Collection context
Summary
- Title:
- Chico Women's Club Records
- Dates:
- 1933-2011
- Abstract:
- The records of the Chico Women’s Club contains documents relating to the clubs administrative activities, projects, and club history.
- Extent:
- 9.67 Linear feet 23 boxes
- Language:
- and English
- Preferred citation:
-
Chico Women’s Club, MSS 324, Special Collections, Meriam Library, California State University, Chico.
Background
- Scope and content:
-
The Chico Women’s Club (also known as Chico Womens Club) records contain records dating from the 1930’s through the 2000’s. Earlier records are scarce and the bulk of the records date from the 1950’s through the 1990’s. Administrative records, including club minutes and yearly reports make up a large portion of the collection. There are also a fair number of press books and scrapbooks most of which contain newspaper clippings, photos, and yearbooks.
The Chico Women’s Club Records contains many documents on committees and community projects including: Annie’s Glenn, Caper Acres, Bidwell Mansion Restoration, Bidwell Papers, California Heritage, Indian Affairs, Citizenship, Veterans, Safety, Crime Prevention, HOBY (Hugh O’Brian Youth Foundation), Legislation-Special Program, Arts Department, Health, Today’s Living, Make a Wish, Status of Women, and International Affairs.
Interspersed within the Chico Women’s Club records are items related to the GFWC and CFWC as the club often participated in committees and projects organized by these two larger groups. The Chico Junior Women’s Club records form a separate series as they had their own meetings and projects.
- Biographical / historical:
-
Founded in 1913, the Chico Art Club for women was a social and service oriented club focused on women and the arts. Mrs. Margaret March founded the club and early members included prominent Chico citizens such as Annie Bidwell. In 1933 the club building was finished. It is used as a community gathering place and is rented out for various public and private events. Many of the clubs early records were lost in a fire in 1950 when a 10 year old boy broke into the clubhouse and set fire to club property. The building suffered $6000 worth of damage and members had to meet in other locations while the building was refurbished. In 1961, the Chico Art Club officially changed its name to the Chico Women’s Club to more clearly define the club’s purpose. Though once a part of the General Federation of Women’s Clubs (GFWC) and the California Federation of Women’s Clubs (CFWC), Chico Women’s Club is now independent from any larger groups. During the 1990’s the club saw dwindling membership and almost disbanded, it was during this time that membership in the larger Women’s Club organizations ceased. Though the club still focuses on women in the arts they also contribute to many community and global improvement projects. Over the years the Chico Women’s Club has hand a major hand in the development of Annie’s Glenn, Caper Acres and preservation efforts at the Bidwell Mansion. The club also made use copies of the Bidwell Papers, available at Special Collections CUS, Chico. More recently club members have been involved in projects such as a TimeBank and Micro-financing.
- Acquisition information:
- Gift of the Chico Women’s Club. Yearbooks 1933-1934, 1940-1941, 1955-1961 pulled from vertical file, Accession 2010-042
- Arrangement:
-
Arranged chronological/series order.
- Rules or conventions:
- Describing Archives: A Content Standard
Indexed terms
About this collection guide
- Date Prepared:
- 7/27/2011
- Date Encoded:
- This finding aid was produced using the Archivists' Toolkit 2012-09-18T12:48-0700
Access and use
- Restrictions:
-
Collection is open for research without restriction.
- Terms of access:
-
Collection is open for research. Two scrapbooks are restricted due to fragility. They are open to research with staff supervision. These two scrapbooks are as follows: Box 13: Chico Art Club 1948-1949 Box 13: Chico Art Club 1949-1955
- Preferred citation:
-
Chico Women’s Club, MSS 324, Special Collections, Meriam Library, California State University, Chico.
- Location of this collection:
-
California State University, Chico, Special Collections Meriam Library400 West First StreetChico, CA 95929-0295, US
- Contact:
- (530) 898-6603