Historical Note:
Scope and Contents
Arrangement of Materials:
Electronic Format:
Conditions Governing Access:
Conditions Governing Use:
Immediate Source of Acquisition
Accruals:
Preferred Citation:
Processing Information:
Contributing Institution:
Special Collections & Archives
Title: Reseda Woman's Club Collection
Creator:
Reseda Woman's Club (Reseda, Los Angeles, Calif.)
Identifier/Call Number: URB.RWC
Extent:
13.86 linear feet
Date (inclusive): 1918-1997
Abstract: The
Reseda
Woman's Club Collection
documents the Club's founding in 1918 as the Mother's Club
of Marian, through its twentieth century evolution into a member club of the California
Federation of Women's Clubs, Sierra-Cahuenga District. Materials provide insight into social
networks in the San Fernando Valley and women's role in local charity organizations, social
service, and fundraising.
Language of Material: English
Historical Note:
The Reseda Woman's Club began in 1918 when a group of nineteen women gathered at Marian
Elementary School to organize the Mother's Club of Marian. Martha McClure, principle of the
school and club initiator, was elected the first president. In 1922, the club changed its
name to the Reseda Woman's Club after the town of Marian was renamed Reseda. The club
incorporated into the California Federation of Women's Clubs (CFWC) in January 1923,
becoming one of thirty-three members of the CFWC Sierra-Cahuenga District. The Reseda Junior
Woman's Club branch was founded in 1950 to bring together young women from the ages of 18 to
35 residing in Reseda. The junior club branch dissolved in 1970.
The Club's motto, "service," reflects its philanthropic mission to help a variety of
charities. The Club raised funds to help the elderly, the handicapped, children, veterans,
and students through sponsoring a host of community projects. Sponsored organizations
included the Fatherless Children of France, American Legion, American Red Cross Los Angeles
Chapter, and San Fernando Valley State College (now California State University,
Northridge). In addition to fundraising for charities, the Club also participated in local
events, including the Los Angeles County Fair, the annual Flower Show of the San Fernando
Valley Horticultural Society, the Armistice Day Parade, and the crusade to drive gambling
rings out of Reseda.
Scope and Contents
The
Reseda Woman's Club Collection documents the Club's
founding, administrative decisions, committee work, and philanthropy, as well as the
administration of the Reseda Junior Woman's Club. History and press clipping scrapbooks
assembled by members documents Club history and activities, while award certificates
highlight achievements. The collection is divided into three major series:
Administrative Records (1924-1997),
Financial
Secretary Records
(1954-1980), and
Club History Records
(1918-1995).
Series I,
Administrative Records, contains the Club's yearbooks
and bound minute books. These records include information on the constitution, by-laws,
board of directors and general membership meetings, club events calendar, and committee
assignments. This series also includes copies of publications from the California Federation
of Women's Clubs and the General Federation of Women's Clubs. Materials are arranged
alphabetically by subject, and then chronologically within boxes.
Series II,
Financial Secretary Records, contains ledger sheets
documenting deposits, revolving funds, membership dues and expenses related to rentals,
luncheons, community services, and donations. Ledger sheets are arranged in chronological
order.
Series III,
Club History Records, contains club historian
notebooks and member scrapbooks that include minutes, newspaper clippings, correspondence,
photographs, year-end reports, ephemera, and newsletters. Documented events include
installation of club officers, business luncheons and picnics, fund-raising bazaars, fashion
shows, flower shows, district club conventions, interclub reciprocity programs, and the
annual husband's night dinner. These are arranged chronologically within boxes.
Arrangement of Materials:
Series I: Administrative Records, 1924-1997
Series II: Financial Secretary Records, 1954-1980
Series III: Club History Records, 1918-1995
Electronic Format:
Conditions Governing Access:
The collection is open for research use.
Conditions Governing Use:
Copyright for unpublished materials authored or otherwise produced by the creator(s) of
this collection has not been transferred to California State University, Northridge.
Copyright status for other materials is unknown. 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.
Immediate Source of Acquisition
Reseda Woman's Club, 11/06/1986
Accruals:
2002
Preferred Citation:
For information about citing items in this collection consult the appropriate style
manual, or see the
Citing Archival
Materials
guide.
Processing Information:
Robert G. Marshall and Xinoquan Han, 1988
Subjects and Indexing Terms
Documents
Scrapbooks