Rich Valley Homemakers Club Records

Collection

Identifier: Mss 58

Staff Only

Scope and Contents

The Rich Valley Homemakers Club Records document the activities of this club established at Esmond, N.D. The records have been organized into the following series: program booklets, correspondence, secretary's record books, major project record books, subject files, and 4-H Club records.

The Program Booklets Series is not complete. They give the officers, members and the monthly programs for the upcoming year.

The Correspondence Series contains only three letters, all of which are thank you notes.

The Secretary’s Record Book Series is the major series in this collection. They cover from 1933 to the Club's demise in 1969. There are scattered years missing including the formative years of 1927 to 1932. These are pre-prepared books by the NDSU Extension Service and contain sections for officers, members, and meeting minutes. The extant books appear to have been filled out quite completely.

The Major Project Record Books Series again are NDSU Extension Service prepared booklets listing the project undertaken by the Club members, as well as various supporting information worksheets.

There are only two Subject Files Series files. The Benson County Homemakers Council contains a program of the 1929 Benson County Achievement Day and scattered council meeting minutes from 1947 to 1957. The last file contains "Special Interest Topics" forms for the club which evidently were filed at NDSU and which requested program packets for the next year The Rich Valley Maids 4-H Club Series consists of correspondence, pamphlets, awards/certificates, and a binder of clothing projects with Members Manuals.

Dates

1928-1969.

Creator

Rich Valley Homemakers Club (Esmond, N.D.) (Organization)

Access

The collection is open under the rules and regulations of the Institute.

Copyrights

Copyrights to this collection are held by the Institute.

History

The organization of the Rich Valley Homemakers Club was part of a movement across North Dakota by the Home Demonstration Department of the Cooperative Extension Service located at the North Dakota Agricultural College in Fargo. Such homemakers clubs had been begun in North Dakota as early as 1918. Prior to 1927, three clubs had been organized in Benson County, North Dakota. In June 1927, 21 women met at the Rich Valley Consolidated School, located in Rich Valley Township, to organize the new club. Twelve of these women had earlier signed a petition for organization at a meeting of the Rich Valley Farmers Club. The first officers were Mrs. Lloyd Newman, Mrs. Art Hunter, Mrs. M.W. Buttz, Mrs. David Arnold, and Mrs. Harvey Hunter.

The Club became very active in its various projects and included a Girls Clothing Club. It also became an important community social center. In 1947, a large crowd of club members and their families celebrated the twentieth anniversary of the club. The club continued its many activities but declining membership caused it to disband in August 1969. It was initially to be a one-year suspension but the club was never reactivated.

Extent

1 Linear Feet (1 linear ft.)

Language of Materials

English

Additional Description

Abstract

The Rich Valley Homemakers Club records document the activities of this club established at Esmond, N.D., to include program booklets, correspondence, secretary's record books, major project record books, and subject files.