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American Association Of University Women Montana Division records, 1923-2001

Overview of the Collection

Creator
American Association of University Women. Montana Division
Title
American Association Of University Women Montana Division records
Dates
1923-2001 (inclusive)
Quantity
13 linear feet
Collection Number
MC 202
Summary
This collection consists of records (1923-2001) of the Montana Division of the American Association of University Women (AAUW) and includes biographical material, correspondence, financial records, minutes, organizational records, reports, subject files, and miscellany. Also included are branch records for Glendive, Helena, Anaconda, Billings, Bozeman, Butte, Cut Bank, Deer Lodge, Dillon, Glascow, Great Falls, Hamilton, Havre, Kalispell, Lewistown, Miles City, Missoula, Park County, Phillips County, and Polson.
Repository
Montana Historical Society, Library & Archives
Montana Historical Society Research Center Archives
225 North Roberts
PO Box 201201
Helena MT
59620-1201
Telephone: 4064442681
Fax: 4064445297
mhslibrary@mt.gov
Access Restrictions

Collection open for research.

Languages
English
Sponsor
Funding for encoding this finding aid was provided through a grant awarded by the National Endowment for the Humanities.
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Historical Note

The American Association of University Women (AAUW) was established in Boston in 1882 as the world's first organization of college and university trained women. AAUW's purpose was to unite collegiate alumnae from various institutions "for practical educational work." By the 1980s the Association had members in every state, Guam, Puerto Rico, and the Virgin Islands organized into more than 1,800 branches and fifty state divisions. In addition, over 600 colleges and universities are corporate members of the Association in this country. Internationally, the Association holds membership in the International Federation of University Women (IFUW), which AAUW helped to found in 1919. As IFUW members, women around the world work for better international understanding and peace.

AAUW members participate in study and action on contemporary problems and issues. The organization is a coalition of womenpower joined together to influence state and federal legislation on matters relating to education of women, health, children, international affairs, arts and culture, etc.

Qualification for membership in AAUW was problematic before 1963, in part because of the Association's insistence that each institution of higher education meet AAUW standards before its graduates were accepted. The philosophy behind the eligibility requirements was intended to encourage women to pressure their colleges to meet the AAUW standards. In Montana, only Montana State College and University of Montana graduates qualified for membership until the state's two-year colleges became accredited four-year schools and awarded the baccalaureate degree. Furthermore, in addition to complying with national standards, local branches had to determine whether a member was a college graduate or had only attended college. Membership requirements were liberalized in 1963 at the national convention held in Denver, Colorado.

AAUW flourished in Montana when branches were established in at least five communities by the mid-1920s. The state belonged to the North Pacific Section with regional leadership provided in 1923 by Leile Hutchens and in 1927 by Anna Lytle Brannon, both of Missoula. Regional and state conferences were essential at that time because of the long distance from the east where national conventions were held. As branch membership increased, members became more and more interested in local education and government issues and wished to concentrate on state and local matters. Consequently, the movement for a state organization became a reality for Montana in 1928 when the first state biennial convention of the Montana Division of AAUW met in Missoula.

The Montana Division organization is a liaison between the national organization and branches, and serves to coordinate AAUW activities having a state-wide focus. For instance, in the 1930s, the issue of admission of agricultural colleges to AAUW membership was of minimal concern to the national association, but meant membership growth to Montana and therefore became an important issue for the state Division. Division officers are elected from a pool of branch leaders who have served their terms. An important example of branch and Division cooperation and accomplishment is the inclusion of public kindergarten in the Montana school system in 1971. Division leaders have included Natalie Cannon, Maxine Johnson, Harriett Meloy, Doris Davies, Toni Hagener, Anne Needham, and Stacy Jovick.

An important function of AAUW is the Fellowships program, which provides a grant to graduate scholars to continue study and research. The fund was initiated in 1888, and since then awards have been given to women from the United States and seventy-seven other countries to continue education in all professional fields. Fellowships fundraising is a function of the branches with annual used book sales being the standard big money maker over the years.

Branch program topics are the nucleus of the study component of AAUW. These topics focus on a variety of themes. During the early years study topics had cultural emphases. Although national program material was incorporated into monthly branch programs to some extent, most attention was given to the preferences of individual members. AAUW interests have included education, status of women, international relations, community relations, legislation, fellowships, the arts, law, science, family, etc. In addition to monthly meetings, study groups, and fundraising, there is continual effort expended on branch projects such as encouraging quality day care (Missoula and Helena), urging change in elementary school library services (Helena), introducing reading programs to children with low reading skills (Havre), improving mental health programs in communities, etc.

An essay contest--begun in the 1980s--is a popular AAUW activity. High school students from around the state choose a Montana woman to write about. Prizes are given on local and state levels for the best essays. This contest was created to increase awareness of societal contributions by Montana women.

AAUW membership decreased in recent years due to a number of factors. Most importantly, by the 1980s, numerous community organizations developed to accomplish many of the goals that had been AAUW's points of concentration over the years, and women were joining the work force in increasing numbers. Women who had been loyal AAUW members either joined other organizations or were too busy for meetings. However, a nucleus group of women continued to maintain membership and enthusiasm for the promotion of women's interest in government, business, education, health, and the arts in Montana, through AAUW.

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Content Description

Records of the MONTANA DIVISION include eleven series: Biographical Materials (1976-1982, undated), General Correspondence (1934-1994), Campaign Materials (1989-1993), Financial Records (1948-1997), Organizational Records (1943-2002), Press Releases (1963-1993), Reports (1948-1994), Speeches 1972-1985, undated), Subject Files (1928-2002, undated), and Clippings (1952-1992, undated). The Biographical Materials series contains biographical information about AAUW members and a card file with biographical information on outstanding Montana women gathered for the Heritage-Foundation for the Future bicentennial project in 1976.

The General Correspondence series consists of correspondence of national, division, and branch leaders and members. The Campaign Materials series is composed of material about candidates for AAUW state offices. The Financial Records series consists of budgets and treasurer reports.

The Organizational Records series contains minutes, 1943-1994, of board meetings and of conventions; division constitutions and bylaws, objectives and policies; lists of branch officers and membership directories; Standard Operating Procedures; the division's charter from the national organization and bylaws; and national policies and statements of principle.

The Reports series includes state division biennial reports, branch annual reports to the state division, president's reports, and reports prepared by division committees and projects.

The Subject Files series includes materials from conventions and board meetings, and topical files such as legislation, mental health care, kindergarten, day-care, the environment, fellowships, post-secondary education, the status of women, the Campaign for Choice Association, Doris Davies, the SIMMS Project (National Science Foundation's Statewide Systemic Initiative Program for math education), the Equal Rights Amendment, a meeting on "Expanding Your Horizons," Montana Girls' State, the IMAGE conference (In Montana Awareness Generates Equity), the Legal Advocacy Fund, the Maxine Johnson Endowment, Harriett Meloy, the "Montana Women as Community Builders" conference, the Montana Children's Alliance, the Montana Women's Lobby, the Mountain-Pacific Region and the North Pacific Region, the Sandwich Generation Grant for adults caring for minor children and elderly parents, and "Woman's Work, Woman's Worth."

The Clippings series consists of miscellaneous clippings, 1952-1992, undated, plus four scrapbooks of clippings, 1968-1980, of local branch activities.

The GLENDIVE BRANCH subgroup includes eight series: General Correspondence (1950-1984), Financial Records (1958-1988), Organizational Records (1941-1991, undated), Press Releases (1961-1977), Reports (1937-1987, undated), Speeches (1965), Subject Files (1950-1989, undated), and Miscellany (undated). The Financial Records series includes budgets and financial statements. The Organizational Records series consists of bylaws, lists of Branch leaders, and yearbooks. The Reports series contains branch reports and incomplete branch membership reports. The Subject Files series includes topical files on such things as Action for Equity, the Advocacy Network, the African-American Educators Program, Glendive civic and business leaders, the Dawson Community College Foundation, the DIANA Award nomination of Kay Schuett (Distinguished International Academy of Noble Achievement), a history of Glendive, and Montanans for Children, Youth, and Families. The Miscellany series is composed of an handmade president's notebook.

The HELENA BRANCH subgroup consists of seven series: General Correspondence (1959-2001, undated), Financial Records (1955-1988; 1999-2000) Organizational Records (1923-1993, undated), Printed Materials (1965-1977), Reports (1929-1977, undated), Miscellany (1976-1987, undated), and Clippings (1932-1982, undated). The Financial Records series contains an account book, financial statements, and treasurer reports. The Organizational Records series includes minutes, 1923-1934 and 1948-1989, bylaws, and membership lists. The Printed Materials series contains an incomplete run of the Branch's newsletter. The Reports series consists of committee, topic, and project reports. The Miscellany series is composed of announcements, programs, branch histories, and a scrapbook.

The OTHER BRANCHES subgroup is arranged alphabetically by name of the branch and includes materials from branches in Anaconda (1955), Billings (1972-1993), Bozeman (1932-2000), Butte (1952-1993), Cut Bank--including a scrapbook--(1982-1989), Deer Lodge (1982), Dillon (1961-1983), Glasgow (1972-1992), Great Falls (1955-1994), Hamilton (1968-1992), Havre--Northern Montana Branch-- (1965-1993), Kalispell (1963-2001), Lewistown (1971-1987), Miles City (1946-1993), Missoula (1954-1994), Park County-- Livingston Branch--(1973-1994), Phillips County (1953), and Polson (1980-1987). There are also clippings (1952-1989) relating to these branches.

A final subgroup of records is the AAUW ESSAY CONTEST files. Records include a Subject Files (1982-1996, 2000) series consisting of miscellaneous information on the contest; a list of subjects and authors; and the Writings series (1989-2001), which contains the essays. Included in the subject files is an index to women profiled in the essays.

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Use of the Collection

Restrictions on Use

Researchers must use collection in accordance with the policies of the Montana Historical Society Library & Archives. The Library & Archives does not necessarily hold copyright to all materials in the collection. In some cases permission for use may require additional authorization from the copyright owners. For more information contact an archivist.

Preferred Citation

Item description and date. Collection Title. Collection Number. Box and Folder numbers. Montana Historical Society Library & Archives. Helena, Montana.

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Administrative Information

Arrangement

This collection is arranged into seven subgroups: Montana Statewide Organization (1934-2002, undated); Glendive Branch (1937-1989, undated); Helena Branch (1923-2001, undated); Other Branches (1955-2001, undated); Miles City Branch (1953-1996); Other Branches (1952-1994); and AAUW Essay Contest (1982-2001). Each subgroup is arranged by series. Some material housed in Archives Map Case and Manuscript Volumes. See inventory below for more information.

Location of Collection

12:2-6

Location of Collection

146:1-2 (volumes 1-7)

Acquisition Information

Acquisition information available upon request.

Separated Materials

Printed material separated to the Library. Photographs separated to the Photograph Archives. Artifacts separated to the Museum. See inventory below for more information.

Related Materials

American Association of University Women. Missoula Branch records, University of Montana, Mansfield Library, K. Ross Toole Archives.

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Detailed Description of the Collection

Detailed Description of the Collection

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

Finding aid prepared by Harriett Meloy and Beth Pate; Updated by Aaron Rau
2006; 2024

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