San Fernando Women's Club Collection, 1917-1981

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Summary

Creators:
San Fernando Women's Club
Abstract:
The San Fernando Women's Club was formed as a non-profit organization in 1929, following the combination of several women's groups, including the Elective Study Club and the San Fernando Ebell Club. The collection provides insight into women's social and civic lives in the San Fernando Valley during the twentieth century. The social and charitable activities of the club and its Junior membership branch are documented through meeting minutes, membership data, reports, press clippings, and financial records.
Extent:
8.56 linear feet
Language:
English
Preferred citation:

For information about citing items in this collection consult the appropriate style manual, or see the Citing Archival Materialsguide.

Background

Scope and content:

The San Fernando Women's Club Collection documents the Club's activities, which largely pertained to drama, literature, and music. The Club underwent a number of name changes and mergers, and these are clearly documented through minutes of club meetings and by-laws that indicate the goals of each new club incarnation. The collection includes newspaper clippings, meeting minutes, financial records, a scrapbook, reports of club officers, membership lists, yearbooks, and guest books. The collection is divided into four major series: Pre-San Fernando Women's Club History (1917-1929), Administrative Records (1928-1981), Financial Records (1946-1970), and Junior Women's Club Administrative Records (1930-1968).

Series I, Pre-San Fernando Women's Club History, documents events leading to the formation of the San Fernando Women's Club. The Elective Study Club is represented by lists of members, applications, a minute book, newspaper clippings, and reports. The Elective Study Club briefly revived as the San Fernando Women's Club before combining with the Ebell Club to form the San Fernando Cosmos Club in 1929. Minutes and resolutions document these changes, as well as the club's meetings and social work. Files are arranged chronologically by originating club, and then alphabetically.

Series II, Administrative Records, documents the activities of the San Fernando Women's Club. This series is divided into two subseries. Subseries A, San Fernando Cosmos Club (1928-1979) documents the activities of the San Fernando Women's Club while it was named the San Fernando Cosmos Club. Minutes document the vote to change the club's name in 1959, as well as the Club's community engagement activities. Newspaper clippings, a guest book, scrapbook, membership applications, yearly officers' reports, and yearbooks reveal the club's administration. Subseries B, San Fernando Women's Club (1950-1981) continues the organization's administrative records after the club changed its name to the San Fernando Woman's Club. Files are arranged alphabetically and then chronologically.

Series III, Financial Records, contains five volumes of financial information and year-end summaries. This includes ledgers containing records of donations, expenses, and collected membership dues. The books are filed in chronological order.

Series IV, Junior Women's Club Administrative Records, documents the activities of the San Fernando Junior Cosmos Club, which became the San Fernando Junior Women's Club in 1959. This series contains by-laws, and largely consists of yearly reports of the group's participation in "Build a Better Community," an effort to enhance life in the City of San Fernando. Minute books document the organization's meetings. The records documenting the Junior Women's Club consist of reports on topics such as finance, civil defense, conservation, and health. In 1968 the Club filed written notification regarding the Junior branch's termination. This series contains two subseries, Subseries A, San Fernando Junior Cosmos (1930-1959), and Subseries B, San Fernando Junior Women's Club (1955-1968). Folders are arranged alphabetically and then chronologically.

Biographical / historical:

The San Fernando Women's Club was initially established after the merger of local women's clubs in 1926, including the Elective Study Club, founded in 1907. The Club became the San Fernando Cosmos Club after its 1929 merger with the San Fernando Ebell Club, and retained this title until 1959 when members voted to change the club's name back to the San Fernando Women's Club. The Junior branch of the club, founded in 1930, followed the pattern of its parent organization. It was known as the San Fernando Junior Cosmos Club until it altered its name to the San Fernando Junior Women's Club in 1959.

These clubs were founded with the intention of providing members with intellectual and social improvement, while also offering opportunities for members to become actively engaged with their community. Club activities included volunteering and fundraising for the American Red Cross, the American Cancer Society, the Young Women's Christian Association, and their own Toy Loan Library. The San Fernando Women's Club is a member of the Sierra-Cahuenga District of the California Federation of Women's Clubs, part of the national General Federation of Women's Clubs.

Acquisition information:
San Fernando Women's Club, 04/04/1981
Processing information:

Michael Kohl and Teena Stern

Arrangement:

Series I: Pre-San Fernando Women's Club History, 1917-1929

Series II: Administrative Records, 1928-1981

Subseries A: San Fernando Cosmos Club, 1928-1979

Subseries B: San Fernando Women's Club, 1950-1981

Series III: Financial Records, 1946-1970

Series IV: Junior Women's Club Administrative Records, 1930-1968

Subseries A: San Fernando Junior Cosmos Club, 1930-1959

Subseries B: San Fernando Junior Women's Club, 1955-1968

Indexed terms

Subjects:
Documents
Photographs
Scrapbooks

Access and use

Restrictions:

The collection is open for research use.

Terms of access:

Copyright for unpublished materials authored or otherwise produced by the creator(s) of this collection has been transferred to California State University, Northridge. Transmission or reproduction of materials protected by U.S. Copyright Law (Title 17, U.S.C.) beyond that allowed by fair use requires the written permission of the copyright owners. Works not in the public domain cannot be commercially exploited without permission of the copyright owners. Responsibility for any use rests exclusively with the user.

Preferred citation:

For information about citing items in this collection consult the appropriate style manual, or see the Citing Archival Materialsguide.

Location of this collection:
18111 Nordhoff Street
Northridge, CA 91330, US
Contact:
(818) 677-4594
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