk-Outs, 1970
- Series 17: Publications, 1953-2008
- Series 17 consists of published material about Azalea House and it's residents. It is made up of newsletters, brochures, and event programs. The programs reflect participation by Azalea House residents in campus events such as the Interfraternity Sing and Mom’s Weekend Turtle Derby races.
- Box-Folder 2.35: Event Programs, 1953-1973
- Box-Folder 2.36: Informational Brochures and Flyers, 1967-1993
- Box-Folder 2.37: Newsletters, 1976-2008
- Series 18: Reports, 1953-1999
- Series 18 contains reports generated by Azalea executive officers and the Benton County Environmental Health Division.
- Box-Folder 2.38: Food Service Inspection Reports, 1995-1999
- Box-Folder 2.39: Furnishings Inventory, 1953
- Box-Folder 2.40: Term Reports to the Dean, 1967
- Series 19: Signage, circa 2000-2010
- Series 19 is made up of signage posted throughout Azalea House indicating quiet hours, rules, and bathroom stall identification. The signs are on sheets of paper and most are laminated.
- Box-Folder 2.41: Signage, circa 2000-2010
- Series 20: Songs, 1982
- Series 20 consists of flyers and booklets with songs written for, and sung by, Azalea House residents.
- Box-Folder 2.42: Songs, 1982
- Series 21: Surveys, 1980-1997
- Series 21 consists of blank and completed questionnaire and survey forms reflecting Azalea House resident opinion on various topics.
- Box-Folder 2.43: Surveys, 1980-1997
- Series 22: Weekly Menus, circa 2010
- Series 22 is made up of flyers listing breakfast/lunch/dinner offerings for several weeks. The contents of the single folder in this series have been digitized and are available by request.
- Box-Folder 2.44: Weekly Menus, circa 2010
- Series 23: Photographs, 1957-2011
- Series 23 is made up of photographic images depicting Azalea House residents in group shots and involved in various activities at the house. In total, there are 585 images in this series (292 negatives, 264 prints, and 29 slides).
- Box-Folder 2.45: Cooperative Houses, 1991-1992
- Box-Folder 2.46: Dad's Weekend, 1965-1988
- Box-Folder 2.47: Group Shots, 1957-1971
- Box-Folder 5.1: Group Shots, 1974/75-1980/81
- Box-Folder 2.48: Group Shots, 2001-2010
- Box-Folder 2.49: Mom's Weekend, circa 1965-1968
- Box-Folder 3.1: Portrait Shots-Unidentified, circa 1998
- Box-Folder 3.2: Presidents of Azalea House, 1954/55-2010/11
- Box-Folder 3.3: Reed's Masquerade Party, 1988
- Box-Folder 3.4: Steak Night with Beaver Lodge, 1988
- Box-Folder 3.5: Various Activities-Unidentified, 1987-1988
- Box-Folder 3.6: Various Activities-Unidentified, 1991-1992
- Map-Folder Box 15: Photograph of Azalea House Building, 1950
- Series 24: Photograph Albums, 1987-2006
- Series 24 is comprised of three photograph albums containing images of events at Azalea House. The albums contain a total of 288 photographic prints.
- Box-Item 3.7: Fall 1987
- Box-Item 10.1: circa 1990
- Box-Item 3.8: 2006
- Series 25: Scrapbooks, 1958-2014
- Series 25 consists of scrapbooks assembled by Azalea residents that contain a combination of photographs, newspaper clippings, dance cards, letters, invitations, greeting cards, event programs, and poems. The scrapbooks document everyday life and special events at the cooperative house as well as news about the members. This series contains 1500 photographic prints, which include images found loose in the scrapbooks.
- Box-Item 5.2: 1958
- Box-Folder 3.9: Loose items from scrapbook, 1958
- Box-Item 6.1: 1960-1965
- Box-Folder 3.10: Loose Items from Scrapbook, 1960-1965
- Box-Item 7.1: 1965/66
- Box-Item 8.1: 1967/68
- Box-Item 6.2: 1968/69
- Box-Folder 3.11: Loose Items from Scrapbook, 1967-1969
- Box-Item 8.2: 1969/70
- Box-Folder 3.12: Loose Items from Scrapbook, 1969/70
- Box-Item 8.3: 1969-1971
- Box-Folder 3.13: Loose Items from Scrapbook, 1969-1971
- Box-Item 3.1: "This Is Azalea", 1970
- Not in folder. Includes reel-to-reel sound recording of initiation speech given annually by Mrs. Sager. Recorded November 5, 1969.
- Box-Item 9.1: 1971-1974
- Box-Folder 3.14: Loose Items from Scrapbook, 1971-1974
- Box-Item 9.2: 1972/73
- Box-Item 7.2: 1972-1978
- Box-Folder 3.15: Loose Items from Scrapbook, 1972-1978
- Box-Folder 3.16: 1981-1985
- Box-Folder 3.17: Loose Items from Scrapbook, 1981-1985
- Box-Folder 3.18: 1985
- Box-Folder 3.19: 1988-1990
- Box-Folder 3.20: Loose Items from Scrapbook, 1988-1990
- Box-Folder 3.21: 1991
- Box-Folder 3.22: 1991
- Box-Folder 3.23: 1992-1994
- Box-Folder 3.24: 1996/97
- Box-Folder 3.25: 1998/99
- Box-Folder 3.26: 1999/2000
- Box-Item 5.3: 2001 (Spring)
- Box-Item 11.1: 2001/02
- Box-Item 10.2: 2002/03
- Box-Item 11.2: 2003/04
- Box-Item 13.1: 2004/05
- Box-Item 11.3: 2005/06
- Box-Item 7.3: 2007/08
- Box-Item 10.3: 2009/10
- Box-Item 12.1: 2010/11
- Box-Item 12.2: 2012/13
- Box-Item 13.2: 2013-2014
- Series 26: Plaques and Trophies, 1960-2014
- Series 26 contains plaques and trophies recognizing Azalea House's participation in various campus competitions and events.
- Box-Item 4.1: OSC Homecoming: House Signs Independent Women's Division-First Place, 1960
- Box-Item 4.2: Interfraternity Council (IFC) Sing-2nd Place, 1969
- Box-Item 4.3: 15th Annual Beta Theta Pi Turtle Derby-Best Dressed Turtle, 1977
- Box-Item 4.4: Homecoming "Repeat The Feat"-1st Place, 1986
- Box-Item 4.5: IFC Sing Participation, 1990
- Box-Item 4.6: 28th Annual Mary's Peak Marathon: Independent Team-3rd Place, 1991
- Box-Item 4.7: IFC Sing Participation, 1991
- Box-Item 4.8: IFC Sing Participation, 1992
- Box-Item 4.9: Social Event of the Year-A Night in Hollywood, 2003/04
- Series 27: Banners, 2014
- Series 27 is made up of two banners containing handwritten messages from Azalea House residents about their favorite memories there.
- Box-Folder 14

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