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.
Subjects (links to similar collections)
