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Overlook Woman's Improvement Club records, 1905-1964

Overview of the Collection

Creator
Overlook Woman's Improvement Club (Portland, Or.)
Title
Overlook Woman's Improvement Club records
Dates
1905-1964 (inclusive)
Quantity
3 cubic feet, (4 document cases, 1 flat box)
Collection Number
Mss 6010
Summary
The Overlook Woman's Improvement Club was founded in 1913. It worked for the improvement of the Overlook District in Portland, Oregon, and cooperated in civic and philanthropic movements until 1964, when it was dissolved. Records include committee reports, the club's constitution and bylaws, agendas, correspondence, minutes, and resolutions. Materials also include yearbooks, directories and documentation of other women's clubs, and information relating to the club's involvement in and sponsorship of various community activities.
Repository
Oregon Historical Society Research Library
1200 SW Park Avenue
Portland, OR
97205
Telephone: 503-306-5240
Fax: 503-219-2040
libreference@ohs.org
Access Restrictions

Collection is open for research.

Languages
English
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Historical Note

The Overlook Woman's Improvement Club was founded on October 24, 1913 with 16 members. The Overlook District comprises a small area in North Portland, to the north and west of Overlook Park. The goals of the organization were to work for the improvement of the Overlook District and cooperate in civic and philanthropic movements throughout the state. The club became a member of the State Federation of Women's Clubs on December 22, 1913, two months after its founding. All members were required to live in the Overlook District.

Activities of the club included various neighborhood improvement projects, sponsorship of neighborhood activities, and contribution of funds to various charitable groups. Improvement projects included petitioning the City of Portland for more police and fire protection, paving the roads in the district and acquiring property for Overlook Park. The club sponsored neighborhood activities such as the Children's Floral Parade, the Christmas Tree Lighting, the Overlook Boy's Club, and the Junior Police. The club also contributed to the Scholarship Loan Fund, Children's Farm Home, and Doernbecher Hospital, and had a life membership at the Waverly Baby Home.

When the club celebrated its 50th anniversary in 1963, its membership had declined to only 30 members, and in 1964, the organization was dissolved.

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Content Description

The records (1905-1964) of the Overlook Woman's Improvement Club include committee reports, the club's constitution and bylaws, agendas, correspondence, club forms, minutes, financial information, and resolutions. Other materials consist of correspondence, notes and documents relating to the club's involvement in and sponsorship of various community and philanthropic activities. The collection also includes materials related to other women's clubs, such as the General Federation of Women's Clubs, the Oregon Federation of Women's Clubs, and the Portland Federation of Women's Organizations. These materials include newspaper clippings, yearbooks, directories, and documentation, as well as issues of "Oregon Club Digest."

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Use of the Collection

Preferred Citation

Overlook Woman's Improvement Club records, Mss 6010, Oregon Historical Society Research Library.

Restrictions on Use

The Oregon Historical Society owns the materials in the Research Library and makes available reproductions for research, publication, and other uses. The Society does not necessarily hold copyright to all materials in the collections. In some cases, permission for use may require seeking additional authorization from copyright owners.

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Administrative Information

Arrangement

The collection is arranged in four series:

  • Series 1: Activities and outreach, circa 1918-1948
  • Series 2: Administrative records, 1912-1964
  • Series 3: Associations, 1905-1952
  • Series 4: Yearbooks, 1914-1956

Acquisition Information

Gifts of Dudley McClure, May 1980 (Lib. Acc 15127), A. M. Scritsmeier, March 1981 (Lib. Acc. 15444), and the Overlook Community Center, via Colleen Spence, August 1994 (Lib. Acc. 21978).

Processing Note

The materials in this collection were received in three donations and were at first assigned two separate manuscript collection numbers, Mss 6010 and Mss 2600. They were later consolidated into a single collection under Mss 6010. Materials that were previously designated as Mss 2600 are located in Box 1, Folder 17 and Folder 19; Box 2, Folder 3; and Box 3, Folder 3.

Related Materials

Other collections at the Oregon Historical Society Research Library that relate to women's organizations in Portland include the Portland Woman's Club records, Mss 1084, and the Portland Women's Union records, Mss 1443.

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Detailed Description of the Collection

Processed by Serena Gomez
2006; revised 2024

CC0

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