Washington CattleWomen's Association records

Washington CattleWomen's Association records, 1951-1984

Overview of the Collection

Creator: Washington CattleWomen's Association
Title: Washington CattleWomen's Association records
Dates: 1951-1984 (inclusive)
19511984
Quantity: 2.75 linear feet of shelf space, (6 containers)
Collection Number: Cage 828 (collection)
Summary: The Washington CattleWomen's Association Records consists of materials related to the organization's promotion of beef production and consumption. This includes meeting minutes, files on CattleWomen efforts to promote beef, reports, and correspondence. This collection spans a time period (1951-1984) when the organization was known as the CowBelles.
Repository: Washington State University Libraries' Manuscripts, Archives, and Special Collections (MASC)
Manuscripts, Archives, and Special Collections
Terrell Library Suite 12
Pullman, WA
99164-5610
Telephone: 509-335-6691
mascref@wsu.edu
Access Restrictions: This collection is open and available for research use.
Languages: English

Biographical NoteReturn to Top

The Washington CattleWomen’s Association (formerly the Washington State CowBelles) has promoted the production and consumption of beef in Washington state since its inception in 1952. As a state branch of the American National CowBelles, the Washington CowBelles functioned as an auxiliary to the Washington Cattlemen’s Association.

Between 1952 and 1984, the Washington CowBelles remained heavily active at the national level of the organization. The state CowBelles boasted the highest national membership in 1959, even though Washington state ranked 31st in beef production at that time. Their national participation in beef advocacy was reflected in several promotional and educational activities at the state level. Most notably, the Washington CowBelles supported 4-H demonstrations, published and sold beef cookbooks, sponsored “Beef Queen” contests, and partnered with home economic courses across the state to promote cooking with beef. In 1987, the CowBelles changed their name to the Washington CattleWomen’s Association.

Content DescriptionReturn to Top

The collection consists of promotional material and publicity, as well as internal records for the Washington State CowBelles (now known as the Washignton CattleWomen's Association) from 1952 – 1984. This includes meeting minutes and reports from county chapters, editions of “Top Hands” the Washington Cattlemen and CowBelles annual directory, correspondence, yearbooks, membership lists, and internally generated histories of the CowBelles. The collection also includes promotional materials such as napkins and placemats as well as internal discussions regarding the effectiveness of the organization's various educational activities.

Use of the CollectionReturn to Top

Restrictions on Use

Preferred Citation

[Item description]. Washington CattleWomen's Association Records, 1951-1984. Manuscripts, Archives, and Special Collections, Washington State University Libraries, Pullman, WA.

Administrative InformationReturn to Top

Arrangement

The collection is arranged in four series as follows:

Series 1: Publicity, events, and programs, 1959-1976. This series consists of promotional material advocating beef consumption as well as internal documents evaluating the effectiveness of various educational activities. These include CowBelles sponsored 4-H demonstrations, outreach programs promoting the use of beef in Washington home economics courses, the creation and sale of beef cookbooks, and the organization of “Beef Queen” contests.

Series 2: Administrative and financial records, 1952-1984. This series consists of internal organizational records including: membership and officer lists (1958-1967), the Washington CowBelles and Cattlemen’s directory “Top Hands” (1966-1976), accounting ledgers (1958-1966), meeting minutes (1952-1981), and histories of the Washington State and National CowBelles.

Series 3: Correspondence, 1955-1976. This series consists of inter-organizational correspondence, outgoing and incoming communications with the national CowBelles and national Cattlemen’s Association, and letters with Washington state residents involved in 4-H or similar programs. Note: There are two overlapping runs of correspondence (1970-1974 and 1955-1976) that the CowBelles filed separately.

Series 4: Reports and yearbooks, 1957-1975. This series consists of annual reports from 1967-1975 outlining the accomplishments, membership, and financial state of county CowBelles chapters, National CowBelles reports from 1964-1975, and Washington CowBelles yearbooks from 1957-1962.

Acquisition Information

The Washington State CattleWomen's Association Records were donated to Washington State University by Christine Marsh from 1980 to 1984 (MS 1980-11; MS 1981-26; MS 1984-19).

Processing Note

This collection was processed by Jason Hogstad in 2015.

Related Materials

Washington Cattlemen's Association records (Cage 367)

Grant County Cattlemen's Association Records (Cage 186)

Detailed Description of the CollectionReturn to Top

Series 1: Publicity, events, and programs , 1959-1976Return to Top

Container(s)		Description	Dates
Box	Folder
1	1	4-H demonstration program	1963-1967
1	2	4-H demonstration program	1968-1970
1	3	4-H demonstration program	1974
1	4	4-H letters, data	1966-1970
1	5	4-H report - Washington CowBelles	1974
1	6	American Agriculture Day	1976
1	7	Agricultural Day	1974
1	8	Beef for Father's Day	1971-1972
1	9	Beef Queen	1970-1976
1	10	Beef Queen	1970
1	11	Beef-a-Rama	1971
1	12	Cookbook	1971-1972
1	13	Cook-off	1976
1	14	Know the facts (1)	1973
1	15	Know the facts (2)	1973
1	16	Miscellaneous	1959-1962
OS		Napkins and placemats	undated
1	17	National beef cook-off	1975
2	18	National cook books	1973-1974
2	19	National CowBelles pins and bicentennial charm information	1974-1975
2	20	News releases	1960-1967
2	21	Newspaper clippings	1970-1971
2	22	Photographs of posters and costuming	undated
2	23	Washington cook book letters	1970-1971

Series 2: Administrative and financial records, 1952-1984Return to Top

Container(s)		Description	Dates
Box	Folder
2	24	Beef commission minutes	1971-1972
2	25	County directories	1961
2	26	County ledgers, A - K	1954-1960
2	27	County ledgers, L - Z	1954-1960
2	28	County reports	1974
2	29	Ledger	1958-1960
2	30	Ledger	1953-1960
2	31	Ledger	1962-1966
2	32	List of officers	1958-1967
3	33	Membership awards	1971
3	34	Membership lists	1958-1967
3	35-38	Minutes	1952-1969
3	39	Minutes	1958-1959, 1965
3	40	Minutes	1967-1970
3	41	Minutes	1971-1973
3	42	Minutes	1974-1977
3	43	Minutes	1978-1981
3	44	Miscellaneous	1977-1979
4	45	National and state histories of the CowBelles	1958
4	46	Receipts	1970-1972
4	47	Resolutions	1973
4	48	Resolutions, organizationl history	1984
4	49	State directory, annual meeting programs, photographs	1963, 1967-1976
4	50	Washington Cattlemen and CowBelles directory	1966-1967
4	51	Washington Cattlemen and CowBelles directory	1967-1968
4	52	Washington Cattlemen and CowBelles directory	1968
4	53	Washington Cattlemen and CowBelles directory	1969
4	54	Washington Cattlemen and CowBelles directory	1972
4	55	Washington Cattlemen and CowBelles directory	1974
4	56	Washington Cattlemen and CowBelles directory	1975
4	57	Washington Cattlemen and CowBelles directory	1976

Series 3: Correspondence, 1955-1976Return to Top

Container(s)		Description	Dates
Box	Folder
4	58	Correspondence	1970
4	59	Correspondence	1971
4	60	Correspondence	1973
5	61	Correspondence	1974
5	62	Correspondence	1955-1967
5	63	Correspondence	1960-1970
5	64	Correspondence	1963-1976
5	65	Correspondence	1968-1969
5	66	Correspondence	1974-1976

Series 4: Reports and yearbooks, 1957-1975Return to Top

Container(s)		Description	Dates
Box	Folder
5	67	State and county reports	1955-1967
5	68	Yearbooks and promotional material	1957-1962
5	69	Yearbook	1959
5	70	Yearbook	1960
5	71	County reports	1967
5	72	CowBelle Reports	1968
5	73	CowBelle Reports	1969
5	74	CowBelle Reports	1970
5	75	CowBelle Reports	1971
6	76	County Reports	1974
6	77	County Reports	1975
6	78	County Reports	1975
6	79	National CowBelles reports	1964-1975

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