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
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
Box 6
Programs/Activities
1951-2011
Public Affairs
1930’s-2005
Box 7: 1930’s -1990’s, Box 8: 1996-2005
Box 8: 1967-1979, Box 9: 1971-1979
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
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