HomeFinding Aids#9712 Spencer Woman's Club Collection

#9712 Spencer Woman's Club Collection

Spencer Woman's Club Collection

MSS #9712

August 1997

Processed By Trudie Crawford

Abstract: Club records including minutes, directories, membership lists, yearbooks, newspaper clippings, financial records, and other miscellaneous materials related to the Spencer Woman's Club, an affiliate of the North Carolina and General Federation of Woman's Clubs covering the years 1942-1980.

Online catalog terms:

Spencer Woman's Club

Spencer, North Carolina

Spencer Shops

North Carolina and General Federation of Woman's Clubs

Size: 7 linear feet

Provenance: Spencer Woman's Club

July, 1997

Copyright: Retained by the authors of items in these papers, or their descendants, as stipulated by United States copyright law. Introduction

The Spencer Woman's Club was organized and established September 22, 1942 at the home of Miss Janice Hutchins. The club was federated with the North Carolina Federation of Woman's Clubs and in 1949 it was incorporated under the laws of the state of North Carolina. The object of the club was "The social, civic and domestic betterment of our town" and theri motto was "Let All the Ends, Thou Amist at, Be Thy Counntry's, Thy God's and Truths". The Spencer Woman's Club was founded during war times and the efforts of the women seem to center around answering the call of duty on the homefront. The first president, Janice Hutchins wrote in her message form 1942 "Remember we are the women, behind the men, behind the guns. Let's do our part". During its' first years in existence the club worked with groups such as the Girl Scouts, invited various speakers to come and educate them on subjects ranging from home management to government policies, and sent delegates to district meetings. In the 1950's their efforts broadened to the Cancer Crusade, and activities for Spencer's youth. The clubhouse was also built under the leadership of Mrs. Nathan Worthham and Mrs. Zeb Trexler for the price of $10, 750.00. In the 1960's the Spencer Woman's Club promoted compulsory drivers training in the high schools, the "Get Out the Vote" campaign, sent delegates to Girl's State and organized The Spencer Junior Woman's Club, led by president Peggy Safrit.

During the 1970's the club helped the establishment of the Spencer Shops Transportaion Museum through their Community Improvement Program. The women continued to attend district and state conventions for the General Federation of Woman's Clubs. Representatives included Virginia Spake, Mildred Wiseman and Lera Black. The State Arts Festival brought recognition to members Helen Moore, Julia Slateand Frances Williams. The 1980's opened for the club under the leadership of Lera Black, Frances Williams, Edna Gobbel, Mary Blalock and Mary Skinner. The collection of documenation ends with 1986, but through the efforts of the Spencer Woman's Club almost 40 years of charity, commitment and dedication to the town of Spencer has been recorded. Still active today, the club maintains its' commitment to the bettererment of the town of Spencer.

Series I.Club Records and Materials

1947-1980

Arrangement: By information type

Minutes from the meetings held between Sept.1947 through Aug. 1976 also comments, newspaper clippings, certificates of honor and Arts Festival materials. Members addresses can be found in club directories as well as the growing membership and expansion of project through the series of small but information packed yearbooks from 1942-1976.

Folder List:

Box 1.

Folder 1. Minutes Sept. 1947 - May 1953

Folder 2. Minutes June 1953 - Dec. 1956

Folder 3. Minutes 1957 - 1959

Folder 4. Minutes Jan. 1965 - Apr. 1971

Folder 5. Minutes Jan. 1972 - Dec. 1974

Folder 6. Minutes Jan. 9, 1975 - Aug. 26, 1976

Box 2.

Folder 7. Directories 1957 - 58; 1960 - 61; 1961 - 62; 1962 - 63.

Folder 8. Membership 1972 - 77

Folder 9. Regular Meetings Sept. 9, 1976 - Jan. 10, 1980

Folder 10. Comments

Folder 11. Yearbooks 1942 - 43; 1945 - 46; 1946 - 47; 1947 - 48; 1948 - 49;

1949 - 50.

Folder 12. Yearbooks 1950 - 51; 1051 - 52; 1952 - 53; 1953 - 54; 1954 - 55

Folder 13. Yearbooks 1955 - 56; 1956 - 57; 1958 - 59; 1969 - 60

Folder 14. Yearbooks 1971 - 72; 1973 - 74; 1975 - 76

Folder 15. Newspaper Clippings

Folder 16. Certificates of Honor

Folder 17. Arts Festival Materials (1983)

Folder 18. Miscellaneous Materials

Series II. North Carolina and General Federation of Women's Clubs Materials

Arrangement: By information type

The North Carolina and General Federation of Woman's Clubs Materials include annual reports of the Spencer Woman's Club's progress by Pauline Eller, and comprehensive manuals, handbooks outlining the election process, how meetings should be conducted , and what duties the club should perform.

Box 3.

Folder 19. North Carolina Federation of Women's Clubs, INC.

Folder 20. Annual Report to North Carolina Federation of Women's Clubs 1944 - 1955

Folder 21. General Federation of Women's Clubs Manual (Sections 1-9)

Folder 22. General Federation of Women's Clubs Manual (Sections 10-16)

Folder 23. Generall Federation of Women's Clubs Handbook and Newsletter

Series III. Financial Materials

1944-1986

Arrangment: By type of information

This series includes financial statements, check stubs and clubhouse material. Three of the club's treasurer's: Virginia Spake, Louise Riley and Scout Lomax contribute to the collection with their detailed records. Bills, receipts and disbursments from 1961-1986 make up a large part of the series, along with the checks and bank statements from 1944-1980. Almost every purchase or financial contribution the club ever made from the purchase of punch at Food Town through to the $1000 scholarships awarded to the young women of North Rowan High School, can be found in these records.

Box 4.

Folder 24. Financial Statements 1971 - 1977 and Comparative Balance Sheets

Folder 25. Clubhouse (Rent, Real Estate) and Insurance

Folder 26. Treasurer's Records - Virginia Spake #1

Folder 27. Treasurer's Records - Virginia Spake #2

Folder 28. Treasurer's Records - Louise Riley

Folder 29. Treasurer's Records - Scout Lomax

Box 5.

Folder 30. Check Stubs Sept. 25, 1973 - Oct. 13, 1977

Folder 31. Check Stubs Mar.15, 1976 - Nov. 15, 1980

Folder 32. Check Stubs Oct. 28, 1977 - Dec. 31, 1980

Box 6.

Folder 33. 1961-62 Receipts; !971 Bills and Receipts

Folder 34. 1968 and 1972 Bills

Folder 35. 1973 Bills

Folder 36. 1974 Bills and Receipts

Folder 37. 1975 Bills and Receipts

Folder 38. 1976 Bills and Receipts

Folder 39. 1977 Bills and Receipts

Folder 40. !978-79 Bills and Receipts

Box 7.

Folder 41. 1980-81 Bills, Receipts and Disbursments

Folder 42. 1981-82 and 1982-83 Bills, Receipts and Disbursments

Folder 43. 1983-84 Bills, Receipts and Disbursments

Folder 44. 1984-85 Bills, Receipts and Disbursments

Folder 45. 1985-85 Bills, Receipts and Disbursments

Folder 46. Checks and Bank Statements 1944; 1945; 1947

Folder 47. Checks and Bank Statements 1948; 1950; 1951; 1952-53

Folder 48. Checks and Bank Statements 1955

Box 8.

Folder 49. Checks and Bank Statements 1957; 1958

Folder 50. Checks and Bank Statements 1959; 1960; 1961

Folder 51. Checks and Bank Statements 1962; 1963; 1964

Folder 52. Checks and Bank Statements 1965; 1966-67

Folder 53. Checks and Bank Statements 1968-69; 1970

Folder 54. Checks and Bank Statements 1971; 1972

Box 9.

Folder 55. Checks and Bank Statements 1973; 1974

Folder 56. Checks and Bank Statements 1975; 1976

Folder 57. Checks and Bank Statements 1977; 1978-79; 1980

Folder 58. Checks and Bank Statements 1980

Series IV. Scrapbooks

1942-1980

Arrangement: Chronological

This series is the most outstanding documentation of the club's history, activities and service can be found in the scrapbooks. These scrapbooks include stories on the club from newspapers, letters, awards, service projects, banquets and a photos of the members and their greatest achievements.

Box 10. 1942-43; 1946

Box 11. 1955-56; 1956-57

Box 12. 1964; The Spencer Junior Women's Club 1965

Box 13. 1967-68

Box 14. 1969-70

Box 15. 1970-71

Box 16. 1972-73

Box 17. 1973-74; 1975

Box 18. 1976; 1977

Box 19. 1978

Box 20. 1978-79 C.I.P.; 1979-80

Box 21. 1979

Box 22. 1970 (Unfinished); 1977 Spencer Shops Scrapbooks