Lynn M. Riker Papers, 1953-2023 (Scattered), and undated

Central Michigan University Clarke Historical Library

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Restrictions:: Lynn M. Riker Papers are open for research.

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Summary

Creator:: Riker, Lynn M.
Abstract:: The collection consists of materials created and collected by two Central Michigan University (CMU) students, Lynn M. Riker and Mary Beth Erdman, who gave her materials to Riker.
Extent:: .75 cubic foot (in 2 boxes)
Language:: English
Authors:: Collection processed and finding aid created by M. Matyn

Background

Scope and Content:

The collection consists of materials created and collected by two Central Michigan University (CMU) students, Lynn M. Riker and Mary Beth Erdman, who gave her materials to Riker. Riker’s material documents her extensive activities in committees connected to her membership and leadership of CMU Residence Halls Assembly, which led to her involvement leading or co-leading the planning of the state, regional and national RHA conferences at CMU, including: the Michigan Residence Halls Assembly Conference in 1989, the Great Lakes Affiliate of College and University Residence Halls in 1984, and the National Association of Colleges and University Residence Halls, Inc. For the national she was involved with two bids, the unsuccessful 1985 and the successful 1986. Her papers include a wide variety of conference planning materials and bid packet materials include minutes, notes, correspondence, forms, schedules, budgets, lists of committee responsibilities, members and contacts, reports, conference invitations, banquet programs, certificates, fliers, stationery, and evaluations. Mary Beth Erdman’s materials include: 1950s and 1960s photographs and historical information about CMLife and CMU history articles that she wrote about or edited, including student demonstrations over censorship, 1960-1962, correspondence about her censorship editorial from CMU officials, including Wilbur E. Moore, Vice President of Academic Affairs, and a history of the Mount Pleasant High School student newspaper, the Stude, she wrote in 1954. Erdman also donated a photograph of a New Moon camper show with movie posters of The Long, Long Trailer, a 1953 MGM romantic comedy movie starring Lucy Ball and Desi Arnaz filmed in a New Moon trailer. The collection is organized by size and then alphabetically and chronologically.

Biographical / Historical:

Biography:

Lynn M. Riker is the daughter of Karen and Richard Riker of Alma, Michigan (information from CMU News March 29, 1985). Beginning in 1981 she attended Central Michigan University (CMU) from which she graduated with a B.A. (1984) and MBA 1986. While at CMU Riker was a very active student. She was a member of Mortar Board (Chippewa 1984), later serving as an advisor to the group (Chippewa 1989), Campus Girl Scouts, an organization which organized workshops and social activities for local leaders and scouts (Chippewa 1981), and was a student coordinator of the United Way drive (CMLife February 11, 1985). She lived on fourth (Chippewa 1983) and third (Chippewa 1984) floors of Sweeney Hall.

Lynn was most active with the CMU Residence Halls Assembly (RHA), which led to her involvement leading the planning of a state, regional, and national residence hall conference at CMU. College students were required to do all the planning and create competitive bids for these conferences. In 1982 she served as a RH Advisor (Chippewa 1982) and was elected the secretary./treasurer of RHA. (CMLife March 5, 1982), Later that month she was elected vice chairwoman (CMLife March 31, 1982). In May 1982 CMU RHA lost their bid to host the Great Lakes Affiliate of College and University Residence Halls (GLACURH) at CMU to Michigan State University (CMLife May 9, 1983). While serving as RHA Vice Chair, Riker planned a newsletter (CMLife November 15, 1982 and Chippewa 1983). As a junior Riker was elected as RHA Executive Board Chair in 1983 (CMLife April 20, 1983). She aimed to improved communication (CMLife September 9, 1983).

During 1983 and 1984 CMU RHA members met and compiled extensive materials for a successful bid in May 1983 to host the GLACURH at CMU in 1984 (CMLife May 9, 1983). As Chair of the CMU RHA in 1984, she attended a training conference at Western Michigan University (CMLife February 15, 1984). A few months later as RHA Chair, Riker noted that the RHA Executive Board members trained new members over a two-week period (CMLife April 11, 1984). In early 1985 she replaced another student as Herrig Hall Residence Hall Director (CMLife February 25, 1985). She was nominated as the RHA Conference Advisor of the year in November 1985 (CMLife November 6, 1985).

After hosting the GLACURH conference, RHA members began meeting and working to compile extensive information to host the National Association of Colleges and University Residence Halls, Inc. (NACURH) at CMU in 1985. While their bid was highly lauded, it came in second. Having completed a two-year term for a state advisor from Eastern Michigan University, Riker ran unopposed for state advisor. She was described as “She’s had a lot of experience dealing with Residence halls and with housing. She’s very well respected. She was very welcomed into the position.” (CMLife February 12, 1986). Riker was recognized at the CMU Student Affairs Leadership Annual banquet (CMLife April 21, 1986).

With experience gained from the prior year, RHA members wrote a 102-page bid and traveled to San Francisco NACURH meeting. (CMLife August 25, 1986). CMU RHA was successful and hosted the conference at CMU for 1,497 participants from May 21-24, 1987. Attendees were housed in the CMU Towers and attended presentations in campus buildings. Lynn was one of the conference advisors (leaders), and led the meetings for both bids and to finalize arrangement during 1986 for the 1987 conference. Lynn advertised the conference as CMU Residence Hall director and convention advisor (Central News May 18 and 27, 1987).

In 1988 RHA members began meeting and working to compile extensive information to host the Michigan Residence Halls Assembly Conference at CMU in 1989. Their bid was successful. Riker was named GLACUHO’s New Young Professional (CMLife November 16, 1988).

Riker served as the Towers Complex Manager (CMLife 1987). One of her goals included making a more comfortable environment and providing social and cultural activities for minority member (CMLife September 20, 1989). On June 6, 1990 Riker left her job as manager of the Towers Residence Hall for a new job as assistant director of facilities and conferences at Seton Hall University in West Orange, New Jersey. She had served for five and a half years as director of Herrig Resident Hall. (CMLife May 23, 1990). Lynn was noted by CMU Alumni Association as a donor (Centralight July 1990), a Deans Club member (Centralight October1994), In 2023 Riker lives in West Orange, New Jersey. (This information is from the collection and online CMU publications as noted in citations.)

Mary Elizabeth “Mary Beth” Erdman (July 2, 1936-February 23, 2020), was the daughter of William H. (1896-1957) and Elizabeth “Beth” C. Holliner Erdman (1902-1968). She had two sisters, Angeline and Carolyn. In 1940 her father was an accountant in Mount Pleasant, Mich. In 1950 she boarded with the Thomas and Leanore Knapp family in Mount Pleasant. She attended and graduated from Mount Pleasant High School in the early 1950s. (This information is from ancestry.com, accessed June 4, 2023.) In 1960 she was the Assistant Editor of the Chippewa (1960) and one of two news editors for CMLife (Chippewa 1960). She was one of two people to whom students turned in ideas for the 1961 homecoming theme (CMLife April 25, 1960). From 1960 through1962 she was managing editor (CMLife May 6, 1960). As such her name appears in multiple issues of CMLife. In 1962 she was a tentative representative of the Chippewa staff who was supposed to attend the Michigan Collegiate Press Association Conference at Michigan State University in late April (CMLife April 13, 1962). She taught at Buena Vista, January-June 1962 (CMLife January 19, 1962). From 1976 through 2020 Erdman lived in Bay City. Her sister, Carolyn, died in 2009. Mary Beth’s minimal obituary simply states that she passed at McLaren Bay Region and her funeral arrangements were private (her obit is in legacy.com). Erdman gave her materials to Riker to donate to the Clarke.

One of the items Erdman donated was a photograph of a New Moon camper show with movie posters of The Long, Long Trailer a 1953 MGM romantic comedy movie starring Lucy Ball and Desi Arnaz filmed in a New Moon trailer. New Moon Trailers were manufactured by the Redman Trailer Company of Alma, Michigan, also known as Redman Trailer Company, New Moon Homes, and Redman Industries. The Redman brothers left the Alma Trainer Company in 1937 to from their own company. Their trailers, billed as the world’s longest, were produced 1944-1953. The specially manufactured trailer in which the movie was filmed was taken to theaters to help launch the film. The film was MGM’s highest grossing comedy that year. As a result of the film’s success, the company created an I Love Lucy model in 1954 and rapidly grow from a small regional producer to the nation’s largest mobile home manufacturer. The mobile-home industry continued in Alma until the 1970s. (This information is from online materials that were added to the collection by Archivist Marian Matyn.)

Acquisition Information:

Acc#77632

Arrangement: