Cage 732
Georgina P. Tucker
Papers, 1920-1997
Acquisition and Processing Information
This collection of Georgina Tucker's papers was donated to the Washington State University Libraries by Westin Hotels and Resorts in 1999 as part of an installment of their corporate records (MS 2000-03, separated from MS 1999-20). Talia Jensen began processing the collection in 2007, and Tabitha Erdey completed the project in 2009. The Washington Women's History Consortium provided funding assistance for processing.
Extent/Quantity Information
Number of Containers: 20
Linear Feet of Shelf Space: 18
Biography
Georgina Petheram Tucker was born in Spokane, Washington in 1911. She attended Washington State College from 1929-1933, graduating with a B.S. in Home Economics with an emphasis in Institutional Management. While at Washington State College Tucker was an active member of the Alpha Delta Pi Sorority. After receiving her degree, she began her 42-year career with Western Hotels, Inc., (Westin Hotels and Resorts) in the food and beverage department. Working at properties in Spokane, Wenatchee, Boise, Seattle, San Francisco, and, finally, Los Angeles, Tucker developed menus, staff training protocol, and food service planning methods for Western Hotels. In 1961, she was named Westin's director of food and beverage.
Tucker was appointed Executive Housekeeper of Los Angeles' Century Plaza Hotel in 1966. Prior to her service at the Century Plaza, in 1961, she was a consultant in the opening of Western's International Kyoto. Her practical experience in the hotel industry contributed to her authorship of two textbooks, The Science of Housekeeping (1969) and The Professional Housekeeper (1972).
Tucker retired from Western Hotels, Inc. in 1975 and remained active in the hospitality industry as a consultant. In 1989 she traveled to Egypt with the USAID International Executive Service Corps to oversee opening and review operations of several hotels. She also served as an adjunct instructor to hospitality programs at Golden Gate University, Cornell, the University of California at Davis, and Kenya's Utalii University. In her retirement, Tucker was also an active member of numerous community service groups including the Soroptimist Club of Beverly Hills, The Assistance League of San Mateo County, and Saint Matthews Episcopal Church of San Mateo, California. She received Washington State University's Distinguished Home Economics Alumnus Award in 1978.
Collection Description
This collection consists of Georgina Tucker's papers and correspondence, primarily materials related to her career with Western Hotels, Inc. and her years as a student at Washington State College. It includes photographs, correspondence, recipes and menus, travel ephemera, and a sound recording, as well as extensive scrapbooks documenting Tucker's life and work from 1929 forward.
Collection Arrangement
The collection was received with no pre-existing arrangement, and is organized in three series:
Series 1: Personal and professional papers, 1929-1993. This series consists of Tucker's personal papers, correspondence, and publications. It includes articles and newspaper clippings, miscellaneous awards and certificates, personal correspondence, travel materials, Washington State College and Alpha Delta Pi Sorority materials, teaching and instruction materials, and speech drafts.
Series 2: Westin, consulting, and USAID papers, 1933-1989. This series consists of Tucker's professional papers and materials related to her career with Western Hotels, Inc. It includes Western Hotels, Inc. recipes and menus, and materials related to Tucker's role as Executive Director of Food and Beverage. Also included are materials related to Tucker's 1961 Japan consulting trip and her work with the International Executive Service Corps in Egypt.
Series 3: Scrapbooks and oversize materials, 1920-1990. This series consists of scrapbooks and oversize materials. The scrapbooks are arranged chronologically and document Tucker's time at Washington State College, her work and travels, community service activities, and retirement.
Most photographs and other visual materials in the collection are in the scrapbook series, but some are filed with related items in the other series.
Separated Material
Tucker's two textbooks, The Science of Housekeeping (1969) and The Professional Housekeeper (1972), were removed for individual cataloging.
Subjects
Tucker, Georgina -- Archives
Washingon State University -- Alumni and alumnae -- Archives
Westin Hotels & Resorts
Hotel management
Hotel housekeeping
Food industry and trade
Access
This collection is open and available for research use. Copyright restrictions apply.
Condition Note
Most of the scrapbooks are fragile, consisting of items attached with adhesives to brittle, acidic paper.
Preferred Citation
The suggested citation for the collection is:
[Item Description]
Georgina Tucker papers, 1920-1997
Manuscripts, Archives, and Special Collections
Washington State University Libraries
Pullman, WA
Related Materials
This collection is closely related to the records of Westin Hotels and Resorts (Cage 656), also held in Manuscripts, Archives, and Special Collections (online guide available here: http://www.wsulibs.wsu.edu/masc/westin/front.htm).
Languages
Most materials are in English, with a few items in Japanese and Arabic.