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Seattle Federation of Women's Clubs records, 1889-1999

Overview of the Collection

Creator
Seattle Federation of Women's Clubs
Title
Seattle Federation of Women's Clubs records
Dates
1889-1999 (inclusive)
Quantity
6.25 cubic feet (8 boxes)
Collection Number
5175 (Accession No. 5175-001)
Summary
Records of a Seattle, Washington, women's federation involved in community service and academic study.
Repository
University of Washington Libraries, Special Collections
Special Collections
University of Washington Libraries
Box 352900
Seattle, WA
98195-2900
Telephone: 2065431929
Fax: 2065431931
speccoll@uw.edu
Access Restrictions

The papers are open to all users.

Request at UW

Additional Reference Guides

Languages
English
Sponsor
Funding for encoding this finding aid was partially provided through a grant awarded by the National Endowment for the Humanities.
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Historical Note

The Seattle Federation of Women's Clubs (SFWC) was founded in 1889 as a branch of the Washington State Federation of Women's Clubs (WSFWC) and the General Federation of Women's Clubs (GFWC). The SFWC was incorporated in 1922 and registered by the state of Washington. In 1966 it was granted non-profit status. Its purpose was to bring member clubs together to contribute to the community through service and academic study. In later years the federation became more centered on community service. For example, the group participated in projects such as the Community Improvement Program, an effort sponsored at the national level by the GFWC and Sears, Roebuck and Company. The program's aim was to improve the quality of life through city beautification projects, recycling programs, environmental awareness poster competitions, and other activities.

In 1908 the SFWC purchased a clubhouse on Harvard Avenue on Capitol Hill. The clubhouse had been purchased with funds acquired through the sale of stock certificates between 1908 and 1923; consequently, the stockholders were granted an interest in the clubhouse and possibly a share of any funds resulting from the sale of the property. In 1973 the clubhouse was sold due to high taxes and maintenance costs. As the by-laws of the SFWC were unclear about what would happen in the event of a sale, the SFWC filed a lawsuit against Washington State in order to determine if it would be legal to sell the building without having to surrender profits to remaining stockholders. The courts ruled in the SFWC's favor. The SFWC disbanded in 2000 due to dwindling membership.

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Content Description

The collection includes general records of the Seattle Federation of Women's Clubs (SFWC), records of its various departments and projects, and a small selection of minutes from a member club, the Women's Education Club. The general records include minutes, financial records, reports, legal documents, organizational information, stock records, and scrapbooks and focus mostly on the details of running the federation. Documentation concerning the Community Improvement Program includes reports on projects by SFWC member clubs, writings, presentation slides, clippings, a certificate, a photograph montage, and a scrapbook.

SFWC minutes document general meetings of the SFWC and its executive board meetings. The minutes include accompanying material such as treasurer's reports, annual departmental reports, attendance records, and a small quantity of correspondence. The set of general minutes is nearly complete, starting in 1901 and ending in 1991, with a gap in 1922.

The bulk of the legal documents concerns the purchase and sale of the SFWC clubhouse, and the related lawsuit. The stock records include the original stock ledger and stock record book, and a typed version of the stock record book from 1968.

The records include a small quantity of correspondence, the bulk of which is from the law firm that represented the SFWC in the lawsuit concerning the clubhouse. Other correspondents include the General Federation of Women's Clubs, the Washington State Federation of Women's Clubs, Mildred T. Powell, and Seattle Public Schools, among others.

The SFWC historical scrapbooks are organized chronologically in boxes 4-8. These scrapbooks mostly contain clippings regarding the club and current social issues of the day. A few also contain photographs, notices, invitations, programs, and tickets.

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Use of the Collection

Restrictions on Use

The literary rights of representatives of the records-creating organization have been transferred to the University of Washington Libraries.

Preferred Citation

[Title of item], [date of item if known], [box/folder number], Seattle Federation of Women's Clubs Records, Accession No. 5175-001, University of Washington Libraries.

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Administrative Information

Arrangement

The papers are arranged by type of document.

Acquisition Information

Donated by the Seattle Federation of Women's Clubs in 2000.

Processing Note

Processed by A. Sinclaire Lindsey in 2006.

21 photographs were relocated to the Seattle Federation of Women's Clubs Photograph Collection in the Special Collections division, University of Washington Libraries, in 2006.

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Detailed Description of the Collection

 

  • Description: Articles of Incorporation and By-Laws
    Dates: 1922-1983
    Container: Box/Folder 3/1

  • Correspondence

  • Minutes

    • Description: General (Board and Regular Meetings)
      Dates: 1901-1974
      Container: Box/Folder 1/14-41
      Location: Minutes
    • Description: General (Board and Regular Meetings)
      Dates: 1975-1991
      Container: Box/Folder 2/1-7
      Location: Minutes
    • Description: Building Board Minutes
      Dates: 1907-1930
      Container: Box/Folder 2/8-12
      Location: Minutes
    • Description: President's Council
      Dates: 1940-1944
      Container: Box/Folder 2/13
      Location: Minutes
    • Description: Property Planning Committee
      Dates: 1966-1973
      Container: Box/Folder 2/14
      Location: Minutes
    • Description: Public Welfare Department of the Seattle Federation of Women's Clubs
      Dates: 1926-1928
      Container: Box/Folder 2/15
      Location: Minutes
    • Description: Women's Education Club
      Dates: 1979-1992
      Container: Box/Folder 2/16-17
      Location: Minutes

  • Reports

    • Description: SFWC Departmental Reports
      Dates: 1932-1980
      Container: Box/Folder 2/18-20
      Location: Reports
    • Description: WSFWC Reports
      Dates: 1973-1991
      Container: Box/Folder 2/21
      Location: Reports
  • Description: Yearbooks
    Dates: 1919, 1922, 1965, 1972-1984, undated
    Container: Box/Folder 2/22-24

  • Newsletters

    • Description: Internal Newsletters, Board Meeting Notices, etc.
      Dates: 1973-1983
      Container: Box/Folder 2/25
      Location: Newsletters
    • Description: President's Memo
      Dates: 1966-1968
      Container: Box/Folder 2/26
      Location: Newsletters
    • Description: Miscellaneous Bulletins, Meeting Announcements
      Dates: 1950, 1960, 1970-1991
      Container: Box/Folder 2/27-28
      Location: Newsletters
  • Description: Appointment Lists
    Dates: 1944-1978, undated
    Container: Box/Folder 2/29
  • Description: Resolutions
    Dates: 1949-1992, undated
    Container: Box/Folder 2/30

  • Program Files

  • Description: Rules and Procedures
    Dates: 1949-1973, undated
    Container: Box/Folder 2/44
  • Description: Schedules
    Dates: 1939, 1964, 1978, 1983-1984
    Container: Box/Folder 2/45
  • Description: Speeches and Writings

    Includes presidential speeches and memorials.

    Dates: 1963-1982, undated
    Container: Box/Folder 2/46-47
  • Description: Conferences and Conventions

    Includes convention records of the General Federation of Women's Clubs and the Washington State Federation of Women's Clubs.

    Dates: 1972-1984, undated
    Container: Box/Folder 2/48
  • Description: Attendance Book
    Dates: 1964-1970
    Container: Box/Folder 3/2

  • Financial Records

    • Description: Financial Ledgers (Bound)
      Dates: 1889-1938, 1966-1969
      Container: Box/Folder 3/3-9
      Location: Financial Records
    • Description: Financial Ledgers
      Dates: 1962-1976
      Container: Box/Folder 3/10-18
      Location: Financial Records
    • Description: Convention Records
      Dates: 1971, 1977, undated
      Container: Box/Folder 3/19
      Location: Financial Records
    • Description: Miscellaneous
      Dates: 1962-1989, undated
      Container: Box/Folder 3/20-23
      Location: Financial Records
    • Description: Stock Ledger
      Dates: 1907-1923
      Container: Box/Folder 3/24
      Location: Financial Records
    • Description: Stock Journal
      Dates: 1907-1918
      Container: Box/Folder 3/25
      Location: Financial Records
    • Description: Record Book of Stockholders
      Dates: 1914-1915
      Container: Box/Folder 3/26
      Location: Financial Records
    • Description: Stock Records
      Dates: 1968
      Container: Box/Folder 3/27
      Location: Financial Records
    • Description: Stock Certificates
      Dates: 1907-1923
      Container: Box/Folder 3/28
      Location: Financial Records

  • Legal Documents

    • Description: Purchase of Clubhouse
      Dates: 1908
      Container: Box/Folder 3/29
      Location: Legal Documents
    • Description: Sale of Clubhouse
      Dates: 1966-1973, undated
      Container: Box/Folder 3/30
      Location: Legal Documents
    • Description: Request for Non-Profit Status
      Dates: 1964-1965
      Container: Box/Folder 3/31
      Location: Legal Documents
    • Description: Miscellaneous
      Dates: 1913, 1973, undated
      Container: Box/Folder 3/32
      Location: Legal Documents
  • Description: Publication: Seattle Magazine
    Dates: 1965
    Container: Box/Folder 3/33
  • Description: Photographs

    One photograph of a Seattle Federation of Women's Clubs poster exhibit and two other unidentified photographs.

    Dates: undated
    Container: Box/Folder 3/34
  • Description: Ephemera

    Includes flyers, a copy of the club song, and other material.

    Dates: 1938-1962
    Container: Box/Folder 3/35
  • Description: Clippings

    Includes articles about awards, events, projects, and programs of the SFWC.

    Dates: 1939-1982
    Container: Box/Folder 3/36
  • Description: Plaque

    First place in the GFWC Sewing Contest.

    Dates: 1960
    Container: Box/Folder 3/37
  • Description: Memorial Book

    A memorial to prominent deceased club members. The book includes a portrait and short account of each member's life and work.

    Dates: 1959-1977
    Container: Box 4

  • Scrapbooks

    • Description: 1902-1909
      Dates: 1902-1909
      Container: Box 5
      Location: Scrapbooks
    • Description: 1915-1924
      Dates: 1915-1924
      Container: Box 5
      Location: Scrapbooks
    • Description: 1927-1943
      Dates: 1927-1943
      Container: Box 6
      Location: Scrapbooks
    • Description: 1943-1947
      Dates: 1943-1947
      Container: Box 6
      Location: Scrapbooks
    • Description: 1949-1957
      Dates: 1949-1957
      Container: Box 7
      Location: Scrapbooks
    • Description: 1957-1968
      Dates: 1957-1968
      Container: Box 7
      Location: Scrapbooks
    • Description: 1959-1960
      Dates: 1959-1960
      Container: Box 6
      Location: Scrapbooks
    • Description: 1968-1969
      Dates: 1968-1969
      Container: Box 8
      Location: Scrapbooks
    • Description: 1973-1976
      Dates: 1973-1976
      Container: Box 8
      Location: Scrapbooks
    • Description: 1973-1981

      Contains photographs, a few clippings, and a few pieces of ephemera. The photographs concern the Bernadine sewing competition, the grade school poster competition, and several other SFWC events.

      Dates: 1973-1981
      Container: Box 8
      Location: Scrapbooks
    • Description: Undated
      Dates: undated
      Container: Box 5
      Location: Scrapbooks

Names and SubjectsReturn to Top

Subject Terms

  • Civic improvement--Washington (State)--Seattle
  • Real property--Ownership--Washington (State)--Seattle
  • Women civic leaders--Washington (State)--Seattle
  • Women--Washington (State)--Seattle
  • Women--Washington (State)--Seattle--Societies and clubs
  • Women--Washington (State)--Seattle--Societies and clubs--Archives

Personal Names

  • Powell, Mildred T., b. 1886

Corporate Names

  • Seattle Federation of Women's Clubs--Archives
  • Seattle Public Schools
  • Washington State Federation of Women's Clubs

Geographical Names

  • Seattle, Wash.--Social life and customs

Form or Genre Terms

  • Clippings (Books, newspapers, etc.)
  • Legal documents
  • Photographs
  • Scrapbooks
  • Slides
  • correspondence
  • financial records
  • ledgers (account books)
  • minutes
  • reports
  • writings

Names and SubjectsReturn to Top

Subject Terms

  • Personal Papers/Corporate Records (University of Washington)


2006 (Last modified: 4/19/2018)

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