Guide to the Woman’s City Club Records 1922-1973

Overview of the Collection

	Repository Name:		Museum of History & Industry Sophie Frye Bass Library 2700 24th Avenue East Seattle, WA 98112 Phone: 206-324-1126 URL: http://www.seattlehistory.org
	Collection Number:		1973.5572
	Creator:		Woman's City Club (Seattle, Wash.)
	Title:		Woman’s City Club Records
	Dates:		1922-1973 (inclusive)
	Quantity:		2 cubic feet 2 boxes
	Languages:		Collection materials are in English.
	Summary:		The Woman’s City Club Records comprise minutes, financial records, photographs, programs, reports, correspondence, a scrapbook and other documents relating to the Woman’s City Club of Seattle, Washington.
	Location of Collection:		13b.2.1

Historical Note

The Woman’s City Club of Seattle was organized in 1922 by former Seattle Mayor Bertha K. Landes. The club was originally known as “The Woman’s Civic League,” but the name changed to the Woman’s City Club in December 1923. The purpose of the club was to educate women about local, state, national and world politics, and in cooperation with other organizations, to work towards securing the welfare of the city and improving civic conditions. The club was non-partisan and did not endorse particular candidates for office, however during election years it did invite all candidates for public office to address the club. Club meetings were held every Tuesday and individual meetings would focus on particular aspects of government.

The club grew quickly in popularity. In December 1923, the club reported 640 women on its membership rolls. Not long after establishing the club, Bertha Landes resigned as president. In November 1923, Mrs. Frederic J. Beull was elected president in her place. The club worked very actively with other community organizations, at one point having delegate representatives in thirteen other organizations such as the Anti-Tuberculosis League, the Red Cross, King County Home and others. The club was dissolved in 1973.

Content Description

The Woman’s City Club Records is mostly made up of financial records and meeting minutes. Both the financial records and meeting minutes span the entire life of the club, from 1923 – 1973, but include some gaps in the chronology.

Other records for the collection include a small number of photographs and programs, as well as a collection of correspondence spanning from 1924-1942, some reports written by club members, a scrapbook containing newspaper clippings about the club ranging from 1941-1945, and other records relating to the club and its involvement in the community.

Arrangement

The Woman’s City Club Records is comprised of eight series, three of which have been further arranged into subseries. All series and subseries are arranged chronologically. The arrangement of the collection is as follows:

Series 1: Financial Records
- Subseries A: Financial Reports, 1923-1972
- Subseries B: Lists of Members and Record of Dues Paid, 1924-1972
Series 2: Minutes and Other Records of Meetings
- Subseries A: Meeting Minutes, 1922-1972
- Subseries B: Member register and Sign-in Sheets
Series 3: Correspondence, 1924-1942, undated
Series 4: Community Involvement and Involvement with other Organizations, 1927-1949
Series 5: Reports and Publications of the Woman’s City Club, 1923-1934
Series 6: Photographs of club members, 1932, circa 1958
Series 7: Programs
- Subseries A: Woman’s City Club Annual Luncheons, 1948-1955
- Subseries B: Regular Meetings, 1927, 1945
Series 8: Scrapbook, 1941-1945

Administrative Information

Acquisition Information

Source: Women’s City Club, January 4, 1973

Processing Note

Processed by Esther Benson 2008

Separated Materials

These materials are part of a donation by Woman’s City Club that also includes a number of artifacts such as flags, sound equipment, a gavel and other miscellaneous equipment. The artifacts are cataloged and stored separately by MOHAI’s Collections Department.

Use of the Collection

Restrictions on Access

The collection is open to the public by appointment.

Restrictions on Use

The Museum of History & Industry is the owner of the materials in the Sophie Frye Bass Library and makes available reproductions for research, publication, and other uses. Written permission must be obtained from MOHAI before any reproduction use. The museum does not necessarily hold copyright to all of the materials in the collections. In some cases, permission for use may require seeking additional authorization from the copyright owners.

Preferred Citation

Woman's City Club Records, Museum of History & Industry, Seattle

Subjects

This collection is indexed under the following headings in the online catalog. Researchers desiring materials about related topics, persons, or places should search the catalog using these headings.

Landes, Bertha Knight, 1868-1943

Seattle (Wash.)

Clubs--Washington (State)--Seattle

Women in community organization--Washington (State)--Seattle

Women--Societies and clubs

Detailed Description of the Collection

The following section contains a detailed listing of the materials in the collection.

Series 1: Financial Records, 1923-1972

17 bound volumes

Arranged chronologically

Container(s)

Description

Dates

box
1

Subseries A: Financial Reports

1923-1972

6 bound volumes

Financial Reports

1923 February – 1930 June

1 bound volume

Financial Reports

1930 June - 1932 August

1 bound volume

Financial Reports

1937 circa November –1939 circa July

1 bound volume

Financial Reports

1940 May - 1950 May

1 bound volume

Financial Reports

1950 May – 1963 May

1 bound volume

Financial Reports

1972 May – 1972 September

1 bound volume

Subseries B: Lists of Members and Record of Dues Paid

1924-1972

11 bound volumes