Archives West Finding Aid
Table of Contents
- Overview of the Collection
-
Historical Note
- Content Description
- Use of the Collection
- Administrative Information
-
Detailed Description of the Collection
- Articles of Incorporation and By-Laws
- Correspondence
- Minutes
- Reports
- Yearbooks
- Newsletters
- Appointment Lists
- Resolutions
- Program Files
- Rules and Procedures
- Schedules
- Speeches and Writings
- Conferences and Conventions
- Attendance Book
- Financial Records
- Legal Documents
- Publication: Seattle Magazine
- Photographs
- Ephemera
- Clippings
- Plaque
- Memorial Book
- Scrapbooks
- Names and Subjects
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)18891999
- 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 |
MinutesReturn to Top
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 |
ReportsReturn to Top
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.
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)