Port Clinton Junior Women's Club records

Collection

Identifier: MS-1082

Staff Only

Collection Overview

Abstract

The records of the club consist of meeting minutes, treasurer's books, programs/presentations, subject files, scrapbooks, published materials, reports, and awards.

Dates

Creation: 1947-2000

Extent

4.5 Cubic Feet (10 letter boxes, 3 oversize flat boxes, 1 oversize wrapped volume)

Creator

Port Clinton Junior Women's Club (Port Clinton, Ohio) (Organization)

Scope and Contents

The records for the Port Clinton Junior Women's Club contain well managed and extensive records from 1948 up until 1996 with some records recorded up until the year 2000. There are minutes which document both the board of directors meetings from (1954-1995) and general meetings from (1948-1995) which included meetings of anyone else from the club outside of the board of directors. These minutes include financial records and also include membership details. Financial documents are found in the treasurer's books (1964-1988), which contain documents on money spent by the club as well as money coming in. The ways and means reports (1951-1989), also contain financial documents mostly detail the events the club participated in and money that was associated with those events.

Reports were another way they club reported their activities. Reports to the OFWC (Ohio Federation of Women's Clubs)/GFWC (General Federation of Women's Clubs) (1975-1996), documented specific activities to the heads of these to organizations whom looked over in some way of the Port Clinton chapter. There were also the Presidents' Reports (1980-1985), which were more extensive data that accounted of the year before by the president.

The yearbooks kept by the club were also one of the largest parts of the collection with a book for every year from 1947-2000. These yearbooks contain member records, pictures, newspaper clippings, photos, and yearly history. Other books which included history on the club were the GFWC Guidebook 1986, GFWC Manual, and the GFWC Resolutions 1970. These books give an outline of the group to members including, rules, guidelines, and what the club is there for and what is does for the community.

The program books/presentations (1959-60, 1965-80), also give a look at the clubs past events and what they accomplished through them.

One of the most documented files outside of the minutes is those of the craft festivals. In these documents they record how much money was raised/spent on the events as well as miscellaneous financial records on the events including member tallies and member attendance.

Lastly are the scrapbooks (1951-52, 1987-89, 1996-98) which contain newspaper clippings, pictures, photos, and various other things which represented the club in the appropriate years.

Biographical / Historical

The General Federation of Women's Clubs (GFWC) got its start in 1868 by Jennie June Croly in New York City. By 1889 it had turned into one of the larger women's clubs in the United States and decided to arrange a meeting with other women's clubs around the nation. By the spring of 1890 a federation was formed and this was the official beginning of the General Federation of Women's Clubs. Throughout its years the GFWC has been instrumental in bringing about many influential laws and resolutions that have not only helped women but also various others. Today the headquarters for the General Federation of Women's Clubs is in Washington D.C.

The basic aspects of the GFWC: (1) To unite women over the age of forty to come together and help themselves and their community, (2) established motto of "Unity in Diversity" in 1890, (3) Ohio established motto of "Influence is responsibility," (4) OFWC Flower - Jonquil, (5) OFWC Colors - Maize and Blue, (6) OFWC Motto - Influence is responsibility.

In 1894 Ohio became the 7th state federation established and established The Ohio Federation of Women's Clubs (OFWC). The Ohio Federation of Women's Clubs (OFWC) as well have contributed in contributing toward society greatly as well, for example helping to establish normal schools By 1922 Ohio expanded into its first Junior Clubs which essentially let women between the ages of 30-40 join as well.. The junior club is essentially a group of young women with various backgrounds who have joined together for fellowship and who help build, serve, improve and enjoy the community in which they live. There are also the juniorettes who are young women between the ages of 12-18 who stand for idea of helping community and establishing good values early on, and this portion of the club was established around thirty years ago. Additionally records on hand for the Port Clinton Junior Women's Club start in 1948 though it seems that meetings had started earlier than this date. Furthermore the final ratification of the first Port Clinton Junior Women's Club constitution was established early in 1949.

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

Arrangement

The collection is arranged into the following series:

Proceedings, September 1948-May 1995
Subject files/case files, 1981-1986, 1988-1998
Reports, 1980-81, 1984-1987, 1990-1996
Financial documents, 1951-1989
Printed material, 1947-2000, undated

Separated Materials

The collection included a copy of the volume The History of the GFWC/Ohio Federation of Women's Clubs, 1974-1994 (Springfield, Ohio?: The Federation, 1994), which was removed to the CAC's general reference collection. View item catalog record.

Immediate Source of Acquisition

The records of the Port Clinton Junior Women's Club (PCJWC) (1947-2000) were donated to the Center for Archival Collections, Bowling Green State University in November of 2007 by Michelle Coon.