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Purdue Alumni Association

 Organization

Historical Information

The Purdue Alumni Association (PAA) is an independently financed, nonprofit alumni organization. Through the support of dues-paying members worldwide, it offers its services to all alumni, as well as funding for programs, services, and scholarships offered by the PAA and alumni clubs and groups.

Founded in 1878 as "The General Alumni Association," the association’s purpose was to allow graduates to keep in touch with one another and served as the first entity on campus that communicated to alumni. Satellite clubs were later formed in other parts of the country, with Chicago and Indianapolis being the first in 1890.

In 1907, the Purdue University Alumni Bulletin became the PAA’s first publication. It was later renamed to the Bulletin of the Purdue Alumni Association (1909), before arriving at its current name, the Purdue Alumnus, in 1914.

In 1927, a state statute was enacted which increased the alumni-elected trustees to the Purdue University Board of Trustees from one to three. Until that time, George Ade had been the sole alumni trustee.

In 2004, The PAA moved to the Dick and Sandy Dauch Alumni Center on the south side of campus. In 2021, they merged with the Purdue for Life Foundation.

Citation

"About," Purdue Alumni Association. Accessed September 27, 2022. https://www.purduealumni.org/about

Found in 21 Collections and/or Records:

George Ade papers

 Collection — Multiple Containers
Identifier: MSA 4
Scope and Contents The George Ade papers (1878-1947; 29 Cubic ft.) document the personal and professional life of author, humorist, and playwright George Ade. The collection includes original writings, manuscripts, personal correspondece, photographic materials, and artifacts. Notable persons include: John T. McCutcheon, William Dean Howells, Mark Twain, Booth Tarkington, James Whitcomb Riley, W.C. Fields, Will Rogers, Elsie Janis, Theodore Dreiser, "Chick" Evans, Orson Welles, Kin Hubbard, Theodore...
Dates: 1878 - 2007; Majority of material found within 1890 - 1943

Purdue Alumni Association records

 Collection — Multiple Containers
Identifier: UA 182
Scope and Contents The Purdue Alumni Association (PAA) records consist of material documenting the history and activity of the PAA. Also included are records relating to the various local and regional Purdue alumni clubs affiliated with the PAA, as well as the records of the PAA’s affiliate organization, the Purdue Black Alumni Organization (PBAO).The collection includes correspondence between PAA members, alumni, and outside organizations; PAA election ballots, financial documents, committee reports,...
Dates: 1887 - 2020; Majority of material found within 1907 - 1948

Alumni Groups reel to reel

 Unprocessed — Box: Reel 1
Identifier: 20110601.7

Arthur and Roberta Bitzer papers

 Collection — Box: Communal Collections 3, Placement: 17
Identifier: MSA 259
Scope and Contents The Arthur and Roberta Bitzer photographs, schedule card and buttons are from the Bitzer's time as students at Purdue University. Types of materials include: black and white photographs of campus scenes and student life, a schedule card and buttons.
Dates: 1937 - 1942

Allen C. Boggs collection

 Collection — Box: Communal Collections 3, Placement: 18
Identifier: MSA 55
Scope and Contents Receipt - Purdue Alumni Association Life Membership, 1920 (Initialed "Paid HGL," by Harry G. Leslie, '04, who was executive director of the Association at that time, and who later was elected Governor of Indiana.)
Dates: 1920

Dauch Alumni Association collection

 Unprocessed — Multiple Containers
Identifier: 20190730

Dauch Alumni Center records

 Collection — Multiple Containers
Identifier: UA 137
Scope and Contents The Dauch Alumni Center records contain an information booklet describing the center's purpose and offerings to the Purdue Community as well as a floorplan of the building.
Dates: 2004

Edward C. Elliott papers

 Collection — Multiple Containers
Identifier: UA 50
Scope and Contents The Edward C. Elliott Papers (1890-1975; 22.8 Cubic ft.) document the life and career of educator and former Purdue University President Edward Elliott. The majority of the papers date from 1940 to 1960. The papers reflect the original order as they were received from Elliott and his family, and therefore have not been divided into series or subject areas. The Elliott Papers document Elliott's education and career, particularly his tenure as President of Purdue University (1922-1945),...
Dates: 1890-1975; Majority of material found within 1940-1960; Other: Date acquired: 11/30/1959

J. C. Allen and Son, Inc. photographs and negatives, addition 10

 Unprocessed — Box: Communal Accessions 3
Identifier: 20111019

Louise Evans papers, addition 03

 Unprocessed — Multiple Containers
Identifier: 20201117

Mary Alice Grande papers

 Unprocessed — Box: Communal Accessions 62
Identifier: 2024-042
Dates: April 26, 1950 - April 29, 1950

Purdue Alumni Association DVDs

 Unprocessed — Multiple Containers
Identifier: 2022-133
Dates: Majority of material found within 2005 - 2010

Purdue Alumni Association records, addition 01

 Unprocessed — Multiple Containers
Identifier: 20190607.1

Purdue Alumni Association records, addition 02

 Unprocessed — Multiple Containers
Identifier: 20200914
Dates: circa 1950s to 2010s

Purdue Alumni Association records, addition 03

 Unprocessed — Multiple Containers
Identifier: 20190522.2

Purdue University Office of Publications Oral History Program collection

 Collection — Multiple Containers
Identifier: MSO 2
Scope and Contents The Purdue Office of Publications Oral History Program collection documents Purdue University history through oral history interviews with Purdue University professors and administrators. Types of materials include: printed material, cassette tapes, reel-to-reel tapes, compact discs, and digital materials. Interview topics include Purdue history and changes in administration and academic departments.
Dates: 1969 - 1989; Majority of material found within 1970 - 1972

Purdue University Alumni Directory card

 Collection — Box: Communal Collections 66, Placement: 04, Folder: 1
Identifier: UA 171
Scope and Contents The collection consists of one card from the Alumni Address Department dated December 28, 1927 and addressed to Mr. Raymond Jolly.
Dates: 1927

Purdue University Newsreels and Year in Review recordings

 Collection — Multiple Containers
Identifier: UA 65
Scope and Contents The Purdue Newsreel began in 1956 as a yearly film, and later video, review of university events of the previous year. Contents of each recording focus upon academics, student activities, campus structures, athletics, and special events. One silent film, circa 1943-1945, is also included in the collection. In 2013, the Purdue Newsreel was renamed the Purdue Year in Review.
Dates: 1943 - 2019; Majority of material found within 1955 - 2019

Purdue University President's Council records, addition 02

 Unprocessed — Multiple Containers
Identifier: 20170510

Tamara Morse papers

 Unprocessed — Box: 1
Identifier: 20160209

George Zebrowski papers

 Collection — Box: Communal Collections 41, Placement: 11
Identifier: MSF 426
Scope and Contents The collection consists of one folder which contains a poem written by George Zebrowski as a student and a certificate of membership for the Purdue Alumni Association.
Dates: 1921 - 1931