American Association of University Women/Rockford Branch Records, 1881+ | Northern Illinois University

Collection Overview

Title: American Association of University Women/Rockford Branch Records, 1881+

ID: RHC/RC/248

Extent: 15.25 Linear Feet

Arrangement: The American Association of University Women, Rockford Branch, is divided into four series: Rockford Branch, State, National, and International.

Date Acquired: 11/28/2000. More info below under Accruals.

Subjects: AAUW, American Association of University Women, American Association of University Women, Rockford, Rockford (Ill.), Universities and colleges, Women--Societies and clubs.

Languages: English

Scope and Contents of the Materials

The American Association of University Women, Rockford Branch, is divided into four series: Rockford Branch, State, National, and International. The first series documents the history of the Rockford Branch from its origination in 1929 through 2000. The records consist of bylaws, branch and board minutes, newsletters, yearbooks, membership information, treasurer’s reports, and scrapbooks.

It is useful to note that the scrapbooks include copies of the Rockford Files, newspaper clippings, photographs, programs and correspondence. The treasurer’s books provide information regarding dues, membership, check registers and other pertinent financial data. It is also important to note that in late 1991 the AAUW, Rockford Branch, newsletter changed its name from The Rockford File to The Initiative. Additional history of the AAUW can be found in the 70th Anniversary Planning Committee, 1999 folder (Box 8, Folder 13).

Series II gives information about the AAUW, Illinois Division, from 1975 through 2000. The records consist of directories, bylaws, publications, convention materials and photographs. Series III contains information about the AAUW on a the National level. The records date from 1881 through 2000. This series includes history, bylaws, membership information, publications, and scholarship information. It is important to note that records for the Educational Foundation are contained in this series. They include annual reports, fellowship and grant information, and publications. Series IV, the International Series includes one folder containing information on the International Federation of University Women. Included in the addenda are records showing the activities of the Rockford Branch including fund-raising, programs, newsletters, and meeting minutes, and scrapbooks. The addenda also contains program year notebooks which include by-laws, agendas, general and board meeting minutes, budgets, photographs, programs, project information, newspaper articles, newsletters, and convention programs.

The addenda beginning in box 29 contains material originally contained on a flash drive. The material from the flash drive have been printed out and arranged in their original order of the flash drive. The flash drive is also available in box 30, folder 8.

Collection Historical Note

Organized mainly by faculty and graduates of Rockford College, the Rockford Branch of AAUW originated in 1929. Since its inception the Branch has focused its efforts on such issues as education, international relations, culture/art, social welfare, government and equity activities. In support of their causes the members have hosted a variety of fundraisers including teas, used book sales, cookbook sales, book reviews and dances.

From the beginning, members have been active in promoting educational opportunities for women. The Branch has supported a variety of local school referenda, and has been involved with SOURCE (Service of Uncovering Resources in the Community for Education) since its inception in 1970. The organization has developed various scholarship funds and in 1983 established the Mildred F. Berry Research & Projects Endowment Fund which provides grants to AAUW members to pursue community action projects. That same year it hosted the first annual Women in History Contest for 5th- 8th graders. AAUW has partnered the YWCA and League of Women Voters to offer classes on international relations and with Rock Valley College and others to produce the annual World Affairs Council conference which allowed two AAUW members to tour China.

Culture, the Arts and Social Welfare are also on the list of interests of the AAUW, Rockford Branch. The organization has a Cultural Interest Representative who has been involved with the Rockford Arts Council since the late 1960s. Members of the AAUW and other groups have worked together to create, produced and direct a monthly, one hour public service broadcast, “Women Speak Out.” The organization also hosts art walks, theater parties, panel discussions and its annual “Beattie Is” festival. In furthering its interests in social welfare, the Branch hosted a series of money management courses for the disadvantaged, produced a booklet, “Let’s Talk Money,” and surveyed local nursery schools in an investigation of the need for care of children with working mothers.

In additional to the organizations other interests, government and equity for women have always remained high on the list of priorities of the AAUW. The members wrote and published “The ABC’s of Local Government,” supported the Bill for Federal School Aid, sponsored one of a series of debates between U.S. Senator Charles Percy and challenger Alex Seith, and hosted the 1979 Division Conference where Maureen Reagan and Judy Carter spoke as a protest to Illinois’ lack of ratification of the Equal Rights Act. In 1984 the Branch joined four other women’s organizations to form the Personal & Professional Power Coalition to educate area women on the topic of power. The branch also co-sponsored the Career Carousel to explore non-traditional career options for women.

Subject/Index Terms

AAUW
American Association of University Women
American Association of University Women, Rockford
Rockford (Ill.)
Universities and colleges
Women--Societies and clubs.

Administrative Information

Repository: Northern Illinois University

Accruals: Addenda to the collection were added at later dates.

Access Restrictions: There are no restrictions on access to the collection.

Use Restrictions: Property rights to the collection are held by the Regional History Center; literary rights are dedicated to the public.

Acquisition Source: AAUW, Rockford Branch President, Sheryl Almquist

Acquisition Method: The records of the American Association of University Women, Rockford Branch, were donated to the Northern Illinois Regional History Center by AAUW, Rockford Branch President, Sheryl Almquist, on November 28, 2000.

Box and Folder Listing

Browse by Series:

[Series I.: Rockford Branch],
[Series II.: State],
[Series III.: National],
[Series IV.: International],
[Addendum 1],
[Addendum 2],
[Addendum 3],
[Addendum 4],
[Addendum 5],
[Addendum 6],
[Addendum 7],
[All]

Series I.: Rockford Branch

Box 1

Folder 1: History, 1929-1999
Folder 2: Bylaws, 1947, 1957, 1975-1977, 1981-1983, 1985-1989, 1993
Folder 3: Branch Handbook, 1965
Folder 4: Policy Sheet, 1971, 1977, 1981, 1985, no date
Folder 5: Strategic Plan, 1999-2000
Folder 6: Annual Report, 1969-1976, 1978-1981, 1983-1985, 1998-1999
Folder 7-9: Branch Meeting Minutes, January 1941-February 15, 1967
Folder 10: Branch Meeting Minutes, 1979, 1985-1988, 1999
Folder 11-12: Board Meeting Minutes, April 5, 1939-September 1949

Box 2

Folder 1-4: Board Meeting Minutes, October 1949-May 1976
Folder 5: Board Meeting Minutes, 1985-1988, 1993-1999
Folder 6: Meeting Information Cards, 1994-1996, no date

Box 3

Folder 1-4: Newsletter, 1975-1991, 1993-2000
Folder 5-6: Yearbooks (Directories), 1933-1938, 1940-1980

Box 4

Folder 1: Yearbooks (Directories), 1980-1999
Folder 2: Correspondence, 1983-1989, 1991-1996, 1998-1999, no date
Folder 3: Membership Cards and Information, 1993-1994
Folder 4: Honorary Life Membership Recognition, 1984-1988, 1998
Folder 5: Past Branch Presidents, 1930-1999
Folder 6: Branch Officers, 1985-1987, 1999
Folder 7: Membership Lists, 1992-1994, 1998, no date
Folder 8: Membership Directory, no date
Folder 9: Roster of Women Qualified for Public Office, 1959, 1965, 1969, no date
Folder 10: Interest Finder, 1973-1975
Folder 11: Membership Information and Cards, A-E, 1963, 1966-1972
Folder 12: Membership Information Cards, F-L, 1948, 1963, 1966-1972
Folder 13: Membership Information Cards, Mc-R, 1963-1972
Folder 14: Membership Information Cards, S-Y, 1962-1963, 1966-1972

Box 5a

Item 1: Membership Cards: A-N, 1936-1994

Box 5b

Item 1: Membership Cards: O-Z, 1936-1994
Item 2: New Members, 1985-1994
Item 3: New Members: Inactive Lapsed Membership, 1986-1990
Item 4: New Members: Dropped, 1992-1994

Box 6

Folder 1: Guest Book, 1971-1977, 1984-1990
Folder 2-6: Treasurer's Book, May 1946-June 1980

Box 7

Folder 1: Treasurer's Book, February 1983-July 1985
Folder 2: Old Budgets and Bank Forms, 1938-1975
Folder 3: Budget, 1985-1988
Folder 4: Treasurer's Books (2 volumes), 1974-1976
Folder 5-6: Treasurer's Reports, 1953-1956, 1965-1967, 1973-1979, 1985-1988, 1993-1994
Folder 7: Unincorporated Organization Authority for Bank Account, 1976
Folder 8: Contribution Report Form, 1973-1996
Folder 9: Educational Foundation, 1980-1988
Folder 10: Eleanor Roosevelt Fund, 1989
Folder 11: Legal Advocacy Fund, 1993-1996
Folder 12: Mildred F. Berry Endowment, 1982-1985,1993,1995,1999
Folder 13: President's Notebook: Arts Resource Survey, 1954-1958
Folder 14: President's Notebook: Branch Handbooks, 1961
Folder 15: President's Notebook: Constitution and Bylaws, 1941, 1947
Folder 16: President's Notebook: Directory of Illinois Artists, 1948-1949

Box 8

Folder 1: President's Notebook: General Director's Letter, 1954, 1963, 1964
Folder 2: President's Notebook: Local Reports and Study Groups, 1948-1949, 1954, 1957, 1962-1964
Folder 3: President's Notebook: Membership, 1946
Folder 4: President's Notebook: Notes on the Arts, General Director's Letter, 1951, 1952
Folder 5: President's Notebook: The Arts Program, 1948-1954
Folder 6: President's Notebook: Art Program State Reports and Letters, 1960
Folder 7: President's Notebook: Handbook,, July 1996
Folder 8: President's Notebook: Calendar, 1997
Folder 9: President's Notebook: Account Balance Report and Programs, 1997
Folder 10: President's Notebook: Bylaws, 1997
Folder 11: President's File, 1978, 1988, no date
Folder 12: Job Descriptions, no date
Folder 13: Committees: 70th Anniversary Planning Committee, 1999
Folder 14: Committees: Advocacy Chair, 1983-1986
Folder 15: Committees: Arrangements Committee, 1982-1988, no date
Folder 16: Committees: Calling Committee, 1979-1980, 1983-1987
Folder 17: Committees: "A Career For All Seasons" Committee, 1986-1987, 1989
Folder 18: Committees: Education Task Force, 1985
Folder 19: Committees: Empowering Women: Achieving Change Through Advocacy Networks Task Force, February 1983
Folder 20: Committees: The Game Committee, 1994
Folder 21: Committees: Interest Group Coordinator, 1983-1985

Box 9

Folder 1: Committees: Legislative Committee, 1983-1987
Folder 2: Committees: Nominating Committee, 1985-1986
Folder 3: Committees: Study Groups, 1972-1973
Folder 4: Reports: Year End Reports, Officers/Chairs, 1983-1989
Folder 5: Reports: Historian's Report, 1983-1989
Folder 6: Reports: Membership Annual Reports, 1982-1990
Folder 7: Reports: Peace and National Security Annual Report, 1983-1984
Folder 8: Projects: ABC's of Government, 1975-1976, 1979, 1984
Folder 9: Projects: Annual Book Sale, 1974-1985, no date
Folder 10: Projects: BA 580 Research Project, no date
Folder 11: Projects: Coalition for Choice, 1985
Folder 12: Projects: Community Action Grant Application Form, Rock River Valley Girl Scouts, 1996-1997
Folder 13: Projects: Ebony Fashion Show, Presented by Taus Incorporated, 1996, 1999
Folder 14: Projects: Initiative Readership Survey, no date
Folder 15: Projects: Local Government Book Income and Orders, 1976-1977
Folder 16: Projects: Plant Sale, 1985, 1989, 1994, 1999
Folder 17: Projects: Rockford Branch Member Survey, 1980, 1994
Folder 18: Projects: Rockford Middle School Survey, 1972-1974
Folder 19: Projects: Rockford Peace Advocate Coalition Videos, 1987-1988
Folder 20: Projects: he Rockford Sampler Cookbook, 1985
Folder 21: Projects: Source, 1988-1990
Folder 22: Projects: Take Our Daughters to Work Day, 1995
Folder 23: Projects: Teenage Mentoring, 1988-1989

Box 10

Folder 1: Projects: Volunteering, no date
Folder 2: Projects: Woman to Woman, "Alcohol and You", 1987
Folder 3: Projects: Women in History Competition, 1982
Folder 4: Projects: Women in History Competition, 1983
Folder 5: Projects: Women in History Competition, 1984
Folder 6: Projects: Women in History Competition, 1985
Folder 7: Projects: Oral History Contest Judge Sheets, 1985-1986
Folder 8: Projects: Women in History Competition, 1986
Folder 9: Projects: Women in History Competition, 1987
Folder 10: Projects: Women in History Contest Judge Sheets, 1987
Folder 11: Projects: Women in History Competition, 1988
Folder 12: Projects: Speech, Women in History Competition, 1989
Folder 13: Projects: Oral History Contest, 1988-1989
Folder 14: Projects: Oral History Contest Judge Sheets, 1988-1989
Folder 15: Projects: Women in History Competition, 1989-1990
Folder 16: Projects: Oral History Contest Judge Sheet, 1989-1990
Folder 17: Projects: Women in History Competition, 1990-1991
Folder 18: Projects: Oral History Contest Judge Sheets, 1990-1991

Box 11

Folder 1: Projects: Women in History Competition, 1991-1992
Folder 2: Projects: Women in History Competition, 1992-1993
Folder 3: Projects: Women in History Competition, 1993-1994
Folder 4: Projects: Women in History Contest Judge Sheets, 1993-1994
Folder 5: Projects: Women in History Contest Papers, 1994
Folder 6: Projects: Women in History Competition, 1995
Folder 7: Projects: Women in History Contest Judge Sheets, 1995
Folder 8: Projects: Poster Contest, 1998
Folder 9: Projects: Photographs, Women in History Contest, (10), March 2000, no date
Folder 10: Projects: Notecards, Women in History Participants,, no date
Folder 11: Projects: Women Mentoring Women, 1995-1996
Folder 12: Projects: Women's History Curriculum Guide, 1983
Folder 13: Projects: Women's History Week, no date
Folder 14: Projects: Women's Vote Project, 1984-1985, no date
Folder 15: Projects: YWCA Leader Luncheon, 1981-1983
Folder 16: Projects: YWCA Leader Luncheon, 1986

Box 12

Folder 1-3: Projects: YWCA Leader Luncheon, 1987-1988, 1999-2000
Folder 4: Programs: Event, Presentation, Workshop, and Convention Fliers, 1980,1989, 1991, 1993, 1995, 1996, 1997, 1999
Folder 5: Programs: Program Plans, 1975-1976, 1995
Folder 6: Programs: Program Schedule, Rockford Branch, 1998-1999
Folder 7: Conventions: 34th Biennial Convention, Houston, Texas, Pictures and Postcards, (30), June 20-24, 1987
Folder 8: Conventions: 34th Biennial Convention, Houston, Texas, 1987
Folder 9: Conventions: 36th Biennial Convention, Portland, Oregon, June 22-25, 1991
Folder 10: Conventions: Career Carousel, 1984-1986
Folder 11: Conventions: Citizen's Ambassador Program, 1995
Folder 12: Conventions: "Educational Reform: Everyone's Business," Rock Valley College, April 27, 1985
Folder 13: Conventions: Personal and Professional Power Coalition, October 27, 1984
Folder 14: Conventions: Second China-United States Conference on Women's Issues, Beijing, October 11-14, 1999
Folder 15: Conventions: Workshop, 1994
Folder 16: Brochures, 1986-2000
Folder 17: Newspaper Clippings, 1966-1977, 1989-1999, no date
Folder 18: "Agent of Change" Award, 1984-1988
Folder 19: Feminist of the Year Award, 1988
Folder 20: Certificates, Rockford Branch, 1996,1997
Folder 21: Photographs, Dinner with Community Leaders and Lynn Martin, March 2000
Folder 22: Photographs, (4), no date
Folder 23: Bead Necklace, Roberta Ingrassia, President, 1990s
Folder 24: Bookmark, (1), no date
Folder 25: Buttons, Sticker, Pin (10), no date
Folder 26: Tape, Unidentified Lecture, no date
Folder 27: Scrapbook Pages, 1968, 1970, 1992, 1998, 1999, no date

Volume 1-5: Scrapbooks (5 volumes), 1978-1989

Oversize Drawer 20

Folder 20: Posters: Women's Movement of the 1980's, Judy Carter and Maureen Reagan; Ellen Goodman: A Matter of Values, ; Women in History Contest Poster, April 23, 1980; October 19 1983, 1986, 1988, 1989