Bowling Green Soroptimist Club records

Collection – Multiple Containers

Identifier: MS-0191

Staff Only

Collection Overview

Abstract

The manuscript collection of the Bowling Green Soroptimist Club, Wood County, Ohio, covers the years from 1944 to 1980. Minutes, correspondence, subject files, newsletters, newspaper clippings (dated and undated), and scrapbooks provide illumination into the organization's relationship with the Bowling Green community and other Soroptimist chapters.

Dates

Creation: 1944-1980

Extent

2.76 Cubic Feet (6 legal archive boxes)

2 Volumes

Creator

Soroptimist International of the Americas. Bowling Green (Ohio) Chapter (Organization)

Scope and Contents

The manuscript collection of the Bowling Green Soroptimist Club spans the years 1944 to 1980. The minutes are the most important and detailed account of the organization's history. They offer insight into the Soroptimist Club's activities--mostly on a monthly basis--and are the most complete set of records in the collection.

Appendages to the minutes include correspondence, subject files, newspaper clippings, scrapbooks, treasurer's reports, and ledgers. Some of this material, which is undated, appears to be of limited value. Most of these items, however, offer insight into the Club's activities at the local and national level and are important sources in understanding the Bowling Green Soroptimist Club.

The large section of printed material in the collection deals mainly with the Soroptimist organization at the national level. This material, mostly from the 1970s, includes Soroptimist publications of conference minutes, programs, information related to Soroptimist Conferences, and various miscellaneous material. These items offer some illumination into Soroptimism, but deal little with the Bowling Green Club.

Biographical / Historical

The Bowling Green Soroptimist Club was chartered in 1944, and disbanded in 1980. Like the Lions, Rotary, and numerous men's service clubs, Soroptimist Clubs provide the same opportunities to women for public service. The goal of any Soroptimist Chapter is to "assist in developing the highest concept of patriotism and love of country; to promote the spirit of service; to foster high ethical standards in business and professions; to develop interest in community, national and international affairs." During its existence the Bowling Green Club served as a good model to its parent Soroptimist International Association.

Between 1944 and 1980, the Bowling Green Soroptimist Club was involved in a number of community activities. In 1949, the Club established the Kate Offerman Scholarship Fund (named in honor of a charter member) which offered financial assistance to girls attending college. During the 1950s, the Bowling Green Soroptimist Club raised money for a Polio Fund, aided the local Girl Scouts and twice sponsored a horse show to generate money for crippled children. Twenty years later, the Bowling Green organization was planning fund-raisers and making donations to the Crusade of Mercy, the Heart Fund, the March of Dimes, Wheeled Meals, and Dollars for Scholars.

Toward the end of the 1970s, membership declined in the Bowling Green Soropitimist Club. As a result, with active membership below the number required to hold the Charter, the Soroptimist Club agreed to relinquish its Charter. The few remaining members of the Bowling Green organization applied for membership in thee nearby Toledo and Napoleon, Ohio Soroptimist Clubs.

Conditions Governing Access

No known access restrictions.

Conditions Governing Use

Researchers using this collection assume full responsibility for conforming to the laws of libel, privacy, and copyright, and are responsible for securing permissions necessary for publication or reproduction.

Language of Materials

English

Additional Description

Immediate Source of Acquisition

The records of this collection were donated and transferred to the Center for Archival Collections after the organization's disbandment in the summer of 1982.