Women's City Club Records, 1922-1973

Overview of the Collection

Creator
Women's City Club (Seattle, Wash.)
Title
Women's City Club Records
Dates
1922-1973 (inclusive)
Quantity
4.76 cubic feet, (5 boxes)
Collection Number
1973.5572
Summary
The Women's City Club Records comprise minutes, financial records, photographs, programs, reports, correspondence, six scrapbooks and other documents relating to the Women's City Club of Seattle, Washington.
Repository
Museum of History & Industry, Sophie Frye Bass Library

P.O. Box 80816
Seattle, WA
98108
Telephone: 2063241126 x102
library@mohai.org
Access Restrictions

The collection is open to the public by appointment.

Languages
English.

Historical NoteReturn to Top

The Women's City Club of Seattle was organized in 1922 by former Seattle Mayor Bertha K. Landes. The club was originally known as “The Women's Civic League,” but the name changed to the Women's City Club in December 1923. The purpose of the club was to educate women about local, state, national and world politics, and in cooperation with other organizations, to work towards securing the welfare of the city and improving civic conditions. The club was non-partisan and did not endorse particular candidates for office, however during election years it did invite all candidates for public office to address the club. Club meetings were held every Tuesday and individual meetings would focus on particular aspects of government.

The club grew quickly in popularity. In December 1923, the club reported 640 women on its membership rolls. Not long after establishing the club, Bertha Landes resigned as president. In November 1923, Mrs. Frederic J. Beull was elected president in her place. The club worked very actively with other community organizations, at one point having delegate representatives in thirteen other organizations such as the Anti-Tuberculosis League, the Red Cross, King County Home and others. The club was dissolved in 1973.

Content DescriptionReturn to Top

The Women's City Club Records is mostly made up of financial records and meeting minutes. Both the financial records and meeting minutes span the entire life of the club, from 1923 – 1973, but include some gaps in the chronology.

Other records for the collection include a small number of photographs and programs, as well as a collection of correspondence spanning from 1924-1942, some reports written by club members, six scrapbooks containing newspaper clippings about the club ranging from 1923-1971, and other records relating to the club and its involvement in the community.

Use of the CollectionReturn to Top

Restrictions on Use

The Museum of History & Industry is the owner of the materials in the Sophie Frye Bass Library and makes available reproductions for research, publication, and other uses. Written permission must be obtained from MOHAI before any reproduction use. The museum does not necessarily hold copyright to all of the materials in the collections. In some cases, permission for use may require seeking additional authorization from the copyright owners.

Preferred Citation

Women's City Club Records, Museum of History & Industry, Seattle

Administrative InformationReturn to Top

Arrangement

The Women's City Club Records is comprised of eight series, three of which have been further arranged into subseries. All series and subseries are arranged chronologically. The arrangement of the collection is as follows:

  • Series 1: Financial Records
    • Subseries A: Financial Reports, 1923-1972
    • Subseries B: Lists of Members and Record of Dues Paid, 1924-1972
  • Series 2: Minutes and Other Records of Meetings
    • Subseries A: Meeting Minutes, 1922-1972
    • Subseries B: Member register and Sign-in Sheets
  • Series 3: Correspondence, 1924-1942, undated
  • Series 4: Community Involvement and Involvement with other Organizations, 1927-1949
  • Series 5: Reports and Publications of the Women's City Club, 1923-1934
  • Series 6: Photographs of club members, 1932, circa 1958
  • Series 7: Programs
    • Subseries A: Women's City Club Annual Luncheons, 1948-1955
    • Subseries B: Regular Meetings, 1927, 1945
  • Series 8: Scrapbooks, 1923-1971

Location of Collection

12a.2.12-13

Acquisition Information

Source: Women’s City Club, January 4, 1973

Processing Note

Processed by Esther Benson 2008

Separated Materials

These materials are part of a donation by Women's City Club that also includes a number of artifacts such as flags, sound equipment, a gavel and other miscellaneous equipment. The artifacts are cataloged and stored separately by MOHAI’s Collections Department.

Detailed Description of the CollectionReturn to Top

The following section contains a detailed listing of the materials in the collection.

Series 1: Financial Records, 1923-1972Return to Top

17 bound volumes
Arranged chronologically
Container(s) Description Dates
Box
1
Subseries A: Financial Reports
6 bound volumes
1923-1972
Box
1
Financial Reports
1 bound volume
1923 February – 1930 June
1
Financial Reports
1 bound volume
1930 June - 1932 August
1
Financial Reports
1 bound volume
1937 circa November –1939 circa July
1
Financial Reports
1 bound volume
1940 May - 1950 May
1
Financial Reports
1 bound volume
1950 May – 1963 May
1
Financial Reports
1 bound volume
1972 May – 1972 September
1
Subseries B: Lists of Members and Record of Dues Paid
11 bound volumes
1924-1972
Box
1
List of members and record of dues paid
1 bound volume
1924 June – 1928 June
1
List of members and record of dues paid
1 bound volume
1924 November –1932 May
1
List of members and record of dues paid
1 bound volume
1928 September –1933 May
1
List of members and record of dues paid
1 bound volume
1937 May –1940 May
1
List of members and record of dues paid
1 bound volume
1941 May – 1944 May
1
List of members and record of dues paid
1 bound volume
1944 May – 1945 May
1
List of members and record of dues paid
1 bound volume
1945 June – 1948 February
1
List of members and record of dues paid
1 bound volume
1948 February – 1950 September
1
List of members and record of dues paid
1 bound volume
1950 September –1955 May
1
List of members and record of dues paid
1 bound volume
1955 May – 1963 October
1
List of members and record of dues paid
1 bound volume
1963 October – 1972 April

Series 2: Minutes and Other Records of Meetings, 1922-1973Return to Top

Container(s): Box 2

11 bound volumes, 1 folder
Container(s) Description Dates
Box
2
Subseries A: Meeting Minutes
9 bound volumes
1922-1972
Box
2
Meeting minutes
1 bound volume
1922 November– 1928 May
2
Meeting minutes
1 bound volume
1948 May – 1950 June
2
Meeting minutes
1 bound volume
1950 August – 1952 August
2
Meeting minutes
1 bound volume
1952 September – 1955 February
2
Meeting minutes
1 bound volume
1955 March – 1957 September
2
Meeting minutes
1 bound volume
1957 October – 1961 May
2
Meeting minutes
1 bound volume
1961 May – 1963 November
2
Meeting minutes
1 bound volume
1964 January – 1966 June
2
Meeting minutes
1 bound volume
1966 August – 1972 September
2
Subseries B: Member register and Sign-in Sheets
2 bound volumes, 1 folder
various, 1971-1973
Box
2
Alphabetical Membership Register
1 bound volume
undated
2
Sign-in sheet
1 notebook
1971 March – 1972 September
Box/Folder
2/1
Membership list
1 folder
1972-1973

Series 3: Correspondence, circa 1924-1942, undatedReturn to Top

Container(s): Box-folder 2/2

1 folder

Series 4: Community Involvement and Involvement with other Organizations, circa 1927-1949Return to Top

Container(s): Box-folder 2/3

1 folder
Container(s) Description Dates
Box/Folder
2/3
Bulletin of the Recreation Members of the Parent-Teacher Association and the Women's City Club
1927 April 1
2/3
Report and Membership Card to The Washington State Council for Protection of Roadside Beauty, made out to the Women's City Club
circa 1932
2/3
Program for the 21st Annual Institute of Government, held at University of Washington, Seattle
1936 July
2/3
Address of Mrs. H.E. Maltby, 16th President of the Washington State Federation of Women's Clubs, at the formal dedication of the Federation Forest
1949 July 16
2/3
Certificate of Appreciation from the American National Red Cross to the Women's City Club
undated
2/3
Certificate of Recognition from the Anti-Tuberculosis League of King County to the Women's City Club
undated

Series 5: Reports and Publications of the Women's City Club, 1923-1934Return to Top

Container(s): Box-folder 2/4

Container(s) Description Dates
Box/Folder
2/4
Roster of Seattle area clubs compiled by the Research Department of the Women's City Club
circa 1923
2/4
Report on the progress of the Citizenship Class 1920-1930, prepared by the Chairman of the Women's City Club Citizenship Class
1930
2/4
Articles of Incorporation for the Women's City Club
1931
2/4
Historical sketch of the Women's City Club, written by the Women's City Club Publicity Committee for the Seattle Times
1934

Series 6: Photographs of club members, 1934- circa1958Return to Top

Container(s): Box 2

Container(s) Description Dates
Box/Folder
2/5
.40: J.D. Ross and Mrs. Adeline Cole at dedication (tree planting), of Diablo Dam along the Skagit River.
1934
2/6
.41: Members of Women's City Club and others at dedication (tree planting) Diablo Dam
1934
2/7
.42-.43: Members of Women's City Club on a trip to Diablo Dam
2 photographs
1934
2/8
.44: Women's City Club on a trip to Olympia
circa 1958

Series 7: Programs, 1927-1945Return to Top

Container(s) Description Dates
Box/Folder
2/9
Subseries A: Women's City Club Annual May Luncheons
Missing programs for years 1950, 1953 and 1954.
1948-1955
2/9
Subseries B: Regular Meetings
3 programs
1927, 1945

Series 8: Scrapbooks, 1923-1971Return to Top

One stand-alone scrapbook and a set of five chronologically arranged scrapbooks containing newspaper clippings relating to the Women's City Club.

Container(s) Description Dates
Box
2
Scrapbook
1 bound volume
1941-1945
Scrapbook set
5 bound volumes
1923-1971
Box
3
Volume 1
1923-1934
3
Volume 2
1934-1940
4
Volume 3
1940-1945
4
Volume 4
1945-1953
5
Volume 5
1953-1971

Names and SubjectsReturn to Top

Subject Terms

  • Clubs--Washington (State)--Seattle
  • Women in community organization--Washington (State)--Seattle
  • Women--Societies and clubs

Personal Names

  • Landes, Bertha Knight, 1868-1943

Geographical Names

  • Seattle (Wash.)