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.

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.

Historical NoteReturn to Top

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.

Content DescriptionReturn to Top

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.

Use of the CollectionReturn to Top

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.

Administrative InformationReturn to Top

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.

Detailed Description of the CollectionReturn to Top

 

Articles of Incorporation and By-Laws, 1922-1983Return to Top

Container(s): Box-folder 3/1

CorrespondenceReturn to Top

Container(s) Description Dates
Incoming Letters
Box/Folder
1/1
Boettiger, Anna Roosevelt
1940
1/2
General Federation of Women's Clubs
1932, 1977
1/3
Holman, Marion, Perkins, Coie and Stone (Law Firm)
1966-1973
1/4
Powell, Mildred T.
1938-1940
1/5
Salvation Army
1940-1944
1/6
Seattle Public Schools
1940-1966
1/7
Seattle Symphony Orchestra
1940
1/8
State Humane Society of Washington
1939-1940
1/9
Washington State Federation of Women's Clubs
1973-1978
1/10-11
Miscellaneous
1940-1999
Box/Folder
1/12
Outgoing Letters
1939-1978
1/13
Intraorganizational Correspondence
1937-1974
Container(s) Description Dates
Box/Folder
1/14-41
General (Board and Regular Meetings)
1901-1974
2/1-7
General (Board and Regular Meetings)
1975-1991
2/8-12
Building Board Minutes
1907-1930
2/13
President's Council
1940-1944
2/14
Property Planning Committee
1966-1973
2/15
Public Welfare Department of the Seattle Federation of Women's Clubs
1926-1928
2/16-17
Women's Education Club
1979-1992
Container(s) Description Dates
Box/Folder
2/18-20
SFWC Departmental Reports
1932-1980
2/21
WSFWC Reports
1973-1991

Yearbooks, 1919, 1922, 1965, 1972-1984, undatedReturn to Top

Container(s): Box-folder 2/22-24

NewslettersReturn to Top

Container(s) Description Dates
Box/Folder
2/25
Internal Newsletters, Board Meeting Notices, etc.
1973-1983
2/26
President's Memo
1966-1968
2/27-28
Miscellaneous Bulletins, Meeting Announcements
1950, 1960, 1970-1991

Appointment Lists, 1944-1978, undatedReturn to Top

Container(s): Box-folder 2/29

Resolutions, 1949-1992, undatedReturn to Top

Container(s): Box-folder 2/30

Program Files Return to Top

Container(s) Description Dates
Box/Folder
2/31
Contests
undated
Community Improvement Program
Box/Folder
2/32
Incoming Letter
undated
2/33
Annual Reports
1996-1997
2/34
Speeches and Writings
1975-1979, undated
2/35-36
NIKE Project
Includes nine photographs from the 1970 NIKE Project event.
1960
Reports
Box/Folder
2/37
Coterie Club Reports
1979-1980, undated
2/38
Cosmopolitan Club Reports
1976
2/39
SFWC Reports
1978-1980
Box/Folder
2/40
Booklets
1975, undated
2/41
Slides
Most likely part of a presentation for the Community Improvement Program.
1978
2/42
Scrapbook
1979-1980
box-folder:oversize
Miscellaneous Oversize Box 9
Certificate and Photograph Montage
circa 1974
Box/Folder
2/43
Ephemera
1978, undated

Rules and Procedures, 1949-1973, undatedReturn to Top

Container(s): Box-folder 2/44

Schedules, 1939, 1964, 1978, 1983-1984Return to Top

Container(s): Box-folder 2/45

Speeches and Writings, 1963-1982, undatedReturn to Top

Container(s): Box-folder 2/46-47

Includes presidential speeches and memorials.

Conferences and Conventions, 1972-1984, undatedReturn to Top

Container(s): Box-folder 2/48

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

Attendance Book, 1964-1970Return to Top

Container(s): Box-folder 3/2

Financial RecordsReturn to Top

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

Legal DocumentsReturn to Top

Container(s) Description Dates
Box/Folder
3/29
Purchase of Clubhouse
1908
3/30
Sale of Clubhouse
1966-1973, undated
3/31
Request for Non-Profit Status
1964-1965
3/32
Miscellaneous
1913, 1973, undated

Publication: Seattle Magazine , 1965Return to Top

Container(s): Box-folder 3/33

Photographs, undatedReturn to Top

Container(s): Box-folder 3/34

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

Ephemera, 1938-1962Return to Top

Container(s): Box-folder 3/35

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

Clippings, 1939-1982Return to Top

Container(s): Box-folder 3/36

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

Plaque, 1960Return to Top

Container(s): Box-folder 3/37

First place in the GFWC Sewing Contest.

Memorial Book, 1959-1977Return to Top

Container(s): Box 4

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

ScrapbooksReturn to Top

Container(s) Description Dates
Box
5
1902-1909
1902-1909
5
1915-1924
1915-1924
6
1927-1943
1927-1943
6
1943-1947
1943-1947
7
1949-1957
1949-1957
7
1957-1968
1957-1968
6
1959-1960
1959-1960
8
1968-1969
1968-1969
8
1973-1976
1973-1976
8
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.
1973-1981
5
Undated
undated

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)