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Voorhis Vikings Alumni Collection
UA2011.1
UA2011.1
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Title: Voorhis Vikings Alumni Collection
Identifier/Call Number: UA2011.1
Contributing Institution:
California State Polytechnic University, Pomona
Language of Material:
English
Physical Description:
1.5 Linear feet
1 Container
Date (inclusive): 1964-2002
Shelf Location: California State Polytechnic University, Pomona, University Library, Special Collections, Room 4434, Shelf E-3
This collection contains files from the Voorhis Viking Alumni, this include meeting minutes, correspondence, newspaper clippings
of Jerry Voorhis and the Voorhis campus, materials written by Jerry Voorhis and stories written about him. Also years of the
Voorhis Vikings newsletter, directories for members from the Voorhis Alumni and a scrapbook filled with pictures, more newspaper
clippings, and items from Jerry Voorhis' memorial.
Background on Jerry Voorhis and Voorhis Vikings
Jerry Voorhis always wanted to keep in touch with the alumni of the Voorhis School for Boys. Before the School was closed
in 1938, alumni were welcomed back on weekends, and one of the cottages was designated as the Alumni House. After Jerry was
elected to Congress and the School was closed, he continued to meet with alumni whenever possible. The meetings were ordinarily
held at either the San Dimas property of the former School or at the School Camp in Mammoth Lakes. For many years, the alumni
maintained the Camp. It was turned over to the Boys and Girls Club of East San Gabriel Valley in 1975. It continues to be
operated by the Club as Camp Voorhis Viking. In 2002, 298 children were able to enjoy its outdoor experience. The Voorhis
Viking Alumni Association also gave the Club an endowment fund to provide "camperships" for especially needy children.
Voorhis alumni provided scholarships to worthy students for many years out of the Voorhis Viking Alumni Association treasury.
Later they established a scholarship endowment fund at Claremont Graduate University. Jerry Voorhis had been the first graduate
from that school, earning a Master's degree in history from it in 1928, writing his thesis on "The Education of The Institution
Boy," [Archives LD 7501 V6 V56]. Finally, in 2002, Voorhis alumni established the Jerry Voorhis Memorial Scholarship Fund
at Cal Poly Pomona University. Many homeless and orphaned boys of all races were cared for at the Voorhis School during the
ten-year period it operated. They went on to distinguish themselves in the armed forces during World War II and the Korean
and Vietnam wars, as well as in their professions and ongoing community service. Perhaps the best evidence of the strength
of Jerry's personality and the inspiration he provided is that the Voorhis Viking Alumni Association continued to function
for over 60 years after the Voorhis School for Boys closed. Chris Wain*
Processed by David Baeza
Subjects and Indexing Terms
O'Brien, Ben -- Archives
Voorhis, Jerry, 1901-1984 -- Archives
California State Polytechnic College, Kellogg-Voorhis -- History
California State Polytechnic University, Pomona
Voorhis School for Boys
Voorhis Viking Alumni Association--California State Polytechnic University, Pomona