Young Women's City Club Records
Known as Girl’s City Club until 1954, the Young Women’s City Club was a non-sectarian, self-governing, and largely self-supporting club in Northampton, Massachusetts, that developed educational and recreational opportunities for young women through programs, social events, volunteer services, and fund-raising activities. The club met regularly under the auspices of the People’s Institute until November 1979 when their rooms at James House were taken over by the Highland Valley Elder Service and the club relocated to the People’s Institute.
The records of the Young Women’s City Club document the growth and activities of the club from 1939 to 1981, with the exception of the decade 1961 to 1971. Consisting of photocopies of originals still held by the People’s Institute, the collection includes minutes of council and business meetings and scrapbook pages.
The Young Women’s City Club, Northampton, Massachusetts (YWCC), known as Girl’s City Club until 1954 was an organization intended for women 16 years and older, was non-sectarian, self-governing, and largely self-supporting. It operated under the guidance of an Executive Secretary selected by the Board of Trustees of the People’s Institute and a council board elected by and from club members.
The records of the Young Women’s City Club, Northampton, Massachusetts (YWCC), known as Girl’s City Club until 1954, document the club’s activities between 1939 and 1981, with the exception of the decade 1961 to 1971. The purpose of the club, founded in 1926, to develop educational and recreational opportunities for young women in Northampton, was carried out in programs (lectures, slide shows, music, book reviews); lessons (in cooking, crafts, parliamentary law, child psychology); social events (teas, dinners, dances, holiday parties); and volunteer services and fund raising activities.
The club met regularly, under the auspices of the People’s Institute, at James House until November 1979 when their rooms were taken over by the Highland Valley Elder Service and the club moved to rooms in the People’s Institute.
The records here are photocopies of material still held by People’s Institute. They include minutes 1939-56 and 1972-1981, as well as pages from scrapbooks for 1938-1939 and 1954-1960.
The collection is open for research.
Cite as: Young Women’s City Club Records (MS 45). Special Collections and University Archives, W.E.B. Du Bois Library, University of Massachusetts Amherst.
Acquired photocopies with permission from Margaret Hutchins, People’s Institute, 1985.
Processed by Linda Seidman, May 1985.
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Council and business meeting minutes
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1939-1956, 1972-1981
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Box 1
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Scrapbook pages
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1938-1939, 1954-1960
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Box 2
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