00106 WOMAN'S CHRISTIAN TEMPERANCE UNION OF MINNESOTA: An Inventory of Its Records at the Minnesota Historical Society National Historical Publications and Records Commission. Minnesota Historical Society
St. Paul MN.

Manuscripts Collection

 Finding aid encoded by Stephanie Grabowski, January 28, 1999. Finding aid written inEnglish April 2012Addition to collection and inventory updated by David B. Peterson. October 2011 Addition to collection and inventory updated by David B. Peterson. August 2008 Converted from EAD Version 1.0 to Version 2002 by Monica Manny Ralston, Daniel Sher, and Joyce Chapman. OVERVIEW Minnesota Historical Society Woman's Christian Temperance Union of Minnesota. Woman's Christian Temperance Union of Minnesota records. 1862-1992. Materials in English. Records related to a state-wide women’s organization focused primarily on raising public awareness of the personal and social problems brought about by the consumption of alcoholic beverages, and on the advocacy of individual abstinence and prohibition. Includes records of district and local unions (chapters). 11.0 cubic feet (11 boxes). See Detailed Description for shelf locations. HISTORICAL NOTE

The Woman's Christian Temperance Union of Minnesota (WCTU) was organized September 6, 1877 at the Westminster Presbyterian Church in Minneapolis. Its purpose was "To unite the Christian women of Minnesota for the education of public sentiment to the standard of total abstinence from the use of alcoholic liquors; to train the young in habits of sobriety and total abstinence; to promote good citizenship, purity, peace, and the general welfare." Among its many projects the WCTU secured the first curfew ordinance, brought about the hiring of the first jail matron, instituted the first free kindergarten, founded the first Gospel Mission, secured the passage of the law requiring alcohol and drug education in the public schools, played an important part in raising the age of consent from seven to eighteen years, and secured the first three measures against the white slave traffic. The organization also supplied schools, churches, and libraries with educational literature, sound and visual aids, and speakers; presented radio programs; administered an annual camp for youth; and provided services and financial assistance to numerous charities.

The WCTU held an annual convention in September or October which included an official board meeting, a pre-convention, and a post-convention executive committee meeting. Between conventions any necessary business was conducted by the state central committee at the call of the president. The organization's official publication was The Minnesota White Ribbon and a year book was also published.

The WCTU also included two branches: the Loyal Temperance Legion (LTL), which focused on the education of children under the age of fourteen, and the Youth Temperance Council (YTC), which trained youth leaders between the ages of fourteen and twenty-five to present the Union's approach to the liquor problem to youth groups throughout the state.

Local unions were organized throughout the state and carried out the bulk of the WCTU's work. The state organization was divided into districts composed of the local unions. Each local union had representation at the state organization's annual convention and cooperated with the plans adopted at the state convention and with those adopted from the national plans for the state needs by the state executive committee.

Historical information was taken from the collection.

 ARRANGEMENT

These records are organized into the following three sections:

State Organization Records. Local Union Records. Bessie Lathe Scovell Materials. RELATED MATERIALS

The Minnesota white ribbon; the Woman's Christian Temperance Union of Minnesota yearbook; the Minnesota Woman's Christian Temperance Union annual convention; the Woman's Christian Temperance Union, Fifth District (Hennepin County, Minn.) year book; and the Woman's Christian Temperance Union, Fourth District (Ramsey County, Minn.) year book are in the Minnesota Historical Society serials collection.

 CATALOG HEADINGS

This collection is indexed under the following headings in the catalog of the Minnesota Historical Society. Researchers desiring materials about related topics, persons or places should search the catalog using these headings.

Topics: Temperance -- Minnesota -- Societies, etc. Temperance -- Minnesota -- Songs and music. Temperance -- Minnesota -- Exercises, recitations, etc. Temperance -- Minnesota -- Drama. Temperance -- Societies, etc. Prohibition -- Minnesota -- Societies, etc. Youth -- Minnesota -- Alcohol use. Camps -- Minnesota. Drama -- Collections. Women --Minnesota -- Saint Paul -- Societies and clubs. Person: Scovell, Bessie Lathe. Organizations: Central Woman's Christian Temperance Union (Saint Paul, Minn.). Loyal Temperance Legion. Woman's Christian Temperance Union. Youth Temperance Council. Society of the Class of '84 (University of Minnesota). Types of Documentation: Essays. Photographs. Song books. Sound recordings. ADMINISTRATIVE INFORMATION Preferred Citation:

[Indicate the cited item and/or series here]. Woman's Christian Temperance Union of Minnesota records. Minnesota Historical Society.

See the Chicago Manual of Style for additional examples.

 Accession Information:

Accession numbers: 1889; 12,366; 12,522; 12,609; 12,822; 12,847; 13,346; 13,398; 13,471; 13,584; 13,726; 14,833; 15,130; 15,435; 16,195; 16,619

 Processing Information:

Processing and cataloging of this collection was supported with a Basic Project grant awarded by the National Historical Publications and Records Commission (NHPRC).

Catalog ID number: 001734942

 DETAILED DESCRIPTION State Organization Records

The records relate to the annual state conventions, the meetings of the state central committee, the functions of the publicity and exchange bureaus, and the activities of the Loyal Temperance League and Youth Temperance Council. Beyond documenting the routine functions of the organization the records include a group of essays gathered by the Exchange Bureau, which were loaned to local unions for use at programs; a series of scrapbooks created by the Publicity Bureau, which contain newspaper clippings related to the WCTU; a number of plays gathered by the Drama and Pageantry Department for use by local unions; a small amount of material related to the YTC's annual camp including its Little Camp Among the Hills at Medicine Lake, Minnesota; and three pageants (1956, 1962, 1977) that present the history of the Minnesota WCTU. A collection of WCTU printed matter and pamphlets primarily focused on narcotic and alcohol education and a number of songbooks published by the WCTU are also included. Some of the scrapbooks were donated to the state organization by local unions and contain newspaper clippings covering the alcohol problem in general, as well as news related to the national, state, and local unions. The photographs primarily contain pictures of state officers and group portraits at WCTU functions, many unidentified.

 149.A.1.6F 1 Constitution and history, undated and 1965. Correspondence and miscellaneous related papers, undated and 1910-1987. State Central Committee: Minute books, September 1, 1922-June 19, 1979. 7 volumes. State Conventions: Annual convention program, 1986. Proceedings, September 18-19, 1878. Minute book, 1905-1918. 1 volume. Convention and executive board: Minute books, 1925-1961. 3 volumes. Roll calls, minutes, and yearbook orders, 1926-1940. Registration book, 1945-1948. Presidents' annual messages, 1886-1913, 1939, 1983. Financial records: Payment record, June 16, 1938-July 2, 1946. 149.A.1.7B 2 Merchandise order books: April 26, 1928-July 29, 1931; May 1, 1958-November 1961. 3 volumes. 144.D.5.8F 9 October 1954-April 1958. 149.A.1.7B 2 Scovell House treasurer's book, June 1949-January 1959. Income and disbursements, October 1971-February 1976. Membership certificates, 1943-1953. Guest register, August 1919-September 1931. 1 volume. Headquarters guest register, December 29, 1927-October 5, 1960. An Appeal to Young Men, 1884.

Campaign pamphlet containing the conclusion of a speech given by President James Garfield at Cleveland on the Saturday night before the Ohio election in 1879.

 Pageants, 1956, 1962, 1977. Prohibition Party campaign ticket and pamphlets, undated, 1888. Publicity: Scrapbook, [circa 1895]-[circa 1916]. Publicity Bureau scrapbooks, June 1915-September 1939. 7 volumes. 149.A.1.8F 3 Newspaper clippings, undated and 1933-1937. National and State conventions scrapbooks, 1938 and 1941. 2 volumes. National hand books, undated. Exchange Bureau essays, undated and 1927, 1930. 4 folders Departments: National WCTU: Plans of Work, 1951-1962. Miscellaneous Departments: Leaflets, 1955-1962. Speech contests: Leaflets, 1955-1964. Inter-Collegiate Oratorical Contest, 1955. Drama and pageantry: Plays: A-Y. 2 folders Drama for Everyone. Ten Plays Based on the Alcohol Problem. Born to Lead, 1951. Its Smart to be Different: Directors notebook, 1950. Miscellaneous plays. Loyal Temperance Legion, undated and 1921, 1952-1970. Minnesota Youth Temperance Council: Radio plays. Newsletters, 1940-1964. Camp, 1939-1975. Miscellaneous printed matter, undated and 1939-1983. Song books, undated and 1900, 1924-1928, 1944-1957, 1973. 3 folders 149.A.2.1B 4 Miscellaneous pamphlets, 1890-1976. 2 folders Miscellaneous printed matter, undated and 1944-1964. 2 folders Photographs: Undated and 1893-1974. 2 folders 144.D.5.8F 9 Undated and 1920, 1949. 149.A.2.1B 4 Hannah Jordet Ericson: Articles, testimonials, and play. Articles, [circa 1938]. Scrapbook, undated and 1950s. 144.D.5.8F 9 Talks and Poems of Mary Frances Cook, 1948. 4 sound discs. Scrapbook, 1944. 142.C.19.2 10 Posters. Local Union Records 149.A.2.1B 4 Branch histories: Alvarado-Zumbrota and Districts 1, 5, and 8, undated and 1977. 2 folders District 2 North: Minute book, June 3, 1955-May 23, 1974. District 4: Member hand books, 1966-1968. Minute books, September 13, 1940-October 11, 1968. 2 volumes. Treasurer's book, May 1943-December 1974. 149.A.2.2F 5 Bank statements, 1989. Drug watch MN, 1990. Eva Jones journal, 1908-1914. Eva Jones memorial in Rice Park, St. Paul, 1922, 1963, 1987. Eva Jones Memorial, Inc., 1917-1987. Miscellaneous pamphlets and printed materials, 1972-1992. 144.D.5.8F 9 District 5: Scrapbooks, [circa 1946]-1953. 2 volumes. 149.A.2.2F 5 District 6 North: Cash journal, July 1936-September 1964. District 7 and 7 South: Minute book, May 26, 1927-May 26, 1961. District 8 North: Minute books, May 22, 1941-June 22, 1976. 2 volumes. Anoka: Minute book, October 25, 1944-March 31, 1960. Treasurer's book, February 1959-November 1961. Becker: Minute book, May 15, 1944-April. 24, 1948. Blue Earth: Minute books, March 10, 1953-July 9, 1965. 2 volumes Treasurer's book, August 1915-September 1961. Chisholm: Minute books, April 20, 1942-September 23, 1957. 2 volumes. Duluth: Minute book, May 20, 1880-May 16, 1882. Elmore: Minute books, June 1886-May 21, 1890; August 27, 1959-April 1963. 3 volumes. Hibbing: Minute books, July 30, 1918-September 25, 1923; March 6, 1962-June 3, 1969. 2 volumes. 149.A.2.3B 6 Minute book, July 10, 1969-May 1, 1973. Treasurer's books, January 1934-March 1984. 6 volumes. White Ribbon recruits, 1956-1974. Scrapbook, August 1949-June 1952. Miscellaneous papers, undated and 1924-1984. Hutchinson: Treasurer's book, July 1959-September 1970. Milroy: Minute book, May 11, 1956-February 5, 1966. Scrapbooks, 1964-1974. 4 folders Miscellaneous papers, undated and [1957?]-1974. Minneapolis: Como: Minute books, February7, 1889-November 13, 1914; September 23, 1927-February 21, [1931?]; September 15, 1939-April 1945; January 8, 1952-August 20, 1964. 8 volumes. 149.A.2.4F 7 Membership and treasurer's books, 1915-April 1946. 3 volumes. 144.D.5.8F 9 Scrapbook, 1937-1946. Highland: Scrapbook, 1938-1939. 142.C.19.2 10 Hobart: Talk with Mrs. Bessie Scovell and Rev. Virgil A. Kraft. 3 sound discs. 144.D.5.8F 9 McCurdy: Scrapbooks, 1890s; 1940s. 3 volumes. 149.A.2.4F 7 Scovell: Program, 1959-1960. Sunrise: Yearbooks and programs, 1913; 1938-1951. 144.D.5.8F 9 Scrapbook, 1944-1952. 149.A.2.4F 7 Montevideo: Minute book, July 6, 1917-August 7, 1919. Northfield: Minute book, November 13, 1884-March 22, 1888. Treasurer's book, September 1887-July 1909. Paynesville: Minute books, November 12, 1954-March 21, 1975. 2 volumes. Treasurer's book, August 1955-May 1976. Pipestone: Minute books, September 13, 1927-August 1938, September 14, 1954-May 11, 1956, September 9, 1966-September 12, 1975. 6 volumes. St. Charles: Minute book, July 20, 1934-June 4, 1943. St. Paul: Anna Gordon: Treasurer's book and miscellaneous papers, August 1967-October 1989. Central:

The Central union was a part of District 23: Ramsey County.

 Minute book, 1906-1915. Annual reports and miscellaneous papers, 1913-1917. Cherokee Heights: Minute books, April 5, 1918-April 26, 1966. 5 volumes. 149.A.2.5B 8 Minute book, May 24, 1966-July 21, 1971. Treasurer's book, 1928-1971. Cherokee-Willard: Minute books, August 17, 1971-May 7, 1991. 2 volumes. Financial record books, 1971-1991. 3 volumes. Activities file, 1990-1991. Hamline: Minute books, 1920-1970. 6 volumes. Correspondence, reports, and miscellany, 1939-1980. Treasurer''s reports, 1945-1959. Neal Dow: Minute book, January 2, 1963-June 6, 1973. Treasurer's book, September 1969-May 1974. St. Anthony Park: Minute books, May 4, 1931-June 4, 1968. 2 volumes. Willard: Minute books, April 1924-August 5, 1931, April 12, 1945-April 26, 1971. 3 volumes. 129.E.3.7B 11Financial record books, 1945-1973. 3 volumes. Miscellaneous financial records, undated and 1958-1970. Vernon Center: Minute books: January 24, 1886-February 13, 1895. 2 volumes. February 26, 1895-May 24, 1935. 7 volumes. Miscellaneous files: Districts 2, 4, 8, and Elmore-Willard, 1902-1977. Bessie Lathe Scovell Materials

Known as "The Frances Willard of Minnesota," Bessie Lathe Scovell (1860-1949) joined the Young Woman's Christian Temperance Union in 1886 and gave 65 years of continuous service to the Minnesota WCTU. She was instrumental in founding the organization's newspaper, the Minnesota White Ribbon, and served as the Minnesota WCTU's president from 1897 to 1909. Among the correspondence and related papers is a group of Civil War letters (1862-1865) sent by Rawson Lathe; letters to Scovell from the national WCTU president, Lillian Stevens, and secretary, Anna Gordon (1898-1902); an incomplete biography of Scovell; and her portrait. The Society of the Class of 1884 was formed by Scovell's class at the University of Minnesota and the minute book documents their meetings as well as their fiftieth reunion in 1934.

 129.E.3.7B 11 Correspondence and miscellaneous related papers, undated and 1862-1929. Notebook, 1929. Birthday book. Scrapbook, 1900-1935. 2 folders Society of the Class of '84: Minute book, November 2, 1878-February 22, 1884, June 9, 1909. 142.C.19.2 10 Copy of the last newspaper printed on wallpaper in Vicksburg, Mississippi, during the siege, July 2, 1863. Certificate of Recognition: First Methodist Episcopal Church, organized adult Bible class, June 9, 1922.