Virginia C. Trimble papers

Collection

Identifier: SC-002

Staff Only

Scope and Contents

The collection contains items from Virginia C. Trimble's time at William Smith College in the early 1920s and some items from the 1930s. Materials include William Smith College viewbooks, Pine yearbooks, postcards and greeting cards, and an examination book from 1923. There is also a file on the Murray Bartlett Foundation and a file on the groundbreaking ceremony for Comstock House in 1932, plus some additional miscellaneous items.

Dates

Creation: 1919-1937

Creator

Trimble, Virginia C. (Person)

Conditions Governing Access

There are no restrictions on accessing material in this collection.

Conditions Governing Use

Copyright restrictions may apply. Unpublished manuscripts are protected by copyright. Permission to publish, quote, or reproduce must be secured from the repository and the copyright holder.

Biographical Note

Virginia Charles Trimble was born in Youngstown, Ohio, on June 4, 1903. She was raied in Bellevue, Pennsylvania, a suburb of Pittsburgh. She had a sister, Margeret T. Williams. Trimble graduated from Bellevue High School, Bellevue, Pennsylvania, in 1921. She went to Westminister College for her Freshman Year and transferred to William Smith College in 1922. She graduated from Wiliam Smith College in 1925 with a B.S. degree and a Secretarial-Economics major.

During her college years in William Smith, she was active in field hockey and basketball. She was also part of the Glee Club, yearbook staff, and Student Government.

After graduating from William Smith College Trimble did her graduate night study from Carnegie-Mellon Institute in design and sketching, 1928-1930. Her first job in 1926 was secretary to the publicity director at Joseph Horne Company, a large department store in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. She went on to be the assistant director of publicity before being named the Director of Special Events. During her 38-year successful business career, she was named "Advertising Woman of the Year" by Pittsburgh Advertising Club in 1959, President of Altrusa International, a service club for professional women, Director of Fashion Group International, and an active member of Women's City Club of Pittsburgh, Southwest Indian Association and the Carnegie Institute. Trimble retired in 1964.

Even after her retirement, she was the Chairperson for her 50th Reunion for the class of 1925 in 1975. Also, she was a generous and faithful donor to the Alumnae Fund and Capital Campaigns I, II and III.

Virginia Charles Trimble, also known as "Miss Horne" to many in the Pittsburgh area or "Ginny-of-All-Trades" by local media, died on October 23, 1985 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.

Extent

2.43 Linear Feet (3 boxes)

Language of Materials

English

Additional Description

Abstract

This small collection primarily contains items from Virginia C. Trimble's time at William Smith College in the early 1920s. Materials include William Smith College viewbooks, Pine yearbooks, postcards and greeting cards, and an examination book from 1923.

Arrangement

This collection is not arranged in series.

Location

Box 1: Archives Storage / Range 22B / Section 6;

Box 2-3: Archives Office / Section 7

Provenance

These papers were in an archival box with no accompanying information as to their provenance. There are, however, two letters in the alumni file, under Trimble's name, from her lawyer dated 1986 describing how Trimble often talked of her time at William Smith College and that he, her lawyer, thought it appropriate that papers relating to the College be given to the college along with a donation stipulated in her will. It is assumed therefore that the papers in this collection were given to the library in 1986.