Clifford and Jo Swanlund papers, 1943-2002 | Purdue University Libraries, Archives and Special Collections

By Mary A. Sego, 2009

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Collection Overview

Title: Clifford and Jo Swanlund papers, 1943-2002

Predominant Dates:1949-1953

Primary Creator: Swanlund, Clifford (1932)

Extent: 3.0 Cubic feet. More info below.

Arrangement: The collection is in chronological order.

Date Acquired: 09/07/2006. More info below under Accruals.

Subjects: Purdue University--Alumni and alumnae, Purdue University--Students, Swanlund, Mary Jo (1933-2002), United States. Army. Reserve Officers' Training Corps, Women's Archives at Purdue University

Forms of Material: Black-and-white photographs, Correspondence, Diplomas, Photograph albums, Printed ephemera, Scrapbooks

Languages: English

Scope and Contents of the Materials

The Clifford and Jo Swanlund papers (1943-2002; 2 cubic feet) document the lives and careers of Cliff Swanlund and Jo Carty Swanlund. The collection contains an extensive number of letters written by Cliff and Jo from the beginning of their relationship through the early years of their marriage. It also contains many letters written by Cliff's parents to him, while he was a student at Purdue University. The correspondence gives one a unique perspective not only on the family itself, but on outside events which occurred during this time period. The letters are a wonderful memorial to the love and devotion this couple shared throughout their lives. Some of the letters are in poor condition, due to aging of the paper. The photographs also give a glimpse into Purdue life at this time. Some of the photographs are in poor condition, but one can view the subjects. Besides the strong collection of letters, some photographs and albums, there are other ephemera and miscellaneous items related to the Swanlund's lives, such as an autobiography written about the Swanlund family, plus "My Story" written by Clifford A. Swanlund, Jr. The collection consists of four boxes, which are in the order received and the contents are in chronological order, for the most part.

Biographical Note

Clifford Swanlund was born January 29, 1932, and Mary (Jo) Carty Swanlund was born June 16, 1933. They attended the same high school, Maplewood Richmond Heights in St. Louis (Maplewood), Missouri. In the summer of 1949, before Cliff entered Purdue University as a freshman, they began dating. They continued their relationship throughout Cliff’s four years at Purdue, as he worked toward a Bachelor of Science degree in Civil Engineering. They wrote many letters to each other during their time apart, and their relationship grew closer. They were engaged August 23, 1952, a month before Cliff entered his senior year at Purdue. Cliff graduated from Purdue University in May 1953, with a B.S. in Civil Engineering. He and Jo were married on June 20, 1953 at the Maplewood Baptist Church. In July 1953, they began a two year tour in the Army with three months at Fort Belvoir, Virginia and five months at Fort Leonard Wood, Missouri, followed by a year plus in Kitzingen, Germany. Upon their return home, they began a fifteen month Shell Oil Company training program at various (twelve) locations in Oklahoma, Colorado, Montana, Louisiana, and Texas. This culminated in assignment to New Orleans in mid-1956, where their son Chuck was born in 1959 and daughter Judy in 1961. The family moved to Houston in early 1964. Cliff continued to work for Shell Oil Company, and Jo’s professional career started in 1968 when she began volunteering at St. Joseph Hospital, Department of Psychiatry. Through her efforts, the Psychiatric Volunteer Service was initiated and developed as one of only a few organizations in the country that recruited and trained volunteers for in-patient visitation on psychiatric wards. She became Staff Director (Coordinator) of the PVS in 1970. She went on to serve other hospitals in their volunteer efforts, but her career came to an abrupt end due to a stroke. She and Cliff resided in their home in Maplewood, until Jo’s passing on April 27, 2002. They were married for 49 years.

Subject/Index Terms

Purdue University--Alumni and alumnae
Purdue University--Students
Swanlund, Mary Jo (1933-2002)
United States. Army. Reserve Officers' Training Corps
Women's Archives at Purdue University

Administrative Information

Repository: Purdue University Libraries, Archives and Special Collections

Accruals: 20060907; 20080801

Alternate Extent Statement: 1 cubic foot box, 1 mss. box, 1 small flat box

Access Restrictions: Collection is open for research.

Acquisition Source: Clifford A. Swanlund, Jr.

Acquisition Method: Donation

Related Materials: Clifford A. <span class="highlight0 bold">Swanlund</span> Oral History Interview, 2007

Preferred Citation: MSA 24, Clifford and Jo Swanlund papers, Archives and Special Collections, Purdue University Libraries

Finding Aid Revision History: 8/26/2011 MS; 10/17/2012 EW

Other URL: http://collections.lib.purdue.edu/fa/pdf/swanlund_c.pdf

Box and Folder Listing

Browse by Box:

[Box 1: Correspondence and Albums, 1943-1954],
[Box 2: Albums, Autobiography and Miscellaneous, 1949-2002],
[Box 3: Wedding Album, 1953],
[Box 4: Three Photo Albums, 1920s-1955],
[All]

Box 1: Correspondence and Albums, 1943-1954

Folder

1. Letters from Jo to Cliff, 1949-1953

Thank you letter from R. B. Wiley, Head of Civil Engineering and Engineering

Mechanics

2. Letters to Jo from Cliff, 1949-1953

3. Car Invoice - $1,944.12 for Plymouth Cambridge Cl. Sedan (Sonora Bronze)

Letters between Jo and Cliff, Summer R.O.T.C Camp, 1952

R.O.T.C. Summer Camp, Belvoir Castle, Friday, July 11, 1952, p. 8

R.O.T.C. Summer Camp, Belvoir Castle, Friday, July 18, 1952, p. 8

R.O.T.C. Summer Camp, Belvoir Castle, Friday, July 25, 1952, p. 8

R.O.T.C. Trestle, 1952 Summer Camp, Fort Belvoir, VA (bound publication)

The Engineer Center, The Engineer School, Engineer Research & Development

and the Engineer Replacement Training Center, Fort Belvoir, VA (bound

publication)

4. Bob Leonard Letters [on CD], 1950-1953

5. Letters to Jo from Cliff in Germany, March-June, 1954

6. Letters Home from Jo and Cliff in Germany and Letters to Germany, and some while on Shell Training Program, 1954

7. School Album, 1943-1951

Cliff in Junior High School and High School, 1943-1949

Jo in High School, 1947-1951

8. Purdue Album, 1949-1953

Admission Certificate

Residence Hall Agreement, Cary Hall

Programs for Purdue Theatre, Hall of Music, Convocations, and Playshop Events

Report Cards

Ross Surveying Camp

Newspaper Clippings

Phi Eta Sigma Invitation Letter

Chi Epsilon Fraternity Invitation Letter and Certificate

R.O.T.C. Standings of Senior Cadet Officers

Purdue Order of Military Merit Letter

R.O.T.C. Summer Camp Photographs

Tau Beta Pi Certificate and Clipping

Purdue Military Department, Appointment Letter to Cadet Lieutenant Colonel

R.O.T.C. Group Photograph

Engineering Open House Program and Clipping

Bachelor of Science in Civil Engineering Diploma

Purdue Distinguished Military Graduate Letter

Folder 1
Folder 2

Box 2: Albums, Autobiography and Miscellaneous, 1949-2002

Folder

1. Courtship Album (scrapbook), 1949-1953

2. List of Jo and Cliff’s First Dates

Wedding and Prom Photographs

Marriage License

Newspaper Clippings

3. Photographs, 1949-1953 [Photographs are faded and in poor condition.]

Graduations for Jo and Cliff

Visits to Purdue (Gala Week, Homecoming)

Senior Cords

4. Autobiographical Draft, 2002-2007

5. Correspondence and Two Wedding Photographs (sister Jeanne & friend), 1949-1953

Letters to Cliff from his parents

Letters to Cliff from his sister Jeanne

Letters from Cliff to his parents and sister

6. Purdue University Transcript, ca. 1953

7. Purdue University, Life – Clipping on Big Ten Traditions, undated

8. U. S. Army Album, ca. 1953-1955 [Folder 1 of 2]

9. U. S. Army Album, ca. 1953-1955 [Folder 2 of 2]

10. New Orleans Album (Scrapbook), ca. 1956-1963

11. Swanlund Family plus My Story, by Clifford A. Swanlund, Jr.

Box 3: Wedding Album, 1953

Wedding Album, June 20, 1953

Box 4: Three Photo Albums, 1920s-1955