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Guide to the WI Federation of Women's Clubs 9th District Records,​ 1917-​2000

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Wisconsin Federation of Women's Clubs. 9th District: Records, 1917-2000

Summary Information

Title: Wisconsin Federation of Women's Clubs. 9th District: Records

Inclusive Dates: 1917-2000

Creator: Wisconsin Federation of Women's Clubs. 9th District

Call Number: Eau Claire Mss AI

Quantity: 5.5 c.f. (12 archives boxes and 2 flat boxes) and 176 photographs (photocopies)

Repository:
Housed at the Area Research Center, William D. McIntyre Library, University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire; owned by the Wisconsin Historical Society, Library-Archives Division

Archival Locations:

UW-Eau Claire McIntyre Library/Eau Claire Area Research Ctr.

Abstract:
Records of the regional organization of local affiliates of the General Federation of Women's Clubs in eleven north central Wisconsin counties (Barron, Buffalo, Chippewa, Clark, Dunn, Eau Claire, Jackson, Pepin, Pierce, St. Croix, and Trempealeau). Included are club histories, yearbooks, annual reports, correspondence, scrapbooks, minutes of meetings, news clippings, treasurer's reports, and other records concerning the clubs' civic and cultural activities. Also included are photographs of members of the Glenwood City club illustrating a 1986 workshop and photographs of the 1987 and 1990 conventions.

Language: English

Search Terms


Subject Terms

o Women—Wisconsin—Societies and clubs

Biography/History

The Wisconsin Federation of Women's Clubs (WFWC), an affiliate of the national General Federation of Women's Clubs, was organized in Milwaukee in October 1896, incorporating 63 existing clubs in ten districts. The counties of Barron, Buffalo,

Chippewa, Clark, Dunn, Eau Claire, Jackson, Pepin, Pierce, St. Croix and Trempealeau compose the Ninth District. Each district elects executive officers who meet in formal session at least once each year to direct the work of the district's clubs. Annually each club reports its activities to the district president who in turn reports to the state president. A convention of the entire membership gathers each spring. In 1974, 9th District local club affiliates numbered 193.

Since its organization, the WFWC has promoted civic awareness and responsibility as well as cultural enrichment of individual members. The clubs of the 9th District have established and supported local libraries; sponsored educational loan funds, the Helen Mears Art Contest, and the Theodora Youmans Citizenship Award; conducted Trees for Tomorrow conservation workshops and scholarship programs, and established the Federation Forest; helped purchase the site of the territorial capitol building in Belmont, and aided in the restoration of it and of the first Supreme Court building. Other areas of activity include home life, health and safety, and public and international affairs.

Scope and Content Note

This collection is arranged in two sections and contains a number of local club documents that may be of interest to the researcher. Part 1 consists of records transferred to the Archives in 1977; these date 1934-1974. Part 2 consists of records transferred in 1990 and in 2001; these date 1917-2000.

In PART 1, correspondence and financial records are minimal, but there are nearly complete series of annual club reports, minutes of meetings, club histories, and convention registration lists. Extensive files of club yearbooks, directories and project materials complete the documentation of club activities. The records are arranged chronologically or by subject within nine categories: Correspondence, Registration Lists, Minutes, Annual Reports, Project Reference Files, Histories, Yearbooks and Programs, Publications, and Scrapbooks.

Registration Lists and Minutes reveal district-wide administration and activities, while Annual Reports of club presidents to the district president describe noteworthy local programs and projects. Also listed are officers, membership figures, and the contributions of each club to charitable causes. Departmental reports describe specific cultural and community activities of local clubs.

The Project Reference Files contain handbooks, notes, and miscellany describing suggested programs for community service and cultural enrichment. These materials were distributed by the state organization to local club officers.

The histories and yearly programs of local clubs are detailed in the files of Histories and Yearbook And Programs. A history of the 9th District, compiled in 1976, is present, as are typewritten histories of many local clubs from inception to the 1960s. Yearbook And Programs, 1970-1974, present annual lists of officers and members and schedules of

meetings and projects for individual clubs.

A fragmentary series of Publications include printed directories of officers and members, a state federation handbook (1956-1958), a booklet containing resolutions of the general federation (to 1972), and scattered convention programs; while notes, correspondence, clippings, and memorabilia are found in the Scrapbooks.

Records in PART 2 include award certificates, correspondence, membership directories, minutes of meetings, scrapbooks, news clippings, annual reports, photographs of the 1990 state convention, and miscellaneous records of member clubs such as clippings, histories, and a scrapbook of photographs compiled by the Glenwood City Woman's Club showing members at meetings and other club activities.

Administrative/Restriction Information


Acquisition Information

Presented by the 9th District via Barbara Larson, Whitehall, Wisconsin, 1977, and via Mrs. Donald Nielsen, Bloomer, Wisconsin, 1990 and 2001. Accession Number: M77- 347; M91-125; M2001-167

Processing Information

Processed by Menzi Behrnd, 1978; Sally Jacobs, 1998; and Amy Rommel, 2001.

Contents List

Eau Claire Mss AISeries: Part 1, 1934-1974

Subseries: Correspondence
Box 1, Folder 1District chairman, March-April 1960
Box 1, Folder 2Miscellaneous, 1949-1970

Subseries: Registration Lists
Box 1, Folder 3Executive Board meetings, 1936-1962
Box 1, Folder 4Spring conventions, 1937-1960

Subseries: Minutes
Box 1, Folder 5-6Executive Board and spring conventions, 1934-1960

Subseries: Annual Reports
Box 1, Folder 7District president to state president, 1949-1961

Club presidents to district presidents

Box 1, Folder 8-10

1940-1941, 1945-1947

Box 2, Folder 1-8

1947-1956

Box 3, Folder 1-6

1956-1962

Club departmental reports to the district president

Box 3, Folder 7-8

1958-1960
Box 4, Folder 1-21960-1962
Box 4, Folder 3Club national defense report of registration, 1942
Box 4, Folder 4Miscellaneous reports, 1948-1958

Subseries: Project Reference File
Box 4, Folder 5Community improvement
Box 4, Folder 6Conservation
Box 4, Folder 7Health and safety
Box 4, Folder 8Home and safety
Box 4, Folder 9Public and international affairs
Box 5, Folder 1Miscellaneous

Subseries: Histories
Box 5, Folder 2

Ninth district, Alma Center, Altoona, Annis Creek, Augusta, Barron, Black River Falls, Blair, Bloomer, Boyd, Brunswick

Box 5, Folder 3 Cadott, Chippewa Falls, Cleveland, Colfax, Cornell, County Line, Cumberland, Durand, Eagle Point, Eau Claire, Ettrick
Box 5, Folder 4

Fairchild, Glenwood City, Granton, Hixton, Hudson, Hudson Prairie, LaFayette, Loyal, Lucas, Menomonie, Merrillan, Millston, New Auburn, New Richmond, Rice Lake, St. Joseph, Springdale, Thorp, Wheeler, Whithall, Woodmohrpage5image40104


Box 5, Folder 5River Falls Tuesday Club

Subseries: Yearbooks and Programs
Box 5, Folder 6Alma Center, Altoona, Annis Creek, Augusta, Black River Falls, Blair, Bloomer, Boyd
Box 5, Folder 7Brunswick, Cadott, Chippewa Falls, Cleveland, Colfax, Cornell, Cumberland, Durand, Eagle Point, Eau Claire, Ettrick
Box 6, Folder 1 Fairchild, Glenwood City, Granton, Hudson, Hudsonpage5image67928Prairie, Ladies Benefit, LaFayette, Loyal, Lucas, Menomonie, New Auburn, New Richmond, Rice Lake, River Falls, St. Joseph
Box 6, Folder 2Thorp, Whitehall, Woodmohr

Subseries: Publications
Box 6, Folder 3State directories, 1944-1961
Box 6, Folder 4Ninth district directories, 1934-1942, 1958-1966, 1972-1974
Box 6, Folder 5Districts 1-8 and 10 directories, 1970-1974
Box 6, Folder 6Miscellany, 1956-1972

Subseries: Scrapbooks

Box 7-8


President's scrapbooks, 1936-1956, 1972-1974
Box 9Convention scrapbooks, 1936-1960

Series: Part 2, 1917-2000

Subseries: 9th District Records
Box 10, Folder 1Award Certificates, 1967-1968
Box 11, Folder 1Board meetings, 1986-1998

Box 11, Folder 2 - 3



Conventions and workshops, 1961-2000

Photographs

9th District WFWC Photographs, 1988-1990
Box 11, Folder 4Photocopies

GFWC Centennial Convention Delegation Photographs, 1990
Box 11,
Folder 5
Photocopies

WFWC Centennial Convention Photographs, 1990
Box 11,
Folder 6
Photocopies
Box 10
Folder 2
Correspondence with member clubs, 1986-1988
Box 11, Folder 7

History



Member directories
Box 10, Folder 31976-1988
Box 11, Folder 81991-1994

Minutes
Box 11, Folder 91917-1924
Box 10, Folder 41923-1936
Box 10, Folder 51976-1980
Box 11, Folder 10Newsletters, 1980-1998
Box 11, Folder 11News clippings, 1961, 1993-1994

Reports
Box 12, Folder 1Biennial, 1998-2000

Box 12, Folder 2 - 3

Treasurer's, 1942-1984, 1991-1998

Scrapbooks
Box 131988-1991, 1992-1996
Box 141996-1998, 1998-2000

Subseries: Records from Member Clubs
Box 10, Folder 6Augusta Women's Club, Annual Program, 1923-1971
Box 10, Folder 7Black River Falls Tuesday Club, History, 1970-1989
Box 12, Folder 4Bloomer Women's Club, 1988-1990
Box 10, Folder 8

Cadott Women's Club, Clippings, and Agenda, 1985-1988

Box 12, Folder 5 - 6Club histories
Box 10, Folder 9Eau Claire Women's Club, Treasurer's Book, 1932-1977 and Minutes, 1987page8image16120
Box 10, Folder 10Glenwood City Women's Club, Scrapbook [photocopy], 1985-1986
Note: Original photographs are included in PH Eau Claire Mss AI.
Box 10, Folder 11Menomonie Federated Women's Club, Clippings, 1985
Box 10, Folder 12Rice Lake Federated Women's Club, Clippings, 1986-1988
Box 10, Folder 13Whitehall Women's Study Club, History, 1976-1986
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