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Reseda Woman's Club Collection
URB.RWC  
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Table of contents What's This?
  • 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:

    Digital reproductions of selected items in this collection are available electronically as a part of the San Fernando Valley History Digital Library  .

    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