Navy Mothers, Toledo Club #180 (Toledo, Ohio) records

Collection

Identifier: MS-0732

Staff Only

Collection Overview

Abstract

The Navy Mothers, Toledo Club #180 collection documents the activities of this organization from its inception in 1941 through the late-1990s. The collection includes minutes, membership records, correspondence, printed materials, scrapbooks, photographs and artifacts largely documenting the Toledo Club, but also providing insight into the state and national organizations.

Dates

Creation: 1942 - 1999

Extent

8.74 Cubic Feet (13 boxes)

Creator

Navy Mothers Clubs of America. Toledo Club No. 180 (Organization)

Scope and Contents

This collection contains a wide variety of items, but is primarily composed of scrapbooks and photographs reflecting the activities of the Navy Mothers' Clubs of America, Toledo Club #180, its members and their families, and its Drill Team, from 1941 through the late 1990s. These scrapbooks overlap in chronology and although they provide good insight into the local club, the researcher should be aware that many of the photographs are unidentified. Also included are scattered minutes, membership records, correspondence, financial records and news clippings. There are materials relating to the club's official bylaws and procedures, and state conventions and rallies, and artifacts including a complete Drill Team uniform.

Although it primarily focuses on the local club, the collection does contain material documenting the origins, business and activities of the national organization, state chapters and the Northwest Ohio Past Commanders Club. This material is also scattered and consists of correspondence, minutes, reports and rosters of officers. Of particular interest is an incomplete run of the national organization's newsletter, "Navy Mothers' News," roughly covering the years 1951-1968 and 1986-1997.

Biographical / Historical

The Navy Mother's Clubs of America was founded by Mrs. Emma Jones in 1930 in Harlington, Texas. The Toledo Chapter, Club #180, was organized in 1941, chartered in 1942, and began holding meetings at the Toledo Naval Armory. Originally, a woman was required to have a son in the Navy or Coast Guard in order to qualify for membership. Over the years, however, membership was opened to women who had sons or daughters in any branch of the service.

The official purpose of the club, as stated in the 1950 "Uniform Code of Local Club bylaws & Ritual," was:

"To promote a program of educational, welfare and social interest between the parents of Navy men and women and to extend benevolent relief to needy members, those dependent upon or related thereto, or to such other persons as to the Club may seem desirable." [And] "To encourage contentment, efficiency, patriotism and pride among the men and women serving in the United States Navy."

In practice, the club pursued such activities as recruiting WAVES (Women's Reserve of the Navy Reserve) and SPARS (Women's Reserve of the Coast Guard), participating in Memorial Day, Navy Day, and other patriotic observances, and supporting a Drill Team that performed at various ceremonies, events and conventions. The Mothers assembled care packages of personal items such as shaving supplies and shoeshine kits, sent birthday cards and scrapbooks to the sons of club members, mended clothing and entertained servicemen with picnics and dances. They also made layettes and held baby showers for sailors' wives. In later years, the Mothers' charitable activities included knitting blankets for the Veterans' Hospitals, collecting second-hand clothing for the Toledo Mental Health Center, and used eye glasses for the Sight Center, and making Christmas baskets for needy families.

In 1952 the Toledo Club hosted the National Convention, which was held at the Commodore Perry Hotel in downtown Toledo. In 1955, the various local clubs around the state met in Toledo and organized the state chapter, officially named the Ohio State Club #3. Mrs. Helen Stong, a member of the Toledo Club since the early 1940s, was instrumental in organizing the state chapter and was elected as State Commander. Mrs. Stong remained active in the club for many years and her work is well represented in this collection.

The Toledo Club remained active to some degree until around 1994. A majority of the work carried out in the later years was due to the efforts of Mrs. Lucille Keeton of Rossford, who served as Chaplain of the club. For further information on the history of the national organization, see The Origin, Formation and History of the Navy Mothers' Clubs of America, 1930-1943, written and published by the Navy Mothers' Club of America in 1943.

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.