Chico Women's Club Records MSS.324

Finding aid prepared by Rachel Lilia Arteaga and Pamela Nett Kruger
California State University, Chico, Special Collections, Meriam Library
400 West First Street
Chico, CA, 95929-0295
(530) 898-6342
SpecialCollections@csuchico.edu
7/27/2011


Title: Chico Women's Club Records
Identifier/Call Number: MSS.324
Contributing Institution: California State University, Chico, Special Collections, Meriam Library
Language of Material: English
Physical Description: 9.67 Linear feet 23 boxes
Date (inclusive): 1933-2011
Abstract: The records of the Chico Women’s Club contains documents relating to the clubs administrative activities, projects, and club history.
Language of Materials note: English

Arrangement note

Arranged chronological/series order.

Biographical/Historical note

Founded in 1913, the Chico Art Club for women was a social and service oriented club focused on women and the arts. Mrs. Margaret March founded the club and early members included prominent Chico citizens such as Annie Bidwell. In 1933 the club building was finished. It is used as a community gathering place and is rented out for various public and private events. Many of the clubs early records were lost in a fire in 1950 when a 10 year old boy broke into the clubhouse and set fire to club property. The building suffered $6000 worth of damage and members had to meet in other locations while the building was refurbished. In 1961, the Chico Art Club officially changed its name to the Chico Women’s Club to more clearly define the club’s purpose. Though once a part of the General Federation of Women’s Clubs (GFWC) and the California Federation of Women’s Clubs (CFWC), Chico Women’s Club is now independent from any larger groups. During the 1990’s the club saw dwindling membership and almost disbanded, it was during this time that membership in the larger Women’s Club organizations ceased. Though the club still focuses on women in the arts they also contribute to many community and global improvement projects. Over the years the Chico Women’s Club has hand a major hand in the development of Annie’s Glenn, Caper Acres and preservation efforts at the Bidwell Mansion. The club also made use copies of the Bidwell Papers, available at Special Collections CUS, Chico. More recently club members have been involved in projects such as a TimeBank and Micro-financing.

Access Restrictions

Collection is open for research without restriction.

Usage Restrictions

Collection is open for research. Two scrapbooks are restricted due to fragility. They are open to research with staff supervision. These two scrapbooks are as follows: Box 13: Chico Art Club 1948-1949 Box 13: Chico Art Club 1949-1955

Immediate Source of Acquisition note

Gift of the Chico Women’s Club. Yearbooks 1933-1934, 1940-1941, 1955-1961 pulled from vertical file, Accession 2010-042

Preferred Citation note

Chico Women’s Club, MSS 324, Special Collections, Meriam Library, California State University, Chico.

Related Archival Materials note

MSS 142 American College Club Records Box 1 Folder 1 (contains several Chico Art Club Yearbooks)
The California Federation of Women’s Club records 1900- held at the University of California, Santa Cruz lists box 24 as containing records from Chico Women’s Club 1988.

Scope and Contents note

The Chico Women’s Club (also known as Chico Womens Club) records contain records dating from the 1930’s through the 2000’s. Earlier records are scarce and the bulk of the records date from the 1950’s through the 1990’s. Administrative records, including club minutes and yearly reports make up a large portion of the collection. There are also a fair number of press books and scrapbooks most of which contain newspaper clippings, photos, and yearbooks.
The Chico Women’s Club Records contains many documents on committees and community projects including: Annie’s Glenn, Caper Acres, Bidwell Mansion Restoration, Bidwell Papers, California Heritage, Indian Affairs, Citizenship, Veterans, Safety, Crime Prevention, HOBY (Hugh O’Brian Youth Foundation), Legislation-Special Program, Arts Department, Health, Today’s Living, Make a Wish, Status of Women, and International Affairs.
Interspersed within the Chico Women’s Club records are items related to the GFWC and CFWC as the club often participated in committees and projects organized by these two larger groups. The Chico Junior Women’s Club records form a separate series as they had their own meetings and projects.

Subjects and Indexing Terms

California Federation of Women’s Clubs.
General Federation of Women’s Clubs .
Chico (Calif.)--History.
Women – California – Chico – History.
Women – Societies and clubs.

 

Administrative Records 1956-2007

Box 1: 1956-1989, Box 2: 1990-2006

Minutes 1956-2006

Box 3

Year End Reports 1991-1997

Box 4

Bylaws, Ways and Means 1956-1999

Physical Description: 4.0 folders
Box 4

Membership 1967-2007

Physical Description: 6.0 folders
Box 4

Correspondence 1950’s-2003

Physical Description: 10.0 folders
Box 4

Officer’s Duties 1960’s-1990’s

Physical Description: 5.0 folders
Boxes 4

Legal 1995-1996

Physical Description: 1.0 folder
Box 5

Finances 1962-2002, 2005

Physical Description: 11.0 folders
 

Committees/Programs/Activities 1951-2011

Box 5: 1960's-1994, Box 6: 1971-2011

Committees 1960’s-2003

Box 6

Programs/Activities 1951-2011

Box 12

Guestbooks 1963-1997

 

Publications 1933-2009

Box 7

Newsletters 1980’s -2009

Box 7

Yearbooks 1933-2004

 

Public Affairs 1930’s-2005

Box  7: 1930’s -1990’s, Box 8: 1996-2005

Publicity 1930’s-1990's

Box 8: 1967-1979, Box 9: 1971-1979

Press Books 1967-1972

 

Scrapbooks, Awards, Photos 1960’s-2003

Box 10

Recognition/Awards 1960’s-1990’s

Box 10

Photos No Date, 1975, 1993, 1997-1999, 2003

Box 13: 1948-1955, Box 14: 1975-1976, Box 15: 1984-1986, Box 16: 1962-1963, 1987-1988

Scrapbooks 1948-1988 incomplete

 

History/General Information 1960’s-2008

Box 10

Club History and General Information 1965-1988

Physical Description: 2.0 folders
Box 10

Building History 1979-2003, 2008

Physical Description: 4.0 folders
Box 10

General Club Information 1969-1992

Physical Description: 4.0 folders
 

Chico Junior Women’s Club 1942-1992

Box 11

Administrative 1940’s-1990’s

Physical Description: 6.0 folders
Box 11

Committees 1950’s-1970’s

Physical Description: 10.0 folders
Box 11

Publications 1960’s-1970’s

Physical Description: 2.0 folders
Box 17, Box 18

Scrapbooks 1975-1976

 

Shasta District 1920-1998

Box 19

Shasta District general records 1920-1998

Box 20: 1955-1972, Box 21: 1960's, Box 22: 1968-1970, Box 23: 1976-1982

Scrapbooks 1955-1982