Skip to main content

Austin Woman’s Club Records

 Collection
Identifier: spe-nhrc-awc

Scope and Contents

The Austin Women’s Club Records includes news clipping from 1912-1944 about activities and members, scrapbooks from the years 1931-1938 about activities and members and yearbooks from 1934-1965 that include directory information, financial reports, a record of the club’s activities, schedules of future events, and the constitution and by-laws.

Dates

  • 1912 - 1965

Conditions Governing Access

Materials are open without restrictions.

Conditions Governing Use

Please consult staff to determine ability to reuse materials from collection.

Biographical / Historical

The Austin Woman’s Club (AWC) was organized in January 1896 and incorporated under the laws of the State of Illinois in July of the same year. The club’s motto was “the world is my neighbor.” Article I of the AWC’s by-laws, as amended April 21, 1947, describe its objectives as being “intellectual and social culture, general philanthropic work, a united effort toward self-improvement, and the elevation of humanity.” The club’s activities were divided among the following committees, then called departments: American Citizenship and Public Welfare, American Home, Art and Literature, Education, and Music. Their bi-monthly meetings and other programs included such topics as the effect of DDT (insecticide) on Garfield Park, international relations, as well as literature charades.

Extent

4.25 Linear Feet (in 4 boxes)

Language of Materials

English

Abstract

The collection includes news clippings, yearbooks and scrapbooks that document the objectives of the Austin Women’s Club, defined as “intellectual and social culture, general philanthropic work, a united effort toward self-improvement and the elevation of humanity.”

Arrangement

The records are arranged alphabetically by type of material and chronologically within.

Immediate Source of Acquisition

Transferred from Chicago Public Library Austin Branch in November 1984 as part of a Dr. Scholl Foundation grant.

Related Materials

Austin Community Collection

Austin Daughters of the American Revolution Papers

Austin High School Records

Austin Newspapers Collection

Chicago Department of Urban Renewal Records

Goldwin E. Anderson Notebooks

David Gremp Photographs

Title
Guide to the Austin Woman’s Club Records
Status
Completed
Author
Original author unknown, 1985. Updated and ingested into ArchivesSpace by Michelle McCoy, 2021
Date
1985
Description rules
Describing Archives: A Content Standard
Language of description
English
Script of description
Latin
Language of description note
Finding aid written in English

Repository Details

Part of the Special Collections Unit at Harold Washington Library Center Repository

Contact:
Harold Washington Library Center, 9th Floor
Chicago Public Library
400 S. State Street
Chicago IL 60605 United States
(312) 747-4875