Palos Verdes Woman's Club Collection, 1934-2013

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Summary

Title:
Records of the Palos Verdes Woman's Club
Dates:
1934-2013
Abstract:
The collection includes administrative records, scrapbooks and photographs of the Palos Verdes Woman's Club and documents the philanthropic and social activities of the Club.
Extent:
9.6 Linear Feet 3 letter document boxes and 10 flat storage boxes
Language:
English
Preferred citation:

[Name of item], Records of the Palos Verdes Woman's Club (Collection 031). Local History Center, Peninsula Center Library, Palos Verdes Library District, Rolling Hills Estates, CA.

Background

Scope and content:

Includes board meeting minutes, bulletins, by-laws and revisions, clippings, correspondence, event promotional materials, member yearbooks, photographs, negatives, press releases, scrapbooks, and treasurer's reports.

Biographical / historical:

The Palos Verdes Woman's Club was the first local woman's club on the Palos Verdes Peninsula. Established in 1926 when the Peninsula was first being developed, the goal of the all volunteer organization was "to bring women together interested in the community welfare of Palos Verdes Estates and to promote this welfare by such means as may from time to time seem expedient." Mrs. Cora Belle Cheney was the Club's first president.

In its early establishment, the Palos Verdes Woman's Club sponsored community activities including concert recitals, holiday festivals, library projects, Sunday school programs, Easter services, and other family affairs. Its activities ranged from cultural and philanthropic events to church and civic affairs. During the Depression, the Club extended its charity to the families of unemployed parents of children in Harbor City by providing the families with meat and bread. The Club continued this work until 1933.

The Club continued to grow as the Palos Verdes Peninsula expanded. By the early 1940's, the Club's membership had grown to 120. The Club has evolved over time in response to the needs of the community. It has added new divisions, including the Garden Section, the Education Section, the Tea Cup Section, the Red Cross Chapter, the Philanthropy Section, and the Bridge Section.

During World War II, the organization was involved in efforts on behalf of soldiers stationed in Palos Verdes. It organized a blood donation drive, raised funds for the soldiers, and hosted various events for their benefit. After the war, the Red Cross Chapter continued assisting the soldiers with blood bank deliveries, veteran's outings, and home service work.

In 1956, the Club formally incorporated as the Palos Verdes Woman's Club, Inc.

In 1959, the Club sponsored the establishment of the Palos Verdes Jr. Woman's Club for young women who wished to participate in philanthropic and educational activities.

Since 1960, the major fundraising activities of the Palos Verdes Woman's Club have included the Annual Garden Tour and the Books and Authors Luncheon, the proceeds of which support various philanthropic causes.

Since its inception, the Palos Verdes Woman's Club has played a vital role as a community builder, accepting new responsibilities as the needs of the community change and changing its plans and direction in response.

Acquisition information:
Donated to the Palos Verdes Library District by the Palos Verdes Woman's Club.
Processing information:

Initial rehousing and stabilization of materials by Jungeun Hong. Final arrangement and description by Jungeun Hong and Monique Sugimoto, December 28, 2017, with assistance by Michaela Lee.

Arrangement:

Arranged into two series: administrative records and scrapbooks. Administrative records arranged alphabetically by folder title; thereunder chronologically, with undated materials filed after dated materials. Scrapbooks arranged chronologically.

Physical location:
Local History Center
Rules or conventions:
Describing Archives: A Content Standard

About this collection guide

Collection Guide Author:
Jungeun Hong and Monique Sugimoto
Date Encoded:
This finding aid was produced using ArchivesSpace on 2017-12-28 15:36:06 -0800 .

Access and use

Restrictions:

Open for research. Advance notice required for access. Contact the Local History Center for access information.

Terms of access:

The collection is open for research use. Early scrapbooks in this collection are fragile and deteriorating. Researchers must use reference copies.

Preferred citation:

[Name of item], Records of the Palos Verdes Woman's Club (Collection 031). Local History Center, Peninsula Center Library, Palos Verdes Library District, Rolling Hills Estates, CA.

Location of this collection:
701 Silver Spur Road
Rolling Hills Estates, CA 90274, US
Contact:
(310) 377-9584
Website