Radcliffe College. Office of Development.

Early fundraising at Radcliffe College was conducted by specially appointed committees, such as the Committee on Resources, 1915-1936. From 1950 to 1961 Mildred Sherman, Dean of College Relations, was responsible for alumnae gifts and special fundraising projects. On her death in 1961, the College Fund Office was established; and renamed the Office of Development and Alumnae Affairs in 1972 to continue previous functions and seek foundation and government grant funding.

Fund-raising at every college is a continual necessity and Radcliffe has been no exception. This record group contains the records of appeals since 1929. For earlier records see the papers of Council (RG I, ser. 2), President Comstock's papers (RG II, ser. 2), the Comptroller's records (RG III, ser. 5), and the Dean of College Relations (RG VI, ser. 1-3).

"A Ten Year Plan for Radcliffe" was launched under President Jordan on July 1, 1956, designed to raise $10 million: 4 million for new construction and for the joint Harvard/Radcliffe Health Center and Loeb Theater, $2 million for student financial aid, $1.5 million for the Women's Archives and $3.5 million for capital funds. By 1960, $6 million had been raised and largely absorbed by the joint H/R ventures, The Cronkhite Graduate Center and the three Jordan cooperatives. With the appointment of Mrs. Bunting as President of Radcliffe, the Ten Year Plan expanded beyond its original goal. From 1961-64, $3 million was raised for capital, $1.5 million for current use and $1.2 million by the sale Longfellow Hall. In 1967, the college launched a new appeal: "A Program for Radcliffe" which sought $15 million for buildings and $15 million for scholarship aid including endowment for the Radcliffe Institute. Amongst other things, the new House Centers, Hilles Library, and Currier House were funded by this.

The Century Fund was luanched in 1978 with three objectives: 1) to raise Alumnae Annual Giving to sustained $1 million by 1981 so as to enable Radcliffe to fulfill its promise to contribute $1.4 million in financial aid to Harvard by 1985; 2) to increase foundation grants to $3.5 million by 1985; 3) to raise $10 million in new endowment to develop Radcliffe's own programs and facilities.

Early appeals were managed by the Committee on Resources, 1915-30, 1930-36, The Fund for Endowment and Equipment, 1937-49 and ohter specially appointed committees. From 1950-61, Mildred Sherman, Dean of College Relations, was responsible for alumnae gifts, fund drives and special projects. The College Fund Office was established after her death in 1961. Directors of the Office have been: Robert Gabriel, 1961-63, Dorotha (MacMillan) Hanna, 1963-70, Susan (Storey) Lyman, 1970-72, Hope (Williams) Wigglesworth, 1972-79, Mary (Jordan) Cox, 1979-83, and Cecily (Orenstein) Morse, 1983-. In 1972 the office changed its title to Alumnae Affairs and Development. However the records of the Development Office and the Alumnae Association have been kept in separate record groups to simplify records management.