Ravenswood Woman’s Club Records

Dates: 1891-1976, undated
Size: 2 linear feet in 4 boxes, plus 5 photos
Repository: Chicago Public Library, Sulzer Regional Library, Northside Neighborhood History Collection, 4455 N. Lincoln Avenue, Chicago, IL 60625
Collection  number: nnhc.rwc
Immediate source of acquisition: Donated by Mrs. Ethel Reeda in 1974
Conditions governing use: Please consult staff to determine ability to reuse materials from collection
Conditions governing access: Materials are open without restrictions
Preferred citation: When quoting material from this collection the preferred citation is: Ravenswood Woman’s Club Records, [Box #, Folder #], Northside Neighborhood History Collection, Chicago Public Library
Finding aid author: Processed as part of the Local History grant received from the Scholl Foundation in 1982 May. Updated and ingested into ArchivesSpace by Julie Lynch, 2021

Abstract

The collection consists of yearbooks which contain the club’s articles of incorporation, lists of officers and members, by-laws, news clippings, and program announcements and calendars and 5 photographs.

Biographical/Historical

The Ravenswood Woman’s Club was organized in 1889 under the name of the Woman’s Literary Club of Ravenswood. Its main objective was to promote intellectual growth through discussions and study groups. In 1894 the club became an incorporated body and the name was changed to the Ravenswood Woman’s Club.

Membership soon grew to over a hundred, as a result, the Club’s objective was broadened in scope to include educational and philanthropic work as well as social and civic activities. This can be seen through their close association with such community groups as the Ravenswood Improvement Association, Lake View High School, Ravenswood Hospital and the Ravenswood-Lake View Historical Association.

The membership began to dwindle during the mid-1950s. By 1974 the Ravenswood Woman’s Club disbanded. On April 15, 1974, the club held their last meeting in conjunction with the Ravenswood-Lake View Historical Association’s Annual Dinner.

Scope and Contents

The papers of the Ravenswood Woman’s Club reflect their activities, goals and achievements through the minute books from the Board of Managers and regular meetings, program announcements, calendars, news clippings and yearbooks, and photographs.

Arrangement

The collection is arranged in 2 series:

Series 1: Documents and publications, 1891-1976, undated

Series 2: Photographs. 1899, 1905, undated

Related materials

Austin Woman’s Club Records

Englewood Woman’s Club Records

Ravenswood Lake View Community Collection

West End Woman’s Club Records

Wood Lawn Woman’s Club Records

Subject headings

  • Lincoln Square (Chicago, Ill.) -- History -- Sources
  • Ravenswood (Chicago, Ill.) -- History -- Sources
  • Ravenswood Woman’s Club (Chicago, Ill.)
  • Women’s Clubs -- Illinois -- Chicago

Collection inventory

Series 1: Documents and publications, 1891-1976, undated

Scope and Contents: The papers of the Ravenswood Woman’s Club reflect their activities, goals and achievements through the minute books from the Board of Managers and regular meetings, program announcements, calendars, news clippings and yearbooks.

Arrangement: Alphabetically by topic and then alphabetically within each topic.

Box 1 Folder 1 Administrative Records - Calender of events 1911-1912
Box 1 Folder 2 Administrative Records - Certificates of Incorporation and Amendments. 1894, 1952 1894, 1952
Box 1 Folder 3 Administrative Records - Certificate of membership of 50 years 1966 April 11
Box 1 Folder 5 Administrative Records - Election ballots 1939, 1943
Box 1 Folder 9 Administrative Records - Membership, notebooks 1936-1952
Box 1 Folder 10 Administrative Records - Minute book, Board of Managers meetings 1956 May 14 – 1967 April 17
Box 1 Folder 11 Administrative Records - Minute book, board meetings, and regular meetings 1967 May 8 – 1974 April 11 and 1968 October 7 – 1974 June 10
Box 1 Folder 12 Administrative Records - Minute book, regular meetings 1948 November 15 – 1953 April 28
Box 2 Folder 1 Administrative Records - Minute book, regular meetings 1960 April 4 – 1968 April 15
Box 2 Folder 4 Administrative Records - Officers list 1934 April 23
Box 2 Folder 5 Administrative Records - Programs 1939, 1949, undated
Box 1 Folder 7 Historical sketches 1898, 1930-1931
Box 1 Folder 6 Historical sketches - Script of historical play written for the 50th anniversary of the club, “The Unfolding Years, 1889-1839,” by Mrs. Home Lackey 1939 December 4
Box 1 Folder 4 Historical sketches - Closing meeting of the Ravenswood Woman’s Club, by Mrs. Ethel Reeda 1974 April 15
Box 1 Folder 4 Historical sketches - “Presentation of the Year of Books of the Ravenswood Woman’s Club, 1891-1974, to the Ravenswood Lake View Historical Association,” by Mrs. Ethel Reeda 1976 May 12
Box 2 Folder 2 News clippings 1921, 1931-1939
Box 2 Folder 3 News clippings 1938-1942, 1950-1954, 1974, undated
Box 1 Folder 8 News clippings - junior axillary 1934-1935
Box 2 Folder 6 Yearbooks - Ravenswood Woman’s Literary Club 1891-1894
Box 2 Folder 7 Yearbooks - Ravenswood Woman’s Literary Club 1895-1899
Box 2 Folder 7 Yearbooks - Ravenswood Woman’s Literary Club 1899-1905
Box 2 Folder 7 Yearbooks - Ravenswood Woman’s Literary Club 1905-1911
Box 3 Folder 1 Yearbooks - Ravenswood Woman’s Literary Club 1911-1917
Box 3 Folder 2 Yearbooks - Ravenswood Woman’s Literary Club 1917-1926
Box 3 Folder 3 Yearbooks - Ravenswood Woman’s Literary Club 1926-1930
Box 3 Folder 4 Yearbooks - Ravenswood Woman’s Literary Club 1930-1936
Box 4 Folder 1 Yearbooks - Ravenswood Woman’s Literary Club 1936-1944
Box 4 Folder 2 Yearbooks - Ravenswood Woman’s Literary Club 1944-1953 and supplement 1951-1952
Box 4 Folder 2 Yearbooks - Ravenswood Woman’s and Junior Auxiliary Club 1953-1954
Box 4 Folder 3 Yearbooks - Ravenswood Woman’s Literary Club 1954-1967
Box 4 Folder 4 Yearbooks - Ravenswood Woman’s Literary Club 1967-1974

Series 2: Photographs, 1899, 1905, undated

Scope and Contents: The photographs in this series document the activities of the Ravenswood Woman’s Club.

Arrangement: Arrangement is chronological, with undated material at the beginning.

Photograph 1.1 Ravenswood Woman’s Club, clubhouse, exterior, southeast corner of Wilson and Ashland avenues undated
Photograph 1.2 Ravenswood Woman’s Club, clubhouse, exterior, southeast corner of Wilson and Ashland avenues undated
Photograph 1.4 Ravenswood Woman’s Club, picnic on lawn of P.S. Peterson and Son’s Rose Hill Nursery circa 1899
Photograph 1.5 Ravenswood Woman’s Club, July 4th celebration, group photo of members 1905 July 4
Photograph 1.3 Ravenswood Woman’s Club, July 4th celebration, picnic on lawn of clubhouse, southeast corner of Wilson and Ashland avenues 1905 July 4
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