Women's City Club Records

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1 Finding aid prepared by Sarah Krebs This finding aid was produced using the Archivists' Toolkit June 21, 2016 Grand Rapids Public Library, Grand Rapids History and Special Collections Department 111 Library Street NE Grand Rapids, Michigan,

2 Table of Contents Summary Information... 3 Biographical/Historical note... 4 Scope and Contents note... 4 Controlled Access Headings...5 Collection Inventory... 6 Daily Journals... 6 Scrapbooks... 8 Newsletters, Minutes and Reports...9 Miscellaneous: Photographs, Histories and Reports Page 2 -

3 Summary Information Repository Grand Rapids Public Library, Grand Rapids History and Special Collections Department Title Women's City Club Records Date [inclusive] Extent 12.0 Linear feet Language English Abstract The Women's City Club was founded January 4th, 1924 by the presidents of the various women's organizations of Grand Rapids. After the first meeting in November of 1923 the Women's City Club became a private social club where women of the city could meet socially and enjoy the companionship of other women through common and varied interests in Grand Rapids and the State of Michigan, and would then attempt to further the good in Grand Rapids. Throughout the following years, membership grew by the hundreds and by 1929 membership was at 1,800 prompting the club officials to purchase their new home address, where the club currently resides today. The members are able to attend educational and cultural programs, concerts, book reviews, a variety of classes, and rent the building for individual usages, which could included birthday parties, anniversary parties, weddings, and dances. - Page 3 -

4 Biographical/Historical note The Women's City Club was founded January 4th, 1924 by the presidents of the various women s organizations of Grand Rapids with the help from the president of the Women's City Club of Detroit. Some of the women's organizations included the League of Women Voters, Zonta Club, Altrusa Club, and the Women's University Club. November 14th, 1923, twenty-one women from these organizations met for tea at the Peninsular Club where they could discuss the possibility of finding a more permanent headquarters for the many homeless women's organizations, and from then on, the organization was formed. The Women's City Club became a private social club where women of the city could meet socially and enjoy the companionship of other women whose work and interests were varied, and would then together further the good life in Grand Rapids. By 1924 there were nineteen clubs who were in relation with the club and by June of 1924 there were 800 members. For the first year the Morton Hotel housed the club meetings, but as it soon became clear that the two rooms that were given to the club would not be able to hold the ever growing members, the officers made the decision to purchase their own home in November of 1924; the Silas Godfrey Home. Over the years membership grew by the hundreds and by 1929 there were 1,800 members. Because of the growing membership it became evident that the Silas Godfrey Home was still not large enough to house the large amount of members, which prompted the club officials to purchase a new home in 1927, called the Sweet House, which is still the home of the Women's City Club. With the ever growing membership, the programs began to expand. Members could attend educational and cultural programs, style shows, concerts, bus trips, health and lifestyle programs, book reviews, travelogue/arm chair cruises, and a variety of classes. Members can also reserve a space at the clubhouse for private events at no charge during club hours, have lunch in the elegant Desdemona's dining room, and can borrow books from the Edith Spindler Library. Some individual possible usages of the building could include birthday parties, anniversary parties, reunions, special events, rehearsal dinners, weddings, and dances. Scope and Contents note The Women's City Club collection is broken up into five series, which are based on subject matter. Series I: Daily Journals is a series of boxes filled with books that are called daily journals. These journals are planners that include information on the times of the clubs events and meetings for each specific year. - Page 4 -

5 Series II: Scrapbooks includes books that are filled with a variety of newspaper clippings and some photographs for each year. Series III: Newsletters, minutes, and reports is a series containing a variety of years of the Bulletin of the Women's City Club of Grand Rapids, Michigan, the clubs minutes, and a variety of club reports. Series IV: Miscellaneous: Photographs, Histories, and Reports includes photographs of the WCC and its members, information on the clubs history, and a variety of club reports. Administrative Information Publication Information Grand Rapids Public Library, Grand Rapids History and Special Collections Department Controlled Access Headings Geographic Name(s) Grand Rapids (Mich.) -- History -- Photographs Subject(s) Community life -- Michigan -- Grand Rapids Women -- Michigan -- Grand Rapids -- History Women -- Michigan -- Grand Rapids -- Societies and clubs - Page 5 -

6 Daily Journals Collection Inventory Daily Journals Object Daily diary Daily diary Daily diary Daily diary Daily diary Daily diary Daily diary Daily diary Daily diary Daily journal Daily journal Page 6 -

7 Daily Journals Daily journal Daily journal Daily journal Daily journal Daily journal Daily journal Daily journal Daily journal Daily journal Daily journal Daily journal Daily journal Daily journal Daily journal Page 7 -

8 Scrapbooks Daily journal Daily journal Scrapbooks Object Scrapbook Scrapbook Scrapbook Scrapbook Scrapbook Scrapbook 1950s-1960s 15 1 Scrapbook Scrapbook Scrapbook Scrapbook Page 8 -

9 Newsletters, Minutes and Reports Scrapbook 1930s 16 3 Scrapbook Folder Scrapbook Newsletters, Minutes and Reports Object WCC bulletins President's handbook forms Women's City Club of Grand Rapids secretary's reports Secretary reports Secretary reports Index of WCC's minutes, Board and Executive Committees Folder Board Minutes Annual Reports Object - Page 9 -

10 Newsletters, Minutes and Reports Secretary reports Minutes Women's City Club Board meetings WCC minutes Secretary's reports May 1997-May Secretary's Notebook Folder Photographs Craig Decorators Painting Co. photographs 7 2 WCC building repairs photographs 7 3 WCC Certificate of appreciation Nominating Committee Club reports News Articles Miscellaneous cards Page 10 -

11 Newsletters, Minutes and Reports Correspondence WCC garden tour and Christmas miscellaneous photographs Princess tea photographs November WCC St. Patrick's and Valentine's day photographs WCC photoraphs WCC party photographs September 10th, Miscellaneous letters to women in the WCC Object The Bulletin of the Women's City Club of GR, MI WCC bulletins Secretary reports and minutes WCC Bulletins Folder The WCC bulletin January-May, The WCC bulletin June-December Page 11 -

12 Newsletters, Minutes and Reports The WCC bulletin January-December, The WCC bulletin February-December, The WCC bulletin January-October, Object WCC minutes, annual reports, Christmas decor, photos of decor, duties of chairs/committees 1970s 10 1 Minutes Minutes Minutes Minutes Folder WCC Finance Committee minutes WCC Finance Committee minutes WCC Finance Committee minutes WCC Finance Committee minutes Annual announcement of the Grand Rapids Women City Club Page 12 -

13 Newsletters, Minutes and Reports By-Laws May Women's City Club Diamond Jubilee The Bulletin of the WCC of GR roster ; The Bulletin of the WCC of GR October 1990-December The Bulletin of the WCC of GR WCC of GR membership directory WCC of GR membership directory Object Bulletin Bulletin Bulletin Bulletin Bulletin Bulletin Page 13 -

14 Newsletters, Minutes and Reports Bulletin Bulletin Bulletin Bulletin Bulletin Bulletin Bulletin Bulletin Bulletin Bulletin Bulletin Bulletin Folder Annual announcement of GR WCC Object - Page 14 -

15 Newsletters, Minutes and Reports Newsletters July 1976-June Newsletters Newsletters Newsletters Newsletters Newsletters Newsletters Folder The Bulletin of the WCC of GR The Bulletin of the WCC of GR The Bulletin of the WCC of GR The Bulletin of the WCC of GR The Bulletin of the WCC of GR The Bulletin of the WCC of GR Object - Page 15 -

16 Miscellaneous: Photographs, Histories and Reports Women's City Club Records Newsletters July to June Newsletters July to June Newsletters July to June Newsletters July to June Newsletters July to June Newsletters July to June Newsletters July to June Newsletters July to June Newsletters July to June Miscellaneous: Photographs, Histories and Reports Object Christmas scrapbook Folder Women's History Month luncheon Hazel Vandenberg's letters to WCC Page 16 -

17 Miscellaneous: Photographs, Histories and Reports Women's City Club Records Hazel Vandenberg's letters to WCC Hazel Vandenberg's letters to WCC Hazel Vandenberg's letters to WCC Hazel Vandenberg's letters to WCC Letter to Nancy Wright Christmas is Music WCC Committee Reports th annual meeting minutes, WCC of GR May 19, "All About Our House" history of club and clubhouse Local news paper clippings Miscellaneous news clippings WCC dining room menu 1 14 WCC Holiday Brunch cookbook WCC fashion show Page 17 -

18 Miscellaneous: Photographs, Histories and Reports Women's City Club Records WCC photographs WCC Brochures News clippings WCC photographs "Focus on Women" brochure and photographs By-Laws WCC speakers photographs Christmas Photograph of WCC staff 9 1 Teachers Club Newsletter December WCC photographs 9 3 News clippings The Grand Rapids Mirror Photographs of WCC and board members Page 18 -

19 Miscellaneous: Photographs, Histories and Reports Women's City Club Records By-Laws May WCC Christmas photographs undated 9 8 WCC news letters and invitations Various news clippings WCC thank you cards 9 11 Heritage Hill newsletters Photographs of WCC Christmas decorations; folder Photographs of WCC Christmas decorations; folder The WCC Bulletin November November WCC Decoration Committee reports and budget requests Honorable Mention for a Beautiful Christmas Tree Object Affiliated Clubs 1970s 9 1 Description of Christmas decorations and photographs Page 19 -

20 Miscellaneous: Photographs, Histories and Reports Women's City Club Records Millennium Honoree Luncheons, photos lists of attendees, March-May Folder WCC Christmas party photographs WCC photographs WCC photographs WCC photographs WCC annual meeting photographs May WCC photographs; folder Sofa delivery 10/1986 St. Cecelia musical tour 12/1985 fortnight 1985 Christmas coffee 11/ /1986 Miscellaneous photos - black and white assortment Annual meeting 1988, 1989, WCC photographs; folder WCC photographs; folder WCC Rose Garden 1988 Suzuki Violin performance at WCC 5/19/1988 photos of tables, members, and past presidents at annual meeting 1991 picture from GR press - members of library committee WCC 1997 photos 1998 photos 12 8 WCC photographs; folder Page 20 -

21 Miscellaneous: Photographs, Histories and Reports Women's City Club Records WCC boat trip on the Grand River photographs WCC Board May Women's City Club board of directors Women's City Club board of directors Object Scotch magnetic tape Mrs. Avery's speech of History of the City Club 17 1 Folder WCC annual meeting photographs 5/16/ WCC annual meeting photographs WCC ice cream social and tea party/garden party photographs The Grand Rapids Mirror March-April 1934 and Fall 1937 March-April 1934; Fall Miscellaneous undated photograph 17 5 Dagne Rigert photograph undated 17 6 By-Laws Agnes A. Burch letter to Rosemary Scott 3/30/ Page 21 -

22 Miscellaneous: Photographs, Histories and Reports Women's City Club Records May bulletin of WCC undated 17 9 Miscellaneous photographs WCC staff photographs February program on Italy WCC members WCC house photographs and pamphlets Correspondence Marie Kreuthof letter 1/10/ WCC publication terms and conditions with Cadence WCC history committee and GR Women's History Council WCC standing rules WCC annual meeting committee reports Miscellaneous WCC information; 1991 By-Laws, public relations committee, stations, public address system 1986; Page 22 -

23 Miscellaneous: Photographs, Histories and Reports Women's City Club Records Letters and thank you cards to WCC The WCC vs. Arrow Roofing and Supply, Inc Members death notes and addresses WCC financial committee and information Old Kent Bank and Trust Company WCC annual reports WCC Diamond Jubilee WCC Francine Ring letter WCC History Committee photographs; folder WCC History Committee photographs; folder WCC building photograph undated 18 8 Various news clippings WCC By-Laws Committee reports Page 23 -

24 Miscellaneous: Photographs, Histories and Reports Women's City Club Records Main dining room wall paper Page 24 -

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