Collection inventory

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J. Winifred Hughes Papers

An inventory of her papers at the Syracuse University Archives

Finding aid created by: Matthew Isom
Date: 2014

Revision history:

Biography

J. Winifred Hughes was born on August 25, 1891 in Delta, New York. She graduated from Syracuse University in 1914 with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Latin with a minor in French. During her academic years, Hughes was heavily invested in campus life. She was on the Women's Athletic Governing Board, manager of the track team and captain for women's basketball for two years. She became a reporter for the University's student newspaper, the Daily Orange, immediately after starting school and eventually became the advertising manager. Even with these extracurricular activities, Hughes worked in various positions for a number of University offices, becoming a well-known face to the administration very early on.

After earning her degree, Hughes became a member of the administrative staff for the University and held numerous roles until her retirement in 1958. For the first few years, she worked in the Registrar's Office and then the book store, and she coached the Women's Basketball team. In 1917, she was appointed the first Director of the Appointment Office, assisting students and alumni in gaining employment upon and after graduation.

Hughes' biggest impact on the University was her work with the Alumni Association, which began in 1920 when she was made its field representative. Her first assignment in this position was to help raise one and a half million dollars for the Alumni Fund, a challenge Hughes took on with a single mindedness that lauded her even more distinction as a member of the University. Hughes soon became the manager of the Alumni Fund and the executive secretary to the Alumni Association. In 1927, her experience with the Daily Orange gave her the opportunity to become the editor of the Alumni News, a position she held until retirement. Hughes was also appointed the executive director of the Alumni Association the same year.

For her dedication to the University, Hughes was awarded the Arents Award, the highest alumni honor, in 1944. In 1957, the Syracuse Chi Omega sorority alumnae established a scholarship in her name, the J. Winifred Hughes Endowment Scholarship for Syracuse University. The next year, Syracuse University awarded Hughes an honorary Doctorate of Humane Letters. After her retirement, Hughes still stayed active in numerous organizations in and around Syracuse and the University, including the Professional Women's League, the American Association of University Women, and the Hendricks Chapel Board.

J. Winifred Hughes died on March 24, 1979.

Scope and Content Note

The J. Winifred Hughes Papers consists of correspondence, photographs, publications, scrapbooks and various materials pertaining to her time as a student at Syracuse University and her work with the Alumni Association. The majority of the correspondence is with various alumni discussing personal matters and the University. There are pamphlets and other publications on the Alumni College, continuing education for graduates and the programs that were created at different universities. The photograph albums hold many images of Hughes' time as a student at Syracuse University, including images of her friends and buildings on campus. The scrapbooks cover her work with the Women's League and congratulatory letters for her retirement in 1958.

There is some material of notable individuals, including correspondence and publications from Stella Reading, Katharine Sibley and Dorothy Thompson. Hughes held these women in the highest respect and considered them friends throughout her career at Syracuse University, and so she kept this material within her papers.

Restrictions

Access Restrictions:

Please note that the collection is housed off-site, and advance notice is required to allow time to have the materials brought to the Reading Room on campus.

Use Restrictions:

Written permission must be obtained from the Syracuse University Archives and all relevant rights holders before publishing quotations, excerpts or images from any materials in this collection.

Related Material

A number of Syracuse University publications, various newspaper clippings and other material related to the Class of 1914, including class letters and reunion information, were removed and placed within other collections at the Archives.

The Archives holds a clipping file and portrait file on J. Winfred Hughes.

Selected Search Terms

Names

Hughes, J. Winifred, 1891-1975.
Syracuse University -- Alumni and alumnae.
Syracuse University -- History.
Syracuse University.

Types of Material

Photograph Albums.
Scrapbooks.

Administrative Information

Preferred Citation

Preferred citation for this material is as follows:

J. Winifred Hughes Papers,
University Archives,
Special Collections Research Center
Syracuse University Libraries

Acquisition Information

Records indicate that the majority of the J. Winifred Hughes Papers were received by the Archives in 1979 but there is no information concerning who donated them. In the 2000s, three photograph albums were donated to the Archives by Herbert Danska.

Processing Information

Materials were rehoused in acid-free folders and boxes.

Arrangement

The items are arranged in alphabetical order.

Table of Contents

Papers

Inventory