Indianapolis Council of Women collection
Collection
Identifier: L516
Scope and Contents
This collection includes board and general assembly meeting minutes, treasurer documents, roll books, president's books, and yearbooks from the Indianapolis Council of Women in Indianapolis, Indiana, ranging from 1892 to 2018, concerning the organization's history and activities. Also included are administrative records from the Indiana State Council of Women ranging from 1929 to 1995.
Dates
- 1892-2018
Creator
- Indiana State Council of Women (Organization)
Conditions Governing Access
This collection is open for research.
Conditions Governing Use
Legal title, copyright, and literary rights reside with Rare Books and Manuscripts, Indiana State Library, Indianapolis, IN. All requests to publish or quote from manuscripts must be submitted to Rare Books and Manuscripts.
Administrative History
"In 1891 Propylaeum stockholders, led by May Wright Sewall, voted to form a council to accomplish at the local level what the National Council of Women was trying to do for the country. Begun in 1892 with 49 Indianapolis literary clubs, charitable institutions, missionary and church societies, and other associations, the group was originally known as the Local Council of Women.
Sewall had been instrumental in the founding of the national and international organizations in 1888. Local councils, like the Indianapolis group, provided a forum for communication among the various women’s groups so that they could learn from and provide assistance to each other for civic betterment. Organizations belonging to a local council were to be equally represented and maintain their autonomy.
The Indianapolis Council of Women was incorporated in 1902 and later survived its founder’s death in 1920. Until 1923 the council met monthly in the Propylaeum. The council took the most interest in those moral and civic issues that related to women and children, such as women’s suffrage and improved conditions in the schools. These women made their influence felt by conducting investigations, making resolutions, and pressuring authorities in local government and private organizations. During its early years, it studied jail conditions for women prisoners, investigated the presence of children in 'wine rooms,' pushed for women on local governmental boards and commissions, and became active in municipal legislation regarding public health and improved housing. It also donated time and money to causes such as setting up free milk stations and paying for police matrons and juvenile probation officers.
Several groups were founded through this local council, including the Indianapolis Consumers League (1901) and the Indiana Council of Women (1921). Social programs were also a part of the council’s activities. Besides a Founder’s Day luncheon, the women regularly had lunches and dinners featuring music programs, literary readings, or local speakers.
The council celebrated its centennial in 1992 by hosting several historical programs. By this point, it had 135 participating groups, representing roughly 45,000 people and met for seven lunches a year to host speakers on topics of community interest. These women continued to make an impact on the community by providing assistance to the city’s homeless and abused people."
From: Colbert, Ann Mauger. "Indianapolis Council of Women." Encyclopedia of Indianapolis. 1994. Accessed May 2, 2024. https://indyencyclopedia.org/indianapolis-council-of-women.
Sewall had been instrumental in the founding of the national and international organizations in 1888. Local councils, like the Indianapolis group, provided a forum for communication among the various women’s groups so that they could learn from and provide assistance to each other for civic betterment. Organizations belonging to a local council were to be equally represented and maintain their autonomy.
The Indianapolis Council of Women was incorporated in 1902 and later survived its founder’s death in 1920. Until 1923 the council met monthly in the Propylaeum. The council took the most interest in those moral and civic issues that related to women and children, such as women’s suffrage and improved conditions in the schools. These women made their influence felt by conducting investigations, making resolutions, and pressuring authorities in local government and private organizations. During its early years, it studied jail conditions for women prisoners, investigated the presence of children in 'wine rooms,' pushed for women on local governmental boards and commissions, and became active in municipal legislation regarding public health and improved housing. It also donated time and money to causes such as setting up free milk stations and paying for police matrons and juvenile probation officers.
Several groups were founded through this local council, including the Indianapolis Consumers League (1901) and the Indiana Council of Women (1921). Social programs were also a part of the council’s activities. Besides a Founder’s Day luncheon, the women regularly had lunches and dinners featuring music programs, literary readings, or local speakers.
The council celebrated its centennial in 1992 by hosting several historical programs. By this point, it had 135 participating groups, representing roughly 45,000 people and met for seven lunches a year to host speakers on topics of community interest. These women continued to make an impact on the community by providing assistance to the city’s homeless and abused people."
From: Colbert, Ann Mauger. "Indianapolis Council of Women." Encyclopedia of Indianapolis. 1994. Accessed May 2, 2024. https://indyencyclopedia.org/indianapolis-council-of-women.
Extent
7.1 Cubic Feet (17 manuscript boxes, 1 small flat box)
Language of Materials
English
Arrangement
This collection is arranged by series and subseries:
Series 1: Indianapolis Council of Women administrative records, 1892-2018
Subseries 1.1: Board of Assembly minutes, 1892-1981 Subseries 1.2: Treasurer documents, 1941-1993 Subseries 1.3: Roll books, 1894-1977 Subseries 1.4: President's books, 1966-1991 Subseries 1.5: Yearbooks, 1924-2018 Subseries 1.6: Subject files, 1902-1995
Series 2: Indiana State Council of Women administrative records, 1929-1995
Series 1: Indianapolis Council of Women administrative records, 1892-2018
Subseries 1.1: Board of Assembly minutes, 1892-1981 Subseries 1.2: Treasurer documents, 1941-1993 Subseries 1.3: Roll books, 1894-1977 Subseries 1.4: President's books, 1966-1991 Subseries 1.5: Yearbooks, 1924-2018 Subseries 1.6: Subject files, 1902-1995
Series 2: Indiana State Council of Women administrative records, 1929-1995
Custodial History
This collection was received by Rare Books and Manuscripts as a donation from Janeane Abbitt on 2000/10/20; Jenny Brunsma on 1981/01/14 and Patti Coons on 1978/12/01.
Accruals
Further additions are expected.
Processing Information
Collection processing and initial finding aid completed by Elizabeth M. Wilkinson during 2001. Collection reprocessed by Bethany Fiechter during February 2018. EAD finding aid created 2018/02/08 by Bethany Fiechter. Collection addition processed on 2018/06/14 by Bethany Fiechter. EAD finding aid revised on 2018/06/14; by Bethany Fiechter; 2024/05/02 by Brittany Kropf.
- Aged women -- Indiana
- Arts -- Indiana
- Children -- Employment -- Law and legislation
- Clippings
- Consumer protection -- Citizen participation
- Indianapolis (Ind.) -- Societies and clubs
- Juvenile courts -- Indiana
- Minutes (Records)
- Performing arts -- Indiana
- Photographs
- Retirement -- Indiana
- Schools -- Indiana
- Sewall, May Wright, 1844-1920
- Temperance -- Indiana
- Vocational education -- Indiana
- Women -- Education
- Women -- Societies and clubs
- Women -- Suffrage
- Women in charitable work
- Women's rights -- United States
- Yearbooks
Creator
- Indiana State Council of Women (Organization)
- Indianapolis Council of Women (Indianapolis, Ind.) (Organization)
- International Council of Women (Organization)
- May Wright Sewall Indiana Council of Women (Organization)
- Title
- Indianapolis Council of Women collection
- Status
- Completed
- Description rules
- Describing Archives: A Content Standard
- Language of description
- English
- Script of description
- Latin
Repository Details
Part of the Rare Books and Manuscripts Repository
Contact:
140 North Senate Avenue
Indianapolis, Indiana 46204 U.S.A.
317-232-3671
140 North Senate Avenue
Indianapolis, Indiana 46204 U.S.A.
317-232-3671
