Virginia Federation of Business and Professional Women's Clubs records, 1921-2009

Access and use

Location of collection:
Library of Virginia
The Library of Virginia
800 East Broad Street
Richmond, VA 23219
Contact for questions and access:
POC: Archives Reference Services
Phone: (804) 692-3888
Restrictions:

There are no restrictions.

Terms of access:

There are no restrictions.

Preferred citation:

Virginia Federation of Business and Professional Women's Clubs. Records, 1921-2009. Accession 44419. Organization records collection, The Library of Virginia, Richmond 23219.

Summary

Language:
English
Preferred citation:

Virginia Federation of Business and Professional Women's Clubs. Records, 1921-2009. Accession 44419. Organization records collection, The Library of Virginia, Richmond 23219.

Background

Scope and content:

Records, 1921-2009, of the Virginia chapter of the Business and Professional Women, including annual reports, bylaws, correspondence, histories, minutes, newsletters, photographs, programs, and reports. Included are copies of the newsletter, Federation Notes, 1969-2009; minutes; convention photographs, 1929-2000; annual convention programs, 1926-2009; histories of the organization and presidents; membership finances and rosters, 1996-2007; bylaws, certificates of incorporation, and rules handbooks; and emblems and organizational prayer. Similar materials, such as annual reports, can be found in several folders throughout the collection, therefore a thorough cross checking of all folders is necessary to find related materials.

The chronological files, 1968-2009, mainly contain minutes but also included are annual reports, bylaws, correspondence, finances, memoranda, memorial service programs, photographs, and reports. Of note is the correspondence detailing the closure of various chapters of the organization starting in 1999 and the dissolution of the Virginia chapter of the BPW in 2009. These files contain information on the day to day activities of the organization and works accomplished.

Of note are the files for each president of the chapter from 1919 to 1980. Included are annual reports, clippings, convention programs, correspondence, finances, biographies of the presidents, photographs, reports, and resolutions. Also of note are the photographs. 1929-2002, of annual conventions and presidents (found in the President's files). Also included are copies of A History of the National Federation of Business and Professional Women's Clubs, Inc., Volumes I-III.

Biographical / historical:

The National Business and Professional Women's Club held its first convention in St. Louis in July 1919 and elected Gail Laughlin as the first president. Virginia was one of the earliest State Federations to affiliate with the National Federation of Business and Professional Women's Clubs. In 1919, Dr. Orie Latham Hatcher, Cornelia Adair, Mrs. Geline MacDonald Bowman, Ella Agnew, Katherine Hawes, and Mrs. Beverly B. Munford called the meeting at which the Virginia Federation was formed with the clubs of Richmond, Roanoke, Lynchburg and Danville as its charter members. Miss Ella Agnew was the first president of the Virginia Federation, serving 1919 to 1920. In 2009, due to declining membership the Virginia Federation dissolved.

Acquisition information:

Gift of Virginia Federation of Business and Professional Women's Clubs, July 2009. (Acc. 44419)

Additions, gift of Estate of Alice Martin, Arlington, April 2010. (Acc. 44902)

Physical description:
5.15 cu. ft. (15 boxes and oversize banner on shelf)