Additional records of the American Association of University Women. Massachusetts State Division, 1921-2007

The additional records of the American Association of University Women (AAUW), Massachusetts State Division contain the records of the Massachusetts State Division, Massachusetts State Division branches in the counties of Middlesex, Norfolk, and Suffolk, and some material from national AAUW (whose records are maintained at their archives in Washington, D.C.) and the International Federation of University Women. These addenda are arranged in eleven series and contain histories and information on administration, policies, and procedures; meetings and conferences; membership; financial transactions; fund-raising activities; fellowships; and legislative and community involvement. Newsletters of the Massachusetts State Division and the branches (except for the Boston Branch) were transferred to the periodicals collection; consult the library's catalog for holdings.

Series I, ADMINISTRATION, 1921-2007 (scattered) (#1.1-11.12, 54FB.1, F+D.1, PD.1-PD.2, E.1), contains histories and pamphlets; anniversary material; proclamations; charters and by-laws (national and Massachusetts State Division); procedures, policies, and strategic planning material; administrative correspondence; nomination and resignation letters; annual reports of officers and committee chairs (Massachusetts State Division and branches); announcements and mailings; descriptions of officer and committee chair positions; handbooks; photographs; and clippings. The series is arranged in four subseries.

Subseries A, History, organization, and related material, 1930-2006 (scattered) (#1.1-3.4, 54FB.1, F+D.1, PD.1, E.1), contains histories and pamphlets (national and Massachusetts State Division) and includes The Talbot Story (a play based on founding ACA member Marion Talbot of Boston), 1975 (#1.2); Massachusetts State Division's fiftieth anniversary booklet (which includes a detailed history of the Massachusetts State Division, 1930-1979) and related anniversary material from 1980; a calendar from AAUW's 125th anniversary in 2006 (includes historical information and photographs related to Massachusetts' contribution); four signed proclamations recognizing "AAUW Week" in the Commonwealth and City of Boston (includes photograph of the 1983 proclamation signing, #PD.1); national AAUW constitution, by-laws, and convention resolutions; Massachusetts State Division constitution, by-laws, and policies; branch by-laws and organizing material; the 1981 Massachusetts State Division ten-year plan (#3.4); progress reports from the national AAUW structure committee (recommendations for effective implementation of the Association's mission and program at the national, state, and branch levels) for 1961-1963; handbooks for branch leaders and for the Massachusetts State Division board of directors; clippings (Massachusetts State Division and branches) of activities and events; and other miscellaneous administrative records. The Massachusetts State Division web site is being captured periodically as part of Harvard University Library's Web Archive Collection service (WAX); searchable archived versions of the web site will be available through this finding aid in 2010.

Subseries B, Massachusetts State Division annual reports and related, 1943-2007 (#3.5-4.14), contains narrative reports and completed report forms of Massachusetts State Division presidents, officers, and committee chairs. The reports for 1952-1954 are a separate set of collected reports that contain both overlapping and additional material, apart from the remaining reports in the series. The completed report forms provide statistics on membership and program participation, program and officer goals, implementation and achievement of programs, and include reports, evaluations, surveys, letters, flyers, invitations, newsletter articles, etc.

Subseries C, Branch annual reports and related, 1944-1996 (#4.15-6.1), contains narrative reports and completed report forms of branch presidents, officers, and committee chairs. Completed report forms provide the same information as that described above in Subseries B.

Subseries D, Administrative correspondence, 1921-2004 (scattered) (#6.2-11.12, PD.2), contains general administrative correspondence; correspondence of Massachusetts State Division presidents/officers (Marian Cruikshank, Margaret Dickie, Anna Hawkes, Elizabeth May, Ruth Miller, Leah Sleeper, Helen Stobbe, Pauline Tompkins, and Hetty Wheeler); correspondence from Massachusetts State Division committees (historian, publicity, program development, and newsletter committee); Helen Stobbe's correspondence, drafts, and related news material as regional reporter for the North Atlantic region of the AAUW Journal News; correspondence related to the founding of new branches and matters of branch dissolution; and nomination and resignation letters of Massachusetts State Division officers and committee chairs. Also included are Massachusetts State Division "Dividends" and "Massachusetts Memo" announcements, a collection of branch presidents' mailings, and a publicity photograph of Helen Stobbe from ca.1969 (#PD.2).

Series II, MEMBERSHIP AND RELATED, 1948-2006 (scattered) (#11.13-14.20), contains general information on membership and statistics, directories and membership lists, correspondence, pamphlets, handbooks and policies, etc. Massachusetts State Division newsletters were transferred to the periodicals collection; consult the library's catalog for holdings. The series is arranged in two subseries.

Subseries A, Administrative material, 1948-2006 (scattered) (#11.13-13.7), contains pamphlets and blank membership forms (showing changing nature of data collected on members over the years); statistical information; membership directories; correspondence (includes individual inquiries into membership, letters of acceptance, and letters of interest in starting new branches); membership handbooks and policies; Membership Exchange newsletters; and material from the "Take the Initiative" campaign. Of interest are two civil action lawsuits (1575-48 and 2060-48, filed in Washington, D.C.) involving a dispute over AAUW membership in 1948 between national AAUW and the Washington, D.C. Branch regarding the by-laws governing membership and the inclusion of "Negroes" into the membership of the branch. (AAUW's charter under Massachusetts law factored significantly in the final judicial ruling favoring the branch).

Subseries B, Membership lists, 1948-2004 (#13.8-14.20), contains corporate membership lists (colleges and universities approved by national AAUW for membership in Massachusetts State Division), gift membership lists (honorary memberships extended to graduating Massachusetts college seniors from national AAUW-approved colleges and universities), and general membership lists (Massachusetts State Division and branch officers, committee chairs, and board of directors only, unless otherwise noted). The "Standards and Recognition" membership file contains letters of approval/disapproval from national AAUW for institutions seeking corporate membership into Massachusetts State Division.

Series III, MEETINGS, 1943-2004 (#15.1-24.10), contains minutes, reports, correspondence, agendas, programs, notes and related material from the meetings, conferences, and workshops of Massachusetts State Division's various boards and committees. Also included are minutes and other related material from national AAUW conventions and national AAUW state presidents' conferences, and International Federation of University Women conferences. The handwritten notes included throughout are probably those of Helen Stobbe (past-president, 1964-1966, 1968-1970). The series is arranged in four subseries.

Subseries A, Massachusetts State Division meetings, 1943-2004 (#15.1-21.13), contains minutes and related meeting material from Massachusetts State Division board and committee meetings, conferences, and workshops (meetings documented by substantial amounts of material are foldered separately by meeting date); minutes and related meeting material from the Massachusetts State Division recording secretary (which contain both overlapping and additional material, apart from the general and date specific meeting files in the series); and a folder of miscellaneous, undated meeting material. Also included are some meeting minutes and related material from other state division meetings, most likely attended by Helen Stobbe.

Subseries B, National AAUW conventions, 1953-1991 (#21.14-23.10), contains correspondence, reports, agendas, minutes, notes, programs, general orientation information, etc., from fourteen national AAUW conventions, presumably attended and collected by Massachusetts state members, as well as material from other national AAUW conventions. Also included is material from national AAUW's diamond jubilee (Boston, 1957) and its centennial (Boston, 1981).

Subseries C, National AAUW state presidents conferences, 1954-1970 (#23.11-24.5), contains correspondence, reports, agendas, minutes, notes, programs, general orientation information, etc., from five national AAUW state presidents' conferences. The majority of the material gathered and the handwritten notes found throughout are probably from Helen Stobbe.

Subseries D, International Federation of University Women conferences, 1950s-1990s (#24.6-21.10), contains general information on the International Federation of University Women and International Federation of University Women convention material (correspondence, minutes, notes, agendas, programs, etc.) from three conventions: Mexico (1961-1962), Germany (1968), and the Netherlands (1983). The majority of the material gathered most likely came from Helen Stobbe.

Series IV, FINANCIAL RECORDS, 1931-2000 (#24.11-28.17), contains Massachusetts State Division financial records including treasurer's account books; an account workbook; treasurer's reports and budgets; expense sheets; check stubs; financial correspondence (includes bills and receipts); acknowledgment letters for fellowship donations; correspondence for the national AAUW "Dues Pilot Project"; savings books including for public television donations (see also #32.1-32.6); records on membership dues; and other miscellaneous financial records.

Series V, COMMITTEES AND PROGRAMS, 1944-2003 (scattered) (#29.1-32.16), contains material related to Massachusetts State Division committees and their legislative and community activities. Items include pamphlets, flyers, forms, legislative literature and material, general administrative correspondence, correspondence with legislators, committee procedures and guidelines, fund-raising activities and accounts, programs, agendas, announcements, notes, newsletters, photographs, etc. The series is arranged in two subseries.

Subseries A, Legislative program, 1946-2003 (scattered) (#29.1-30.8), contains legislative material, including program guidelines, policies, and membership lists; correspondence with congressional leaders; listings of Massachusetts State Division legislative programs; information on various bills affecting both national AAUW and Massachusetts State Division regarding education and women's rights; etc. The "Legal Advocacy Fund" (LAF) folder has general information on the LAF fund and two programs listing contributions from Massachusetts branches. The "Campaign For Choice" folders contain information and correspondence on national AAUW's stance on abortion rights and Massachusetts State Division dissension during the 1990s. Also included are a collection of "Fact Sheets" from the 1990s outlining national AAUW's stance on various legislation.

Subseries B, Committees and social programs, 1944-2003 (#30.9-32.16), contains material on the various committees and programs of Massachusetts State Division, including programing ideas, reports, and planning strategies outlined by the Massachusetts State Division programing and implementation chairs. The post-war and book group committee folder contains pamphlets and newsletters concerning international problems of the 1940s and lists programs to address the issues, including the establishment of a book group (letters concerning a dispute over the design and leadership of the book group are also included). There is also material from the national AAUW travel program, including information, applications, and correspondence; material from the Massachusetts State Division's public television fundraisers, including correspondence, donation forms, financial records, and photographs of donated items (see also #28.14); material on the State Division's involvement in the AAUW diversity program, including Massachusetts State Division initiatives and the brochure designed by the Framingham-Wellesley Branch; 5-Star State program and certificates earned by Massachusetts State Division (see also #53.2m); "Sister to Sister" program sponsored by the State Division; and material from several other programs and committees (mass media, emerging issues, world problems, status of women conferences, United Nations' seminars, etc.).

Series VI, EDUCATION FOUNDATION PROGRAM, 1952-2005 (scattered) (#32.17-37.10), contains general information and history, pamphlets, by-laws, fund-raising material, membership lists, meeting minutes, correspondence, program material, reports, surveys, financial records, fellowship information and recipients, and publications of the Massachusetts State Division's Education Foundation Program program and its involvement with national AAUW's Education Foundation Program. For additional Education Foundation Program records, see #41.1-41.3 and #50.17-51.3. The series is arranged in three subseries.

Subseries A, History, organization, and related material, 1958-2005 (#32.17-35.12), contains history and general information on the Education Foundation Program (national and Massachusetts State Division); by-laws; annual reports; general administrative correspondence; correspondence and minutes of the Massachusetts Council for Public Schools; general correspondence between the Massachusetts State Division Education Foundation Program chair and the Education Foundation Program chairs of the Massachusetts State Division branches; minutes from meetings; records from the building (1960-1961) and centennial (1972) funds; various reports from the 1990s (which include the "Hostile Hallways" sexual harassment survey, "Initiative for Educational Equality," Massachusetts state profile report, etc.); and other miscellaneous administrative records. Also included is a collection of Education Foundation Program "Names Honored" booklets which include listings of Massachusetts state members and Massachusetts State Division branches who contributed to Education Foundation Program funds, and a copy of the Massachusetts State Division publication, Women On Their Way (1979), which highlights several prominent Massachusetts women and their career paths in an effort to encourage junior high girls to pursue a college education and a career (#34.4).

Subseries B, Financial records, 1975-2000s (scattered) (#35.13-36.10), contains Massachusetts State Division Education Foundation Program financial reports; branch contribution records to Education Foundation Program; financial correspondence (includes receipts); material from the "Second Century Club" (contains an information booklet, membership lists, correspondence and donation records); and other miscellaneous financial records.

Subseries C, Fellowship program, 1952-1990 (#36.11-37.10), contains information on grants, fellowships, and endowments during the 1980s (national and Massachusetts State Division); correspondence with Massachusetts State Division fellowship recipients; award letters, listings and biographical summaries with educational background, work experience, and current research of recipients; request forms and letters for fellowship speakers by various Massachusetts State Division branches; listing of missing fellows; and other miscellaneous records.

Series VII, BEDFORD-LEXINGTON BRANCH, 1961-2007 (scattered) (#37.11-41.5, F+D.2), contains anniversary booklets and related material; charter, by-laws, and policies; 1997-2002 branch strategic plan (#38.4); branch presidents' reports; branch historians' reports, including branch history of the first twenty-five years in the 1987 report (#38.8); directories; membership book; meeting minutes; branch program files from the 1960s-1990s; branch contribution listings to Education Foundation Program and the Faigen Fellowship; scrapbook with clippings; photographs; clippings; and miscellaneous records. Also included is the "Places and Faces" program file, containing information on the making of the video (see Vt-161, reel 1), a discussion guide, the producer's report, a post-production report, and program viewing agenda. The Bedford-Lexington Branch produced the video in conjunction with the Metropolitan Council For Educational Opportunity (METCO) as a project for national AAUW's diversity program. Branch newsletters were transferred to the periodicals collection; consult the library's catalog for holdings.

Series VIII, BOSTON BRANCH, 1943-1999 (scattered) (#41.6-45.9, 54FB.2v-54FB.3v), contains branch history and event programs; charter, by-laws, and policies; annual reports; minutes and meeting material; branch program files; membership lists; correspondence; financial records; fellowship contributions; charity report forms; records for the Purmont and Ryder fellowships; and other miscellaneous records. Branch newsletters were transferred as addenda to the records of the American Association of University Women. Boston Branch (MC 271). The series is arranged in four subseries.

Subseries A, History, organization, and related material, 1952-1992 (#41.6-41.23), contains branch history; charter, by-laws, and policies; annual reports; administrative correspondence; meeting minutes and related material; branch programs and events (which include the foreign visitor hosting program); and other miscellaneous administrative records.

Subseries B, Membership, 1958-1992 (#42.1-42.11), contains membership lists; annual reports of branch officers filed with the Commonwealth of Massachusetts; and correspondence.

Subseries C, Financial records, 1943-1999 (#42.12-42.18, 54FB.2v-54FB.3v), contains tax records; account book; annual and monthly treasurer's reports; check stubs; budget reports; fellowship contributions; financial correspondence (includes bills and receipts); records of membership dues; and other miscellaneous financial records.

Subseries D, Fellowships, 1970s-1990s (#45.1-45.9), contains history and information on the Purmont and Ryder fellowships, including recipient lists, personal biographical information on applicants, award letters, correspondence, and financial records.

Series IX, FRAMINGHAM-WELLESLEY BRANCH, 1956-2000 (scattered) (#45.10-52.6, 54FB.4v), contains branch history and anniversary material; scrapbooks; by-laws and policies; meeting minutes and agendas; correspondence; news releases; directories and membership lists; financial records (including branch Education Foundation Program financial records); and committee and program records. Branch newsletters were transferred to the periodicals collection; consult the library's catalog for holdings. The series is arranged in five subseries.

Subseries A, History, organization, and related material, 1956-2000 (#45.10-48.15), contains branch history and founding information (with by-laws and directory) from 1957; anniversary material, including programs, song sheets, photographs, and memorabilia; scrapbooks with clippings, photographs, programs, membership lists, certificates, correspondence, newsletters, etc.; branch booklet (ca.1980), providing general information on policies and programs; by-laws and policies; meeting minutes and agendas for both branch and board meetings; general administrative correspondence; correspondence on the dissolution of the branch; news releases; two branch performance surveys from 1992 and 1997-1998; 1995-2000 strategy plan for continuing the branch (including papers for officially changing the branch name in 1997); completed officer election ballots from 1998; status votes for dissolving the branch, 1999; and descriptions of officer and committee chair positions.

Subseries B, Membership, 1960-1999 (scattered) (#48.16-49.6), contains directories, membership lists, membership profile sheets, membership cards, and correspondence.

Subseries C, Branch financial records, 1975-2000 (#49.7-50.16, 54FB.4v), contains savings books; account book of expenditures and income; treasurer's reports; check stubs; financial correspondence with receipts; vouchers, reflecting branch purchases and expenses; collection of joint treasurer's reports and budgets; budget reports; letters to recipients of branch funds following dissolution; and final bank statements following dissolution.

Subseries D, Branch Education Foundation Program financial records, 1988-1999 (#50.17-51.3), contains financial records for branch Education Foundation Program activities, including general information about Education Foundation Program; contribution report forms; branch Education Foundation Program financial correspondence, including bills and receipts; and expense sheets and financial reports.

Subseries E, Committees and programs, 1960s-1999 (#51.4-52.6), includes branch event calendars and meeting place schedule; material on various branch programs and activities during the 1960s-1990s; materials on the branch hospitality committee, including membership, committee procedures, correspondence, and forms and contracts for meeting and program space; material from the 1983 annual dinner, includes photographs; clippings and photographs for the community store program; material from the "Book and Author" program, including flyers, news releases, clippings, financial records, correspondence with authors and publishers, etc.; and copy of the 1994 "Women In Advertising" presentation.

Series X, OTHER Massachusetts State Division BRANCHES, ca.1959-1998 (scattered) (#52.7-52.18), contains records from the Acton, Canton, Foxborough, Lowell, Melrose-Wakefield, and Milton branches. In general, the records include by-laws, directories, and miscellaneous. Branch newsletters were transferred to the periodicals collection; consult the library's catalog for holdings.

Series XI, PHOTOGRAPHS, MEMORABILIA, AND AUDIOVISUAL MATERIAL, 1963-1999 (#53.1m-53.2m, Mem.1, PD.3, Vt-161), contains convention photographs from 1963 and 1979; a commemorative license plate and totebag from the national AAUW centennial, 1981; International Federation of University Women pin from the New Zealand conference, 1986; "Places and Faces" video from 1995 (produced by the Bedford-Lexington Branch for national AAUW's diversity program); and four badges awarded to Massachusetts State Division through the 5-Star State program.

Most of the photographs in this collection are or will be cataloged in VIA, Harvard University's Visual Information Access database. Others, referred to as "uncataloged" photographs, are not of sufficient research interest to warrant cataloging and are simply treated as part of the documents they accompany; they are marked on the back with an asterisk in square brackets [*].

The web site of the AAUW, Massachusetts State Division, which also includes information on the Educational Foundation Program, Legal Advocacy Fund, membership, programs and conferences, local branches, directories, annual reports, Bay Stater newsletter, photographs, etc., will be captured periodically as part of Harvard University Library's Web Archive Collection (WAX). Searchable archived versions of the web site starting in 2010, will be available through this finding aid in the future.