Founded in 1980, the Mt. Baker Chapter of the Older Women’s League comprised an organization of women activists based in Bellingham, Washington. As a local chapter of the national Older Women’s League (OWL) the group worked to increase awareness of socio-economic issues affecting middle-aged and older women. Founding members of the Mt. Baker Chapter included Margaret Keith, Catherine May, Pat Munroe and Grace Kenoyer.
Through community-level advocacy and support for legislative reform, members sought to remedy shortcomings and inequities in areas including employment and wages for older women, pensions, healthcare and social security. In addition to monthly meetings, chapter members held and attended local talks and forums on subjects such as adult health, care giving, housing and homelessness. For Mother’s Day each year, members held fund-raising events and mailed issue-related cards to legislators.
The Mt. Baker Chapter voted to disband in December 1998 due to a shortage of members to act as chapter officers.
Records of the Mt. Baker Chapter of the Older Women’s League (OWL) document the work of an organization of women activists in Bellingham, Washington. Spanning the period 1985-1999, the collection comprises administrative and financial records, materials documenting chapter activities, and publications.
Administrative records include an outline of the chapter’s history, correspondence, notices and minutes for the chapter’s monthly meetings and membership information. Correspondence contains incoming letters from OWL’s national office and Field Services Director, with information about legislative developments in Washington D.C., and focal issues for local chapters.
Financial records comprise correspondence, record sheets, annual statements and information about chapter dues. Financial correspondence documents some of the Chapter’s contributions to local charities or causes, including donation of remaining funds to the YWCA, Lydia Place, Dorothy Place and Agape House in Bellingham upon its dissolution.
Records documenting chapter activities and interests include national conference reports from OWL's Northwest regional representative and from OWL leadership training in 1996. Subject files contain information regarding the social security system and housing issues.
Publications include copies of the Mt. Baker Chapter newsletter circa 1996-1999 and various newsletters produced by other regional chapters of OWL. National OWL publications include the quarterly OWL Observer, the OWL Field Advocate (a monthly newsletter for OWL activists), annual Mother’s Day Reports, brochures and informational flyers. Non-OWL publications include a small number of newsletters and brochures regarding issues including healthcare and social security, and newspaper clippings about OWL’s history and activities.
The Mt. Baker Chapter of the Older Women's League records are organized in accordance with the following series arrangement:
The collection is open to the public.
Mt. Baker Chapter of the Older Women's League records, Center for Pacific Northwest Studies, Western Libraries Archives & Special Collections, Western Washington University, Bellingham WA 98225-9123.
Pat Kirby, former treasurer of the Mt. Baker chapter of the Older Women’s League, donated its records to the Center for Pacific Northwest Studies in February 1999.
Stephanie Brown and Dieter Martin processed the collection for the Center for Pacific Northwest Studies in 2006.
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