Country Homemakers' Club Records

Collection

Identifier: Mss 181

Staff Only

Scope and Contents

The records of the Country Homemakers' Club have been organized into five series: Meeting Minutes, Major Project Record Books, Treasurers' Record Books, Cass County Council of Homemakers' Clubs, and Subject Files. The Meeting Minutes Series covers meeting minutes for the years 1917 through 1919, and 1923 through 1959. The Major Project Record Book Series contains records of projects done from 1931 through 1934, and 1946 through 1949. Projects contained in these books deal with clothing and food. There is also a project on how to "Be a Better Buyer." All the record books contain surveys of the members, asking them about the methods used, quantity of supplies, and other questions relevant to the particular project being done. The Treasurers' Record Book Series includes members' dues and other financial information for the years 1913 through 1916, 1920 through 1930, and 1944 through 1947. The Cass County Council of Homemakers' Clubs Series contains the constitution for the Cass County Council of Homemakers' Clubs, as well as Cass County Council meeting minutes for the years 1952-54. In addition, Cass County Homemakers' Achievement Day Booklets for the years 1933 and 1966; Cass County Homemakers' Council Meeting Booklets for the years 1950 through 1962 and 1966 through 1967; and, Cass County Homemakers' Day Booklets for the years 1951, 1954, and 1963-64 are all included in this series. These booklets essentially all contain the meetings' agenda, the listing of Homemakers' Council officers, and the Homemaker's Club creed. The Subject File Series includes some material that was not associated with specific Country Homemakers' Club events. For instance, the Cass County Rural Festival Booklet from 1930. Other information in the Subject File Series is the Country Homemakers' Club Camp Minutes Book from June of 1941. This book highlights the events and activities of the homemakers' summer camp. The two songbooks in this series contain popular homemaker club songs and creeds. The newspaper clippings cover various years from approximately 1925 through 1970. They mostly consist of club news and meeting times, as well as accomplishments of individual club members, and obituaries of club members and friends. There are also two articles on gardening. Finally, the scrap book contains information from the early 1920s through the mid 1960s. Included are newspaper clippings regarding club awards and accomplishments, photographs of the club, as well as of individual members for various years. There are also individual country club program booklets from various meetings and listings of club officers from various years.

Dates

1913-1966

Creator

Country Homemakers' Club (Cass County, N.D.) (Organization)

Access

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

Copyrights

The Institute holds the copyrights.

History

The Country Club began around 1912. In 1924, its name was changed to the Country Homemakers' Club. The club was located in the Amenia area of Cass County, N.D. It was considered unusual for the time because it was the only one in Cass County that had two meetings a month— "one a social and one a business. The club consists of women who stand out individually as real leaders." Some prominent members through the years included Mrs. William Guy, Mrs. Albert Sinner, Mrs. John Sinner, Mrs. Leo Sinner, Mrs. A.D. South, Mrs. Eben Chaffee, Mrs. Ralph Smith, Mrs. A.J. Carlson, Mrs. Leo McIntyre, Mrs. Lawrence Langer, Mrs. Joe Askew, and Mrs. Ralph Grommesh. The Country Homemakers' Club was active in cooking, sewing, and community projects throughout the 1920s through the 1950s. It appears to have disbanded sometime in the 1960s.

Extent

0.8 Linear Feet (0.8 linear ft.)

Language of Materials

English

Additional Description

Abstract

The Country Club began around 1912. In 1924, its name was changed to the Country Homemakers' Club, located in the Amenia area of Cass County, N.D. It was considered unusual for the time because it was the only one in Cass County that had two meetings a month— "one a social and one a business. The club consists of women who stand out individually as real leaders." Some prominent members through the years included Mrs. William Guy, Mrs. Albert Sinner, Mrs. John Sinner, Mrs. Leo Sinner, Mrs. A.D. South, Mrs. Eben Chaffee, Mrs. Ralph Smith, Mrs. A.J. Carlson, Mrs. Leo McIntyre, Mrs. Lawrence Langer, Mrs. Joe Askew, and Mrs. Ralph Grommesh. The Country Homemakers' Club was active in cooking, sewing, and community projects throughout the 1920s through the 1950s. The records include meeting minutes, major project record books, financial records, and Cass County Council of Homemakers' Clubs.

Provenance

Donated by Eva A. Grommesh, 1992 (Acc. 2306).

Separation Record

The following non-manuscript records have been removed from the Country Homemakers' Club records and placed in the section indicated. Photographs (Institute Photo Collection: Photo Mss 181) 4 - photographic prints of club members

1 - 1941 Homemakers' camp

1 - Homemakers' cabin