Friends in Council Records (Princeton)
Scope and Contents
The Friends in Council records collection documents the history of the organization from 1880 to 2016, with the bulk of the materials dating between 1880 and 1967. A major series of the collection contains minute books (1880-1967); the minutes record the number of members attending, the topic of the meetings lecture, and current events of the past week. As a group organized to teach members on cultural, historical, and scientific subjects, the minutes provide an interesting insight into society’s views on world events. Other records include a record of members and banquet programs (1880-1935), annual programs, banquet booklets, and programs from other Friends in Council organizations. The record of members and banquet programs discusses the topics of the annual banquet meetings and include a complete transcription of the special speech delivered by a member. Yearly topics of research and the schedule for each meeting appear in the annual programs. Researchers should note that Box 1, Folder 1 contains brief historical sketches of the organization. The Center holds several other women’s organizational records collections which may provide supplementary information: American Association for University Women (DeKalb); Sycamore, Rochelle, DeKalb, Mendota, Woodstock, and Belvidere Business and Professional Women’s Clubs; Jolly Neighbors Club (Prophetstown) and DeKalb League of Women Voters (RC 56, 97, 98, 99, 112, 118, 120, 121, l22). In addition, the Shimer College Collection (RC 77) , Woodbury-Forsythe Diaries (RC 8) , and materials in the Vertical File Manuscripts Collection contain letters, diaries, and records written by northern Illinois women during the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries.
Dates
- created: 1880-2016
- Other: Majority of material found in 1880-1967
- Other: Date acquired: 02/26/1981
Conditions Governing Access
There are no restrictions on access to the collection.
Conditions Governing Use
Property rights in the collection belong to the Regional History Center; literary rights are dedicated to the public.
Biographical or Historical Information
The Friends in Council organized on July 28, 1880 with 12 women meeting at Mrs. Volney S. Cooper’s home. Established for the mutual improvement of women by means of reading and studying, the group limited membership to 24 women (later changed to 25) of mature age willing to work and study. They considered young women too frivolous for dedicated research. The group met at Mrs. Cooper’s house for 8 years with each bringing their own chair. They then moved to the Methodist Church, to members’ homes, to the Del Monte Club rooms, and finally, to the library. Mrs. Whipple served as the first president with Mrs. Chamberlain as vice president and Mrs. Ford as secretary.
Originally the organization met on Friday mornings from 9 o’clock to 11 o’clock, but since Friday is sweeping day, they switched to Thursdays in 1882. In 1905 the club chose the rose as the group’s symbol. Over the years, annual topics of discussion and research included European history, religion, music, wars, law, and the history of many countries. Each woman presented at least one paper on a chosen topic within the broader subject. A unique sort of women’s organization, the Friends in Council not only serves a social function, but also educates and broadens the knowledge of its members.
Note written by
Full Extent
2.25 Linear Feet
Language of Materials
English
Source of Acquisition
Mrs. Nancy Zearing
Method of Acquisition
Mrs. Nancy Zearing, President, donated the records of the Friends in Council, Princeton, Illinois, to the Northern Illinois Regional History Center on February 26, 1981.
Geographic
Topical
Uniform Title
- Title
- Friends in Council Records (Princeton)
- Description rules
- Describing Archives: A Content Standard
- Language of description
- Undetermined
- Script of description
- Code for undetermined script
- Language of description note
- eng
Repository Details
Part of the Northern Illinois University Repository
Founders Memorial Library
Northern Illinois University
DeKalb IL 60115 US
815-753-9392
rhcua@niu.edu