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ORIGINAL 1965 LETTER — THE WARDMAN HOUSE GIFT
A primary document from the moment Whittier College locked in the terms of one of its most famous gifts.
This is an original typed letter dated November 20, 1965, on official Whittier College / Office of the President letterhead, written to Mrs. Bonnie N. Wardman about the family home at 1025 Summit Drive — the Spanish Revival estate now known as Wardman House (later 13952 Summit Drive), a designated Whittier historic landmark.
The Wardmans
Aubrey Wardman and Bonnie Bell Wardman were among Whittier’s most important early patrons. Aubrey built a fortune in oil and the telephone business; together they gave the college Wardman Hall, a gym, and the Bonnie Bell Wardman Library. Their 1925 hilltop home — courtyard, red-tile roof, turret, wrought iron — was the crown of that generosity. They deeded the property to Whittier College years earlier, reserving a life estate so they could remain in the house for the rest of their lives.
What this letter does
After Aubrey’s death, Bonnie asked the college for two final promises. This letter is the college’s written agreement:
• After her death, the college would wait at least six months before taking possession, so her sisters and the executors of her estate could have uninterrupted use of the house
• Her close friends Mr. and Mrs. Marcel Dufour could live in the guest house rent-free and tax-free for life (or until they chose to leave), and could not rent it to outsiders
Bonnie Wardman died in March 1966, only four months after this letter. The mansion then passed fully to the college and served for decades as the president’s residence and a campus gathering place. In 2023 the college sold the landmark for $5 million.
Original ink signatures of both officers who bound the college:
• Paul S. Smith, President of Whittier College
• Thomas W. Bewley, President of the Board of Trustees
This is not a photocopy. It is the working paper of the gift: letterhead, date, property address, life-estate language, guest-house terms, and two period 1960s letterhead. Expected toning and original folds. Stored in a protective sleeve. Two clear ink signatures. (Add your exact measurements here.)
A sharp piece for collectors of:
• Historic Whittier homes and local landmarks
• Whittier College history and the Wardman legacy
• Mid-century California institutional documents
• Estate, life-estate, and philanthropy paperwork with a famous house attached
Ships sleeved and boarded in a rigid mailer. Smoke-free home. Happy to answer questions quickly.
