Whitman Ties:
The Kirkmans and Whitman College
Friday, August 23 thru Sunday, November 17, 2024

William Kirkman was a generous and civic-minded man, giving of both his time and his money. He and his wife Isabella were strong supporters of education. William was a founding member of the board of trustees at Whitman College and his donations and fundraising enabled Whitman to go from a seminary to a liberal arts college, with the building of College Hall in 1883. Isabella was very active in the social activities of the college. All four of their children attended Whitman College. Their daughter Fanny Ann married Allen Reynolds, Whitman's treasurer for many years. 

In a significant act of philanthropy, Isabella Kirkman bequeathed her home to Whitman College in 1919,
reinforcing her family’s enduring commitment to the institution. This gesture aligned with Whitman’s
drive to amass funds for the new dormitory on campus, subsequently named Lyman Hall. Kirkman House served as the first men's dormitory for Whitman College that was not a fraternity for its short four-year existence before being sold to fund the new hall.  Whitman's only Nobel prize winner, Walter Brattain, was a resident of the hall. 

Four generations of Kirkmans attended Whitman, and one, Ruth Reynolds, became head librarian. 

We invite to you come learn about these important connections between the Kirkman family and the history and growth of Whitman College.