Title: Oberlin Woman's Club Records, 1901-1981

ID: RG 31/006/001

Extent: 4.2 Linear Feet

The Oberlin Woman's Club was formed in 1901 "to bring together women interested in literary, artistic, scientific and philanthropic pursuits, with a view of rendering them helpful to each other and useful to society." The organization, which was dominated by faculty wives, immediately joined state and national federations of women's clubs. Internal departments were formed to address such interests as art, history, literature, home and garden, music, sociology, and social progress. In addition, committees were formed to focus on civic, school, and community‑welfare issues. Both members and nonmembers gave papers on civic and intellectual topics at general and departmental meetings. A number of organizations and projects were supported financially by the club, including but not limited to the Civic Improvement Society, beautification of the town, a cooking school, a Red Cross Woman's Auxiliary during World War I, a nursery school, medical and dental care for school children, music therapy for mentally challenged children, sale of articles made by the blind, adult education for women, clean city campaigns, and services for senior citizens and handicapped people. A major project undertaken by the club was the ownership and operation of a thrift shop, 1930‑1978; the profits from the sale of clothing and books were used for philanthropic purposes. The programs supported by its funds included scholarships for students, a mini-bus for elderly citizens, and a room at the Allen Memorial Hospital. In its last years the Thrift Shop earned over $4000 a year.

Club membership rose from 22 charter members to regularly well over 100. But by 1981 attendance at meetings reached only 20 to 30. As a result of the declining membership that was increasing in age, the group disbanded in 1981. This decision was further influenced by the existence of the functioning Oberlin Junior Women’s Club. Active members throughout the years included Alice C. Bunce, Jennie Huckins, Mrs. George Hubbard, Mrs. George Dudley, Sara Branigan, and Harriet Long.

Long time members Harriet Long and Manette Swetland completed in 1981 the eighty-year history of the organization, The History of the Oberlin Woman’s Club, 1901-1981. For this history, see Series VI Historical.

Sources consulted

Roland M. Baumann, ed., Guide to the Women’s History Sources in the Oberlin College Archives (Oberlin: Oberlin College, 1990).

Author: Marian Schlotterbeck

Forms of Material (links to similar genres)

Languages of Materials

Administrative Information

Scope and Contents:

The records of the Oberlin Woman’s Club document the organization’s contribution to the Oberlin Community, as well as commitment to both intellectual improvement and service work. The collection contains minutes of general and executive board meetings, 1901‑75, and minutes of meetings of the following departments: history, 1927‑ 75; literature, 1919‑75; history and literature, 1975‑79; home and garden, 1955‑61; and social progress, 1955-67. Also included in the records are annual reports, 1961‑81; newspaper clippings, memoranda and photographs concerning a variety of projects; constitutions, 1901‑79; yearbooks, 1901-81, annual programs in the community, 1901‑81; financial records, 1926‑81; membership records, 1901‑49; and histories, 1901‑26, 1951, and 1981. Separate folders contain information about the club's numerous projects. There is minimal correspondence in the collection. Publications of the General Federation and the Ohio Federation of Women’s Clubs (FWC) are also included.

SERIES DESCRIPTION

Series I. Annual Reports, 1961-81 (3 folders)

Contains the annual reports and supporting materials from the club’s final two decades, 1961-81.

Series II. Constitutions, 1901-79 (1 folder)

This series contains the handwritten 1901 constitution with members’ signatures as well as the subsequent revisions (1921, 1931, 1965, 1979).

Series III. Departments and Committees, 1919-79 (8 folders, 5 volumes)

Consists of the materials related to the club’s departments, including the minutes from the History, Literature, History and Literature, Home and Garden, and Social Progress departments. Also included are the reports from the Civic Committee and the financial records and disbursements of the School and Welfare Committee.

Series IV. Executive Board / General Meeting Minutes, 1901-81 (3 folders, 13 volumes)

The set of minutes from the Executive Board and the General meetings of the Oberlin Woman’s Club span the 80 years of the club’s existence.

Series V. Financial, 1926-81 (4 folders, 9 volumes)

Documentation concerning the financial records of the Oberlin Woman’s Club is contained in this series. There are seven volumes of the Treasurer’s Account Book, 1926-74, two volumes of the Civic Committee’s financial records, 1935-36, as well as miscellaneous financial documents 1966-81.

Series VI. Historical, 1922-81, n.d. (5 folders, 1 volume)

The History of the Oberlin Woman’s Club, 1901-1981, completed by Harriet Long and Manette Swetland in 1981, as well as earlier histories, 1901-26, 1951, and information on the 65^th anniversary activities are contained in this series. The numerous citations and certificates, 1960-76, n.d. document the variety of local and global programs to which the Oberlin Woman’s Club contributed.

Series VII. Membership, 1901-41, n.d. (1 folder)

This series consists of the membership records from the club’s early years, 1901-41.

Series VIII. Newspaper Clippings, 1922-81,n.d. (12 folders)

The newspaper clippings organized by topic, 1922-81, provide additional information on the club’s history and community service at home and abroad.

Series IX. Photographs, ca. 1912, 1951,1960-81

Fourteen (14) photographs contained in this series document the club’s participation in the Ohio FWC, as well as the local activities, such as adult education, running the thrift shop, and donations to the Allen Memorial Hospital. There is also a 1981 reprint of the 50^th anniversary photograph taken in 1951. The reprint was made from the wooden newspaper cut of the photograph. A photograph of the club’s members, ca. 1912, is also included.

Series X. Programs related to the local community, 1930-77, n.d. (16 folders)

This series documents the club’s philanthropic activities in the Oberlin Community, including their longstanding commitment to scholarship programs, 1930-67. The bulk of materials cover the club’s later years, 1963-77. Included in this series are files related to the Allen Memorial Hospital gift, the Adult education project, Clean City Campaigns, Earth Day and Environmental activities, the Music Therapy project, and scholarships for local students.

Series XI. Publications, 1901-81, n.d. (3 folders, 85 booklets)

Subseries 1. Oberlin Woman’s Club, 1901-81, n.d.

This series consists of the yearbooks of the Oberlin Woman’s Club, 1901-81, which provide the complete membership record of the organization. Also included are the programs from various Oberlin Woman’s Club and Ohio FWC events, 1922-72, n.d.

Subseries 2. Other organizations, 1907-80, [1970-76] (3 folders)

Contains 13 issues of the Ohio FWC’s The Buckeye and 3 issues of the General Federation’s Club Woman. The 1940/41 issue of The Buckeye includes the prize winning play “Her Woman’s Intuition” written by Oberlin Woman’s Club member Mrs. Newell L. Sims. A typewritten copy is inserted into the magazine. The various programs and printed matter belong to the Ohio FWC, the Lakeside FWC, and the Oberlin Community Chamber Singers.

Series XII. Scrapbooks 1970-74(1 book)

This series contains the Clean City Campaign scrapbook, 1970-74.

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