Call Number:

02

Repository:

Williamson College of the Trades (Williamson Free School of Mechanical Trades)

Extent:

9.0 linear feet

Language:

English

Date:

circa 2000-2008

Creator:

Hennigan, Cornelia, 1927-

Abstract:

Cornelia M. Hennigan, born in 1927, worked at Williamson Free School of Mechanical Trades (now known as Williamson College of the Trades) in Media, Delaware County, Pennsylvania from 1994 until her retirement in 2009. During her time at Williamson she was employed as a dorm mother (1994-1997), director of residential life (1997-2000), and historian (2000-2009). While serving as historian, Hennigan wrote a manuscript (never published) about the history of Williamson. The Cornelia Hennigan research on the Williamson Free School of Mechanical Trades, circa 2000-2008, consists mostly of research files with photocopies of primary and secondary-source documents relating to various subjects and people associated with the school. Hennigan's indices to several primary-source Williamson records (such as meeting minutes), an incomplete index to her own manuscript, and materials relating to the logistics of researching and writing a book, can also be found in the collection.

Cornelia M. Hennigan, born in 1927, worked at the Williamson Free School of Mechanical Trades (now known as Williamson College of the Trades) in Media, Delaware County, Pennsylvania from 1994 until her retirement in 2009. During her time at Williamson she was served as a dorm mother (1994-1997), director of residential life (1997-2000), and historian (2000-2009). While serving as historian, Hennigan wrote a manuscript (never published) about the history of Williamson.

Hennigan earned a bachelor's degree in history with a minor in education and went on to obtain both a master's degree and PhD in history. She worked at several colleges across the United States before coming to Williamson in 1994. Hennigan initially worked at Williamson as a dorm mother - the last person to hold that position, as the title was shortly changed to "dorm manager" - and also helped out in the school store and the library. After three years, Hennigan became Williamson's first director of residential life, supervising the dorm managers and establishing several dorm activities such as pumpkin carving and Christmas decorating contests to encourage bonding among dorm members and promote a home-like environment for Williamson students.

In 2000, Hennigan sought approval from Williamson's president to write a history of the school and was appointed the school's first "official" historian. In the summer of 2000, Hennigan and a research assistant, Suzanne Davis, began researching the school and its history. They interviewed alumni, students, current and former faculty and staff members, and the children of employees who had grown up on Williamson's campus. From about 2003 to 2008, Hennigan and Davis wrote a seventeen-chapter manuscript about the school, highlighting personal stories of those associated with Williamson. (The manuscript was never published.) Hennigan retired from the school in 2009.

Bibliography:

"Hennigan Retires After 15 Years." The Williamsonian 73, no. 1 (2009): 9. Accessed January 15, 2015. http://www.williamson.edu/williamsonian/issues/Williamsonian-Fall-09.pdf.

This collection consists mostly of research files compiled by Hennigan while she wrote her book on Williamson's history from 2000 to 2008. Organized alphabetically by topic, the files cover subjects and people associated with the school, such as the ladies auxiliary, various academic departments, Isaiah Williamson (the founder of the school), former presidents, and other topics. The files consist primarily of photocopied primary and secondary-source documents, such as obituaries, published articles, transcribed oral histories, personal memoirs, and other materials. Many pages were highlighted and/or annotated by Hennigan, and some of her handwritten notes are also present in the collection. There is at least one original photograph in the collection.

The collection also includes some binders with subject indexes to the school's Board minutes, alumni magazine, and other primary and secondary sources; as well as several binders of highlighted photocopies of publications with the sources noted. One box contains an incomplete index to Hennigan's manuscript.

Lastly, a quantity of materials relating to the logistics of Hennigan's research and writing are present in the collection. There are folders on various institutions where Hennigan conducted research, such as the Historical Society of Pennsylvania, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia Museum of Art, and Historic Langhorne Association. Additionally, Hennigan's book proposal, supply receipts, book orders, and other materials that document the logistical challenges of writing a book are included the collection. There are several CDs with files of Hennigan's book drafts and software she used.