Altrusa International of Mansfield, Ohio records

Collection

Identifier: MS-1169

Staff Only

Collection Overview

Abstract

The records, dating from 1951 to 2010, include minutes, membership information and annual program books, financial reports, scrapbooks, and photographs. Also received with this material were scrapbooks from the Altrusa Club in Ashland, Ohio dating from 1947, which had been in the custody of Norma Hiner after that club was dissolved.

Dates

Creation: 1947-2010

Extent

6.30 Cubic Feet (14 letter size archive boxes, 9 oversize volumes)

Creator

Altrusa Club of Mansfield, Ohio (Organization)
Altrusa Club of Ashland, Ohio (Organization)

Scope and Contents

The Altrusa of Mansfield, Ohio collection is comprised largely of minutes, membership information and annual program books, financial reports, scrapbooks, and photographs.

The largest group of materials in this collection with an unbroken date run is the club newsletter, “Our Guided Missile” from 1958-2009. Along with annual scrapbooks dating from 1951-1990, and 1993-1995 that include clippings, programs and ephemera, and annual program books from 1991-2010, a good picture of the club activities and membership can be seen. Rounding this out is a run of Board, Business and Program meeting minutes from 1955-1960, 1991-2002, 2005-2008 that detail the officers, members, programs, business conducted, correspondence, committee and some financial reports. A history written in 1970 also provides an outline view of the Mansfield club.

Although incomplete in coverage with only minor correspondence and financial records primarily from information found in the minutes and treasurer’s reports, the collection gives a good overview of the activities and operation of this organization.

As an addition to the Mansfield records, there are also some scattered items from their sister club in Ashland, Ohio. Significant in this group of materials is a long run of the Ashland club scrapbooks. Ashland Club member Norma Hiner, who transferred to the Mansfield Club when Ashland closed, later became the President of Altrusa International between 1991 and 1993.

Biographical / Historical

Altrusa International is an international association of professional women and men who volunteer their energies and expertise in projects dedicated to community betterment. Altrusa is also a community service organization that espouses volunteerism, service and fights for literacy and against AIDS. It is comprised of over 400 clubs located throughout the United States and in ten countries around the world. First organized in 1917, as a women’s service organization, over the years it has supported vocational training for women and graduate research for women in developing countries in addition to its long standing commitment to literacy.

Altrusa International of Mansfield, Ohio, was officially organized on April 6, 1951, receiving its charter October 12. The club quickly began its program of service to the community with such projects as printing a directory of health and welfare services, support for a Senior Citizens Center, and sponsoring a Speech Contest for High School Students, as well as participation in International Altrusa initiatives such as those related to literacy.

Altrusa of Mansfield is still an active Club within Altrusa International, District Five.

Also included with this material are some scrapbooks detailing the activities of Altrusa of Ashland, Ohio from its establishment in 1948 through 1992. When the club was disbanded custody of these volumes was retained by member Norma Hiner who transferred to become a member of the Mansfield club. Hiner also served during 1991-1993 as President of Altrusa International.

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, 1955-2010
Correspondence, 1951-2008
Subject files, 1991-2001
Literary productions, 1970-2010, undated
Financial documents, 2004-2009
Scrapbooks and scrapbook material, 1951-1995
Printed material, 1958-2010
Photographic material, 1992-2010
Altrusa International of Ashland, Ohio addition, 1947-1993, undated

Separated Materials

Two scrapbooks from 1954-1955 and 1959-1960 were discarded due to mold damage.

Immediate Source of Acquisition

The records of the Altrusa International Club of Mansfield, Ohio were donated and transferred to the Center for Archival Collections on November 9, 2011, with the assistance of Norma Hiner and Linda Atwell.