Guide to the Sacramento Swiss Clubs collection
Ruth Craft
Center for Sacramento History
551 Sequoia Pacific Blvd.
Sacramento, California 95811-0229
Phone: (916) 808-7072
Fax: (916) 264-7582
Email: csh@cityofsacramento.org
URL: http://www.centerforsacramentohistory.org/
© 2013
Center for Sacramento History. All rights reserved.
Guide to the Sacramento Swiss Clubs collection
Collection number: MS0046
Center for Sacramento History
Sacramento, CA
- Processed by:
- Ruth Craft
- Date Completed:
- 2015
- Encoded by:
- Sean Heyliger
© 2013 Center for Sacramento History. All rights reserved.
Descriptive Summary
Title: Sacramento Swiss Clubs collection
Dates: 1892-2012
Bulk Dates: 1920-2010
Collection number: MS0046
Creator:
Sacramento Swiss Ladies Society
Creator:
Helvetia Verein
Collection Size:
5.5 linear feet
(5 boxes + 1 oversized map drawer)
Repository:
Center for Sacramento History
Sacramento, California 95811-0229
Abstract: This collection consists of the records of the Sacramento Swiss Ladies Society and the United Swiss Lodges of California as
well as a few documents from the Sacramento Helvetia Verein. The Swiss Ladies Society was a Sacramento organization originally
called Sacramento Helvetia Frauen and Toecher Verein. The organization was established in 1922 “to cultivate mutual sociability
among its members and rendering financial aid in case of sickness.” The Society was open to women of Swiss ancestry. This
collection contains many of the club’s meeting minutes and financial records. Together with the men’s Swiss organization,
the Helvetia Verein, these two clubs on May 1, 1981 established a parent organization called the United Swiss Lodges of California.
This organization permitted the Swiss Ladies Society and The Helvetia Verein to gain nonprofit status. The United Swiss
Lodges of California were deeply involved in efforts to erect a statue of John Sutter near Sutter’s Fort and to support the
production of a film about John Sutter’s contribution to Sacramento and California.
Physical location: 1:G:2, 36:L:07, 37:L, MC:15:02
Languages:
Languages represented in the collection:
English
Access
Collection is open for research use.
Publication Rights
All requests to publish or quote from private collections held by the Center for Sacramento History (CSH) must be submitted
in writing to csh@cityofsacramento.org. Permission for publication is given on behalf of CSH 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 patron.
No permission is necessary to publish or quote from public records.
Preferred Citation
[Identifcation of item and/or item number], [box and folder number], Sacramento Swiss Clubs collection, MS0046, Center for
Sacramento History.
Acquisition Information
The Sacramento Swiss Clubs collection was donated to the Center for Sacramento History by the Sacramento Helvetia Verein in
2015 (accession #2015/003).
Processing Information
The Sacramento Swiss Clubs Collection was processed in 2015 by Ruth Craft. The finding aid was prepared in 2015 by Ruth Craft.
Biography / Administrative History
The Swiss Ladies Society was a Sacramento organization originally called Sacramento Helvetia Frauen and Toecher Verein. The
organization was established in 1922 “to cultivate mutual sociability among its members and rendering financial aid in case
of sickness.” The Society was open to women of Swiss ancestry. This collection contains many of the club’s meeting minutes
and financial records. Together with the men’s Swiss organization, the Helvetia Verein, these two clubs on May 1, 1981 established
a parent organization called the United Swiss Lodges of California. This organization permitted the Swiss Ladies Society
and The Helvetia Verein to gain nonprofit status. The United Swiss Lodges of California were deeply involved in efforts to
erect a statue of John Sutter near Sutter’s Fort and to support the production of a film about John Sutter’s contribution
to Sacramento and California.
Scope and Content of Collection
The Sacramento Swiss Clubs collection consists of the records of the Sacramento Swiss Ladies Society and the United Swiss
Lodges of California as well as a few documents from the Sacramento Helvetia Verein. The collection is organized into five
series: Series 1. Sacramento Swiss Ladies Society, Series 2. Sacramento Helvetia Verein, Series 3. United Swiss Lodges of
California, Series 4. Audiovisual material, and Series 5. Artifacts. The Sacramento Swiss Ladies Society series consists mostly
of the club's constitution and bylaws, membership lists, and meeting minutes of the Society. The United Swiss Lodges of California
series includes meeting minutes and correspondence of the organization and records documenting its efforts to erect a statue
of John Sutter near Sutter’s Fort and to support the production of a film about John Sutter’s contribution to Sacramento and
California. Additionally numerous files demonstrate the involvement of the Swiss community in the Sacramento Sesquicentennial
celebration. The collection also contains newspaper articles and letters concerning the ongoing debate about John Sutter’s
treatment of indigenous peoples.
Many of the pages in this collection were on fax paper which had already faded. These pages were photocopied if they were
still legible. Some files contain photographs of activities of the clubs, and the photographs are retained in the folders.
Numerous documents are in German and are not translated.
Arrangement
Series 1. Sacramento Swiss Ladies Society
Series 2. Sacramento Helvetia Verein
Series 3. United Swiss Lodges of California
Subseries 3.1 Administrative records
Subseries 3.2 Sutter film project
Subseries 3.3 Sutter statue project
Subseries 3.4 Sacramento sesquicentennial
Subseries 3.5 John Sutter information
Series 4. Audiovisual material
Series 5. Artifacts
Indexing Terms
The following terms have been used to index the description of this collection in
the library's online public access catalog.
Sacramento Helvetia Verein
Sacramento Swiss Ladies Society
United Swiss Lodges of California
Sutter, John Augustus, 1803-1880
Fraternal organizations--California--History
Swiss Americans--California--History
Swiss American women
Women--Societies and clubs
Other Finding Aids
Center for Sacramento collections accession #2004/027 and 2011/005 pertain to the Sacramento Helvetia Verein and contain
information of a similar nature to many of the documents in this collection.
Series 1. Sacramento Swiss Ladies Society
Physical Description: 22 folders
Series Scope and Content Summary
The Sacramento Swiss Ladies Society series consists mostly of the club's constitution and bylaws, membership lists, and meeting
minutes of the Society.
Arrangement
Arranged by format
Box 1:1
Constitution and by-laws
1922 -2002
Box 1:3
Membership lists
1967 - 1998
Box 1:4
Membership applications
1975 – 2004
Box 1:5
Financial records
June 1984 - April 1987
Box 1:6
Financial records
1988 – 1994
Box 1:7
Financial records
1995 – 1997
Box 1:8
Financial ledger
1973 – 2009
Box 1:9
Financial records – end of year report
1979 – 2001
Box 1:10
Financial Records – annual worksheets
1978 – 1997
Box 4
Financial Records – dues ledger book with obituary notices of deceased members
undated
Box 1:12
Sick leave benefits ledger
1922 - 1999
Box 1:13
Meeting minutes and club activity
1997
Box 1:14
Meeting minutes and club activity
1998
Box 1:15
Meeting minutes and club activity
1999
Box 1:16
Meeting minutes and club activity
2000
Box 1:17
Meeting minutes and club activity
2001
Box 1:18
Meeting minutes and club activity
2002
Box 1:19
Meeting minutes and club activity
2007
Box 1:20
Annual fall dance
1974-1975
Series 2. Sacramento Helvetia Verein
Physical Description: 5 folders
Series Scope and Content Summary
The Sacramento Helvetia Verein series includes the organization's constitution, membership roster, and meeting minutes.
Arrangement
Items arranged by format
Box 1:24
Meeting attendance ledger
2001-2012
Box 1:25
Sacramento Swiss Rifle Club - photograph photocopy
undated
Box 1:26
Flashback of 95 years – program flyer
undated
Box 1:27
Meeting minutes and Club activity
2006-2010
Series 3. United Swiss Lodges of California
Physical Description: 2 boxes
Series Scope and Content Summary
The United Swiss Lodges of California series includes meeting minutes and correspondence of the organization and records documenting
its efforts to erect a statue of John Sutter near Sutter’s Fort and to support the production of a film about John Sutter’s
contribution to Sacramento and California. Additionally numerous files demonstrate the involvement of the Swiss community
in the Sacramento Sesquicentennial celebration. The collection also contains newspaper articles and letters concerning the
ongoing debate about John Sutter’s treatment of indigenous peoples.
Subseries 3.1 Administrative records
Box 2:1
History and purpose of the organization
undated
Box 2:2
Meeting minutes and club activity
1987 – 1988
Box 2:3
Meeting minutes and club activity
1989
Box 2:4
Meeting minutes and club activity
1990
Box 2:5
Meeting minutes and club activity
1991 - 1992
Box 2:6
Meeting minutes and club activity
1993
Box 2:7
Meeting minutes and club activity
1994
Box 2:8
Meeting minutes and club activity
1995
Box 2:9
Meeting minutes and club activity
1996
Box 2:10
Meeting minutes and club activity
1997
Box 2:11
Meeting minutes and club activity
1998
Box 2:12
Meeting minutes and club activity
January 1999 – August 1999
Box 2:13
Meeting minutes and club activity
September 1999 – December 1999
Box 2:14
Meeting minutes and club activity
2000 -2010
Box 2:15
Treasurer’s report
October 1993 – November 1999
Box 2:16
Sister cities
1999 - 2004
Subseries 3.2 Sutter film project
Box 2:17
Correspondence, minutes, and notes
1987
Box 2:18
Correspondence, minutes, and notes
1988
Box 2:19
Correspondence, minutes, and notes
1989
Box 2:20
Correspondence, minutes, and notes
1992
Box 2:21
Correspondence, minutes, and notes
1993
Box 2:22
Correspondence, minutes, and notes
1994
Box 2:23
Correspondence, minutes, and notes
1995-1996
Box 2:24
Correspondence, minutes, and notes
1999
Box 2:25
Correspondence, minutes, and notes
2000
Box 3:1
Correspondence, minutes, and notes
2001-2002
Box 3:3
Script draft
December 10, 1994
Box 3:4
Script draft
April 10, 1995
Box 3:5
Script draft comments
April 10, 1995
Box 3:6
Script draft
May 30, 1995
Box 3:7
Script draft
August 15, 1995
Box 3:8
“General Sutter” – film brochure
undated
Box 3:10
Crest Theater rental production handbooks
1996
Box 3:11
“The General” – project outline and financial plan
1996
Box 3:12
Sponsor brochure sample
undated
Box 3:15
Film premiere invitation
1999
Subseries 3.3 Sutter statue project
Box 3:16
Correspondence and activities
1985
Box 3:17
Correspondence and activities
January 1986 – September, 1986
Box 3:18
Correspondence and activities
October 1986 – December 1986
Box 3:19
Correspondence and activities (contains photographs of statue)
January 1987 – March 1987
Box 3:20
Correspondence and activities
April 1987 – July 1987
Box 3:21
Correspondence and activities
August 1987 – September 1987
Box 3:22
Correspondence and activities (contains photographs of dedication ceremony)
September 1987 – December 1987
Box 3:26
Dedication information
1987
Box 3:29
Statue reproduction sales brochure
undated
Box 3:30
Photographs of statue
1987
Subseries 3.4 Sacramento sesquicentennial
Box 3:32
Correspondence and activities
1987 – 1988
Box 3:33
Correspondence and activities
1988 – 1990
Box 3:35
Celebration photographs
1989
Box 3:36
Birthday dinner (contains photographs)
1989
Subseries 3.5 John Sutter information
Box 3:38
Biographical information
undated
Box 3:39
Biographical information (in German)
undated
Box 3:40
Biography by Werner Diller
undated
Box 3:41
John Sutter’s incredible odyssey – California highway patrolman
August 1989
Box 3:42
Sutter story (in German)
undated
Box 3:43
Dogtown Territorial Quarterly – Special Sutter’s Fort Issue
Fall 1994
Box 3:44
John A. Sutter – images
undated
Box 3:45
Sutter’s Fort – images
undated
Box 3:46
Family, home, and locations of importance – images
undated
Box 3:49
Sutter’s Fort introductory program – German translation
1987
Box 3:50
Sutters gold (in German)
undated
Box 3:51
Davis Street name change
undated
Series 4. Audiovisual material
Physical Description: 8 videotapes + 1 photo album
Series Scope and Content Summary
Series includes 8 videotapes and one photograph album related to the "General Sutter" film project.
Arrangement
Items arranged by format
Box 4:1
Film “General Sutter” – English version – Beta version, Part 1
circa 1999
Box 4:2
Film “General Sutter” – English version – Beta version, Part 2
circa 1999
Box 4:3
Film “General Sutter” – Anniversary edition - video
circa 1999
Box 4:4
Film “General Sutter” – Docudrama of the man and his vision – video
circa 1999
Box 4:5
Film “General Sutter” – Anniversary edition – DVD
undated
Box 4:6
Film “General Sutter” – Anniversary edition – DVD
undated
Box 4:7
John Sutter ceremonies – Raw footage – video
circa 1999
Box 4:8
Photo album of places in Europe of significance to John Sutter
circa 1999
Series 5. Artifacts
Physical Description: 9 items
Series Scope and Content Summary
Items include proclamations, movie posters, and drawings related to the John Sutter film and statue projects.
36: L: 07
Commemorative Belt Buckle mounted on a wood plaques used as a fundraiser for the statue of General John Sutter now located
near Sutter’s Fort
undated
36: L: 07
Scale Statue of General John Sutter mounted on a wood plaque used as a fundraiser for the life size statue now located
near Sutter’s Fort
undated
Map Case 15:02
Movie Poster for the film “General Sutter” [3 copies]
undated
Map Case 15:02
Sutter Statue Project - Proclamation from the City of Burgdorf, Germany
1987
Map Case 15:02
Sutter Film Project - Poster in German depicting 50,000 francs issued for the film from Switzerland
undated
Map Case 15:02
Sutter Statue Project - Swiss Journal special issue
September 2, 1987
Map Case 15:02
Drawing of John Sutter by Jacques Mader
undated
Map Case 15:02
Sutter Statue Project - State Senate Resolution on Sutter Statue Dedication
undated
Map Case 15:02
Drawing of John Sutter with Sacramento Scenes and Swiss Flag
undated
Map Case 15:02
Sutter Statues Project - Image for John A. Sutter Memorial Fund
undated
Map Case 15:02
Sutter Statues Project: Swiss Journal
October 28, 1987
