Archives West Finding Aid
Table of Contents
Whatcom County Woman's Christian Temperance Union Records, 1928-1968
Overview of the Collection
- Creator
- Whatcom County Woman's Christian Temperance Union
- Title
- Whatcom County Woman's Christian Temperance Union Records
- Dates
- 1928-1968 (inclusive)19281968
1949-1968 (bulk)19491968 - Quantity
- 0.5 linear feet
- Collection Number
- XOE_CPNWS0059WCTU (collection)
- Summary
- The Whatcom County Woman's Christian Temperenace Union records document the activities and ideals of this organization. As a chapter of an important national organization, the WCTU actively promoted complete abstinence from alcohol through education, outreach, and activism. Of primary interest are the detailed meeting minutes and financial records.
- Repository
-
Western Washington University, Center for Pacific Northwest Studies
Goltz-Murray Archives Building
808 25th St.
Bellingham, WA
98225
Telephone: (360) 650-7534
cpnws@wwu.edu - Access Restrictions
-
The collection is open to the public.
- Languages
- English.
- Sponsor
- Funding for preparing this finding aid was provided through a grant awarded by the Washington State Legislature to the Washington Women's History Consortium. Funding for encoding the finding aid was awarded by the National Endowment for the Humanities.
Historical NoteReturn to Top
Whatcom county chapters of the Woman’s Christian Temperance Union date back to 1883. At various times since then, there have been simultaneous chapters in Sehome, Fairhaven, Lynden, Sumas, Bellingham, and possibly elsewhere. The consolidated Whatcom County chapter is documented in this collection from 1932 (right before the repeal of prohibition) to 1958. During this period the chapter organized resistance to the sale and use of alcohol (and, to a lesser extent, tobacco) through protest and education. The chapter also promoted other Christian causes, such as their effort to have the Lord’s prayer recited in public schools.
As a national organization, the WCTU was formed in 1874 to spread the message of complete abstinence from alcohol. Their web site, www.wctu.org (2006) claims that they are the oldest continuing non-sectarian women’s organization in the world.
Content DescriptionReturn to Top
The Whatcom Christian Temperance Union records document the organization’s activities and philosophy from 1932 to 1958. A full and detailed volume of meeting minutes is the most valuable document to researchers, since it describes the WCTU’s ceremonies, positions, goals, and procedures. Other materials include financial records (mostly treasurer’s reports), event programs, by-laws and position recommendations, and a small amount of correspondence and clippings.
Use of the CollectionReturn to Top
Preferred Citation
Whatcom County Woman's Christian Temperance Union Records, Center for Pacific Northwest Studies, Western Libraries Archives & Special Collections, Western Washington University, Bellingham WA 98225-9123.
Administrative InformationReturn to Top
Arrangement
The collection is organized in accordance with the following series arrangement:
- Series I. WCTU Administrative Records, 1932 – 1958
- Series II. WCTU Financial Records, 1904 – 1965
- Series III. WCTU Activities and Events, 1945 – 1960
Acquisition Information
In October 1997 the Whatcom Christian Temperance Union records were donated by Estella Gelder.
Processing Note
Victor Burgett processed the Whatcom County Woman's Christian Temperance Union Records in July, 2006
The Whatcom County Woman's Christian Temperance Union Records records were part of a larger donation, but were processed as a seperate record group. The other records now comprise the Progressive Literary and Fraternal Club records, also available at the Center For Pacific Northwest Studies
Processing Note
About Harmful Language and ContentTo learn more about problematic content in our collections, collection description and teaching tools (including how to provide feedback or request dialogue on this topic), see the following Statement About Potentially Harmful Language and Content
Detailed Description of the CollectionReturn to Top
Series I: WCTU Administrative Records, 1932-1958Return to Top
Container(s) | Description | Dates |
---|---|---|
Box/Folder | ||
1/1 | Articles of Incorporation
(Revised) |
1956 |
1/2 | Resolutions and
By-Laws |
1946-1958 |
1/3 | Meeting Minutes |
1932-1958 |
1/4 | Correspondence |
1957 |
1/5 | Newspaper Clippings |
1945-1958 |
Series II: WCTU Financial Records, 1945-1958Return to Top
Container(s) | Description | Dates |
---|---|---|
Box/Folder | ||
1/6 | WCTU Treasurer's
Reports |
1945-1958 |
Series III: WCTU Activities and Events, 1938-1958Return to Top
Container(s) | Description | Dates |
---|---|---|
Box/Folder | ||
1/7 | WCTU Event Programs |
1938-1958 |
Names and SubjectsReturn to Top
Subject Terms
- Popular culture --Moral and ethical aspects --Washington (State) --Whatcom County--History--Sources.
- Temperance --Societies, etc.--Washington (State) --Whatcom County--History--Sources.
- Women in community organization--Washington (State)--Whatcom County--History--Sources
- Women in public life --Washington (State) --Whatcom County--History--Sources.
- Women--Societies and clubs--Washington (State)--Whatcom County --History--Sources
Corporate Names
- Whatcom County Woman's Christian Temperance Union
- Woman's Christian Temperance Union
Geographical Names
- Whatcom County (Wash.) --Moral conditions --History--Sources.