Clubs, Organizations, and Associations collection, 1803-1987

Collection Scope and Content

This collection consists of materials pertaining to various women’s clubs, organizations, and associations, located for the most part in Maine, with a few belonging to other states. Some are local branches of national organizations, such as the Women’s Christian Temperance Union and the American Association of University Women, while most are stand-alone entities. Materials include constitutions and by-laws, meeting minutes and reports, drafts of topical papers, correspondence, clippings, annual reports, and other ephemeral items.

Among the organizations are such clubs as the Webhannet Club of Kennebunk, whose purpose was to “promote the habit of systematic reading and to arouse an interest in public affairs among its members” (materials dating from 1922-1932); the Brush and Thimble Club, located in Portland and dedicated to “the study of Decorative Art in its various branches” (materials from 1896-1938); the Nature Study Club located in Portland (1905-1912); and a 1921 item from the Portland Rossini Club, which was the oldest women’s musical club in the United States, and whose mission was “mutual improvement in the art of music.” The Portland Rossini club, admitting men as members since the 1980s, is still active today.