Richard Warch Presidential Papers

Collection

Identifier: LU-RG03-011

Staff Only

This collection is composed of the papers that document the presidency of Richard Warch, president of Lawrence University from 1979-2004. Items include correspondence Warch sent and received, meeting materials from the Board of Trustees and other groups, the president’s annual report on the state of the university, and speeches Warch gave throughout his presidency. Biographical materials, papers from conferences Warch attended, files related to buildings constructed under Warch's tenure, photographs, items from farewell events from the end of his presidency in 2004, and remembrances from his death in 2013 are also included.

Dates

1947-2013
Majority of material found within 1979-2004

Creator

Office of the President (Person)

Conditions Governing Access

As General University Records, records in this collection are closed for 20 years beyond the date of creation. Contact the Archives for more information.

Conditions Governing Use

Lawrence University does not hold the copyright for all materials in this collection. Uses beyond those allowed for fair use under U. S. Copyright Law (Title 17, U.S.C.) require the researcher to secure permission from the copyright holder.

Extent

30.40 Linear Feet (34 boxes)

548 KB

Additional Description

Biographical or Historical Information

Richard Warch, the fourteenth president of Lawrence University, was born on August 4, 1939, in Hackensack, New Jersey. Warch received a Bachelor of Arts degree from Williams College in 1961. He then studied at Edinburgh University in Scotland in the 1962-1963 academic year. He earned a Bachelor of Divinity degree from Yale Divinity School in 1964 followed by a Doctor of Philosophy degree in American Studies from Yale University in 1968. Warch was an ordained minister of the United Presbyterian Church. Warch was associate dean of Yale College, director of summer plans for Yale and director of Yale’s visiting faculty program. He also served as associate professor of history and American studies at Yale. Warch was married in 1962 to Margot Lynn Moses, and they had three children: Stephen, David, and Karin. Warch first came to Lawrence as vice-president of academic affairs in 1977 and served in this position until he became president in 1979. He was the second longest-serving president in Lawrence’s history, and his presidency lasted until 2004. During his presidency, Warch was involved in the construction of campus buildings including Briggs Hall and the Wriston Art Center. He was also active in the renovation of Main Hall, Memorial Chapel, and Seeley G. Mudd Library. Saturday, June 5, 2004, was deemed Richard Warch Day and was a celebration of Warch’s years of service to Lawrence University. Warch’s publications include the book, School of the Prophets: Yale College, 1701-1740. He was also an active member of the Annapolis Group, an association of the nation's leading liberal arts colleges. He served on the group’s executive committee. Warch passed away on September 14, 2013.

Method of Acquisition

Gift of the Office of the President, Lawrence University, 2004. Accession 2014-05 (calendars and wedding speech materials) transferred from Sampson House, 2014-07-11. Binder of remembrances from memorial services donated 2014-12-10. Accession 2016-02 (assorted subject files) donated by Margot Warch, 2016-01-13. Accession 2016-10 donated by the Warch family, 2016-08-23.

Separated Materials

From Accession 2016-10: artifacts separated to Artifact Collection and VHS tapes separated to University Video Recordings.

Processing Information

Processed by Julia Stringfellow, 2005. Unprocessed additions integrated into the collection by Erin Dix in 2011. Additions from accession 2014-05 (calendars and weddings officiated) integrated in 2014. Building files added in 2015. Accessions 2016-02 and 2016-10 added in 2016.