The University of Massachusetts Amherst
Robert S. Cox Special Collections & University Archives Research Center
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Easthampton (Mass.) Community Chest

Easthampton Community Chest Records

1943-1969
2 boxes 0.75 linear feet
Call no.: MS 051

Organization created to sponsor and conduct all fundraising for, and to distribute funds to, relief and social agencies in the town of Easthampton, Massachusetts. Contains records of minutes, campaign reports, Presidents’ and Treasurers’ reports, and correspondence. Also included are scrapbooks with newspaper clippings and other printed material.

Historical Note

In 1943, Easthampton citizens incorporated the Easthampton Community War Fund to sponsor and conduct all fundraising for, and to distribute funds to, the relief and social agencies in the town. Nine years later in 1952, the organization was renamed the Easthampton Community Chest.

Through the 1950’s and early 1960’s, however, the Chest failed to reach its campaign goals. Board minutes reflect the Chest’s difficulties in finding volunteers to help with the campaigns, in educating the public and in developing interest in the Chest. Proposed solutions included dropping the Chest Drive, hiring a professional director, and holding a joint drive with the surrounding towns. The Easthampton Community Chest held its last drive in 1968. In 1969, the Easthampton Community Chest joined the Northampton Community Chest as the Hampshire United Fund.

Scope and Contents of the Collection

The collection is approximately .75 feet and consists of two series, including Administration, 1943-1968 and Scrapbooks.

Series I, Administration, contains the Easthampton Community Chest records maintained by the secretary in chronological order. Minutes (1943-1968), campaign reports, Presidents’ and Treasurers’ reports, and correspondence are found in a single sequence.

Series II, Scrapbooks, contains three Easthampton Community War Fund scrapbooks. The scrapbooks document campaign activity and included newspaper clippings and other printed material (1943-1945).

This collection is organized into two series:


Information on Use
Terms of Access and Use
Restrictions on access:

The collection is open for research.

Preferred Citation

Cite as: Easthampton Community Chest Records (MS 51). Special Collections and University Archives, W.E.B. Du Bois Library, University of Massachusetts Amherst.

History of the Collection
Processing Information

Collection processed by Anneliese Ostendarp, 2003.


Additional Information

Sponsor
Encoding funded by the Andrew W. Mellon Foundation.

Language
English.


Series Descriptions


1943-1968
Arrangement:

Contains the Easthampton Community Chest records maintained by the secretary in chronological order.

Scope and content:

Minutes (1943-1968), campaign reports, Presidents’ and Treasurers’ reports, and correspondence are found in a single sequence.


1943-1945

Contains three Easthampton Community War Fund scrapbooks. The scrapbooks document campaign activity and included newspaper clippings and other printed material (1943-1945).

Contents List
Series 1. Administration
1943-1968
By-Laws
1943
Box 1:1
Incorporation Papers
1943-1963
Box 1:2
Minutes and Correspondence
1943-1968
Box 1:3-7

Series 2. Scrapbooks
1943-1945
Scrapbook
1943
Box 1:1
Scrapbook
1944-1945
Box 2:2-3

Subjects

Charities--Massachusetts--Easthampton--History--SourcesEasthampton (Mass.)--Social conditions--SourcesEasthampton Community War Fund (Easthampton, Mass.)--ArchivesFederations, Financial (Social service)--History--Sources

Contributors

Easthampton Community Chest (Easthampton, Mass.)

Types of material

Scrapbooks