CHURCH WOMEN UNITED (LA CROSSE, WIS.). RECORDS, 1942-1988. 1.4 cubic feet (1 archives box and 2 volumes)

Abstract

The national Council of Church Women organization began in December 1941. By May of 1942, the local chapter, La Crosse Council of Church Women, had begun. The group acts as a local united of the United Church Women of Wisconsin and as a general department of United Women of the National Council of the Churches of Christ, as well as functioning as a department of the La Crosse Area Council of Churches, Inc. In more recent times, the organization refers to itself as Church Women United (of La Crosse).

Records, 1942-1985, of Church Women United of La Crosse, Wisconsin, which included the constitution, meeting minutes, correspondence, financial materials, and scrapbooks. The original name of the organization was the La Crosse Council of Church Women, and later the United Church Women. Today they call themselves Church Women United. The group has been involved in many peace movements and civil rights concerns both in the U.S. and abroad.

The collection consists of scrapbooks (1952-1988), minutes (1956-1975), and correspondence (1958-1981) which reveal the members’ concern for such issues as peace movements, human, and civil rights.

Acc. No. X-17, 1992/8

Additions donated by Gladys Rezek, July 1992

Processed by Vicki Bott and Anita Taylor Doering, October 1989

History

The national Council of Church Women organization began in December 1941. By May of 1942, the local chapter, La Crosse Council of Church Women, had begun. The group acts as a local united of the United Church Women of Wisconsin and as a general department of United Women of the National Council of the Churches of Christ, as well as functioning as a department of the La Crosse Area Council of Churches, Inc. In more recent times, the organization refers to itself as Church Women United (of La Crosse).

This group serves as a vehicle by which national organization can carry out its goals on a local level. Annual activities include World Community Day, Fellowship Day, Interfaith Tea (first held in 1953), May luncheon (first held in 1942), and World Day of Prayer. Speakers are often invited to speak on various topics for these events. The group has been involved in many peace movements and civil rights concerns both in the U.S. and abroad.

Scope and Content

This collection contains records of the Church Women United of La Crosse 1942-1985. Materials include the constitution, meeting minutes, correspondence, financial materials, and scrapbooks.

The CONSTITUTION is dated 1959, and includes proposed amendments for 1965. MINUTES cover the period 1956 to 1975. CORRESPONDENCE, including thank you notes as well as State Department correspondence, spans from 1958-1981. FINANCIAL MATERIALS, 1942-1973, include treasurers’ reports and a journal. Lastly, the SCRAPBOOKS, 1952-1985, include a mixture of materials ranging from annual meeting minutes, to flyers, to glued in programs and correspondence. The scrapbooks are perhaps the best documentation of the organization’s activities and concerns. Loose materials from the scrapbooks were grouped together into two folders labeled “scrapbook material (loose).”

The collection as a whole illustrates the activities and involvement of the group’s members which are best chronicled in the council minutes and scrapbook materials.