Altrusa Club Records (DeKalb-Sycamore)

Collection

Identifier: RHC-RC-165

Staff Only

Scope and Contents

The records of the Altrusa Club of DeKalb-Sycamore date from the club's founding in 1960 to 2001. A history of Altrusa International, Incorporated is in folder one. The minutes for May 1972, contain a brief history of the local club. Series I, the DeKalb-Sycamore Records, contains a complete set of yearbooks and a nearly complete set of minutes. Yearbooks are put together annually and contain lists of officers, members and committees. The minutes begin in August 1961 and continue until August 1997 with July 1963 to March 1964 and July 1985 to June 1986 missing. The minutes for October 1987 to June 1988 are located in the President’s Notebook located in box 1, folder 30. This notebook also includes attendance sheets, projects, newsletters, committees, and District and International information. Folders entitled Notebooks may contain correspondence, membership recommendations, club activity reports, committee reports, newspaper clippings, and budgets. In addition to the yearbooks and minutes there are scrapbooks that document the club's activities. Also included in the collection are budgets, membership reports, news releases, correspondence, committee reports, program and project information such as the Flower Show and the Art Auction, and photographs. Altrusa publications and certificates of recognition awarded to the club are also in the collection. The District Six and International Records located in Series II and III consists of by-laws, directories, correspondence, conference information, and publications. The historian files included in the addendum contain agendas, meeting minutes, newsletters, correspondence, project information, committee assignments, and award information

Dates

created: 1960+
Other: Date acquired: 02/06/1984

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

Altrusa International Incorporated is a service organization for women who occupy supervisory positions in their professions. It was organized in Nashville, Tennessee, on April 11, 1917, and quickly spread to other cities. By August 1917, the organization was incorporated as the National Altrusa Institute. In 1924, the organization adopted vocational guidance as a national policy. Due to growth, Altrusa divided its club into ten geographical districts in 1930 and established its headquarters in Chicago one year later. It became an international organization in 1935 when an Altrusa Club was established in Mexico City, Mexico. The Altrusa Club of DeKalb-Sycamore was organized in June 1961, but was not chartered until May 23, 1962. This delay was due to a rule that said a club had to have a project before it could be chartered. With the help of Ruth Haddock, Dean of Women at Northern Illinois University, the Altrusa Club of DeKalb-Sycamore gave $200.00 to Project Morale. This was a scholarship for female students who would have had to leave school due to lack of funds. The club continues to give scholarships and supports the DeKalb County Association for Mental Health and the YMCA. Its first major fund-raising event was a fashion show which evolved into a combined fashion and flower show. The DeKalb-Sycamore Club is part of District 6 and meets twice a month.

Note written by

Extent

8.75 Linear Feet

Language of Materials

English

Additional Description

Arrangement Note

The records of the Altrusa Club of DeKalb-Sycamore is divided into three series: DeKalb-Sycamore Records, District Six Records, and International Records.

Source of Acquisition

Eileen Dammers and Jessie Glidden

Method of Acquisition

The records of the Altrusa Club of DeKalb-Sycamore were donated to the Northern Illinois Regional History Center on February 6, 1984 by Eileen Dammers and Jessie Glidden.