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Finding Aid to the Second District of the California State PTA (San Francisco PTA) Records, 1907-2006 (bulk 1927-1975)
SFH 21  
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Table of contents What's This?

 

Administrative Record Group 1

Physical Description: 18 boxes
 

Series 1 Minutes and Agendas, 1907-1997

Physical Description: 10.8 cubic feet

Arrangement

Arranged chronologically.

Scope and Contents

Contains minutes and executive board minutes of the original San Francisco Congress of Mothers through its days as the contemporary Second District. As a result of redistricting in 1927, the Second District shed the Bay counties which had been part of the district since 1914. A newspaper article of November, 1908 noted that the organizing purpose was to bring the federation into closer touch with the public school teachers. Minutes, which begin in 1908, cover financial information, legislative affairs, programs and activities, and child welfare matters. More recent minutes (1997) include notes on class-size reduction and the proper dissemination of political messages to members.
Box 1, Folder 1

Minutes (and news articles), 1907-1914

Box 2, Folder 1

Minutes, 1917-1920

Box 3, Folder 1-3

Minutes, 1920-1924

Box 4, Folder 1

Minutes of Executive Board, 1918-1921

Box 4, Folder 2

Minutes of Executive Board, 1924-1926

Box 5, Folder 1-2

Minutes, 1926-1929

Box 6, Folder 1-3

Minutes, 1929-1932

Box 7, Folder 1-3

Minutes, 1932-1935

Box 8, Folder 1-2

Minutes, 1935-1937

Box 9, Folder 1-2

Minutes, 1937-1940

Box 10, Folder 1-4

Minutes, 1940-1946

Box 11, Folder 1-6

Minutes, 1946-1953

Box 12, Folder 1-5

Minutes, 1953-1958

Box 13, Folder 1-4

Minutes, 1958-1962

Box 14, Folder 1-4

Minutes, 1962-1966

Box 15, Folder 1-4

Minutes, 1966-1970

Box 16, Folder 1-2

Minutes, 1970-1974

Box 16, Folder 3

Minutes, 1985-1987

Box 16, Folder 4-5

Minutes, 1992-1993

Box 16, Folder 6-7

Minutes, 1994-1997

Box 16, Folder 8-9

Agendas, 1939-1960

Box 16, Folder 10-11

Agendas, 1960-1979

 

Series 2 Bylaws, 1927-1993

Physical Description: 0.15 cubic feet

Arrangement

Arranged chronologically.

Scope and Contents

This limited series includes the 1927 constitution adopted when the Second District was geographically shrunk to include only San Francisco. Both this constitution and the 1993 suggested bylaws note the promotion of the welfare of children and youth in home, school and community as one of its objectives, in common with the objects of the national and state organizations. See also Yearbooks, which sometime include the constitution.
Box 17, Folder 1

Constitution, 1927

Box 17, Folder 2

Bylaws, Policies and Procedures, 1937-1972

Box 17, Folder 3

Bylaws, Policies and Procedures (Recording Secretary's Book), [1980?]

Box 17, Folder 4

Bylaw Amendment (Proposed), 1985

Box 17, Folder 5

Bylaws (Suggested), 1993

 

Series 3 Life Membership, 1927-1975

Physical Description: 0.85 cubic feet

Arrangement

Arranged chronologically.

Scope and Contents

These records document the Life Membership plan, in which funds were raised for needy students.
Box 17, Folder 6

Honorary Life Memberships, Honor Roll and Remembrance Funds Roll Book (By School), 1927-1969

Box 17, Folder 7

Honor Roll and Honorary Life Membership Book, 1927-1969

Box 17, Folder 8

Remembrance Funds Roll Book (By School), 1933-1966

Box 17, Folder 9

Remembrance Fund, Honor Roll, and Life Membership Book, 1946-1963

Box 17, Folder 10

Remembrance Funds Roll Book, 1961-1969

Box 17, Folder 11

Honor Roll and Honorary Life Membership Book, 1963-1970

Box 17, Folder 12

Honorary Life Membership Chairman's Book, 1962-1975

 

Series 4 Yearbooks and Directories, 1920-1977

Physical Description: 0.27 cubic feet

Arrangement

Arranged chronologically.

Scope and Contents

These booklets list officers and committees, indicating significant issues and activities. Yearbooks sometimes include the constitution.
Box 18, Folder 1-50

Yearbook, 1920-1970

Box 17, Folder 13

Yearbook, 1951

Box 17, Folder 14

Yearbook and Directory, 1972-1977

 

Record Group 2 Publications and Reports

Physical Description: 15 boxes
 

Series 5 Procedures, 1931-[1998]

Physical Description: 1.5 cubic feet

Arrangement

Arranged chronologically.

Scope and Contents

Procedure books are scrapbooks outlining ideas and plans of officers and chairmen, and include some unit (club) history. These books also include Outstanding Achievement and annual reports.

Conditions Governing Use note

Some procedure books contain photographs, which cannot be photocopied.
Box 19, Folder 1-5

Procedure Book, 1931-1937

Box 20, Folder 1-4

Procedure Book, 1937-1942

Box 20, Folder 5

Handbook, [1998]

 

Series 6 History, Annual Reports, and Committee Reports, 1916-2001 (bulk 1927-1965)

Physical Description: 3.5 cubic feet

Arrangement

History and Annual reports are arranged chronologically; Committee Reports are arranged alphabetically.

Conditions Governing Use note

Scrapbooks may have photocopying restrictions due to format.

Scope and Contents

History and Annual Reports are held in scrapbooks compiled by the district on an annual basis beginning in 1927, when the Second District became a San Francisco-only region. Other individual Committee Reports are also included, as well as some unit history. These reports summarize the organization's activities. See also Series 5: Procedures for annual reports.
The 1927-1928 and 1928-1929 History books discuss the emergence of the reorganized Second District and its new publication, Bulletin. The 1930-1931 History book notes that classes were offered in parental education, parliamentary law, publicity writing, social service, Braille writing, First Aid, and mental, physical, and social hygiene.
Committee reports include two speeches on Citizenship and World Peace by Mrs. E.T. Eheleben, circa 1936. In her radio broadcasts, she said, "Educate a man, you educate an individual; educate a woman, you educate a family; educate a teacher, you educate a community." She urged "foreign-born" immigrants to attend public schools' Americanization classes and to participate in the PTA. "We endeavor to be citizens of the world." She went on to say, "to bring children into the world to be needless sacrifices cannot be condoned" in explaining the Second District's study of "further[ing] peace and abolish[ing] war."
The Philanthropy Department history records its organization in 1916 when used clothing and shoes were collected by members and distributed to needy children. This effort grew into what became known as the Community Chest.

Related Archival Materials

Researchers are encouraged to see also Mrs. Joseph (Elizabeth) Morcombe San Francisco, Second District, California Congress of Parents and Teachers (PTA) Records, [1914]-1937, SFH 12. Some organizational history documents covering the years 1914 to 1937 are included in that collection.
Box 20, Folder 6

Annual History Reports, 1927-1933

Box 20, Folder 7-8

Annual History and Reports, 1929-1931

Box 21, Folder 1-5

Annual History and Reports, 1931-1937

Box 21, Folder 6-7

Annual History and Reports, 1943-1946

Box 22, Folder 1

Annual History and Reports, 1946-1947

Box 22, Folder 2-4

Annual History and Reports, 1949-1953

Box 22, Folder 5-16

Annual History and Reports, 1955-1967

 

Reports of Officers and Chairmen:

Box 22, Folder 17

Arts Education, 2000-2001

Box 22, Folder 18

Character and Spiritual Education, 1962-1969

Box 23, Folder 1

Citizenship, 1921-1936

Box 23, Folder 2

Convention, 1937

Box 23, Folder 3

Convention Hi-Lites, 1966

Box 23, Folder 4

Corresponding Secretary, 1973-1977

Box 23, Folder 5

Dental Clinic, 1916-1918

Box 23, Folder 6

District President, 1989-1991

Box 23, Folder 7

Earthquake Aid, California Congress, 1906

Box 23, Folder 8

Education Commission, California Congress, 1976-1978

Box 23, Folder 9-10

Extension, 1969-1972

Box 23, Folder 11

Financial Statements, 1983-1987

Box 23, Folder 12

Founders Day, 1964-1973

Box 23, Folder 13

Handicapped Child, undated

Box 23, Folder 14-15

Health, 1970-1976

Box 23, Folder 16

Health Education: Blood Bank, 1972-1980

Box 23, Folder 17

Legislation, 1966-1967

Box 23, Folder 18

Membership Reference Book, [1955-1957]

Box 23, Folder 19

Membership Proclamations (See Also Photos), 1980-1981

Box 23, Folder 20

Mental Health, 1963-1973

Box 23, Folder 21

Minimum Standards, 1985

Box 23, Folder 22

Officers and Chairmen, 1928

Box 23, Folder 23

Parents in Education Conference - Handouts, 1990

Box 4, Folder 3

Philanthropy Department History, 1916-1927

Box 23, Folder 24

Philanthropy - Speech, 1926

 

Unit and Section Records, Series 7 1908-1984

Physical Description: 6.0 cubic feet

Arrangement

Arranged alphabetically by unit, then chronologically.

Conditions Governing Use note

Scrapbooks may have photocopying restrictions due to format and/or content.

Scope and Contents

Individual clubs were called units, and units were geographically grouped into sections of the district. The series consists mainly of unit history and publicity books, compiled annually. History books include club budgets, listings of officers, and reports. Publicity books are scrapbooks of newspaper clippings, photographs, flyers, and programs. See also Series 5: Procedures and Series 6: History, Annual Reports, and Committee Reports for unit and section records.
Box 33, Folder 14

Candlestick Cove [Publicity] Scrapbook, 1946-1947

Box 24, Folder 1-2

Columbus History Book, 1912-1938

Box 24, Folder 3

Columbus [Publicity] Scrapbook, 1925-1928

Box 25, Folder 1

Columbus Publicity Book, 1930-1931

Box 24, Folder 4-5

Farragut History Book, 1923-1949

Box 24, Folder 6-10

Farragut History Book, 1959-1965

Box 26, Folder 1

Farragut [Publicity] Scrapbook, 1926-1929

Box 24, Folder 11-12

Farragut Publicity Book, 1932-1934

Box 24, Folder 13-14

Farragut Publicity Book, 1943-1944

Box 24, Folder 15

Farragut Publicity Book, 1959-1960

Box 24, Folder 16-17

Farragut Publicity Book, 1961-1963 [1959-1962]

Box 27, Folder 1

Farragut Publicity Book, 1963-1964

Box 27, Folder 2

Farragut Treasurer's Book, 1946-1953

Box 25, Folder 2

Farragut Treasurer's Book, Loose Pages, 1950-1955

Box 27, Folder 3

Grattan Charter Certificate, [19--]

Box 27, Folder 4-6

Grattan History Book, 1908-1960

Box 27, Folder 7-9

Grattan Publicity Book, 1931-1934

Box 27, Folder 10

Grattan Publicity Book, 1936-1937

Box 27, Folder 11

Grattan Publicity Book, 1948-1949

Box 28, Folder 1-3

Grattan Publicity Book, 1928-1931

Box 27, Folder 12

Hawthorne Treasurer's Book, 1953-1957

Box 27, Folder 13

High School Section, 1940-1941

Box 27, Folder 14

Local Units: President's Monthly Reports, 1926-1927

Box 27, Folder 15-16

Local Units: History Book, 1939-1941, [1939-1940]

Box 29, Folder 1

Local Units: History Book, 1941-1943

Box 29, Folder 2-3

Local Units: Publicity Book, 1966-1967

Box 29, Folder 4

Louise Lombard/Alta Vista History Book, 1953-1964

Box 29, Folder 5

Louise Lombard/Alta Vista History Book, 1948-1955

Box 29, Folder 6

Louise Lombard Minutes, 1955-1965

Physical Description: 3.0 volumes
Box 29, Folder 7

Louise Lombard Minutes, 1966-1978

Physical Description: 3.0 volumes
Box 29, Folder 8

Louise Lombard Minutes, 1978-1984

Box 29, Folder 9

Louise Lombard Publicity Book, 1953-1962

Box 29, Folder 10

Louise Lombard/Alta Vista Treasurer's Book, 1951-1970

Box 29, Folder 11

Louise Lombard Treasurer's Book, 1966-1976

Box 29, Folder 12-13

Louise Lombard Treasurer's Books, 1970-1977

Box 29, Folder 14

Louise Lombard Treasurer's Check Register, 1975-1978

Box 29, Folder 15

Marshall News Clippings, [1930s]

Box 30, Folder 1

McKinley Brochure, 1968-1969

Box 30, Folder 2-3

McKinley History Book, 1911-1948

Box 30, Folder 4

McKinley History Book, 1959-1963

Box 30, Folder 5

McKinley Membership Honor Roll, 1931

Box 30, Folder 6-13

McKinley Publicity Book, 1930-1939

Box 30, Folder 14

McKinley Publicity Book, 1959-1960

Box 31, Folder 1

Mission High History Book, 1964-1965

Box 31, Folder 2

Parkside Publicity Book, 1951-1952

Box 31, Folder 3-7

Polytechnic High History Book, 1937-1947

Box 31, Folder 8-11

Polytechnic High History Book, 1946-1959

Box 31, Folder 12-14

Winfield Scott History Book, 1926-1965

Box 31, Folder 15

Winfield Scott History Book, 1955-1962

Box 31, Folder 16

Secondary School Programs, 1958-1959

Box 32, Folder 1

Junipero Serra Charter Certificate, [19--]

Box 32, Folder 2

Sample Unit History Book, [1963?]

 

Series 8 Publications, 1930-2002

Physical Description: 2.0 cubic feet

Arrangement

Arranged chronologically.

Scope and Contents

These are mainly 20th-century, monthly District publications, along with some more recent annual poetry publications. The Parent-Teacher Bulletin was the redistricted Second District's first periodical. Advertisements were included. The Parent-Teacher Journal was launched in 1937, edited by Mrs. Joseph (Elizabeth) Morcombe. Along with advertising and organizational news, the Journal had a Home Economics Page with recipes. Board minutes for the Journal are included. Cable-Grams was a mimeographed bulletin that ran for over 50 years. This newsletter included the feature "Pertinent Parent-Teacher Topics." In 1988, the PTA instituted an artistic expression program, "Reflections." Some "Reflections" anthologies are included.
Box 32, Folder 3

Parent-Teacher Bulletin, 1930-1931

Box 32, Folder 4

Parent-Teacher Journal, First Historical Edition, Sept. 1937

Box 32, Folder 5-6

Parent-Teacher Journal Board Minutes, 1936-1947

Box 32, Folder 7

Parent-Teacher Journal Board Minutes, Loose Documents, 1940-1946

Box 32, Folder 8

Parent-Teacher Journal Contract, 1946

Box 32, Folder 9-10

Pertinent Parent-Teacher Topics, 1956-1971

Box 32, Folders 11-18

Cable-Grams, 1949-1969

Box 33, Folders 1-8

Cable-Grams, 1969-1996

 

"Reflections" Program Anthologies,

Box 33, Folder 9

Wouldn’t it Be Great If…, 1998

Box 33, Folder 10

Suddenly you turn around and…, 1999

Box 33, Folder 11

Anything is Possible, [2000]

Box 33, Folder 12

It would be really strange if... 2001

Box 33, Folder 13

I Hold in my Hand, 2002

 

Record Group 3 Publicity

Physical Description: 11 boxes
 

Series 9 Publicity Books and Ephemera, [1910]-2006

Physical Description: 3.6 cubic feet

Arrangement

Arranged chronologically.

Scope and Contents

Contains scrapbooks of district newspaper clippings from 1910 to 1929. Founders Day activities are featured in separate scrapbooks.

Conditions Governing Use note

Scrapbooks may have photocopying restrictions due to format and/or content.

Related Archival Materials

Researchers are encouraged to see also Mrs. Joseph (Elizabeth) Morcombe San Francisco, Second District, California Congress of Parents and Teachers (PTA) Records, [1914]-1937, SFH 12. The Morcombe PTA Records consist chiefly of publicity record books with newspaper articles by Mrs. Morcombe, from 1929 to 1937.
Box 34, Folder 1

Postage Stamps, 1972-1997

Box 34, Folder 2

Tee-shirt Transfer, 1978

Box 35, Folder 1

Record Book, 1917-1918, [1910-1918]

Box 36, Folder 1-3

Record Book, 1923-1925

Box 37, Folder 1

Record Book, 1925-1926

Box 38, Folder 1

Record Book, Old Second District, 1926-1927

Box 38, Folder 2

Record Book, 1927-1928

Box 39, Folder 1

Record Book, 1928-1929

Box 34, Folder 3

Activity Book, 1931-1932

Box 37, Folder 2

Record Book, 1937

 

Founders Day,

Box 34, Folder 4

Memento, undated

Box 34, Folder 5

Decorations, [1930?]

Box 34, Folder 6

Guest List, 1960

Box 34, Folder 7

Images of Alice McLellan Birney and Phoebe Apperson Hearst, undated

Box 34, Folder 8

Programs, 1973-2006

Box 34, Folder 9

Proclamation, 1991

Box 40, Folder 1

Scrapbook, 1924-1948

Box 41, Folder 1

Scrapbook, 1930

Box 41, Folder 2

Scrapbook, 1934

Box 41, Folder 3

Scrapbook, 1935

Box 42, Folder 1

Scrapbook, 1935-1936, [1936]

Box 42, Folder 2

Scrapbook, 1937

Box 40, Folder 2-3

Scrapbook, 1937-1940

 

Series 10 Photographs and Realia, 1927-1984

Physical Description: 0.9 cubic feet

Arrangement

Arranged alphabetically by subject.

Scope and Contents

Topics in this small series include Blood Bank Drive, March of Dimes, Japanese PTAs, and state and national PTA conventions.

Access

Photographs are available during Photo Desk hours. Photographs cannot be photocopied.
Box 43, Folder 1

Health: Blood Bank Drive, [19--]

Box 43, Folder 2

Health: March of Dimes, 1972

Box 43, Folder 3

Health: Polio Vaccinations, 1963

Box 44, Folder 1

Japan: Osaka PTA album, [1967]

Box 44, Folder 2

Japan: Tokyo Block Congress PTA Scroll, 1984

Box 43, Folder 4

Japan: Kanagawa Prefecture PTA, 1972

Box 43, Folder 5

Membership Proclamation, [1980-1981]

Related Materials

See Also Reports of Officers and Chairmen.
Box 43, Folder 6

Miscellaneous Events, [19--]-1974

Box 43, Folder 7

National Convention in Oakland, 1927

Box 43, Folder 8

State Convention in Santa Cruz, [1928?]

Box 43, Folder 9

State Convention in Riverside, 1930

Box 43, Folder 10

State Convention in San Francisco, 1931

Related Materials

See Also Publicity—Activity Book
Box 43, Folder 11

State Convention in Sacramento, 1934

Box 43, Folder 12

State Convention in San Jose, 1936

 

Record Group 4 Reference Materials

Physical Description: 3 boxes
 

Series 11 History of PTA Books, 1914-1949

Physical Description: 0.38 cubic feet

Arrangement

Arranged chronologically.

Scope and Contents

This series has books published on the state and national organizations' history.
Box 45, Folder 1-2

History of the California Congress of Mothers, 1914

Box 45, Folder 3

Condensed Proceedings of the Conventions of 1918-1919-1920, [1920]

Box 45, Folder 4

California Congress of Parents and Teachers Inc., Directory and Reports, 1927-1928, [1927?]

Box 45, Folder 5

The Parent-Teacher Association, 1928

Box 45, Folder 6-7

A New Force in Education... 1930

Box 45, Folder 8

Parent Education, Types-Content-Method... [1932]

Box 45, Folder 9

Through the Years, 1932

Box 45, Folder 10-11

California Congress of Parents and Teachers, 1900-1928, [1936?]

Box 45, Folder 12

History of the California Congress of Parents and Teachers Inc, 1900-1944, 1945

Box 45, Folder 13-14

The Parent-Teacher Organization, Its Origins and Development, 1944

Box 45, Folder 15

Where Children Come First, A Study of the P.T.A. Idea, 1949

 

Series 12 California Congress/PTA, 1930-2002

Physical Description: 0.47 cubic feet

Arrangement

Arranged alphabetically by subject.

Scope and Contents

Consists of guidelines, positions, and legislative action of the state organization.
Moving Images 46, Folder 1

AIDS Education Videotape, Melody, 1992

Box 46, Folder 2

California Parent-Teacher Magazines, 1930-1936

Box 46, Folder 3

Founders Day 100th Anniversary Booklet, 1996

Box 46, Folder 4

Guidebooks, 1995-1996

Box 46, Folder 5-6

Legislative Action File, 1975

Box 46, Folder 7

Nominations and Elections Handbook, 1995

Box 46, Folder 8

Outreach Pamphlets, 1965-1995

Box 46, Folder 9

Position Statements, 1999

Box 46, Folder 10

Resolutions, 1961-2002

 

Series 13 Pamphlet Collection, 1924-1930

Physical Description: 0.38 cubic feet

Arrangement

Arranged loosely by subject.

Scope and Contents

This series is comprised of scrapbooks of educational publications and articles on the parent-teacher movement, apparently used in courses offered by the National Congress of Parents and Teachers. There is an index for one of the scrapbooks, and subject headings on another.
Pamphlets were published mainly by the National and California Congress of Parents and Teachers, National Congress of Mothers and Parent-Teacher Associations, and California Parent-Teachers Association. Booklets from the California State Board of Health and U.S. Public Health Service are also included. Subjects include organizational procedures, pre-school circles, kindergarten extension, study circles, safety, juvenile protection, illiteracy, music, hygiene, marriage and motherhood, child welfare, and spiritual training. Includes one pamphlet in Spanish for children on health, and "Aims and Objectives of the P.T.A." translated into Japanese for the Southern California Japanese School Association [192-?].

Conditions Governing Use note

These scrapbooks cannot be photocopied due to the format.
Box 47, Folder 1-3

Scrapbooks, 1924-1930

 

Appendix: Timeline of Selected Events

 

1878 Silver Street Kindergarten, the first free kindergarten west of the Rockies, opens in San Francisco.

 

1895 Occidental Kindergarten Mother's Club is formed in San Francisco.

 

1897 Phoebe Apperson Hearst and Alice Birney convene the Mothers Congress conference and create the National Congress of Mothers.

 

1897 California Home and School Child Study Association organized in San Francisco.

 

1900 Los Angeles Federation of Mothers Clubs is formed in Los Angeles. Later known as Los Angeles Federation of Child Study Circles.

 

1902 Los Angeles Federation of Child Study Circles changes name to California Congress of Mothers and Child Study Circles and joins the national group.

 

1908 Mothers Clubs and California Home and School Association merge to form S.F. Congress of Mothers, to cooperate with the public schools.

 

1908 National organization changes name to National Congress of Mothers and Parent-Teacher Associations.

 

1910 Northern California Congress of Mothers formed of Bay Counties members. Likely also known as Bay Federation of Mothers Clubs.

 

1911 California Congress of Mothers and (Child) Study Circles becomes California Congress of Mothers and Parent-Teacher Associations.

 

circa 1912 Bay Federation of Mothers Clubs, including nine counties, becomes the Second District of the California Congress.

 

1924 National group is renamed National Congress of Parents and Teachers.

 

1925 Statewide group is renamed California Congress of Parents and Teachers.

 

1927 Second District is redistricted to include only San Francisco. Earlier organization is then referred to as Old Second District.

 

1970s California Congress of Parents and Teachers adopts alternate name, California State PTA. Name changed to California Congress of Parents, Teachers, and Students, Inc. (retained California State PTA).