Kent Business & Professional Women's Club, Records, 1926-83

Inventory prepared by Gail Redmann, February 23, 1993

Prepared for the WWW by Nancy Birk, November 25, 1996

2 record storage boxes, 11th floor

Historical Sketch

The National Federation of Business and Professional Women was organized in St. Louis, Missouri in July, 1919. Ohio representatives were charter members of the national federation, and organized their own state federation in Columbus in 1920. Over the years, the national and state federations have advocated social and legislative action to promote equality for women in the workplace. The organization has been a staunch supporter of an Equal Rights Amendment since the 1930s, and has taken a strong position on other women's issues, such as wage equity, child care, sexual harassment, and displaced homemaker assistance.

The Kent Business and Professional Women's Club held its first regular meeting and annual election on January 12, 1926. Through the sponsorship of the Cleveland and Warren chapters of the Ohio Federation, the Kent chapter was chartered on 14 April 1929 with fourteen charter members. The Kent club has provided both informational and recreational programs for its members, and has been active in national, state, and district activities. In addition, club members have been involved in civic projects, such as promoting improvements to Kent's public health department, and sponsoring the Kentway Retirement Center.

Scope and Content

The records of the Kent Business and Professional Women's Club, 1926-83 are arranged in five series:

• Series I, Administrative Records, consists of club histories, by-laws and standing rules, minutes, correspondence, annual reports, and treasurer's reports and records.
• Series II, Membership Records, consists of membership applications, rollbooks, membership statements, committee lists, and members' evaluations of club functions.
• Series III, Programs, Projects, and Publications, consists of annual and special event program booklets, program scripts, materials relating to the club's civic projects, and club publications.
• Series IV, Scrapbooks, consists of materials from club scrapbooks, primarily photographs and newspaper clippings. Where noted in the files, club programs and publications have been removed to Series III.
• Series V, National, Regional, State, and District Club Materials, consists primarily of histories, convention and special event program booklets, and publications.

Box 1

Series I, Administrative Records

1. History, [1968]
2. By-laws, 1951 - 72; nd
3. Minutes, 12 Jan 1926 - 11 June 1929
4. Minutes, 24 Sep 1929 - 14 Aug 1932
5. Minutes, 13 Sep 1932 - 17 Dec 1934
6. Minutes, 12 Sep 1943 - 12 Aug 1946
7. Minutes, 9 Sep 1946 - 8 Aug 1949
8. Minutes, 26 Sep 1949 - 18 Aug 1952
9. Minutes, 8 Sep 1952 - 22 Aug 1955
10. Minutes, 12 Sep 1955 - 12 Aug 1957
11. Minutes, 9 Sep 1957 - 23 May 1960
12. Minutes, 10 Sep 1960 - 12 Aug 1963
13. Minutes, 9 Sep 1963 - 25 Apr 1966 (includes news clippings, 18 May 1966)
14. Minutes, 12 Sep 1966 - 26 Jun 1969
15. Minutes, 15 Sep 1969 - July [1972]
16. Minutes, 18 Sep [1972] - 11 May 1976
17. Minutes, 3 Sep 1981 - 24 May 1982
18. Correspondence, 15 Nov 1928 - 19 Mar 1929 (re KBPW joining Nat'l Federation)
19. Correspondence, 25 June 1953 - 23 May 1982 (general)
20. Correspondence, 1958; 1964 (re scholarship loans)
21. Annual Reports, 1953; public relations committee, 1980-81; President and all committees, 1981-82
22. Financial Reports, Jan 1930 (re play "Aunt Lucia" given by club)
23. Treasurer's Ledgers, 1948-49 - 1953-54
24. Treasurer's Ledgers, 1954-55 - 1965 66; membership payments through 1967
25. Treasurer's Reports, Sep 1960 - May 1968
26. Treasurer's Reports, Aug 1968 - Apr 1977
27. Budgets, 1962-63; 1965-66 - 1975-76; 1979-80; 1980-81
28. Checkbook Records, 2 June 1967 - 9 June 1972; 29 June 1972 - 23 June 1977
29. Contribution Statement (for Nat'l headquarters), [1955]

    Series II, Membership Records

30. Membership Applications, 1927-35
31. Membership Applications, 1965-78; [nd]
32. Roll Book, 1957-58 - 1975-76
33. Statements of Club Membership, 1950-51 - 1955-56
34. Statements of Club Membership, 1962-63 - 1969-70
35. Statements of Club Membership, 1970-71 - 1977-78
36. Miscellaneous Membership Material: Committee lists, 1975-76; Officers and Committee Chairmen Reports to National, 1954-55, 1977-78, 1978-79; ballot - April 1970
37. Members' Club Evaluations, 1969-81
38. Membership Questionnaire, 1969-70

    Series III, Programs, Projects, and Publications

39. Program Booklets, Annual: 1931-32 - 1939-40
40. Program Booklets, Annual: 1940-41 - 1949-50
41. Program Booklets, Annual: 1950-51 - 1959-60
42. Program Booklets, Annual: 1960-61 - 1969-70
43. Program Booklets, Annual: 1970-71 - 1979-80
44. Program Booklets, Annual: 1980-81 - 1982-83
45. Program Booklets, Special Events: 1933-80
46. Program Scripts; Songsheets
47. Project: supporting the improvement of Kent's public health dept. (related correspondence), [1940s]
48. Project: sponsorship of Kentway Retirement Center, 1971
49. Project: Individual Development Plan, [1980]
50. Publication: "Bulletin," 1947-57 (incomplete)
51. Publication: "Highliter," 1957-82 (incomplete)

    Series IV, Scrapbooks

52. Scrapbook Materials: 1931-32
53. Scrapbook Materials: 1932-33
54. Scrapbook Materials: 1947-48
55. Scrapbook Materials: 1948-50
56. Scrapbook Materials: 1954-55
57. Scrapbook Materials: 1955-56
58. Scrapbook Materials: 1957-58
59. Scrapbook Materials: 1959-60
60. Scrapbook Materials: 1962-63; 1963-64
61. Scrapbook Materials: 1964-65 - 1966-67

Box 2

1. Scrapbook Materials: 1967-68; 1968-69
2. Scrapbook Materials: 1969-70; 1970-71
3. Scrapbook Materials: 1971-72; Fall 1972

Series V, National, Regional, State, & District Club Materials

4. National BPW, Program Booklets: Biennial Conventions, 1950, 1954; National Convention Proceedings, 1969-71; Dedication of National Headquarters, 1957
5. National BPW, Publications: miscellaneous
6. National BPW, News clippings removed from 1950 convention program
7. National BPW, East Central Region BPW, program booklet: Fourth Biennial Conference, Aug 1957
8. Ohio BPW, Histories, 1970; 1973
9. Ohio BPW, Program Booklets: Annual Conventions, 1931-1980
10. Ohio BPW, Program Booklet and Souvenirs from Golden Anniversary celebrations, 1970; songbook [nd]
11. Ohio BPW, Project: Florence Allen Scholarship materials
12. Ohio BPW, Publications: "Buckeye Businewsette," 1939-37; "The Ohio Business Woman," 1953
13. Ohio BPW, Publications: "Keynoter," 1981-82; "President's Manual," 1981-82
14. District BPW, Program Booklets from miscellaneous district and chapter meetings and special events, 1933-78
15. District BPW, Publications: District #5 Newsletter, 1970-71
16. District BPW, Cincinnati Business Women's Club, Publication: "The Cincinnati Business Woman," May 1932

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