Welcome to Pollock Alumni House
Constructed in 1920 for William Edward Pollock, once president of the Oshkosh Overall Company (later known as OshKosh B'Gosh), the Spanish Revival-style house was purchased by the University in 1943. The purchase included $2,000 provided by the Alumni Association to help clear the debts of an interim owner. Alumni (pictured) enjoy a warm autumn day while awaiting the Homecoming to pass by the Pollock Alumni House, 1983.
Living in Pollock
First used as a welcome center for parents and friends of Army Air Corps cadets, the Pollock home was soon put into service as a women's dormitory, as seen here in1950.
Front Door to Pollock
In 1967, the Pollock dormitory became the offices of the new School (later, College) of Nursing. Detail drawing (pictured) of the front door of the Pollock House, 1953.
Pollock Memories
Former residents of the dormitory (pictured) review a scrapbook during a luncheon, 1971.
Willliam E. Pollock
Undated photograph.
Pollock as Dormitory, 1952
In summer 1970, the stately Pollock home was transformed into a completely redecorated alumni house. Since then, it has served as the campus's front door for returning alumni, welcoming pop-in visitors as well as guests of organized activities, and as a venue for other events, including faculty and staff meetings and receptions for visitors.
Welcoming Alumni
History suggests that the alumni group at Oshkosh began in 1901. After years of little activity, the organization formally was incorporated as the Oshkosh Normal School Alumni Association in 1917. Initially, the group worked mainly to promote the general interests of Wisconsin normal schools throughout the statewide network. Alumni attend a Homecoming reception (pictured) at the Pioneer Inn in 1970.
Alumni Association Minutes
First-known minutes of the Alumni Association, 1901.
First Alumni House
After helping to make the school's first Homecoming a success in 1921, the Alumni Association's activities waxed and waned over the years. The first alumni house (as pictured in 1967) was located at 733 Elmwood Avenue.
Greeting Guests at Pollock
In the 1960s, during the Roger Guiles administration and under the direction of alumni office director Helen Geiger, the association grew in the number of activities and administrative sophistication. Alumni Association members Sally Teresinski and John Stevens (right) help greet guests as thy check in at a Pollock House event, ca. 1971.
Phone-a-Thon
Student employees make calls in a phone-a-thon fundraiser, 1983.
Jean Nelson, 1970
The Alumni Association groundwork was continued and expanded through the leadership of Geiger's replacement, Jean Nelson, who oversaw the move to Pollock House and an ever-expanding list of activities for the Alumni Office.
Articles of Incorporation
Articles of incorporation for the Oshkosh Normal School Alumni Association, 1917.
