Junior League of Philadelphia records
Collection 3717
( Bulk, 1955-1998 ) 1912-2009(11.4 Linear feet ; 29 boxes)
Table of Contents
Summary Information
- Repository
- The Historical Society of Pennsylvania
- Creator
- Junior League of Philadelphia, Inc.
- Title
- Junior League of Philadelphia records
- ID
- 3717
- Date [bulk]
- Bulk, 1955-1998
- Date [inclusive]
- 1912-2009
- Extent
- 11.4 Linear feet ; 29 boxes
- Author
- Finding aid prepared by Megan Evans.
- Sponsor
- Processing made possible by a generous donation from Maxine and Howard Lewis.
- Language
- English
- Abstract
- The Junior League of Philadelphia, Inc. founded 1912, is an organization of women devoted to volunteerism and community improvement. It was initially established to help create settlement houses in Philadelphia. However, over time, the group became involved with a large number of causes, from war relief to children's care, and today continues its legacy of city-wide community involvement. The Junior League celebrated its 100th anniversary in 2012 and remains highly active in the Philadelphia community. The Junior League of Philadelphia records constitute the institutional records of this organization. The collection dates from 1912 to 2009, with bulk dates of 1955 to 1998, and contains board and committee meeting minutes, newsletters, member directories, and annual reports. These materials provide an excellent depiction of the governance of the organization as well as member lists and highlighted events and activities.
Preferred citation
Cite as: [Indicate cited item or series here], Junior League of Philadelphia records (Collection 3717), The Historical Society of Pennsylvania.
Background note
The Junior League of Philadelphia was founded in 1912 by a group of women from several well-to-do area families, including Constance E. Biddle, Gertrude Ely, and Sarah Lowery. The organization was one of seven Junior Leagues existing in the country at the time, with the original founded in 1901 in New York City. From the outset, the League became involved with charitable efforts to aid children, the poor, and the sick, and volunteered time and money to hospitals and charity organizations. During World War I, the League focused its activities on war relief, hosting fundraising events and volunteering as nursing aides at area hospitals. With the passage of the 19th Amendment in 1920, the League offered education and training to women voting for the first time. In 1924, the League became the caretakers of Sweetbriar Mansion in Fairmount Park, raising money to restore the old home which would serve as their headquarters for the next twelve years. Throughout the Great Depression, the League concentrated its efforts on unemployment and homeless relief, including the distribution of clothes and food, in addition to becoming chief benefactor of the Children’s Heart Hospital. The League headquarters relocated to the Warwick Hotel in 1937. During World War II, the League’s attention again shifted to war relief and hospital volunteering, which included a surgical dressing group that rolled bandages for the Red Cross, a League advisory group in the Civilian Defense Office, and a War Bond Committee that raised money to purchase a hospital plane and penicillin. Local social work also continued throughout the war. In 1945, the League established the Children’s Outgrown Shop which would evolve into the current Junior League Thrift Store, selling used clothing at affordable prices. The 1950s saw the establishment of the annual Follies, a performance event which provided funding to the Children’s Hospital. In 1965, the League moved its headquarters to the Free Quaker Meeting House, which it would occupy until 1997. In 1976, the League members volunteered their time to several Bicentennial initiatives throughout the city and published their first of three cookbooks. The Junior League of Philadelphia continues to operate as of 2014, promoting volunteerism, developing the potential of women, and improving the community. The League’s current initiative, Apple a Day Healthy Living, focuses on improving the health and wellness of adults and children in the Philadelphia region by increasing access to fresh produce.
Scope and content note
The Junior League of Philadelphia records constitute the institutional records of the Junior League of Philadelphia, Inc., a women’s volunteer and charity organization that is part of a larger international network of Junior League organizations. Founded in 1912, the League focuses its efforts on promoting volunteerism through training, developing the potential of women, and improving the community. The collection dates from 1912-2009, with bulk dates of 1955-1998. The materials in this collection document the governance of the organization through board and committee minutes and administrative correspondence as well as highlighting the League’s activities and events through annual reports and newsletters.
The collection documents well the activities of a women’s organization in the field of volunteerism. It contains nearly a century’s worth of administrative papers from the organization. This collection is particularly rich in documenting the governance of the organization, in addition to providing a general overview of its activities and initiatives throughout the years. Although a few individual members are mentioned in the board and committee minutes or in newsletters, the collection generally lacks information on the members themselves. The materials in this collection may be of interest to social historians of women’s and volunteer organizations as well as those interested in elite social networks as several upper class women were among the League’s members.
Arrangement note
Series I. Administrative
Subseries I.a. Minutes
Subseries I.b. Annual reports
Series II. Member materials
Administrative Information
Publication Information
The Historical Society of Pennsylvania ; 2015.
1300 Locust StreetPhiladelphia, PA, 19107
215-732-6200
Restrictions
The collection is open for research.
Provenance
Gift of the Junior League of Philadelphia, 2013.
Accession number 2013.089.
Controlled Access Headings
Corporate Name(s)
- Junior League of Philadelphia, Inc.
Occupation(s)
- Junior League of Philadelphia
Subject(s)
- Women's History--Charitable Organizations--Philadelphia
- Women's History--Clubs and Organizations
- Women's History--Service organizations
- Women--Clubs and Associations--20th century
Collection Inventory
Series I. Administrative 1912-2009Scope and Contents noteSeries I. Administrative includes board and committee minutes, correspondence, financial information, strategic plans, by-laws, time lines and history fact sheets, and annual reports. This series provides a concise, if not in-depth, overview of the many activities of the League over nearly a century of their existence. Events, initiatives, and those involved are mentioned and briefly described as a matter of administrative procedure. This series best reveals the governance of the organization through the board minutes, correspondence, and annual reports. The series is divided into two subseries: Ia. Minutes and Ib. Annual reports. |
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| Box | Folder | |||
|
Early organizational letters to Constance E. Biddle 1912 |
1 | 1 | ||
|
History outlines and fact sheets 1962, 1975, 1979 |
1 | 2 | ||
Subseries a. Minutes 1912-2009Scope and Contents noteSubseries Ia. Minutes includes the minutes of the Board of Managers (later the Board of Directors) as well as that of several committees such as Membership, Council, and Executive. The subseries also contains a limited amount of correspondence, consisting mostly of board member memoranda, as well as some financial documents such as budgets and tax forms. Also included are a number of strategic plan and by-laws drafts. The materials are arranged chronologically according to their original order. |
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| Box | Folder | |||
|
Minute book of the Board of Managers (photocopy) 1912-1916 |
1 | 3 | ||
|
Board of Managers meeting minutes 1916 April-1919 June |
1 | 4 | ||
|
Officers and Board of Managers meeting minutes 1920 June-1924 May |
1 | 5 | ||
|
Board of Managers meeting minutes 1924 October-1927 May |
1 | 6 | ||
|
Board of Managers meeting minutes 1927 October-1931 June |
1 | 7 | ||
|
Board of Managers and Annual meeting minutes 1931 October-1933 June |
1 | 8 | ||
|
Board of Managers and Annual meeting minutes 1933 September-1935 May |
1 | 9 | ||
|
Board of Managers and Special meeting minutes 1935 June-1938 April |
1 | 10 | ||
|
Board of Managers and Executive Committee meeting minutes 1938 May-1941 May |
2 | 1 | ||
|
Annual Meeting, Board of Managers, and Executive Committee meeting minutes 1941 May-1943 June |
2 | 2 | ||
|
Board of Managers and Annual meeting minutes 1943 August-1945 June |
2 | 3 | ||
|
Board of Managers meeting minutes 1945 June-1947 April |
2 | 4 | ||
|
Board of Managers, Executive Committee, and Annual meeting minutes 1947 May-1950 March |
2 | 5 | ||
|
Board of Managers meeting minutes 1950 April-1952 March |
2 | 6 | ||
|
Board of Managers, Executive Committee, Election, and Main Line and Chestnut Geographical meeting minutes 1952 April-1954 March |
3 | 1 | ||
|
Board of Managers, Executive Committee, and Election meeting minutes 1954 April-1955 June |
3 | 2 | ||
|
Board of Managers, Executive Committee, and Election meeting minutes 1955 September-1956 March |
3 | 3 | ||
|
Board of Managers and Executive Committee meeting minutes 1956 April-1957 March |
3 | 4 | ||
|
Board of Managers and Executive Committee meeting minutes 1957 March-1959 May |
5 | 5 | ||
|
Board of Managers and Executive Committee meeting minutes (1 of 2) 1959 April-1960 April |
3 | 6 | ||
|
Board of Managers and Executive Committee meeting minutes (2 of 2) 1960 May-1961 March |
4 | 1 | ||
|
Board of Managers, Executive Committee, Membership, Election, and Annual meeting minutes 1961 April-1962 March |
4 | 2 | ||
|
Board of Managers, Executive Committee, and Membership meeting minutes 1962 April-1963 June |
4 | 3 | ||
|
Board of Managers and Executive Committee meeting minutes 1963 September-1964 June |
4 | 4 | ||
|
Board of Managers, Executive Committee, and Membership meeting minutes 1964 September-1965 July |
4 | 5 | ||
|
Board of Managers, Executive Committee, and Membership meeting minutes 1965 September-1966 June |
4 | 6 | ||
|
Board of Managers, Membership, and Executive Committee meeting minutes 1966 September-1967 September |
5 | 1 | ||
|
Assorted committees and Board of Managers meeting minutes 1967 May-1968 April |
5 | 2 | ||
|
Assorted committees and Board of Managers meeting minutes 1967 July-1968 January |
5 | 3 | ||
|
Board of Managers meeting minutes 1967 September-1968 June |
5 | 4 | ||
|
Board of Managers, Executive Committee, and Membership meeting minutes 1968 September-1969 June |
5 | 5 | ||
|
Board of Managers meeting minutes, memoranda, and related materials 1968 |
5 | 6 | ||
|
Sustaining Members Board and Board of Managers meeting minutes, memoranda, and related materials 1968-1969 |
6 | 1 | ||
|
Executive Committee, Membership, and Board of Managers meeting minutes 1969 July-1970 June |
6 | 2 | ||
|
Board of Managers and Sustaining Members Board meeting minutes and related materials 1969-1970 |
6 | 3 | ||
|
Board of Managers meeting minutes and related materials 1969-1970 |
6 | 4 | ||
|
Board of Managers, Council, and Membership meeting minutes and related materials 1970 September-1971 June |
6 | 5 | ||
|
Membership meeting minutes and related materials 1970-1980 |
7 | 1 | ||
|
Board of Managers and Council meeting minutes and related materials 1971 June-1972 May |
7 | 2 | ||
|
Board of Managers meeting minutes 1971 September-1972 April |
7 | 3 | ||
|
Board of Managers, Council, and Membership meeting minutes and related materials 1971 September-1972 June |
7 | 4 | ||
|
Board of Managers meeting minutes, memoranda, and related materials (1 of 2) 1971 |
7 | 5 | ||
|
Board of Managers and Council meeting minutes, memoranda, "Hotline" newsletters, and other materials (2 of 2) 1970-1971 |
8 | 1 | ||
|
Board of Managers, Council, and Membership meeting minutes and related materials 1972 September-1973 June |
8 | 2 | ||
|
Board of Managers, Council, and Membership meeting minutes and related materials 1973 September-1974 June |
8 | 3 | ||
|
Board of Managers, Council, and Membership meeting minutes and related materials 1974 September-1975 June |
8 | 4 | ||
|
Board of Managers, Council, and Membership meeting minutes and related materials 1975 September-1976 June |
8 | 5 | ||
|
Board of Managers, Executive Committee, Council, and Membership meeting minutes and related materials 1976 July-1977 June |
8 | 6 | ||
|
Board of Managers, Council, Executive Committee, and Membership meeting minutes and related materials 1977 September-1978 June |
9 | 1 | ||
|
Board of Managers, Executive Committee, and Membership meeting minutes and related materials 1978 July-1979 May |
9 | 2 | ||
|
Board of Managers, Council, Executive Committee, and Membership meeting minutes and related materials (1 of 2) 1979 May-1980 January |
9 | 3 | ||
|
Board of Managers, Council, Executive Committee, and Membership meeting minutes and related materials (2 of 2) 1980 January-May |
9 | 4 | ||
|
Board of Managers, Executive Committee, Council, and Membership meeting minutes and related materials 1980 May-1981 May |
9 | 5 | ||
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Membership and Annual Dinner meeting minutes and related materials 1980-1986 |
9 | 6 | ||
|
Board of Managers, Council, Executive Committee, and Membership meeting minutes and related materials 1981 May-1982 May |
10 | 1 | ||
|
Board of Managers, Council, Membership, and Executive Committee meeting minutes and related materials 1982 April-1983 May |
10 | 2 | ||
|
Board of Managers, Membership, and Annual Dinner meeting minutes and related materials 1983 June-1984 May |
10 | 3 | ||
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Board of Managers and Membership meeting minutes, memoranda, and other related materials 1984 April-December |
10 | 4 | ||
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Board of Managers and Membership meeting minutes and related materials 1985 January-May |
10 | 5 | ||
|
Board of Directors and Membership meeting minutes and related materials 1985 June-1986 May |
11 | 1 | ||
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Board of Directors meeting minutes 1986 June-1987 February |
11 | 2 | ||
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Board of Directors meeting minutes, memoranda, budgets, reports, and other materials (1 of 2) 1988 January-May |
11 | 3 | ||
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Board of Directors meeting minutes, memoranda, bugets, reports, and other materials (2 of 2) 1987 January-1987 December |
11 | 4 | ||
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Board of Directors meeting minutes, committtee reports, memoranda, and other materials 1988 May-1988 October |
11 | 5 | ||
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Board of Directors meeting minutes and memoranda 1988 November-1989 April |
11 | 6 | ||
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Board of Directors meeting minutes, memoranda, and other related materials 1989 June-September |
12 | 1 | ||
|
Board of Directors meeting minutes, memoranda, and other related materials 1990 January-June |
12 | 2 | ||
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Board of Directors and Membership meeting minutes and related materials 1990 June-1991 April |
12 | 3 | ||
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Board of Directors meeting minutes, memoranda, and other related materials 1991 April-September |
12 | 4 | ||
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Board of Directors meeting minutes, memoranda, and other related materials (1 of 2) 1991 October-1992 March |
12 | 5 | ||
|
Board of Directors meeting minutes, memoranda, and other related materials 1992 March-December |
12 | 6 | ||
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Board of Directors meeting minutes, memoranda, and other related materials 1993 February-May |
13 | 1 | ||
|
Board of Directors meeting minutes, memoranda, and other related materials 1993 February-1994 May |
13 | 2 | ||
|
Board of Directors meeting minutes and related materials 1994 November-1995 January |
13 | 3 | ||
|
Board of Directors meeting minutes and related materials 1995 February-May |
13 | 4 | ||
|
Board of Directors meeting minutes and related materials 1995 May-October |
13 | 5 | ||
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Board of Directors meeting minutes and related materials including tax return (1 of 2) 1995-1996 May |
13 | 6 | ||
|
Board of Directors meeting minutes and related materials (2 of 2) 1995-1996 May |
14 | 1 | ||
|
Board of Directors meeting minutes and related materials including strategic plan 1996 June-November |
14 | 2 | ||
|
Board of Directors meeting minutes and related materials 1997 January-April |
14 | 3 | ||
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Board of Directors meeting minutes and related materials 1997 June-December |
14 | 4 | ||
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Board of Directors meeting minutes and related materials 1998 January-May |
14 | 5 | ||
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Board of Directors meeting minutes and related materials 1998 May-November |
14 | 6 | ||
|
Board of Directors meeting minutes and related materials 1999 January-May |
15 | 1 | ||
|
Board of Directors meeting minutes and related materials including by-laws 1999 |
15 | 2 | ||
|
Board of Directors meeting minutes and related materials including employee handbook 1999-2000 |
15 | 3 | ||
|
Board of Directors meeting minutes and related materials 2000 |
15 | 4 | ||
|
Board of Directors meeting minutes and related materials 2000-2001 |
15 | 5 | ||
|
Board of Directors meeting minutes and related materials (1 of 4) 2002 |
15 | 6 | ||
|
Board of Directors meeting minutes and related materials (2 of 4) 2001-2002 |
16 | 1 | ||
|
Board of Directors meeting minutes and related materials (3 of 4) 2001 |
16 | 2 | ||
|
Board of Directors meeting minutes (4 of 4) 2001 |
16 | 3 | ||
|
Board of Directors meeting minutes, correspondence, and other related materials 2003 June-August |
16 | 4 | ||
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Board of Directors meeting minutes, correspondence, and other related materials 2003 September-November |
16 | 5 | ||
|
Board of Directors meeting minutes 2008 December-2009 January |
16 | 6 | ||
Subseries b. Annual reports 1927- circa 1998Scope and Contents noteSubseries Ib. Annual reports includes both bound and unbound reports, some drafts, and proofs. The materials in this subseries provide information on the League’s various initiatives through committee reports as well as membership lists and directories, financial information, policies, guidelines, procedures, and events descriptions. Several reports also contain hand-written notes and edits. This subseries provides a general overview of the League’s activities from internal governance to community initiatives. The subseries is arranged by format and then chronologically. |
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| Box | ||||
|
Bound annual reports 1927-1953 |
17 | |||
|
Bound annual reports 1953-1966 |
18 | |||
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Bound annual reports 1966-1971 |
19 | |||
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Bound annual reports 1971-1975 |
20 | |||
|
Bound annual reports 1976-1981 |
21 | |||
|
Bound annual reports 1983-1989, 2001-2004 |
22 | |||
| Box | Folder | |||
|
77th Annual report and proof circa 1989 |
16 | 7 | ||
|
80th Annual report circa 1992 |
16 | 8 | ||
|
81st Annual report circa 1993 |
16 | 9 | ||
|
82nd Annual report circa 1994 |
23 | 1 | ||
|
83rd Annual report circa 1995 |
23 | 2 | ||
|
84th Annual report circa 1996 |
23 | 3 | ||
|
84th Annual report drafts circa 1996 |
23 | 4 | ||
|
1997-1998 Annual report circa 1998 |
23 | 5 | ||
|
|
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Series II. Member materials circa 1927- 2007Scope and Contents noteSeries II. Member materials contains newsletters, magazines, and member directories, as well as some brochures and other promotional materials. The newsletters, which were published monthly and are most complete from 1960 to 1997, contain greater details about various committee activities, initiatives, and events. These materials provide more in-depth detail about event planning and day-to-day activities of the League. Some League members and officers are also mentioned in articles. Additionally, these newsletters and magazines reveal one source of the League’s funding since local businesses paid for advertising placement. The series is arranged chronologically. |
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| Box | Folder | |||
|
Information handbooks, constitution, and by-laws circa 1927, 1943, 1946, 1959 |
23 | 6 | ||
|
Newsletters 1943-1949 |
23 | 7 | ||
|
"Contact" newsletters 1949 November-December |
23 | 8 | ||
|
"Contact" newsletters 1950-1955 |
24 | 1 | ||
|
"Follies of 1951" event program circa 1951 |
24 | 2 | ||
|
"Contact" newsletters 1956-1959 |
24 | 3 | ||
|
"Contact" newsletters 1960-1961 |
24 | 4 | ||
|
"Contact" newsletters 1962 |
24 | 5 | ||
|
50th Anniversay Ball event program and pamphlets circa 1962 |
25 | 1 | ||
|
"Contact" newsletters 1963 |
25 | 2 | ||
|
"Contact" newsletters 1964-1965 |
25 | 3 | ||
|
"Contact" newsletters 1966-1967 |
25 | 4 | ||
|
"Contact" newsletters 1968 |
25 | 5 | ||
|
"Contact" newsletter 1969-1970 |
26 | 1 | ||
|
Calendar, brochures, mailers, and other materials 1969, 1972, 1980, 1988, undated |
26 | 2 | ||
|
"Contact" and "Hotline" newsletters 1969-1972 |
26 | 3 | ||
|
"Hotline" newsletters and Junior League magazines 1971-1972 |
26 | 4 | ||
|
"Hotline" newsletters 1973-1976 |
26 | 5 | ||
|
"Hotline" newsletters 1977-1979 |
26 | 6 | ||
|
"Hotline" newsletters and "Impact" magazine 1980-1981 |
27 | 1 | ||
|
Membership directories 1980, 1982, 1997, 1998 |
27 | 2 | ||
|
"Hotline" newsletters 1982-1985 |
27 | 3 | ||
|
"Hotline" and "Newsflash" newsletters 1986-1987 |
27 | 4 | ||
|
"Hotline" newsletters 1988-1989 |
27 | 5 | ||
|
"Hotline" newsletters 1990-1991 |
28 | 1 | ||
|
"Hotline" newsletters 1992-1993 |
28 | 2 | ||
|
"Hotline" newsletters 1994 |
28 | 3 | ||
|
"Hotline" newsletters 1995 |
28 | 4 | ||
|
"Hotline" newsletters 1996 |
28 | 5 | ||
|
"Hotline" newsletters 1997-1998 |
29 | 1 | ||
|
"Hotline" newsletters 1999-2000 |
29 | 2 | ||
|
"Hotline" newsletters 2001-2002 |
29 | 3 | ||
|
"Hotline newsletters 2003-2004 |
29 | 4 | ||
|
"Hotline" newsletters 2005-2007 |
29 | 5 | ||
|
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