Archives Named in Honor of Maria Randall Allen '42

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Archivists Maria Randall Allen '42 (right)  and Muffie Clement Green '65

Perhaps it can best be described as one venerable educational institution – Westover School – honoring the achievements of a beloved, living institution – Westover Archivist Maria Randall Allen.

The Alumnae Association’s Board of Governors honored Maria by naming the School’s collection of historical records the Maria Randall Allen ’42 Archives for singlehandedly creating and assembling the School’s collection after she was named the School’s first archivist in 1972.

“There is probably no one who does not associate the Archives with Maria,” said Alumnae Governor Susan Silliman Tracy Addiss ’47. “Over the years, with support from the Board of Governors, an endowment from the Class of 1940, and a bequest from Lys Barbour Higgins ’40, Maria has gathered, culled, organized, and catalogued thousands of documents, photos, and objects that embody the history – nay, the very soul – of this School.”

As Archivist (a duty she now shares with Trustee Muffie Clement Green ’65), “Maria has volunteered thousands of hours in the Archives, doing work that in many schools is carried out by a paid employee,” Susan said. “Friends have noted that Maria is unfailingly hopeful. She would indeed have to be in order to shape the jumble that was the original Archives over time into such a well-organized and well-run resource for all those who would like to know more about Westover.”