Guide to the John W. Geary School PTA Records, 1930-1974

Processed by California Historical Society staff; supplementary encoding and revision supplied by Xiuzhi Zhou.

California Historical Society

North Baker Research Library

678 Mission Street

San Francisco, California 94105-4014

Phone: (415) 357-1848, ext. 220

Fax: (415) 357-1850

Email: reference@calhist.org

URL: http://www.californiahistoricalsociety.org/

Guide to the John W. Geary School PTA Records, 1930-1974

Collection number: MS 3595

California Historical Society

North Baker Research Library

San Francisco, California

Contact Information:

California Historical Society
North Baker Research Library
678 Mission Street
San Francisco, California 94105-4014
Phone: (415) 357-1848, ext. 220
Fax: (415) 357-1850
Email: reference@calhist.org
URL: http://www.californiahistoricalsociety.org/

Processed by:: California Historical Society staff

Descriptive Summary

Title: John W. Geary School PTA Records,

Date (inclusive): 1930-1974

Collection number: MS 3595

Creator: John W. Geary School

Extent: 2 linear feet

Repository: California Historical Society, North Baker Library

San Francisco, California 94105-4014

Language: English.

Administrative Information

Access

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Publication Rights

Copyright has not been assigned to The North Baker Research Library. All requests for permission to publish or quote from manuscripts must be submitted in writing to the Library Director. Permission for publication is given on behalf of The North Baker Research Library as the owner of the physical items and is not intended to include or imply permission of the copyright holder, which must also be obtained by the reader.

Preferred Citation

[Identification of item], John W. Geary School PTA Records. MS 3595, California Historical Society, North Baker Research Library.

History

The John W. Geary School, a small elementary school (200-300 students) located on Cook and Geary Streets in San Francisco, opened on March 31, 1930. It was named for the last Alcalde of San Francisco, who was also the City's first mayor.

The J.W. Geary School PTA was organized in February, 1930. Before World War II, the PTA's activities included clothing, newspaper and tinfoil collections, card and sewing parties, and creation of school holiday festivals and festivities. In 1940, members went to the convention of the California Congress of Parents and Teachers in Los Angeles. During and after the War, changes occurred in the way in which the PTA mothers related to their children's school. There was an apparent decline in the importance of the PTA, perhaps relative to the opening of other choices of activity and work for women. Also, the mothers appear to have entered into a more equal partnership with school personnel. For example, while there were still luncheons, fund-raising food sales and festivals, a bookfair was added, and the mothers evidently assumed much responsibility for its contents. Programs show increased awareness of health, safety and racial issues.

Fathers had only the most peripheral of roles in relationship to this PTA. Rather, the records reflect the changing role of women between 1930 and 1974. This is shown both by the decline of interest in recording minute details of small events, and by the improved intellectual content of the programs. However, it should be noted that, throughout the entire history of this organization, it exists almost entirely apart from major community and world concerns.

In 1974-75, the J.W. Geary School was expected to close because of the need to earthquake proof the building, which would have necessitated evacuation while the repairs were being made. The repairs were not made, the last class was graduated on June 11, 1977, and the school was subsequently demolished.

Scope and Contents

The records of the John W. Geary School PTA begin in April 1930. Included are correspondence, minutes, flyers, programs, newsletters, and scrapbooks. The most revealing and complete materials from the early days of the school are the publicity scrapbooks which were, for the most part, meticulously kept. During and after World War II, the record-keeping became more fragmentary, and there are no records after 1974.

Added Entries

California Congress of Parents & Teachers
John W. Geary School
Education-San Francisco
Public Schools
San Francisco Public Schools
San Francisco--Social Life & Customs
Schools
Women in California
Community Organizations

Materials Transferred

A few photographs and pamphlets have been transferred to the photography and ephemera collections.

GENERAL

Box 1, Folder 1

By-Laws 1953-61

Folder 2

Insurance 1952-59

Folder 3

Correspondence 1939-45

Folder 4

Correspondence 1946-49

Folder 5

Correspondence 1951-70, nd

Folder 6

Minutes 1935-40

Folder 7

Minutes 1950-63

Folder 8

Minutes 1963-69

Folder 9

Executive Board Minutes 1947

Folder 10

Executive Board Minutes 1956-63

Folder 11

Executive Board Minutes 1966-71

Folder 12

President's Report 1932-33

Folder 13

Financial (misc.)

Folder 14

Board Roster 1945-46

Folder 15

Membership Roster 1946-47

Folder 16

Attendance Roster 1942-43

Folder 17

Guest Roster 1958-63

Folder 18

Newsletter 1945-49

Folder 19

History Highlights 1943-46

Folder 20

History Report (annual) 1964-67

Folder 21

History Report (annual) 1967-74

Folder 22

History Book, 1930-1945 1930-38

Physical Description: (1)

Folder 23

History Book, 1930-1945 1938-41

Physical Description: (2)

Folder 24

History Book, 1930-1945 1941-45

Physical Description: (3)

Folder 25

History Book, 1930-1945

Physical Description: (4) loose pages

Folder 26

Publicity Procedure Book 1931-36

Folder 27

Announcements, Programs 1942-48, 1953-54

EVENTS

Folder 28

Book Fairs 1970-73

Folder 29

Christmas Parties 1958-64

Folder 30

Founder's Day

Folder 31

Graduation Parties 1951-70

Folder 32

Installation Lunches 1954-64

Folder 33

May Festival 1961-74

Folder 34

May Festival-games & booths 1964-70

Folder 35

October Food Sales 1960-63

Folder 36

Teacher's Luncheons 1955-65

Folder 37

Theater Party nd

SCRAPBOOKS

Folder 38

Publicity Record Book 1930-31

Folder 38

Publicity Record Book 1931-32

Physical Description: (1)

Folder 40

Publicity Record Book 1931-32

Physical Description: (2)

Box 2, Folder 41

Publicity Record Book 1931-32

Physical Description: (3)

Folder 42

Publicity Record Book 1932-34

Physical Description: (1)

Folder 43

Publicity Record Book 1932-34

Physical Description: (2)

Folder 44

Publicity Record Book 1934-35

Physical Description: (1)

Folder 45

Publicity Record Book 1934-35

Physical Description: (2)

Folder 46

Publicity Record Book 1934-35

Physical Description: (loose pages)

Folder 47

Publicity Record Book 1935-36

Physical Description: (1)

Folder 48

Publicity Record Book 1935-36

Physical Description: (2)

Folder 49

Publicity Record Book 1936-37

Physical Description: (1)

Folder 50

Publicity Record Book 1936-37

Physical Description: (2)

Folder 51

Publicity Record Books 1937-38

Physical Description: (1)

Folder 52

Publicity Record Books 1937-38

Physical Description: (2)

Folder 53

Publicity Record Books 1938-39

Physical Description: (1)

Folder 54

Publicity Record Books 1938-39

Physical Description: (2)

Folder 55

Publicity Record Books 1940-41

Physical Description: (1)

Folder 56

Publicity Record Books 1940-41

Physical Description: (2)

Folder 57

Publicity Record Books 1943

Folder 58