Scope and Contents: The Friends in Council records collection documents the history of the organization from 1880 to 2016, with the bulk of the materials dating between 1880 and 1967. A major series of the collection contains minute books (1880-1967); the minutes record the number of members attending, the topic of the meetings lecture, and current events of the past week. As a group organized to teach members on cultural, historical, and scientific subjects, the minutes provide an interesting insight into society’s views on world events.
Other records include a record of members and banquet programs (1880-1935), annual programs, banquet booklets, and programs from other Friends in Council organizations. The record of members and banquet programs discusses the topics of the annual banquet meetings and include a complete transcription of the special speech delivered by a member. Yearly topics of research and the schedule for each meeting appear in the annual programs.
Researchers should note that Box 1, Folder 1 contains brief historical sketches of the organization. The Center holds several other women’s organizational records collections which may provide supplementary information: American Association for University Women (DeKalb); Sycamore, Rochelle, DeKalb, Mendota, Woodstock, and Belvidere Business and Professional Women’s Clubs; Jolly Neighbors Club (Prophetstown) and DeKalb League of Women Voters (RC 56, 97, 98, 99, 112, 118, 120, 121, l22). In addition, the Shimer College Collection (RC 77) , Woodbury-Forsythe Diaries (RC 8) , and materials in the Vertical File Manuscripts Collection contain letters, diaries, and records written by northern Illinois women during the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries.