“In the second year of my presidency,…I spent many weeks speaking
to alumni chapters from Boston to Seattle and from Minneapolis to Miami, crisscrossing
the country. There were some fifty-odd alumni meetings in which we attempted
to lay out the program that we envisioned to ensure scholarly growth and distinction,
and we invited alumni to back us in that mighty effort. They responded magnificently,
and I shall ever be grateful to them and their leadership for the help that
we received in trying to build a more distinguished university in which they
could take pride and that would enhance the value of their degrees. Conversely,
the university was always conscious of the fact that in the success and achievement
of its alumni lay the true measure of the quality of it own work and service
to youth.” Herman B Wells, Being
Lucky, p. 226.
Dear Alumni and Friends of Indiana University,
I am writing this letter to ask for your support of the Woodburn Guild. A minimum
$50 contribution from you will enable us to continue with the Wells Era Preservation
Project at the Woodburn House. Much has been accomplished from your generosity
in the past but there is still more to be done.
The Woodburn House at 519 N. College Ave.
in Bloomington served as the residence of Dr. Wells during his presidency from
1937 until 1955. It is one of the oldest houses in town, dating back to about
1829. The Woodburn family occupied it from 1855 until 1924, when James Woodburn,
who had a long and distinguished career in the history department, retired and
moved to Ann Arbor, his wife’s former home. Dr. Wells initially leased
the home from the Woodburns. Partly as a consequence of the fine treatment of
the property, the family later gave the house to Indiana University with the
understanding that the university could use it for any purpose other than a
multifamily residence.
The Wells Era Preservation Project, thanks to your support, has been able to
accomplish several things. We have refurbished a number of Dr.Wells’ antiques
that were in need of repair. Framed photography has been added to each room,
depicting his work in key areas during his presidency: relationships with alumni,
relationships with students, building international connections, bringing culture
to the crossroads, supporting diversity, and preserving natural resources. His
face showed visible pleasure when he viewed for the first time the restored
garden north of the residence. The sight brought forth memories of entertaining
members of the cast of the Metropolitan Opera following their annual performances
at the Indiana University Auditorium.
We are the last generation of alumni and friends of IU who will have had the
experience of knowing Herman B Wells. We no longer have his presence, but Dr.
Wells is still with us in the mighty legacy he left behind. It is up to us who
knew him to preserve the values demonstrated and the ideals he represented.
And it is up to us to pass the legacy along to the generations that follow.
Thank you for considering a gift again this year to the Woodburn Guild for its
work on this important segment of Indiana University history.
Sincerely,
Patrick Shoulders
President, Woodburn Guild Board of Governors
