00311 NEIGHBORHOOD HOUSE ASSOCIATION: An Inventory of Its Records at the Minnesota Historical Society Finding aid prepared by Mark A. Greene. Minnesota Historical Society
St. Paul MN.
 Text converted and initial EAD tagging provided by Apex Data Services, January 1999. Finding aid written inEnglish August 2008Converted from EAD Version 1.0 to Version 2002 by Monica Manny Ralston, Daniel Sher, and Joyce Chapman. OVERVIEW OF THE COLLECTION Minnesota Historical Society Neighborhood House Association (Saint Paul, Minn.). Association records. 1903-1988. Minutes, reports, budgets, correspondence, lists, surveys, newsletters, subject files, and ephemera of a settlement house located on St. Paul's West Side, traditionally one of the enclaves of recent immigrants to the city. The records are a mixture of the files of the Association presidents, house residents, directors, group workers, and others. 18.2 cu. ft. (19 boxes). See Detailed Description section for shelf location. HISTORY OF NEIGHBORHOOD HOUSE ASSOCIATION

The Neighborhood House Association founded and ran a settlement house and community center located on St. Paul's West Side, traditionally one of the enclaves of recent immigrants to the city. (The West Side has been home at various periods to significant populations of African-Americans, Lebanese, Syrians, Jews, Hispanics, Asians, and others.) Established in 1899 by leaders of the city's Jewish community, and reorganized in 1903 on a non-sectarian basis, Neighborhood House remained the center of community organization for the West Side. Initially located at 153 Robertson Street, it moved in 1923 to 229 East Indiana Avenue and in 1970 to 1979 East Robie Street. The Robie Street facility is called the Concord Terrace Neighborhood Center, and it houses a wide range of community organizations and services under the general management of the Neighborhood House Association. In 1980 the agency also established the Baker Community Center at 209 West Page Street, the culmination of decades of planning for better service to the upper West Side.

Neighborhood House developed and sustained many community programs. A major effort toward combating juvenile delinquency by providing recreational activities involved not only sports programs and activity clubs, but major camping programs as well. Youth camping programs began in 1919 and ran through 1985, primarily at Camp Owendingo (Carver Lake, Woodbury). Neighborhood House also administered the St. Paul Cooperative Camp Association (involving 13 agencies) for 15 years. Another important program involved child care: in 1913 the agency first organized a pre-school kindergarten with professional staff and students in training, and in 1937 a nursery school was opened to assist working mothers. Early efforts to assist immigrants in "Americanizing" gave way to the challenges of urban renewal. In 1960 the St. Paul Housing and Redevelopment Authority opened its relocation office at the agency and the House staff worked to assist individuals affected by the obliteration of a considerable portion of the West Side "flats" for the creation of Riverview Industrial Park.

Neighborhood House began many new programs that later became independent. These include Torre de San Miguel, Inc. (low-income housing), the Merriam Park Community Center, the West Side Citizens Organization (WSCO), and the West Side/West St. Paul Voice. It was an active and influential member of the St. Paul Federation of Settlement Houses and Neighborhood Centers and the Leisure Time Activities Council (coordinated by the Wilder Foundation). Major funding sources have included the Community Chest, United Fund and Council, United Way, Title XX, and individual donations.

The preceding historical sketch was taken from information in several histories of the Neighborhood House filed in box one of the collection.

 SCOPE AND CONTENTS OF THE COLLECTION

The records of the Neighborhood House Association reflect its complex of activities beginning in 1903. There are strong runs of board minutes, reports from the director and social workers, annual meeting programs, and financial records (including requests and reports to funding agencies). Less expected are the detailed minutes of staff meetings (1957-1981), the reports prepared by staff on children and adults participating in House-sponsored clubs and classes (1920s-1960s), extensive records relating to three camping operations (1938-1985), and wide ranging subject files, which capture information about a number of ephemeral West Side organizations. Records of the Currie Child Care Center are largely financial, but include some reports to funding agencies and some early (pre-1960) ephemera. Several good historical sketches of the House (the most recent from 1974) are also included.

RELATED MATERIALS

West Side Voice (a weekly newspaper originally published by the Neighborhood House) is in the Minnesota Historical Society newspaper collection.

Earl D. Craig Papers are also in the Minnesota Historical Society manuscript collections.

 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: Afro-Americans--Minnesota--Saint Paul. Aged--Services for. Camps--Minnesota--Saint Paul. Camps--Photographs. Clubs--Minnesota--Saint Paul. Day Care Centers--Minnesota--Saint Paul. Hispanic Americans--Minnesota--Saint Paul. Immigrants--Minnesota--Saint Paul. Jews--Minnesota--Saint Paul. Lebanese Americans--Minnesota--Saint Paul. Mexican Americans--Minnesota--Saint Paul. Minority youth--Minnesota--Saint Paul. Scholarships. Social settlements--Minnesota--Saint Paul. Social settlements--Minnesota--Saint Paul--Photographs. Social surveys. Social work with immigrants. Social work with youth. Syrian Americans--Minnesota--Saint Paul. Urban renewal--Citizen participation. Urban renewal--Minnesota--Saint Paul. Youth--Societies and clubs. Places: Riverview Industrial District (Saint Paul, Minn.). West Side Community (Saint Paul, Minn.). Persons: Crosby, Frederic. Currie, Constance. Walls, Milton G. Organizations: Camp Owendingo (Carver Lake, Minn.). Concord Terrace Urban Renewal Project (Saint Paul, Minn.). Constance Currie Child Care Center (Saint Paul, Minn.). Greater Saint Paul Leisure Time Activities Council (Minn.). Greater Saint Paul Community Chest and Councils. Greater Saint Paul United Fund and Council. Housing and Redevelopment Authority of the City of Saint Paul, Minnesota. Neighborhood House Child Care Center (Saint Paul, Minn.). Riverview Memorial Hospital (Saint Paul, Minn.). Saint John's Landing Camp (Hinkley, Minn.). Saint Paul Federation of Settlements and Neighborhood Centers (Minn.). Saint Paul Cooperative Camp Association (Minn.). Saint Paul (Minn.). Department of Community Services. Torre de San Miguel Homes, Inc. (Saint Paul, Minn.). United Way of the Saint Paul Area (Minn.). West Side Citizen's Organization (Saint Paul, Minn.). Types of Documents: Building surveys. Ephemera. Photographs. ADMINISTRATIVE INFORMATION Preferred Citation:

[Indicate the cited item and/or series here]. Neighborhood House Association Records. Minnesota Historical Society.

See the Chicago Manual of Style for additional examples.

 Accession Information:

Accession number(s): 10, 912; 11,858; 11,874; 13,211; 14,269; 15,538

 Processing Information:

Processed by: Mark Greene, March 1992; Lara D. Friedman-Shedlov, May 2000

Catalog ID number: 09-00037368

 DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE COLLECTION 146.K.10.7B 1 History and purpose: General. Slide show presentations. Clippings, 1942-1977. 2 folders. 146.K.11.10F 18 Scrapbook, 1958-1964. 146.K.10.7B 1 Articles and bylaws, 1903-1983. Board of Directors: Minutes, 1903-1968. 5 volumes and 2 folders.

Includes annual meeting minutes, reports to the Board, agenda packets [1960-1979)], financial information, and committee lists.

 2 Minutes, 1969-1986. 12 folders. 146.K.10.8F President's correspondence, 1921-1963.

Dates are scattered.

 Committee minutes:

Dates are scattered; SEE ALSO: Board Minutes, above; Reports, below.

 Personnel, 1958, 1969, 1985-1988. 2 folders.

SEE ALSO: Staff series, below.

 Building, 1958, 1966.

SEE ALSO: Facilities and Equipment series, below.

 House, 1958-1959.

SEE ALSO: Facilities and Equipment series, below.

 Nursery and Kindergarten, 1958-1960.

SEE ALSO: Currie Child Care series, below.

 Program, 1960, 1986-1987. 3 Future planning, 1962-1967. 146.K.10.9B [Various committees, 1965-1988]. Planning, evaluation, and research, 1987-1988. Executive, 1987-1988. Members: Lists, 1903-1986. Committee assignments, 1972-1985. Handbooks, 1974-1976, 1978. Individuals: Margaret Weschke, 1960-1982. E. I. Whyatt, 1958-1984. Rudolph Zoske, 1958. Annual (and other) reports and annual meetings, undated, 1903-1987. 7 folders.

Mostly meeting programs after 1968.

 Financial records:

SEE ALSO: Camp Owendingo series, below; Funding Agencies series, below; Day Care series, below; and Board Minutes series, above.

 Treasurer's reports and other financial information, 1910-1958. Budget files: 1959-1970. 12 folders. 146.K.10.10F 4 1973: Neighborhood House. Currie Nursery. Camp Owendingo. 1974: Neighborhood House. Currie Nursery. Camp Owendingo. 1975: Neighborhood House. Currie Child Care. Camp Owendingo. Senior Citizens' Program. 1976: Neighborhood House. Currie Child Care. Camp Owendingo. Senior Citizens' Program. 1977: Neighborhood House. Currie Child Care. Camp Owendingo. Senior Citizens' Program. 146.K.10.11B 5 1978: Currie Child Care. Camp Owendingo. Senior Citizens' Program. 1979: Neighborhood House. Currie Child Care. Camp Owendingo. Senior Citizens' Program. 1980: Neighborhood House. Neighborhood House Revised. Currie Child Care. Camp Owendingo. Senior Citizens' Program. 1981: Neighborhood House. Neighborhood House Revised. Currie Child Care. Senior Citizen's Program. 1982: Neighborhood House. Neighborhood House Revised. Currie Child Care. 1983-1984: Senior Citizens' Program. 146.K.10.11B 5 1984: Neighborhood House. 1985: Neighborhood House. Audits, 1951-1985. 1951-1983 (incomplete). 3 folders. Correspondence with auditors, 1966-1985. Ledgers, 1909-1953: 1909-1916. 142.G.5B-1 19 1922-1983. 6 volumes. 146.K.10.11B 5 Donations: 1908 subscription list. Lists of members and donation level, 1959-1979 (incomplete). Camp Owendingo Fund, 1977-1979. Building Fund subscription lists, 1927, 1954. Holiday baskets, 1975. 1983 benefit dinner. 6 Weyerhaeuser family, 1958-1984. 146.K.10.12F Mary P. Zimmerman, 1958-1982. Fund raising and membership letters, 1927-1980. Thank-yous, 1976-1981. Special funds: Memorial Fund: Record book, 1949-1951. Lists and accounts, 1931-1978. Constance Currie Education (scholarship) Fund, 1960-1988. 2 folders. Alice Boyeson Scholarship Fund, 1969-1980. 6 folders. Funding agencies, 1938-1964. Community Chest:

SEE ALSO: Leisure Time Activities Council, below.

 Reports to and from, 1938-1954. Funding by, 1958. Miscellaneous correspondence, 1959-1961. Directory of services, 1958, 1960. Comparison of funding among Chest Divisions, 1958-1964. Instructions to agency executives and bookkeepers, 1958-1964. Campaigns, Team 32, Riverview Ramsey Area, 1956-1962. 4 folders. United Fund: Campaign material, 1961-1971. 7 folders.

1965-1967 files include Neighborhood House budget information.

 United Way: Budget requests, program reports, and correspondence, 1973-1987. 11 folders. 1973-1981. 7 1982-1987. 146.K.10.13B Publications:

See also West Side Voice, in MHS newspaper collection; Subject Files series, below; "servicemen" in Programs and Events series, below.

Newsletter, 1924-1973. Promotional, informational, and funding publications, [192-]-[198-]. Staff: Minutes: Supervisors, 1964-1967. General staff, 1957-1981. 12 folders. December 1957-1976. 8 1977-1981. 146.K.10.14F Group work staff, 1958-1970. 4 folders. Role of group workers, undated. Group leadership workshops, 1959, 1965. Staff organization, 1962-1980. Staff lists, 1952-1970. Codes of personnel practices, 1947-1986. Staff manuals, undated. Job descriptions: [196-]. [197-]: Executive Director. Assistant Executive Director. Baker Community Center Branch Director. Concord Terrace Branch Director. Senior Citizens Program. Social Worker: Family Worker. Teens and Families. Community Organization Worker. Youth Services Coordinator. Currie Nursery. Group workers. Clerical/janitorial. [198-]. Salaries, 1958-1982.

Dates scattered.

 Fringe Benefit Handbook, 1974. Miscellaneous memos and minutes. 9 Programs: 146.K.11.1B General. Camp Owendingo, 1938-1985. Reports and evaluations, 1938-1984. 3 folders. Administration: 1954. 1972-1973. 1984. Regulations and procedures. Staff: Manuals. Lists and recruitment. Finances: General, 1942-1981. Proposal to United Fund, 1966. Proposals to United Way, 1974, 1978. Printeds: General brochures, 1938-1984. Information sheets, regulation forms, schedules, 1961-1974. Winter Camp. Parents Day. Miscellaneous. Campers: Lists and statistics, 1944-1976. Buildings and property: Maps. Land deeds and description. Reconstruction after fire: Building fund, 1953-1954. New buildings, 1953-1954. Facilities, miscellaneous. Sale of the Camp: Studies, correspondence, etc., 1973-1985. 3 folders. Miscellaneous: Surveys and studies, 1966-1979. Letters from campers and parents, 1960-1975. Story and song books, undated. 10 Day Camp (Camp Owendingo): 146.K.11.2F

SEE ALSO: preceding series.

 1956: Reports and General. Waterfront. Junior counselors. Rosters and evaluations of campers. 1956-1957: Attendance statistics. 1957: Reports and general. Food. 1959: Counselors. Rosters and evaluations of campers. 2 folders. 1960: Camp fair and parents day. Rosters; Evaluations of campers and counselors. Food. St. John's Landing Camp (St. Paul Cooperative Camp Association): 1939-1941: Correspondence, statistics, minutes, finances, menus, and inventory. 1947-1949: Correspondence, statistics, counselor training, finances, inventory, and report. 1949: Report. 1957-1960: Reports and evaluations. Minutes, finances, and correspondence. Agency billings (1958). Brochures, 1940-1957. Fund raising letters, 1940-1952. Camps miscellaneous. 1973 General study of TC camps, Camp Wilder resident camp proposal [1971], and Camp Kiwanis [1926-1962]. Playgrounds: Rosters, reports, job descriptions, miscellaneous records, 1936-1960. 4 folders. Currie Child Care Center:

SEE ALSO: Finances series, above; Annual and other series, above; and Community Chest series, above.

 Origins and History to 1945. Minnesota Department of Public Welfare: Licenses from: 1965-1983. 8 folders. Statistical reports to, 1965-1980. United Way:

SEE ALSO: Funding Agencies, above.

 Reports to, 1978-1983. Emphasis Committee of, 1983. Neighborhood House Nursery Committee, 1979-1980. Staff: Minutes, 1978. Emergency and accident procedures. "How the Teacher Helps the Children," "Principles for Guidance," and miscellaneous materials. 146.K.11.3B. 11 Parents: Handbooks, undated. Newsletters, 1964-1979. Circulars, announcements, and miscellaneous: 1959-1970. 1976-1980. Program evaluations, 1983. General, 1976-1983. Weekly schedules, 1964. Expansion, 1980. Toddlers, 1980. Finances General: 1952-1954. 1971-1978. Title XX contracts, 1978-1982. 3 folders. Food program, 1977-1980. Miscellaneous: Advertisements and publicity:

SEE ALSO: Parents/Circulars in this series, above.

 Child care hearing, 1981. School pictures, [ca. 1976]. Scholarships.

See Finances series, above.

 Events and holidays: Carnival: 1945-1949.

Expenses and profits only.

1950-1954.

Finances, lists, definition of games.

 1955.

Finances, lists, definition of games, reports.

 1956-1957. 1958-1959. 1960-1961. 146.K.11.3B. 11 Holidays: December program announcements, 1925-1966. Christmas pageants, 1935-1943. Christmas pageants, 1953-1960. Christmas baskets, 1960. Hanukkah programs and plays, 1950s. Passover and Purim programs. United Nations Day, 1960. Dolls Tea Party, 1960. Performances (music, drama, etc.), [192-]-[195-]. Miscellaneous (dances, picnics, etc.), [192-]-[1950]. Clubs and classes: General, [192-]-[196-]. 2 folders. Tiny Trib, 1933-1934.

Newsletter.

Rosters and reports: by title of group, 1933-1956. Arts and Crafts, 1933-[1950?]. Busy Bees (girls), 1942. Chemists (boys), 1937. Chit and Chat (girls), 1935-1936. Doll Club (girls), 1933, 1939. Double T Mexican Girls, 1941. Dramatics (girls), 1940-1941. Energy Elves (girls), 1939-1940. Glee Club (girls), 1941. Jewish clubs: Farm Mechanics (boys), 1937. 12 Jewish Women's Club, 1934-1950. 146.K.11.4F

Dates are scattered.

(Jewish) Social Club of St. Paul (later New Americans Club), 1948-1956. Junior Teen Age Club (girls), 1941. Jolly Workers (girls), 1933. Kandid Kamera Kids (boys), 1937. Kindergarten and Summer School, 1938-1950.

Dates are scattered.

 Laughing Legends on Parade, 1941. Parents Club, 1941. Question Mark Club (men), 1939-1940. Roosevelt (school) Volunteers, 1940. Scouts (boy and girl), 1935-1943.

Dates are scattered.

 Sewing (girls), 1940. Teen clubs: Teenage Federation, 1954-1958. Teen Council, 1960-1967. Miscellaneous. Time Timkers (girls), 1939. Triple L (girls), 1941-1942. Twenty Club (women), 1937-1941. Wabasha Parents, 1939. Worker's Barter Club, 1930. Worros (boys), 1939-1940. Miscellaneous women's and girls' clubs, 1941-1957. Rosters and reports, grouped by year, 1938-1961 (incomplete). 8 folders. Sports: Reports, 1935-1939. Basketball score sheets: 1947-1954. 1953-1954. Miscellaneous. Servicemen, 1942-1947. Bugler (newsletter), 1942-1945. Servicemen's register and reunion, 1945-1947. 13 Projects: 146.K.11.5B Office of Economic Opportunity (OEO) projects: Economic Opportunity Act, 1964. Neighborhood House OEO, 1964-1969. Ramsey County OEO, 1966-1976. Project possibilities, undated. Capitol OEO Project, 1965. Merrick Community Center Project, 1965. OEO Target Area B, undated. Concord Terrace Urban Renewal Project (R-37)/Torre de San Miguel Inc., 1968-1971: Histories of project. Torre de San Miguel Inc. minutes. Plans and planning trip. Leases, contracts, blueprints, miscellaneous. Rules, policy, and operation. Clippings. St. Paul Community Services, Inc. (Merriam Park Community Center), 1938-1946. 2 folders. Studies and surveys, 1916-1969. Leisure Time Activities Council, 1943-1962. 3 folders.

Correspondence, surveys, minutes, reports.

 Family Unit Report System (FURS) Study, 1949. Juvenile Delinquency on the West Side, 1940-1942. Neighborhood House survey of houses and businesses in the 6th Ward, 1936-1937. 2 folders. Case Studies of Neighborhood House Children, [ca. 1935]. Miscellaneous:

Study of Riverview District, [ca. 1925]; Neighborhood Services Study: Report to Community Health and Welfare Planning Council, St. Paul, 1969; A Sanitary Study of the West Side Flats, 1916; West Side District 3 Background (St. Paul Planning and Economic Development), 1978; Better School Facilities for the West Side of St. Paul (UM), 1964.

 14 Facilities and property: 146.K.11.6F

SEE ALSO: Camp Owendingo, above.

 1909-1910, 1922-1928:

Lease, correspondence, blueprints.

 1926-1971:

Miscellaneous documents regarding real estate.

 1952:

Flood damage.

 1953-1970:

Inventories of equipment, furnishings, and supplies.

 1959-1961:

Inventories of phono records and books.

 1959-1984:

Procedure manuals, building regulations, staff meetings.

 1962-1963:

Port Authority purchase and demolition of old building, remodeling costs.

 1965-1967:

Proposals and Financing for new building, (179 E. Robie).

 1966-1970:

New building, architects.

 1969-1970:

New building ground breaking and dedication.

 1973-1981:

Miscellaneous, including wall murals, proposed addition, list of services.

 Federations of Settlement Houses: St. Paul Federation of Settlements and Neighborhood Centers: Minutes, correspondence, meeting programs, and related records, 1958-1977. 4 folders. Correspondence with National Federation of Settlements, 1958-1977. 4 folders. National Federation of Settlements: Correspondence, directors, circulars, accreditation report, 1958-1983. 2 folders. Accreditation and recertification, 1975-1976. Dues and contributions, 1961-1981. Subject, organization, and correspondence files: Neighborhood House: Director's correspondence files, 1985-1988. 2 folders. 75th anniversary: Committee, 1973. 146.K.11.10F 18 Scrapbook, 1974. 15 Franklin Hijikata, 1952-1980. 146.K.11.7B Upper Bluff Facility, 1969-1975. Testimonials: "Why I Like the Neighborhood House," undated. Constance Currie testimonial dinner, 1956. 2 folders.

Includes 2 audio cassette tapes and a commerative scrapbook given to Currie at the dinner.

 Constance Currie F�te and Jane Addams Centennial, 1960. Civil Rights Activities, 1965. Jewish Americans, 1950s. Wilder Foundation, [197-]-[198-]. Miscellaneous and undated. West Side: Bryant School site, 1970. Cable TV, 1980. Cozy Bar, 1978. Day care: Community planning organization report, 1977. Toys N Things, 1978. Dudedin Terrace, 1966-1972. Humboldt High School Planning Committee, 1974-1975. 2 folders. Lafayette Freeway, 1977-1981. Old West Side Improvement Association, 1960-1961.

Regarding Urban Renewal.

 PCBs (burning of), 1982. People's Park, 1977-1980. Relocations and redevelopment (Riverview Industrial Park), 1960-1961: Correspondence, minutes, reports, flyers. 2 folders. Clippings scrapbooks (photocopied). 2 folders. Rio Vista Citizens Planning Committee, 1970-1974. Riverfront Days, 1982. Riverview Baseball League, 1977-1979. Riverview Citizen's Association, 1968. 146.K.11.8F 16 Riverview Memorial Hospital, Board of Directors, 1971-1974. 2 folders. Riverview Youth Development Commission, 1962. St. Paul Government agencies: Housing and Redevelopment Authority, 1968.

SEE ALSO: Relocations and Redevelopment, above.

 Parks and Recreation, 1967-1972. Police, 1959-1964. Senior citizens programs: General, 1962-1974. Operation 3-Score (Wilder Foundation), 1966. West Side Citizen's Organization: Newsletter and board minutes, 1980-1983. 2 folders. West Side Coordinating Council, 1966-1967. West Side Fall Conference, 1967. West Side Joint Planning Committee (regarding schools), 1980. West Side Voice, Inc., 1973-1975. Miscellaneous organizations and events.

Flyers, circulars, reports, brochures.

 St. Paul and Ramsey County: Community Health and Welfare Planning Council, 1968-1973. 2 folders. Gang Task Force, 1986. Greater St. Paul Case Work Council, 1960-1965. Head Start, 1965-1968. Hispanic-Americans, 1936-1972.

Includes two early historical studies.

 Human resources list, 1968. Project Enable, 1966. Ramsey County Board of Commissioners, 1975. Teens in Action, 1967-1968. West 7th St. Neighborhood Center, 1973-1979. Miscellaneous (social service, education, and other agencies/programs). 146.K.11.9B 17 Miscellaneous (social service, education, and other agencies/programs). 2 folders. Minneapolis and Beyond: Native Americans. Unity Settlement Association, 1914, 1917. Miscellaneous. Historical background on settlement house movement . 2 folders.

Articles, speeches, handouts, guidelines/standards, and related materials.

 Photographs, [192-]-[198-]: Staff and other adults. Facilities and equipment. Activities and programs: Child Care (and small children). Cart Bike parade. Funfest or carnival. Ethnic and other festivals and holidays. Miscellaneous. Camping: General. Camp buildings. Boys. Girls. Swimming. Fishing and canoeing. West Side floods. Miscellaneous. 18 Scrapbooks, 1957-1962, 1973-1974. 2 volumes. 146.K.11.10F

The later volume has a few items from 1965, 1966, and 1971.

 19 Cash Distribution Record Books, 1922-1933, 1942-1953. 6 volumes. 142.G.1.5B-1