Title: Kemper Hall Records
Inclusive Dates: 1855-1977 (bulk 1969-1975)

Creator:

• Kemper Hall (Kenosha, Wis.)

Call Number: Parkside Mss 41; PH Parkside Mss 41; PH 3433 (3); M2008-065

Quantity: 12.4 c.f. (18 archives boxes and 13 flat boxes), 0.1 c.f. of photographs (1 oversize folder), and 2 photographs (1 folder); plus additions of 1.6 c.f.

Repository:

Housed at the Archives & Area Research Center, Library/Learning Center, University of Wisconsin-Parkside and the Wisconsin Historical Society, Division of Library, Archives, and Museum Collections; owned by the Wisconsin Historical Society, Division of Library, Archives, and Museum Collections

Archival Locations:

UW-Parkside Library / Parkside Area Research Ctr. (Map)

Wisconsin Historical Society (Map)

COLLECTION MAY BE STORED OFF-SITE: see catalog entry to request materials and for additional information.

Abstract:

Records, mainly 1969-1975, of Kemper Hall, an Episcopal girls school for boarding and day students, founded in 1870 and named in honor of Bishop Jackson Kemper. From 1878 to 1969, the Sisters of St. Mary, an Episcopal women's order, operated the school, and in 1975 the school closed due to financial problems. The records document the administration of the school and its dissolution.

Language: English

URL to cite for this finding aid: http://digital.library.wisc.edu/1711.dl/wiarchives.uw-whs-pks0041

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Kemper Hall was an Episcopal girls school for day and boarding students which recognized 1870 as the year of its official founding. The predecessor to Kemper Hall, the Kenosha Female Seminary, was chartered by the rectors, wardens, and vestry of St. Mathews Episcopal Church in 1855, but the school did not open until 1865. Mrs. H.M. Crawford operated the school as St. Claire's Hall for a short time. The school's founders purchased the home of Senator Charles Durkee and nine surrounding acres of land on the Lake Michigan shore in Kenosha. The Durkee mansion served as the school's central classroom and administration building throughout the school's 105-year history.

Bishop Jackson Kemper was elected trustee of the female seminary in 1866. Following Kemper's death in 1870, his successor, Bishop William Armitage, made an urgent request to the Milwaukee Diocesan Council to redeem and secure the school as a living monument to Bishop Kemper. At that time, the school was renamed Kemper Hall. The Reverend George M. Everhart served as the school's first headmaster from 1870 until 1878. The first graduating class celebrated commencement in the school's new chapel in 1876.

In 1878 a group of women from the Sisters of St. Mary, an Episcopal women's order located in Peekskill, New York, arrived in Kenosha to administer the school and to return it to financial solvency. Among the sisters was Mother Mary Clare who became the first headmistress in 1883 and served in that capacity until 1918. Mother Mary Ambrose, who joined the school in 1911, served as headmistress from 1931 until 1967. Other headmistresses included Sister Sarah, 1878; Sister Edith, 1879-1883; Mother Mary Maude, 1918-1920; Sister Celestine, 1920-1922; Sister Flora Therese, 1922-1931; and Sister Margaret Jane, 1967-1969. Anna J. Morse was influential in shaping the curriculum and academic policies of the school, serving as director of studies from the early 1930s until the early 1960s. A lay Board of Trustees assisted the Sisters of St. Mary with the school's administration and most of the teachers were lay persons. Several wealthy benefactors contributed to the financial support of Kemper Hall including Zalmon G. Simmons, who donated eleven acres of land to the school; Charles W. Nash, president of Nash Motors Company, who donated his home to the school in 1938; and James T. Wilson, banker and Nash Motors Company executive, who donated Wilson House, a mansion across the street from the school.

In 1969 the Sisters of St. Mary turned the school over to a Board of Trustees and the Reverend Raymond Gayle became the second headmaster. In 1970 a co-educational program for students in grade one through grade nine was initiated, accepting boys as day students only. The Reverend Russell Ingersoll succeeded the Reverend Mr. Gayle as headmaster in 1972. Kemper Hall closed in June 1975 due to financial problems. During the school's 105-year history, 1,625 students attended. A peak enrollment of 140 students was reached shortly after World War II.

This collection was received in multiple parts from the donor(s) and is organized into 2 major parts. These materials have not been physically interfiled and researchers might need to consult more than one part to locate similar materials.

• Part 1 (Parkside Mss 41, PH Parkside Mss 41, PH 3433 (3)): Original Collection, 1872-1975
• Part 2 (M2008-065): Additions, 1855-1977

Acquisition Information

Presented by the Board of Trustees of Kemper Hall, Kenosha, Wisconsin, July 1975. Accession Number: M75-585; M2008-065

Parkside Mss 41	Part 1 (Parkside Mss 41, PH Parkside Mss 41, PH 3433 (3)): Original Collection, 1872-1975 Physical Description: 12.4 c.f. (18 archives boxes and 13 flat boxes), 0.1 c.f. of photographs (1 oversize folder), and 2 photographs (1 folder)  Scope and Content Note The Kemper Hall Records are arranged in seven series consisting of records from the Board of Trustees, the Headmaster's Office, the Principal's Office, the Admissions Office, the Public Relations Office, and the Business Office, and a General Subject File. Most of the records pertain to the school's administration and cover the years from 1969 to 1975, with scattered materials from earlier years. The general subject file contains records from 1933 to 1975 and the Business Office records span the period from 1875 to 1975. With the exception of the Board of Trustees Records, the series are arranged as subject files. The BOARD OF TRUSTEES records include articles of incorporation, minutes, correspondence, and newsletters. The minutes cover the Board's annual meetings from 1904 to 1974 with gaps prior to 1925. The main topics discussed at the meetings were academic policies, bonds and mortgages, expansion, fundraising, real estate sales, and recruitment. Many of the minutes contain reports on the academic program and financial status of the school. The general correspondence is sparse and covers topics such as attendance at meetings, consultants' reports, financial matters, and legal matters. The individual board members' correspondence includes incoming and outgoing correspondence from headmasters Gayle and Ingersoll, concerning the scheduling of meetings, matters to be discussed at meetings, donations, and recruitment. The materials from the HEADMASTER'S OFFICE, the PRINCIPAL'S OFFICE, and in the GENERAL SUBJECT FILE cover similar topics including alumnae; associations of private and secondary schools; financial matters; fund-raising; internal administrative matters; maintenance, repairs, and expansion of buildings and grounds; organizations at Kemper Hall; recruitment; and some student activities. Records from the ADMISSIONS OFFICE and PUBLIC RELATIONS OFFICE document attempts by the school's administration to advertise and recruit students. Among the PUBLIC RELATIONS OFFICE files are catalogs covering the years from 1872 to 1975, with gaps. The catalogs generally contain the school calendar, a list of faculty and staff members, a list of references, a description of the curriculum, school rules, time tables, and a record of alumnae. Records from the BUSINESS OFFICE comprise about one-half of the collection and consist primarily of income and receipt ledgers which show income from all sources and expenditures for all purposes. The records of separate accounts include an index which lists the number and purpose of each account and shows receipts and expenditures from each account. The incidental account ledgers list expenditures for books, stationery, art, veils, laundry, medicine, trays, mending, music, gym, and the school bank. Also among the business office records are budgets, 1933-1975, financial statements, 1880-1975, records of the school's endowment fund, a few records of donations, and records of maintenance and repairs. The correspondence includes a file of correspondence with Charles R. Mahon, secretary of the Board of Trustees pertaining to advice about improvements and financial matters.
	Series: Board of Trustees
Box   1 Folder   1	Articles of incorporation, 1925, 1973-1974
Box   1 Folder   2-10	Minutes, 1904-2008, 1913, 1921, 1925-1974
Box   1 Folder   11	General correspondence, 1953-1974
	Board members' correspondence, 1969-1974
Box   1 Folder   12	Adamson-Chinnock
Box   2 Folder   1-2	Erskine-Wilder
Box   2 Folder   3	Newsletters, 1969-1975
	Series: Headmaster's Office	⇧
Box   2 Folder   4	Advertisements, 1970-1972
	Alumnae
Box   2 Folder   5	Alumnae Council, 1972-1974
Box   2 Folder   6	Correspondence, 1972-1973
Box   2 Folder   7	Lists of Alumnae, 1971, 1973
Box   2 Folder   8	McCarty, Carol (alumnae president), correspondence, 1970-1974
Box   2 Folder   9	The Messenger, 1968-1973
Box   2 Folder   10	Newsletter, 1969-1973
Box   2 Folder   11	Audio-Visual, undated
Box   2 Folder   12	Booth & Nagel (architects), 1969-1970
Box   2 Folder   13	Brady, William, Reverend , 1971-1972
	Budget and finance
Box   2 Folder   14	Budgets, 1973-1975
Box   2 Folder   15	Financial statements, 1967-1971
Box   2 Folder   16	Salaries, 1968-1975
	Buildings and grounds
Box   2 Folder   17	Capital improvements and additions, 1973-1974
Box   3 Folder   1	Plant and maintenance, 1969-1973
Box   3 Folder   2	Renovations, 1970, 1974
Box   3 Folder   3	Tennis courts, 1970, 1972-1973
Box   3 Folder   4	Bunting & Lyon (publisher), 1971-1973
Box   3 Folder   5	Calendars, 1968-1972
Box   3 Folder   6	Catalog, 1973
Box   3 Folder   7	Centennial Celebration, 1970
Box   3 Folder   8	Closing of school, 1974-1975
	Committees
Box   3 Folder   9	Administrative, 1973-1974
Box   3 Folder   10	Curriculum, 1974
Box   3 Folder   11	Disciplinary, 1974
Box   3 Folder   12	Executive, 1973-74
Box   3 Folder   13	Faculty and staff, 1972-1973
Box   3 Folder   14	Long-range planning, 1970-1974
Box   3 Folder   15	Resident staff, 1973-1974
	Consultants
Box   3 Folder   16	General correspondence, 1969-1971
	Gonser, Gerber, Tinker & Stuhr
Box   4 Folder   1	General correspondence, 1969-1974
Box   4 Folder   2	Workshop on Meeting Admissions Goals, 1970 January
Box   4 Folder   3	Workshop for Development Newcomers, 1970 January
Box   4 Folder   4	Workshop on Estate Planning and Tax Reform Act, 1970 February
Box   4 Folder   5	Miscellaneous reports, 1966-1967, undated
Box   4 Folder   6	Diocese of Milwaukee, 1969-1973
Box   4 Folder   7	Directory, 1969-1971
Box   4 Folder   8	Educational Records Bureau, 1967
Box   4 Folder   9	Educational Testing Service, 1969
Box   4 Folder   10	Elliot Company (engravers), 1968-1972
Box   4 Folder   11	Episcopal girls' schools, 1970-1972
Box   4 Folder   12	Evaluations, 1943-1971
	Faculty
Box   4 Folder   13	Applications, 1973-1974
Box   4 Folder   14	Data, 1970-1972
Box   4 Folder   15	Meetings, 1973-1975
Box   4 Folder   16	Schedules, 1970-1971
Box   4 Folder   17	Foundations, 1953-1974
	Fundraising
Box   5 Folder   1	Annual fund, 1971-1974
Box   5 Folder   2	Acknowledgements, 1972-1975
Box   5 Folder   3-4	General correspondence, 1970-1975
Box   5 Folder   5	Handbooks, 1970-1971, undated
Box   5 Folder   6	Historical data, 1865, 1943-1973
	Individual departments
Box   5 Folder   7	Academic Office, 1973-1975
Box   5 Folder   8	Art-Religion, 1970-1975
Box   5 Folder   9	Business Office, 1974
Box   5 Folder   10	Chapel, 1950, 1968, 1973-1974
Box   5 Folder   11	Elementary School, 1973-1975
Box   5 Folder   12	Housing, 1973-1974
Box   5 Folder   13	Infirmary, 1974
Box   5 Folder   14	Ingersoll, Russell, Reverend, résumé and educational philosophy, circa 1973
Box   5 Folder   15	Interim, 1973-1975
Box   5 Folder   16	Investment transactions, 1974-1975
Box   6 Folder   1	Kemper, Jackson, biographical materials, 1970, undated
Box   6 Folder   2	Kemper chronicle, 1971-1972
Box   6 Folder   3	Library, 1970-1971
Box   6 Folder   4	Marriage supplies, undated
Box   6 Folder   5	Memorial gifts, 1973-1974
Box   6 Folder   6	Nash House, undated
Box   6 Folder   7	Opening and closing of school, 1969, 1974
Box   6 Folder   8	Optimist, 1969
	Organizations and associations
Box   6 Folder   9	Citizens Committee for Educational Freedom, 1970-1971
	Independent Schools Association of the Central States
Box   6 Folder   10	Correspondence, 1967-1975
Box   6 Folder   11	Conferences, 1969, 1973-1974
Box   6 Folder   12	Midwest Association of Schools for Girls, 1970-1973
Box   6 Folder   13	National Association of Episcopal Schools, 1969-1975
	National Association of Independent Schools
Box   6 Folder   14	Correspondence, 1969-1975
Box   7 Folder   1	Budgets and fundraising, 1972-1973
Box   7 Folder   2	Educational philosophy, undated
Box   7 Folder   3	Faculty evaluation, 1973
Box   7 Folder   4	Workshop for New Heads, 1973
Box   7 Folder   5	National Association of Principals of Schools for Girls, 1970-1971
Box   7 Folder   6	North Central Association of Colleges and Secondary Schools, 1969-1971
Box   7 Folder   7	Orton Society, 1969, 1972
Box   7 Folder   8	Miscellaneous associations, 1970, 1973-1975
	Other Schools
Box   7 Folder   9	Four School Program, 1973-1974
Box   7 Folder   10	Prairie School, 1969-1974
Box   7 Folder   11	Miscellaneous other schools, 1969-1974
	Three School Plan
Box   7 Folder   12	Correspondence, 1973-1974
Box   7 Folder   13	Stuart Hall, 1973-1974
Box   7 Folder   14	White Mountain School, 1972-1974
Box   7 Folder   15	Parent Teacher Group, 1973-1974
Box   7 Folder   16	Pension fund, 1968-1970
Box   7 Folder   17	Philosophy and goals, 1969, undated
Box   7 Folder   18	Project equality, undated
Box   7 Folder   19	Radio, 1970, undated
Box   7 Folder   20	Readak Program, 1974
Box   8 Folder   1-2	Recruitment and admissions, 1967, 1974, undated
Box   8 Folder   3	Re-enrollment, 1956, 1959-1960, 1969-1974
	Scholarships
Box   8 Folder   4	Appeals for donations, 1972-1973
Box   8 Folder   5	Responses, 1972-1974
Box   8 Folder   6	Sermons, 1973, undated
	Student activities
Box   8 Folder   7	Alumnae Day, 1971-1975
Box   8 Folder   8	Commencement, 1969-1975
Box   8 Folder   9	Founders Day, 1969-1975
Box   8 Folder   10	Kemper Council, circa 1971-1975
Box   8 Folder   11	Kodak (yearbook), 1973-1974
Box   8 Folder   12	Retreats and conferences, 1971-1975
Box   8 Folder   13	Social events, 1973
Box   8 Folder   14	Student Council, 1969-1972
Box   8 Folder   15	Miscellaneous student activities, 1970-1974
Box   8 Folder   16	Tax exemption, 1970-1972
Box   8 Folder   17	Tour guide of Kemper Hall, undated
	Travel
Box   8 Folder   18	California, 1971-1974
Box   9 Folder   1	Chicago, 1973-1974
Box   9 Folder   2	Indiana, 1973
Box   9 Folder   3	Madison, Wisconsin, 1973
Box   9 Folder   4	Michigan, 1973
Box   9 Folder   5	St. Louis, Missouri, 1972-1973
Box   9 Folder   6	Texas, 1973-1974
Box   9 Folder   7	Tuition, 1969-1972
Box   9 Folder   8	Uniforms, 1972
Box   9 Folder   9	Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction, 1970-1974
	Series: Principal's Office	⇧
Box   9 Folder   10	Correspondence, 1971-1974
	Subject File
Box   9 Folder   11	Athletics, 1972-1973
Box   9 Folder   12	Board of Trustees, 1972-1973
Box   9 Folder   13	Curriculum, 1956, 1970-1971
Box   9 Folder   14	Faculty, 1970-1974
Box   9 Folder   15	Honor roll, 1970-1973
Box   9 Folder   16	Kemper Council, 1971-1973
Box   9 Folder   17	The Messenger, 1970-1975
Box   9 Folder   18	Miscellaneous, 1970, 1973-1974, undated
Box   9 Folder   19	Newsletters, 1970-1974
Box   9 Folder   20	Organizations and associations, 1969-1974
Box   9 Folder   21	Promotional materials, undated
Box   9 Folder   22	Schedules, 1970-1975
Box   9 Folder   23	Special events, 1967-1975
Box   9 Folder   24	Student lists, 1945-1946, 1971-1975
	Series: Admissions Office	⇧
Box   10 Folder   1-2	Admissions reports, 1973-1974
	Correspondence
Box   10 Folder   3	General, 1973-1975
Box   10 Folder   4	Correspondence with clergy, 1970, 1974
Box   10 Folder   5-7	Requests for information and responses, 1970-1974, undated
Box   10 Folder   8	Sample letters, 1973
Box   11 Folder   1	Telephone inquiries, 1971-1972, undated
Box   11 Folder   2	Recruitment, 1972-1974
	Series: Public Relations Office	⇧
Box   11 Folder   3	Advertising correspondence, 1971-1975
Box   11 Folder   4	Advertisements, 1970-1974
	Catalogs
Box   11 Folder   5-6	1872-1977, 1893-1905
Box   12 Folder   1-5	1906-1919, 1922-1923, 1925-1927, 1930-1944, 1960-1961, undated
	Series: General Subject File	⇧
	Associations and organizations
Box   13 Folder   1	Kemper Armitage Missionary Society, 1953-1954
Box   13 Folder   2	Parent Teacher Association, 1947-1963
Box   13 Folder   3	Board of Trustees, 1929-1972
	Evaluation, 1970
Box   13 Folder   4	Correspondence, 1969-1971
Box   13 Folder   5	Independent Schools Association of the Central States, questionnaires, 1970
Box   13 Folder   6-8	National Study of Secondary School Evaluation, Criteria, 1970
Box   13 Folder   9	Miscellaneous supporting documents, 1970
	Fundraising
Box   13 Folder   10	Emergency Fund Campaign, 1933
	Kemper Hall Fund, 1936
Box   13 Folder   11	General correspondence, 1933, 1935-1937, 1941
Box   14 Folder   1	List of committees and contributors
Box   14 Folder   2	Daily report sheets
Box   14 Folder   3	Financial reports
	Seventy-fifth Anniversary Fund Drive, 1945
Box   14 Folder   4-5	Correspondence
Box   14 Folder   6	Form letters
Box   14 Folder   7	Lists of contributors
Box   14 Folder   8	Financial records
Box   14 Folder   9	Foundations, 1955-1972
Box   14 Folder   10	Maintenance and repairs, 1930-1966
PH Parkside Mss 41	Photographs
PH 3433 (3)	Photo album pages, 1900-1905 Note: Cyanotype and other proofs of student snapshots.
Parkside Mss 41 Box   14 Folder   11	Social Security, 1943-1962
Box   15 Folder   1	Student activities, 1921-1923
Box   15 Folder   2	Students enrolled, 1943-1968
	Series: Business Office	⇧
	Accounting
	General accounts
	Daily income and receipt ledgers, 1917-1971
Box   19 Folder   1-3	1917 May-1925 December
Box   20 Folder   1-2	1926 January-1932 May
Box   21 Folder   1-2	1932 June-1939 August
Box   22 Folder   1-2	1939 September-1945 June
Box   23 Folder   1-2	1945 July-1950 October
Box   24 Folder   1-2	1950 November-1956 August
Box   25 Folder   1-2	1956 September-1962 January
Box   26 Folder   1-2	1962 February-1966 August
Box   27 Folder   1	1966 September-1969 August
Box   31 Folder   1	1969 September-1971 April
Box   27 Folder   2-4	Monthly income and receipt ledgers, 1918-1955
Box   15 Folder   3-6	Separate accounts, 1925-1967
	Incidental account
	Daily ledgers
Box   28 Folder   1-5	1921-1947
Box   29 Folder   1	1948-1952
Box   29 Folder   2-3	Monthly ledgers, 1917-1963
Box   31 Folder   2	Special fund ledger, 1926-1934
Box   15 Folder   7	Address lists, 1971-1973
	Alumnae Association
Box   15 Folder   8	Expenditures and receipts, 1944-1955
Box   16 Folder   1	Gifts, 1972-1973
Box   16 Folder   2	Budgets, 1933-1975
Box   16 Folder   3	Budget working papers, 1956-1974
	Correspondence
Box   16 Folder   4	Mahon, Charles R., 1928-1947
Box   16 Folder   5	Miscellaneous correspondence, 1935-1974
Box   16 Folder   6	Deeds, 1875-1958
Box   16 Folder   7	Donations, 1972-1974
Box   16 Folder   8	Field secretary's reports, 1925-1937
	Financial statements
Box   30 Folder   1	1880-1934
Box   16 Folder   9-11	1926-1952
Box   17 Folder   1-3	1953-1973
Box   17 Folder   4	Monthly financial statements, 1971 March-1975 August
Box   17 Folder   5	Independent Schools Association of the Central States, business managers questionnaire, 1971
	Inventories
Box   17 Folder   6	1890, 1907
Box   31 Folder   3	1975?
	Living Endowment Fund
Box   17 Folder   7	Correspondence, 1939, 1949-1971
Box   17 Folder   8	Records, 1949-1963
	Maintenance and repairs
Box   18 Folder   1	General, 1922-1974
Box   18 Folder   2	Breakwater, 1927-1952
Box   18 Folder   3	Fires, 1923
Box   18 Folder   4	Mortgages and bonds, 1907, 1916-1946
Box   18 Folder   5	Summer projects, 1974
Box   18 Folder   6	Taxes, 1938-1974
Box   18 Folder   7	Termination notices, 1975
Box   18 Folder   8	Tuition payment plans, 1965-1973
Box   18 Folder   9	Tuition repayment plans, 1964-1972
M2008-065	Part 2 (M2008-065): Additions, 1855-1977 Physical Description: 1.6 c.f. (1 record center carton and 1 flat box)  Scope and Content Note: Additions, 1855-1977, consisting of the records of Kemper Hall collected by Penny Enroth through her efforts in obtaining historic landmark status for Kemper Center Inc. These records document the incorporation and dissolution of Kemper Hall and its administration and include records of the Alumnae Council, minutes of the Board of Trustees, history of Kemper Hall and its buildings, and newsletters and correspondence of Headmaster Father Gayle.	⇧
Box   1 Folder   1	Administration, 1973-1975 Note: Includes student lists.
Box   1 Folder   2	Admissions, information and lists, 1973-1975
Box   1 Folder   3	Annual Fund Phone-a-thon, 1974 March 16-17
Box   1 Folder   4-6	Alumnae Council, 1973 May-1974 May
	Alumnae Day
Box   1 Folder   7	1973 and 1974
Box   1 Folder   8	Final Alumnae Day, 1975 May 3
Box   1 Folder   9	Alumnae lists
Box   1 Folder   10	Articles of incorporation, 1925 May
	Board of Trustees
Box   2	Minutes, 1855-1923
Box   1 Folder   11-13	Minutes, 1925-1972
Box   1 Folder   14	Minutes and correspondence, 1972-1974
Box   1 Folder   15	Chapel materials
Box   1 Folder   16	Clippings, 1970-1975
	Father Gayle
Box   1 Folder   17	Correspondence, 1970-1971
Box   1 Folder   18	Newsletters, 1970-1972
Box   1 Folder   19-20	History - structural history, 1865-1975
Box   1 Folder   21	History, including dissolution, 1970-1977
Box   1 Folder   22	Publicity, 1971-1975