Walla Walla Woman's Reading Club Records
Scope and Contents
The first box contains annual programs which document the dates and locations of meetings, the reading list for the year, and the membership of the club. The richest sources of information are the secretaries’ books, which contain minutes of the club’s meetings. The minutes record information about the day’s program, motions made, committees appointed, planning for special events, and amendments to the club constitution and bylaws. There are also scrapbooks, which contain the annual programs, newspaper clippings, photographs, and ephemera. The scrapbook presented to the club in 1922 by Mrs. Howard S. Brode contains several histories of the club written by members.
The collection also contains meeting programs and resolutions issued by the Washington State Federation of Women’s Clubs (WSFWC) and the General Federation of Women's Clubs. The Walla Walla Woman's Reading Club was active in the WSFWC, and the two programs document WSFWC conventions held in Walla Walla. The General Federation of Women's Clubs presented the resolutions at its Seattle convention in 1932.
Dates
- 1894-2013
Creator
- Walla Walla Woman's Reading Club (Organization)
Conditions Governing Access
Collection is open for research.
Historical Note
The Walla Walla Woman’s Reading Club was founded in 1894 as a reading group devoted to “a critical study of such writings as may be deemed best to promote the literary culture of its members.” The club’s officers typically consist of a president, vice-president, recording secretary, corresponding secretary, and treasurer. Membership is limited to 30 women; new members are nominated and voted upon by the club. In 1896, the club became a charter member of the Washington Federation of Women’s Clubs.
At weekly or bimonthly meetings, the Woman’s Reading Club discusses literature and presents papers written by the members. Primarily a study club, the group has occasionally become involved in philanthropic endeavors and civic improvements in the town of Walla Walla, most notably participating in the effort to establish a public library from approximately 1896 to 1905.
Extent
4.5 Linear Feet (4 manuscript boxes, 4 flat boxes)
Language of Materials
English
Abstract
This collection contains minutes, schedules, programs, and scrapbooks from the Walla Walla Woman’s Reading Club between 1894 to 2013.
Immediate Source of Acquisition
Donated to the Whitman College and Northwest Archives by in 1970, 1985, 1994 and 2015 by members of the organization. The accession number is retro-0001.
Separated Materials
A signed 1904 edition of Carrie Rice Shaw's "Where the Rhododendrons Grow" was placed in the Whitman College and Northwest Archives Special Collections. Annual reports and bulletins of the Washington State Federation of Women's Clubs were also placed in Special Collections.
Creator
- Walla Walla Woman's Reading Club (Organization)
- Title
- Guide to the Walla Walla Woman's Reading Club records
- Author
- Colleen McFarland and Emiko Hastings
- Date
- 2006
- Description rules
- Describing Archives: A Content Standard
- Language of description
- English
- Script of description
- Latin
- Language of description note
- Finding aid written in English.
- Sponsor
- Funding for encoding this finding aid was provided through a grant awarded by the National Endowment for the Humanities.
Repository Details
Part of the Whitman College and Northwest Archives Repository