Historical Note

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.” AWC activities were divided among the following committees, then called departments: American Citizenship and Public Welfare, American Home, Art and Literature, Education, and Music. Bimonthly meetings and other programs included such diverse topics as the effect of DDT on Garfield Park, international relations and literature charades.

Scope and Content

The AWC has been divided into three series: newspaper clippings, yearbooks and scrapbooks.

Series I: Newspaper clippings, 1912-1944
This series contains newspaper clippings about AWC’s activities and members. Most of the clippings, which are arranged in chronological order, are from Austin newspapers.

Series II: Yearbooks, 1934-1965
AWC yearbooks contain directory information, financial reports, a record of club activities, schedules of future events, and the AWC constitution and by-laws. This series contains an almost complete run of yearbooks from 1934 to 1965. The yearbooks are arranged in chronological order.

Series III: Scrapbooks, 1931-1938
This series contains five scrapbooks of newspaper clippings dating from 1931 to 1947. The clippings provide a record of AWC activities and also some biographical information on club members. The scrapbooks are arranged chronologically.

Provenance

The records of the Austin Woman’s Club were collected by various Austin historical associations and deposited in the Austin Branch Library’s historical collection over a period of 30 years. In November 1984, Special Collections, working under the auspices of a Dr. Scholl Foundation Grant, processed the papers according to archival standards and transferred them to its office for storage and access.

Access

The records of the AWC are available for research in the Special Collections and Preservation Division Reading Room on the ninth floor of the Chicago Public Library’s Harold Washington Library Center, 400 S. State Street, Chicago, IL 60605. The collection does not circulate, although photocopy and photoreproduction services are available depending upon the condition of the original materials. First-time patrons to Special Collections must present photo identification and complete a Reader Registration Form. Telephone inquiries on this collection and other Special Collections holdings can be directed to (312) 747-4875.

Box and Folder Inventory

BOX 1

Series I: Newspaper clippings

1. 1912-1944.

Series II: Yearbooks

2. 1917-1918, 1922-1923
3. 1934-1935, 1936-1937
4. 1937-1938
5. 1938-1939
6. 1939-1940
7. 1940-1941
8. 1941-1942
9. 1943-1944
10. 1945-1946
11. 1946-1947
12. 1947-1948
13. 1948-1949

BOX 2

1. 1949-1950
2. 1950-1951
3. 1951-1952
4. 1952-1953
5. 1954-1955
6. 1955-1956
7. 1956-1957
8. 1957-1958
9. 1958-1959
10. 1961-1962
11. 1963-1964
12. 1964-1965

BOX 3

Series III: Scrapbooks

1931-1934
1935-1936
1937-1938

BOX 4

1945-1946
1946-1947