W Correspondences, 1956

This subseries consists of incoming and outgoing correspondence, most of which was filed alphabetically according to the last name or organization name of the correspondent. Due to inconsistent filing practices, related correspondence may be filed by last name, institutional name, or even subject, depending on the date. In the interest of maintaining the original filing system, these inconsistencies were left as is. Researchers are advised to consider all possible variations of an individual or organizational name when searching for specific items in this subseries.

Individual correspondents include: Museum visitors; educators; local, regional, and national elected officials; scientists; contractors and artists who worked for the Museum on exhibits; trustees; Museum volunteers; and employees. Organizations with whom Washburn corresponded included: nonprofits (e.g. The American Academy of Arts and Sciences), colleges and universities (e.g. Boston University), municipal governments and school systems, galleries and museums, government agencies (e.g. NASA), private corporations (e.g. Polaroid), newspaper publishers, and charitable foundations. Topics addressed in the correspondence include: lectures and other events to be held at the Museum, donations of artifacts or objects, exhibit ideas, monetary gifts to the Museum, appearances and lectures to be given by Washburn, and general Museum administration.