Walla Walla Woman's Reading Club records

Walla Walla Woman's Reading Club records, 1894-2013

Overview of the Collection

Creator: Walla Walla Woman's Reading Club
Title: Walla Walla Woman's Reading Club records
Dates: 1894-2013 (inclusive)
18942013
Quantity: 4.5 linear feet, (8 boxes)
Collection Number: WCMss.001
Summary: This collection contains minutes, schedules, programs, and scrapbooks from the Walla Walla Woman's Reading Club between 1894 to 2013.
Repository: Whitman College and Northwest Archives
Whitman College and Northwest Archives
Penrose Library, Room 130
345 Boyer Avenue
Walla Walla, WA
99362
Telephone: 5095275922
Fax: 5095264785
archives@whitman.edu
Access Restrictions: Collection is open for research.
Languages: English
Sponsor: Funding for encoding this finding aid was provided through a grant awarded by the National Endowment for the Humanities.

Historical NoteReturn to Top

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.

Content DescriptionReturn to Top

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.

Administrative InformationReturn to Top

Acquisition Information

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.

Detailed Description of the CollectionReturn to Top

1: Annual Programs, 1896-2008Return to Top

Container(s)		Description	Dates
Box	Folder
1	1	Annual Programs	1896-1900
1	2	Annual Programs	1900-1905
1	3	Annual Programs	1905-1910
1	4	Annual Programs	1910-1915
1	5	Annual Programs	1915-1920
1	6	Annual Programs	1920-1925
1	7	Annual Programs	1925-1930
1	8	Annual Programs	1930-1935
1	9	Annual Programs	1935-1940
1	10	Annual Programs	1940-1945
1	11	Annual Programs	1945-1950
1	12	Annual Programs	1950-1955
1	13	Annual Programs	1956-1960
1	14	Annual Programs	1960-1964
1	15	Annual Programs	1965-1970
1	16	Annual Programs	1970-1975
1	17	Annual Programs	1975-1979
1	18	Annual Programs	1982-1985
1	19	Annual Programs	1986-1990
1	20	Annual Programs	1990-1995
1	21	Annual Programs	1998-2008

2: Correspondence, 1919-1992Return to Top

Container(s)		Description	Dates
Box	Folder
2	12	Correspondence, incoming	1986-1992
2	13	Correspondence re: 25th Anniversary	1919
2	14	Invitation to Walla Walla Woman's Reading Club 50th Anniversary Celebration	1944

3: Secretary's Records, 1894-2013Return to Top

Container(s)		Description	Dates
Box	Folder
2	1	Secretary's Book	1894-1896
2	2	Secretary's Book	1898-1905
2	3	Secretary's Book	1905-1912
2	4	Secretary's Book	1912-1918
2	5	Secretary's Book	1919-1924
2	6	Secretary's Book	1924-1928
3	1	Secretary's Book	1928-1939
3	2	Secretary's Book	1939-1947
3	3	Secretary's Book	1947-1956
3	4	Secretary's Book	1956-1962
4	1	Secretary's Book	1962-1975
4	2	Secretary's Book	1975-1989
4	6	Report of the Civic Improvement Committee	1906-1907
4	4	Book Reviews	2010-2011, undated
4	5	Meeting minutes	2007-2013
4	3	Secretary's book	1996-2007

4: Programs and Resolutions of Club Federations, 1910-1932Return to Top

General Federation of Women's Clubs Washington State Federation of Women's Clubs

Container(s)		Description	Dates
Box	Folder
4	7	Program: Washington State Federation of Women's Clubs	1910
4	8	Program: Washington State Federation of Women's Clubs 31st Annual Convention	1927
4	9	Resolutions to be Presented at the Biennial Convention	1932

5: Scrapbooks, 1922-2012Return to Top

Container(s)		Description	Dates
Box	object
5	1	Scrapbook	1922-1949
6		Scrapbook	1934-1941
6		Scrapbook	1932-1956
7		Scrapbook	1944
7		Scrapbook	1949-1960
6		Scrapbook	1960-1994
8		Scrapbook	2011-2012
8		Scrapbook	2005-2009
6		Scapbook	2002-2005
8		Scrapbook	1996-2002

6: Ledger Books, 1896-1922Return to Top

Container(s)	Description	Dates
Box
6	Account Book	1896-1922

Names and SubjectsReturn to Top

Corporate Names

Walla Walla Woman's Reading Club

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