Sorosis Club (Defiance, Ohio) records

Collection

Identifier: MS-0236

Staff Only

Collection Overview

Abstract

The records of this organization consist of secretary books which contain minutes, membership and financial records, and annual reports, and handwritten tributes to members who have died.

Dates

Creation: 1894-1977

Extent

1 Reels (1 reel of 35mm microfilm)

Creator

Sorosis Club (Defiance, Ohio) (Organization)

Scope and Contents

The minute books of the Sorosis Club, Defiance, Ohio, provide details on the subjects studied by the members and illustrate the club's emphasis on authors and literary work. Constitutions and bylaws with amendments are incorporated within the minutes as well as end of the year annual reports. Financial and membership records also are located in the minute books.

Handwritten tributes to members who have died are either recorded separately or reproduced in the minute books. Of interest are written notes in the margins of the minute books which were made by current members collecting information for an anniversary celebration.

These records provide a detailed look at local women organizing to further their education and to actively become involved in community affairs. The collection complements and expands the numerous holdings of local and regional women's clubs records held at the CAC and obtained through the Women's Studies Archives Project.

Biographical / Historical

Mrs. Henry Seither of Defiance, Ohio, invited "eighteen ladies" to her home on October 24, 1894, to discuss the formation of a literary club. As stated in the approved Constitution, "The object of this club shall be mental culture." Thus, the Sorosis Club of Defiance began and continues to meet alternate Mondays in the homes of its twenty-five members. Initially, the subjects of each yearly program were to be varied with "attention given to modern and living authors." The scope of study expanded but each meeting included a review of a book pertinent to the topic at hand.

In 1910, the Club took the initiative in forming a city Federation of Women's Clubs, "the object being civic improvement." In recent years, Sorosis has made an annual contribution to the Red Cross and the United Fund. The club's focus does continue to remain on "mental culture."

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 the Sorosis Club of Defiance, Ohio, were loaned to the Center for Archival Collections for microfilming in April 1982 with. The collection was transferred by Jill Gates Smith, Women's Studies Archives Project Agent, Center for Archival Collections, with the cooperation of Mrs. Rita Meier, Defiance, Ohio.