The folding mailer includes a central illustration of a girl braving wind and snow to reach an address numbered 260, a reference to the campaign’s goal for each donor. The image on the mailer suggests the potential to reach 2-6-0, despite the bitter weather, and the narrative asks, “If ninety dollars was raised on a rainy day, how much would a sunny day bring?” The narrative encourages Wheaton students and alumnae to request contributions from friends, family, and local businesses. Graduating Seniors were targeted with the request for “100% to pledge and go over the top” with 2-60. Although students hoped to reach and surpass their goal in two weeks, the campaign ran much longer. Despite the work of the professional fund raising agency Tamblyn and Brown, which had been hired to manage the fund drive, the campaign was a failure. After the agency’s contract was paid, only $85,500 of the $1,000,000 goal was added to the endowment. The 2-6-0 Campaign was abandoned in 1924. Today’s Seniors are asked to collaborate as a class to support the Wheaton Fund. New technology allows Wheaton to reach students — and other donors — through means other than direct mail. For example, Seniors are encouraged to donate via the Wheaton website. Previous class gifts have been particularly successful: in 2009, President Ronald A. Crutcher jumped into Peacock Pond when that year’s Senior class exceeded its goal. This year’s class goal is 85% participation and, so far, 72% of Seniors have pledged their support. If the goal is surpassed, President Crutcher will need to don his special pond-jumping suit for another swim in the pond.
-Written by Raquel Inwentash, Class of 2013
Multiple authors The Wheaton News 1921 Ink on paper
Wheaton College Publications Collection Marion B. Gebbie Archives & Special Collections 1921: Issue published. -Podcast written and recorded by Raquel Inwentash, Class of 2013
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