The Sandusky Mothers Federation records

Collection – Multiple Containers

Identifier: MS-0226

Staff Only

Collection Overview

Abstract

The records of the Sandusky Mothers Federation, a women's organization dedicated to serving the community, consists of several scrapbooks, one book of club minutes, and a handbook containing the club's by-laws, constitution, and history.

Dates

Creation: 1945-1964

Extent

1.07 Cubic Feet (1 record carton)

1 Volumes (1 oversized scrapbook)

Creator

Sandusky Mothers Federation (Sandusky, Ohio) (Organization)

Scope and Contents

The Sandusky Mothers Federation collection consists of several scrapbooks and one book of meeting minutes. The scrapbooks mostly contain newspaper clippings and yearly programs, with a few photographs here and there. They are usually divided up by the different chapters within the Federation including the Children's Chapter, Modern Mothers, Better Mothers, Child Guidance Club, Future Citizens, Young Mothers, Progressive Mothers, Mothers Forum, etc. Then within each of these groups there are newspaper clippings and programs which deal with that particular group's activities. The scrapbooks do an excellent job of documenting the Federation's activities and the programs for the community and will give the researcher insight into the club's objectives and history.

Also included is a handbook which contains the Federation's consitution and by-laws, as well as a history of the organization from its founding, to 1962. It gives specific information on members, activities that the Federation was involved in and its evolution.

The minutes as well serve as a documentation of the organization's activities and community participation. However, they only span a brief time (1960-1965), and may be difficult to read as they are handwritten. The minutes give general information on meeting proceedings and some financial information, as well as information on projects that are being completed.

Overall, this collection gives insight into the activities of a women's organization dedicated to serving the community and the future of children. It documents their fundraising activities and their importance to the public as well as the roles women undertook to serve the community during this period in history.

Biographical / Historical

The Sandusky Mothers Federation was organized in the spring of 1945. Their purpose, as stated in their handbook, was to "...aim their effort along the lines of moral purity, health, and welfare by means of education and advisory work designed to guide and stimulate parents in the acquirement of knowledge and broader culture relating to youth." They accomplished this through various study groups which participated in bond sale drives, cancer, polio, heart, and mental health fund raising campaigns, Red Cross and bloodmobile work, and attendance at local school board meetings.

They also sponsored musical concerts, card parties, rummage and bake sales, movies, fashion shows, and speakers, from which proceeds were turned over to a worthy cause. The two largest undertakings of the organization included their annual Cerebral Palsy Children's Christmas Party and their Easter Seal Campaign. More information about the organization's history can be obtained in "The History and Handbook of Sandusky Mothers Federation, 1945-1962," and through study of the scrapbooks, both found in this collection.

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.