Special Collections Department
403 Parks Library
Iowa State University
Ames, IA 50011-2140

RS 22/9/9
Iowa State University

Residence Hall Week
Records, 1968-1994


Descriptive summary

creator: Iowa State University. Residence Hall Week
title: Records
dates: 1968-1994
extent: 2.12 linear feet (1 document box and 1 oversize box)
collection number: RS 22/9/9
repository: University Archives, Special Collections Department, Iowa State University
language: English

 

Administrative information

access: Open for research
publication rights: Consult Head, Special Collections Department
preferred citation: Iowa State University Residence Hall Week Records, RS 22/9/9, Special Collections Department, Iowa State University Library.

 

Abstract

Residence Hall Week was first held March 6 - 9, 1968. The event encourages camaraderie amongst the various residence halls, provides entertainment and activities, and introduces prospective freshman to living on-campus. The collection primarily contains reports on the planning and success of the week submitted by different sub-committees at the conclusion of their service. Additional materials include news clippings, publicity materials, Residence Hall Week Gazette, The Hallmark,and planning files.

 

Historical note

Residence Hall Week was founded in 1968 by the Iowa State residence halls and, as of 2014, continues to be held every spring. There were three residence hall associations in 1968 - Men's Residence Association, Women's Residence Association, and Towers Residence Association - that jointly formed Residence Hall Week. The Inter-Residence Halls Association formed in 1982 and continues to organize the event annually.

The founding document ("Budgets" Box 1, folder 1) states its purpose as "to produce greater unity among the residents of the residence halls, to provide cultural, social, intellectual, and recreational activities for hall members and the entire student body, and to introduce residence hall living to prospective freshmen." In its first decade, the week generally included a carnival, a dance, intramural competitions, a Residence Hall Week Queen (and later a King), a service activity, extensive publicity planning, an open house for prospective freshmen, and a concert from a popular act. Early performers included the Righteous Brothers (1968), Bill Cosby (1969), the 5th Dimension (1970), and John Denver (1971).

 

Collection description

This collection (1968-1994) documents the founding, planning, and management of Residence Hall Week at Iowa State. The bulk of the collection consists of formal reports submitted by various subcommittees. Additional materials include news clippings, publicity materials, flyers and posters, Residence Hall Week Gazette, The Hallmark,and planning files.

Each report provides advice to the next year's committee members on how to perform the functions of the position. Examples of advice include sketches of the carnival layout, tips on contestants' personal appearance for the Queen contest, sample correspondence and open house guest packets, and suggested fees and schedules for performers.

 

Related materials

Related collections in the Special Collections Department, Iowa State University Library include:

 

Organization

The original file structure of this collection has been maintained, but the folders have been sorted alphabetically for ease of use.

 

Container list

Box

Folder

Title

Dates

1

1

Budgets

1968-1970

1

2 - 3

Co-Chairmen's Files (1 b/w photograph)

1974

2

1

News Clippings

1968-1985, undated

1

4

Publicity

1993-1994

1

5 - 9

Report: Business Manager

1969-1974

1

10 - 11

Report: Co-Chairmen

1969, 1974

1

12 - 15

Report: Concert

1969-1972

1

16 - 19

Report: Entertainment and Dance (1 b/w photograph)

1969-1972

1

20

Report: External Publicity

1970

1

21

Report: Final

1989

2

2

Report: Internal Publicity

1970

1

22 - 26

Report: Intramurals

1969-1974

1

27 - 29

Report: Open House

1969-1970, 1974

2

3 - 4

Report: Open House

1971-1972

2

5

Report: Programs

1972

1

30 - 34

Report: Programs and Carnival

1969-1974

2

6

Report: Publicity (1 b/w photograph)

1974

1

35 - 36

Report: Queen (1 b/w photograph)

1970-1971

1

37 - 39

Report: Service

1971-1974