mnsss338 Watumull Foundation Records, 1929-1992 Finding Aid Encoding funded by the Andrew W. Mellon Foundation. Sophia Smith Collection, Smith College

Northampton, MA

Finding aid exported into EAD from InMagic DB/Textworks 7.01. Encoded by Margaret Jessup and Jennifer Smar. 2006-04-07 Finding aid written in English. Sophia Smith CollectionSmith College Watumull Foundation Records, 1929-1992 Finding Aid MS 377 2005 Encoding funded by the Andrew W. Mellon Foundation.

Collection Overview Watumull Foundation Watumull Foundation Records1929-1992 MS 377 1 box (1.25 linear ft.) English Sophia Smith Collection

Smith College Northampton, MA

Philanthropic foundation. Records consist primarily of correspondence with Ellen Watumull, Margaret Sanger, Shrimati Dhanvanthi Rama Rau, and others about birth control, particularly in India. There is also material documenting the Planned Parenthood meeting in 1969 and the Planned Parenthood Center of Los Angeles. Included are miscellaneous materials about Margaret Sanger and birth control. Historical Note

The Watumull Foundation was established in Honolulu, Hawaii by businessman G.S. Watumull in 1942. As an immigrant from India, Watumull wanted his foundation to promote goodwill between the U.S. and India. His wife, Ellen (Jensen) Watumull (1875-1990), served as executive vice-president of the Foundation. Watumull Foundation resources supported an exchange of educators between the U.S. and India, financed Indian students in the U.S., sponsored medical research projects, aided Honolulu cultural institutions, and promoted birth control in India. Ellen Watumull helped Margaret Sanger plan the first International Planned Parenthood Conference in Asia (Bombay, 1952). After the death of G.J. Watumull, the Foundation started giving annual awards in his memory -- five in science and five in the humanities.

Scope and Contents of the Collection

The records of the Watumull Foundation consist primarily of correspondence of Ellen Watumull, Margaret Sanger, Shrimati Dhanvanthi Rama Rau, and others about birth control, particularly in India. There is also material concerning efforts to have Margaret Sanger nominated for the Nobel Prize in 1960; the Planned Parenthood meeting in 1969 and the Planned Parenthood Center of Los Angeles. Included are miscellaneous clippings and other publications about Margaret Sanger and birth control, as well as an audiotape of Ellen Watumull discussing Margaret Sanger.

Information on Use Terms of Access and Use

The papers are open to research according to the regulations of the Sophia Smith Collection.

This collection has not been fully processed and therefore may be difficult to use.

Copyright to unpublished materials may be owned by the creator, or their heirs or assigns. It is the responsibility of the researcher to identify and satisfy the holders of all copyrights. Permission to publish reproductions or quotations beyond "fair use" must also be obtained from the Sophia Smith Collection as owners of the physical property.

Preferred Citation

Please use the following format when citing materials from this collection:

Watumull Foundation Records, Sophia Smith Collection, Smith College, Northampton, Mass.

Search Terms Birth control--India--History--Sources Birth control--United States--History--20th century--Sources Sanger, Margaret, 1879-1966 Rama Rau, Shrimati Dhanvanthi Watumull, Ellen Jensen, 1875-1990 Watumull Foundation 1 Planned Parenthood meeting: Correspondence, reports, financial statements, agendas, and minutes 1969 1 Planned Parenthood Center of Los Angeles: Correspondence and reports,1953-58 1 Shrimati Dhanvanthi Rama Rau: Correspondence and printed material,1951-55 Margaret Sanger Correspondence 1 General 1951-53 1 Nobel Peace Prize1960 1 Publications by and about(includes some misc. correspondence) 1929-92 1 Cassette tape: Ellen Watumull on M. Sanger