Women's Christian Temperance Union Records, 1866-1960

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Summary

Title:
Women's Christian Temperance Union Records
Dates:
1866-1960
Creators:
Women's Christian Temperance Union.
Abstract:
These records of the Women’s Christian Temperance Union (WCTU) consist of documents including membership books, roll calls and reports of meetings and activities.
Extent:
0.25 Linear feet (1 box)
Language:
Preferred citation:

Women's Christian Temperance Union Records, MS 221, San Diego History Center Document Collection, San Diego, CA.

Background

Scope and content:

This collection of the Women’s Christian Temperance Union (WCTU) includes official records such as the original 1890 Certificate of Incorporation, 1942 amendment to the Articles, membership books, roll calls, meeting minutes and various reports. Reports include President and Secretary annual reports, financial reports by the Treasurer, as well as reports on activities from national and regional levels of the organization. There is also correspondence to and from the First Women’s Christian Temperance Union of San Diego, event announcements and pamphlets encompassing annual conventions, and announcements of meetings and programs. A book entitled “New Temperance Reciter, New Band of Hope Reciter, and Temperance Melodies and Hymns,” circa 1866, provides historical information on the Temperance Movement as well as collection of recitations and hymns.

Biographical / historical:

The National Woman's Christian Temperance Union (WCTU) was founded in Cleveland, Ohio in 1874. The WCTU rallied support for temperance and was active in many other social issues including woman's suffrage, women's economic and religious rights, as well as prison, education and labor reforms.

A report included, “Report of the First WCTU of San Diego since 1889,” recounts the early history of the First WCTU of San Diego, stating it was initiated by Frances Willard in 1883. Frances Willard was the second National WCTU President (1879-1898), organized the Prohibition Party in 1882 and during the same year was elected president of the National Council of Women. She was also the first dean of women and professor of aesthetics at Northwestern University. The First WCTU of San Diego received a certificate of incorporation in 1890. No account of its first six years of activity can be found and it is speculated that that the Union may have disbanded for a period of time. Initially, the group met weekly on Mondays, though this changed to primarily monthly or bi-monthly meetings by 1904. Women were required to wear a bow of white ribbon as a badge at all times. At one time woman were fined five cents if they did not wear the ribbon which “brought quite an increase to the treasury.” The trysting hour at noon was observed and was a time when “every heart lifted to God in prayer for a blessing of [their] work.”

The First WCTU of San Diego was active in the community and made visits to inmates within the prison system; at one time they created at library at a penitentiary. They also delivered temperance literature to school libraries, providing information on the movement to students and teachers. The “Report of the First WCTU of San Diego since 1889” also reports that the first presidents included Mrs. Johnson, Mrs. Hinkle, Mrs. House, Mrs. Waugh, Mrs. Todd, Dr. Park, Dr. Strausser and Dr. Crandall. Initially meetings were principally held at the Methodist and Congregational churches.

Acquisition information:
Accession number 950727A.
Processing information:

Collection processed by Jody Valente on October 4, 2011.

Collection processed as part of grant project supported by the Council on Library and Information Resources (CLIR) with generous funding from The Andrew Mellon Foundation.

Arrangement:

The collection is arranged by subject.

Physical / technical requirements:

Some notebooks contain loose pages and one has mold on the front and back covers. Several documents are frayed and deteriorating at the edges. Binding of the “New Temperance Reciter…” book is loose and a few pages are detached. (October 4, 2011)

Rules or conventions:
Describing Archives: A Content Standard

About this collection guide

Collection Guide Author:
Finding aid prepared by Jody Valente
Sponsor:
Collection processed as part of grant project supported by the Council on Library and Information Resources (CLIR) with generous funding from The Andrew Mellon Foundation.
Date Prepared:
October 4, 2011
Date Encoded:
This finding aid was produced using the Archivists' Toolkit 2013-01-09T11:08-0800

Access and use

Restrictions:

This collection is open for research.

Terms of access:

The San Diego History Center (SDHC) holds the copyright to any unpublished materials. SDHC Library regulations do apply.

Preferred citation:

Women's Christian Temperance Union Records, MS 221, San Diego History Center Document Collection, San Diego, CA.

Location of this collection:
1649 El Prado, Suite 3
San Diego, CA 92101, US
Contact:
(619) 232-6203
Website