Collection Title: New Century Club of West Chester Records
Collection Number: Ms. Coll. 127
Dates of Collection: 1893-1994
Box Numbers: 31 boxes
Repository: Chester County Historical Society, West Chester, PA
Language: English
Project Archivist: Kevin Martin
The New Century Club of West Chester emerged during the nascent Progressive Movement of the late 19th century. Established in 1893, the women who formed the New Century Club (NCC) built much of its early activity around education through current events classes and lectures that discussed the most pressing topics of the day. The early years stressed heavily the importance of self-improvement through intellectual pursuits. Among the topics presented at current events classes include: national and local politics; Woman’s Suffrage; domestic work and economy; family life and child rearing; health and hygiene; travel; music and literature; education; history; and other related topics. In 1897 the Morning Republican (West Chester, PA) wrote:
“Men have for ages considered women uninterested in those things that are making history every day…Our Current Events Class refutes the old charge. The members have discussed foreign and home politics, scientific discoveries, music, the drama, novels and biographies, in fact everything in which a progressive and intelligent man or woman takes interest.”
In addition to their interest in intellectual pursuits, the group members were also at the forefront of civic activity in West Chester where they implemented beautification programs, addressed environmental issues, and promoted the health and well being of local citizens. On the occasion of its fifth birthday the local West Chester newspaper reported that the NCC believed that “culture should go hand in hand with philanthropy.”
A few of their charitable projects included: the installation of a bronze fountain on North High Street in West Chester; securing proper disposal of garbage in the borough; assisting with the implementation of improvements and expansions to the Chester County Hospital; and, in 1902, the Club assisted in starting a free kindergarten in West Chester.
The Club also served as a hub for social and cultural activities. Club members performed plays and musical recitals. They also brought in outside talent to perform first at Library Hall on North Church Street and later at the auditorium at the New Century Clubhouse completed in 1914. Many of their performances were open to the general public. The NCC also held a number of teas and social events for its members, including dances and dinners.
Timeline
1894 -New Century club founded.
-Mrs. Richard Darlington is elected as the first club president.
-Club meetings are held at the Library Hall on North Church Street [West Chester Library].
-About 200 women sign up within a month, paying a membership fee of $3.
-“Main feature” of early membership was the Current Events class.
1895-1929-Club activities receive extensive and detailed attention from the local newspapers (Daily Local and Morning Republican). [see CCHS, clippings file]
1895-Membership is cut off at 250 at the library facilities cannot hold anymore.
-First talk of constructing their own building
-The President in her annual address says about the club: “It is an open secret that we have surprised ourselves, not alone by the popularity of our club, but that in our town there were so many original, capable, cultured women. There were before the N.C.C. started societies philanthropic, musical, dramatic, literary but from the club idea we held aloof. Conservatism such as this could not go on forever nor could we, like the spider, exist mentally in our own weaviage.”
1897-The club proposes a Health Protective Association, supplementing the work of the Board of Health and Borough Council regarding clean streets.
1899-Mrs. Wallace Dick elected as the second club president
-At the annual meeting the club has the following positions and committees: Chairman of Public Interest; Health Protective Committee; Chairman of Study; Chairman of Entertainment; Chairman of Lectures.
1900-Julia Ward Howe, lecturing at the West Chester Normal School, visits with members of the New Century Club
1902-Membership limited to 175, a waiting list is established.
1912-“Men’s Night” is established.
1913-Money is raised for the construction of a new clubhouse through the capitalization of $20,000 for the New Century Club Corporation. Stocks are sold at $5 a share.
1914– Architectural plans completed by R.E. White of Philadelphia for a Colonial style New Century Clubhouse.
1915– Clubhouse completed at High and Lacey Streets.
Daily Local reports: The ladies of the New Century Club “…are evidently studying the problems of government prepatory to exercising the franchise.”
1917-1919-Numerous programs revolving around European War including charity work and fund raising.
1920-Mortgage paid on New Century Clubhouse.
1937-The Junior New Century Club of West Chester for young women is formed.
1941-1945-Members conduct a number of educational programs related to the war
effort.
1948-First Antique Show held at the NC Clubhouse.
1969-Club celebrates 75th Anniversary with a re-enactment of the Club’s beginnings.
Bulk of the collection covers the first half of the 20th century. Most of the Club’s day to day operations during this period are documented here through daily schedules, newspaper clippings, and meeting minutes. In addition to insight into the daily operations of a women’s club during and after the Progressive Era, the collection also provides great detail about club members’ attitudes towards the pertinent issues of the day. The minutes of the Current Events Class, monthly schedules/event programs, and the clippings of newspaper reports regarding current events meetings offers a thorough account of topics presented and ensuing opinions about an enormous scope of issues.
The collection is arranged into the following series:
Series I – Annual Reports, 1894-1984
Series II – Yearbooks, 1951-1995
Series III – Club Activities/Events, 1898-1984
Series IV – Membership, 1895-1979
Series V – Correspondence, 1947-1991
Series VI – President’s Books, 1962-1985
Series VII – Antiques Show, 1967-1983
Series VIII – Minutes, 1894-1972
Series IX – Financial Records, 1904-1988
Series X – Scrapbooks, 1928-1963
Series XI – Miscellaneous, 1901-1994
Annual Reports (Series I) and Presidents Books (Series VI) spanning the period from 1894, the first year of the NCC, into the 1980s provide a summary of activity from the Clubs various committees and a list of officers/committee leaders. Along with remarks about social and cultural activity, these reports also give an account of charitable and philanthropic work done by the Club. They also provide financial reports with information about expenses and fund raising.
Yearbooks (Series II) covering the second half of the 20th century are a less formalized version of the Annual Report. The yearbooks contain information for members including club rules and procedures as well as schedules and calendars for events. Also included in the yearbooks are lists of club officers and members with their contact information.
Membership applications (Series IV) provide contact information for individual applicants as well as letters of recommendation written by club members. The information provided on applications is limited, but a select few do offer detail into the professional lives of NCC applicants. A larger majority of members who wrote recommendations provided a review of the applicant’s personality and character. The applications in the collection cover a period from the 1910s into the 1970s, the bulk of applications are from 1920s to the 1940s.
Correspondence (Series V) in the collection is limited. Some correspondence can be found inside of minutes books (Series VIII); documents related to the antique show (Series VII) and in financial records (Series IX). Series V includes a small collection of loose correspondence and letter books from the corresponding secretary from late 1940s into late 1960s. Letter books have correspondence related to club activity and a significant number of handwritten and typed obituaries along with their related newspaper clippings.
Series VII – Antiques Show contains documents related to the club’s annual antiques show. Materials here cover the period between 1967 and 1977. Includes correspondence between vendors and club organizers as well as other business and organizational documents. Bulk of collection is made up of publicity (i.e.: newspaper clippings and advertising information)
Club minutes (Series VIII) are in bound ledger books and cover a period from the beginning of the organization into the 1960s. Included here are regular meeting minutes, executive board minutes, NCC corporation minutes, business meeting meetings, and various committee meetings including minutes for the current events class and the health protective committee.
The financial records in the collection include the records of the New Century Club Corporation that was established to raise funds for the New Century Clubhouse. Also contains Treasurer’s Books and Account Books that track the expenses of the club from 1904 to 1973.
Scrapbooks (Series X), covering a period from 1928 into the 1960s, are generally compilations of newspaper clippings. Many also contain some ephemera, photographs and correspondence. Only one of the scrapbook compilers is known. All are fragile.
The Miscellaneous files include: historic register application for the New Century Clubhouse, song lyrics, a cookbook, directories, and clippings as well as documents related to the Pennsylvania Federation of Women’s Clubs and the NCC Flower Mission Committee.
Series I – Annual Reports
Description: Annual Reports, printed as booklets into the 1950s, include lists of committee members and officers; reports by the club presidents and committee leaders with details of club activities; treasurer’s reports. Reports after the 1950s include a summary of club activities without the amount of detail found in previous reports. Program and standing committee reports include a review and preview of New Century Club events and activities.
For additional Annual Reports from the late 1960s, 1970s and 1980s see:
Series VI–President’s Books
Box 1
Folder 1 – 1894-1895 (2 copies)
Folder 2 – 1895-1896 (2 copies)
Folder 3 – 1896-1897 (2 copies)
Folder 4 – 1897-1898 (2 copies)
Folder 5 – 1898-1899 (2 copies)
Folder 6 – 1899-1900 (2 copies)
Folder 7 – 1900-1901 (2 copies)
Folder 8 – 1901-1902 (2 copies)
Folder 9 – 1902-1903 (2 copies)
Folder 10 – 1904-1905, 10th (2 copies)
Folder 11 – 1904-1905, 11th (2 copies)
Folder 12 – 1905-1906 (2 copies)
Folder 13 – 1906-1907 (2 copies)
Folder 14 – 1907-1908 (2 copies)
Folder 15 – 1908-1909 (2 copies)
Folder 16 – 1909-1910
Folder 17 – 1910-1911 (2 copies)
Folder 18 – 1911-1912
Folder 19 – 1912-1913 (2 copies)
Folder 20 – 1913-1914 (2 copies)
Folder 21 – 1914-1915
Folder 22 – 1915-1916
Folder 23 – 1916-1917 (2 copies)
Folder 24 – 1917-1918
Folder 25 – 1919-1920
Folder 26 – 1920-1921
Box 2
Folder 1 – 1921-1922 (2 copies)
Folder 2 – 1923-1924
Folder 3 – 1925-1926
Folder 4 – 1926-1927
Folder 5 – 1928-1929
Folder 6 – 1929-1930
Folder 7 – 1930-1931
Folder 8 – 1931-1932 (2 copies)
Folder 9 – 1932-1933
Folder 10 – 1933-1934
Folder 11 – 1934-1935
Folder 12 – 1937-1938 (2 copies)
Folder 13 – 1939-1940, 45th (2 copies)
Folder 14 – 1939-1941, 46th and 47th (2 copies)
Folder 15 – 1944-1945
Folder 16 – 1945-1947 (2 copies)
Folder 17 – 1948-1949 (2 copies)
Folder 18 – 1951-1953
Folder 19 – Report on all Standing Committees, 1952-1953
Folder 20 – Program Chairman’s Report, 1953-1954
Folder 21 – Program Chairman’s Report, 1954-1955
Folder 22 – Report of Program Chairman and Standing Committees, 1956-1957
Folder 23 – 1956-1957 (2 copies)
Folder 24 – Report of Program and Standing Committees, 1957-1958
Folder 25 – Program Report, 1959-1960
Folder 26 – Program Committee, Annual Reports, 1960-1961
Folder 27 – Program Chairman’s Report, 1961-1962
Folder 28 – Program Chairman’s Report for Club Year of 1962-1963
Folder 29 – Program Chairman Report for Board, 1963-1964
Folder 30 – Report of the Program Chairman, 1964
Folder 31 – Program Chairman, Annual Reports, 1964-1965
Folder 32 – Program Chairman, Annual Reports, 1966-1967
Folder 33 – Program and Committee Chairman, Annual Reports, 1967-1968
Folder 34 – Program and Committee Chairman, Annual Reports, 1968-1969
Folder 35 – Program Chairman, Annual Reports, 1969-1970
Folder 36 – Program Chairman, Annual Reports, 1970-1971
Folder 37 – Annual Reports, finance, 1981-1984
Folder 38 – Misc. report, 1983
Box 2A
Two bound volumes of Annual Reports, 1894-1938
Series II – Yearbooks
Description: Booklets containing lists of officers and departments; monthly schedule for the upcoming year; announcements and general information; list of members with contact information for each.
Box 3
Folder 1 – 1951-1953
Folder 2 – 1953-1955
Folder 3 – 1957-1958 (2 copies)
Folder 4 – 1958-1959 (2 copies)
Folder 5 – 1959-1960 (2 copies)
Folder 6 – 1960-1961
Folder 7 – 1961-1962
Folder 8 – 1962-1963
Folder 9 – 1963-1964 (2 copies)
Folder 10 – 1964-1965 (2 copies)
Folder 11 – 1965-1966 (2 copies)
Folder 12 – 1966-1967
Folder 13 – 1967-1968 (2 copies)
Folder 14 – 1968-1969 (2 copies), includes attendance record for meetings; by-laws
Folder 15 – 1969-1970 (2 copies), includes attendance record for meetings
Folder 16 – 1970-1971 (2 copies), includes attendance record for meetings
Folder 17 – 1971-1972, includes typescript copy
Folder 18 – 1972-1973
Folder 19 – 1973-1974
Folder 20 – 1974-1975
Folder 21 – 1975-1976
Folder 22 – 1976-1977
Folder 23 – 1977-1978
Folder 24 – 1978-1979
Folder 25 – 1979-1980
Folder 26 – 1980-1981
Folder 27 – 1981-1982
Folder 28 – 1982-1983
Folder 29 – 1983-1984 (2 copies)
Folder 30 – 1984-1986
Folder 31 – 1986-1987
Folder 32 – 1987-1988
Folder 33 – 1988-1989
Folder 34 – 1989-1990 (2 copies)
Folder 35 – 1990-1991 (2 copies)
Folder 36 – 1991-1992
Folder 37 – 1992-1993
Folder 38 – 1993-1994
Folder 39 – 1994-1995
Folder 40 – 1987-1988, Junior New Century Club
Folder 41 – 1992-1993, Junior New Century Club
Series III – Club Activities/Events
Description: Monthly calendars – contain information regarding Century Club sponsored programs including business meetings; educational lectures; theatrical and musical performances; classes and demonstrations. Calendars also include lists of committee members and club officers. Announcements – postcards and leaflets with details about club sponsored events; including dances, plays, lectures, business meetings,
Programs – detailed description of events, includes playbills, sponsors, list of performers, menus, etc.
Series III also includes announcements and programs for The New Century Club’s Spring Flower Show and Antiques Show.
Box 4
Folder 1 – Monthly calendars, 1898
Folder 2 – Monthly calendars, 1899
Folder 3 – Monthly calendars, 1900
Folder 4 – Monthly calendars, 1901
Folder 5 – Monthly calendars, 1902
Folder 6 – Monthly calendars, 1903
Folder 7 – Monthly calendars, 1904
Folder 8 – Monthly calendars, 1905
Folder 9 – Monthly calendars, 1906
Folder 10 – Monthly calendars, 1907
Folder 11 – Monthly calendars, 1908
Folder 12 – Monthly calendars, 1909
Folder 13 – Monthly calendars, 1910
Folder 14 – Monthly calendars, 1911
Folder 15 – Monthly calendars, 1912
Folder 16 – Monthly calendars, 1913
Folder 17 – Monthly calendars, 1914
Folder 18 – Monthly calendars, 1915
Folder 19 – Monthly calendars, 1916
Folder 20 – Monthly calendars, 1917
Folder 21 – Monthly calendars, 1918
Folder 22 – Monthly calendars, 1919
Folder 23 – Monthly calendars, 1920
Folder 24 – Monthly calendars, 1921
Folder 25 – Monthly calendars, 1922
Folder 26 – Monthly calendars, 1923
Folder 27 – Monthly calendars, 1924
Folder 28 – Monthly calendars, 1925
Folder 29 – Monthly calendars, 1930
Folder 30 – Monthly calendars, 1932
Folder 31 – Monthly calendars, 1933
Folder 32 – Monthly calendars, 1934
Folder 33 – Monthly calendars, 1935
Folder 34 – Monthly calendars, 1936
Folder 35 – Monthly calendars, 1937
Folder 36 – Monthly calendars, 1938
Folder 37 – Monthly calendars, 1939
Folder 38 – Monthly calendars, 1940
Folder 39 – Monthly calendars, 1941
Folder 40 – Monthly calendars, 1942
Folder 41 – Monthly calendars, 1943
Folder 42 – Monthly calendars, 1946. Includes schedule of Junior New Century Club.
Folder 43 – Monthly calendars, 1947. Includes schedule of Junior New Century Club.
Folder 44 – Monthly calendars, 1948. Includes schedule of Junior New Century Club.
Folder 45 – Monthly calendars, 1949. Includes schedule of Junior New Century Club.
Folder 46 – Monthly calendars, 1950. Includes schedule of Junior New Century Club.
Folder 47 – Monthly calendars, 1951. Includes schedule of Junior New Century Club.
Folder 48 – Monthly calendars, 1952. Includes schedule of Junior New Century Club.
Folder 49 – Monthly calendars, 1953. Includes schedule of Junior New Century Club.
Folder 50 – Monthly calendars, 1954. Includes schedule of Junior New Century Club.
Folder 51 – Monthly calendars, 1955
Folder 52 – Monthly calendars, 1956
Folder 53 – Monthly calendars, 1957
Folder 54 – Event calendars, n.d.
Folder 54 – Announcements, event, 1895-1929
Folder 55 – Announcements, event, 1934-1962
Folder 56 – Announcements, event, 1984, n.d.
Box 5
Folder 1 – Programs, event, 1895-1899
Folder 2 – Programs, event, 1904-1913
Folder 3 – Programs, event, 1915-1919
Folder 4 – Programs, event, 1920-1921
Folder 5 – Programs, event, 1933-1939
Folder 6 – Programs, event, 1940-1941, 1946-1949
Folder 7 – Programs, event, 1951-1956
Folder 8 – Programs, event, 1957-1960, 1967-1969
Folder 9 – Antiques Show, announcements, 1952-1969, n.d.
Folder 10 – Antiques Show, programs with list of sellers, 1953, 1961-1962
Folder 11 – Spring Flower Show, programs, 1933, 1938-1954
Folder 12 – Chester County Federation of Women’s Clubs, program, spring meeting
1969 (includes clipping)
Folder 13 – Job Descriptions for Committee Chairmen, 1967
Series IV – Membership
Description: Bulk of series are applications for club membership that include contact information and letters of recommendation for applicant. Applications are arranged by first letter of surname and a date range [i.e.: applications, “A”, 1920-1929]. Also includes folders with membership cards and correspondence.
Box 6
Folder 1 – Membership cards, 1895-1902, 1941
Folder 2 – Application form, blank
Folder 3 – Applications, “A”, 1920-1949
Folder 4 – Applications, “A”, 1950-1969
Folder 5 – Applications, “B”, 1920-1929
Folder 6 – Applications, “B”, 1930-1939
Folder 7 – Applications, “B”, 1940-1949
Folder 8 – Applications, “B”, 1950-1959
Folder 9 – Applications, “B”, 1960-1979
Folder 10 – Applications, “C”, 1920-1929
Folder 11 – Applications, “C”, 1930-1939
Folder 12 – Applications, “C”, 1940-1949
Folder 13 – Applications, “C”, 1950-1969
Folder 14 – Applications, “D”, 1920-1929
Folder 15 – Applications, “D”, 1930-1939
Folder 16 – Applications, “D”, 1940-1949
Folder 17 – Applications, “D”, 1950-1979
Folder 18 – Applications, “E”, 1930-1959
Folder 19 – Applications, “F”, 1920-1939
Folder 20 – Applications, “F”, 1940-1969
Folder 21 – Applications, “G”, 1920-1939
Folder 22 – Applications, “G”, 1940-1949
Folder 23 – Applications, “G”, 1950-1969
Folder 24 – Applications, “H”, 1920-1929
Folder 25 – Applications, “H”, 1930-1939
Folder 26 – Applications, “H”, 1940-1949
Folder 27 – Applications, “H”, 1950-1959
Folder 28 – Applications, “H”, 1960-1979
Box 7
Folder 1 – Applications, “I”, 1942, 1945, 1970
Folder 2 – Applications, “J”, 1920-1929
Folder 3 – Applications, “J”, 1930-1939
Folder 4 – Applications, “J”, 1940-1949
Folder 5 – Applications, “J”, 1950-1959
Folder 6 – Applications, “J”, 1960-1969
Folder 7 – Applications, “K”, 1920-1969
Folder 8 – Applications, “L”, 1920-1939
Folder 9 – Applications, “L”, 1940-1959
Folder 10 – Applications, “L”, 1960-1969
Folder 11 – Applications, “M”, 1920-1929
Folder 12 – Applications, “M”, 1930-1939
Folder 13 – Applications, “M”, 1940-1949
Folder 14 – Applications, “M”, 1950-1959
Folder 15 – Applications, “M”, 1960-1979
Folder 16 – Applications, “N”, 1930-1970
Folder 17 – Applications, “O”, 1930-1970
Folder 18 – Applications, “P”, 1920-1929
Folder 19 – Applications, “P”, 1930-1939
Folder 20 – Applications, “P”, 1940-1949
Folder 21 – Applications, “P”, 1950-1959
Folder 22 – Applications, “Q”, 1956
Folder 23 – Applications, “R”, 1930-1939
Folder 24 – Applications, “R”, 1940-1949
Folder 25 – Applications, “R”, 1950-1969
Box 8
Folder 1 – Applications, “S”, 1920-1929
Folder 2 – Applications, “S”, 1930-1939
Folder 3 – Applications, “S”, 1940-1949
Folder 4 – Applications, “S”, 1940-1949
Folder 5 – Applications, “S”, 1950-1959
Folder 6 – Applications, “S”, 1960-1969
Folder 7 – Applications, “T”, 1920-1929
Folder 8 – Applications, “T”, 1930-1939
Folder 9 – Applications, “T”, 1940-1949
Folder 10 – Applications, “T”, 1950-1959
Folder 11 – Applications, “T”, 1960-1969
Folder 12 – Applications, “U”, 1932, 1948, 1951
Folder 13 – Applications, “W”, 1920-1929
Folder 14 – Applications, “W”, 1930-1939
Folder 15 – Applications, “W”, 1940-1949
Folder 16 – Applications, “W”, 1950-1979
Folder 17 – Applications, “Y”, 1941-1958
Folder 18 – Applications, “Z”, 1930-1939, 1958
Folder 19 – Correspondence, requests for re-instatement, 1936-1939
Folder 20 – Correspondence, requests for re-instatement, 1940
Folder 21 – Correspondence, requests for re-instatement, 1941-1944
Folder 22 – Correspondence, requests for re-instatement, 1945
Folder 23 – Correspondence, requests for re-instatement, 1946-1948
Folder 24 – Correspondence, requests for re-instatement, 1950-1953
Folder 25 – Correspondence, requests for re-instatement, 1966-1968
Folder 26 – Correspondence, requests for re-instatement, n.d.
Folder 27 – List of members, 1894, 1897-98, 1898-99, 1901-02, 1953-55
Folder 28 – Directory of members/Directory of Chester County Women’s Clubs, n.d.
Series V – Correspondence
Description: General correspondence and letter books of the corresponding secretary. Includes correspondence related to club business, obituaries for club members, etc.
Box 9
Folder 1 – 1967-1969
Folder 1A – 1989-1991
Folder 2 – Letter book, Corresponding Secretary, 1947-1952
Folder 3 – Letter book, Corresponding Secretary, 1953-1961
Folder 4 – Letter book, Corresponding Secretary, 1962-1964
Folder 5 – Letter book, Corresponding Secretary, 1964-1967
Series VI – President’s Books
Description: Collection of Executive Board Meeting Reports, Reports from Stated Meetings, notes from meetings, financial reports, employee information, rental fees, handbooks, schedules and other ephemera kept by club president’s from 1962 to 1985. (Documents have been removed from binder’s and placed into folders)
Box 10
Folder 1– President’s Book, 1962-1965
Folder 2 – President’s Book, 1965-1967
Folder 3 – President’s Book, “Mary Lois Clark president, May 1967-May 1969”
Folder 4 – President’s Book, “Vera Kulp”, 1969-1971
Folder 5 – President’s Book, 1971-1973
Folder 6 – President’s Book, 1973-1975
Box 11
Folder 1 – President’s Book, 1975-1976
Folder 2 – President’s Book, 1976-1978
Folder 3 – President’s Book, 1984-1985
Series VII – Antiques Show
Description: Documents related to the New Century Club’s annual Antique Show. Includes newspaper clippings related to the show and correspondence in relation to planning and publicity. Folder 28 and 29 (Miscellaneous) include publicity and programs from other East Coast Antique Shows.
Box 12
Folder 1 – Programs, 1967-1970
Folder 2 – Program, 1976-1977
Folder 3 – Expense Reports, 1967-1979 (includes Quilt Raffle)
Folder 4 – Publicity, clippings and correspondence, 1967
Folder 5 – Publicity, clippings and correspondence, 1968
Folder 6 – Publicity, clippings and correspondence, 1969
Folder 7 – Publicity, clippings and correspondence, 1970
Folder 8 – Publicity, clippings and correspondence, 1971
Folder 9 – Publicity, clippings and correspondence, 1972
Folder 10 – Publicity, clippings and correspondence, 1973
Folder 11 – Publicity, clippings and correspondence, 1974
Folder 12 – Publicity, clippings and correspondence, 1975
Folder 13 – Publicity, clippings and correspondence, 1976
Folder 14 – Publicity, clippings and correspondence, 1977
Folder 15 – Publicity, n.d.
Folder 16 – Publicity Handbook: A Guide for Publicity Chairmen, Sperry and Hutchinson Company, 1976
Folder 17 – Correspondence, 1967-1970, 1977
Folder 18 – Kitchen Committee/Dining Room, 1965-1976, n.d.
Folder 19 – Kitchen Committee/Dining Room, 1977-1983
Folder 20 – Vendors/Dealers, 1967
Folder 21 – Vendors/Dealers, 1972-1975
Folder 22 – Vendors/Dealers, 1976-1979
Folder 23 – Floor plans, 1967-1974
Folder 24 – Mailing lists, 1972, 1974, 1977
Folder 25 – Notebook, mailing list, n.d.
Folder 26 – Friendship Festival, clippings
Folder 27 – Friendship Festival, notebook, 1976
Folder 28 – Miscellaneous, programs from various Antiques Shows
Folder 29 – Miscellaneous, publicity from various Antiques Shows
Box 13
Folder 1 – Notebook, “Antiques Show 1974”
Folder 2 – Notebook, “Antiques Show 1976”
Folder 3 – Notebook, “Antiques Show 1980”
Folder 4 – Clipping originals, [copies in publicity folders, Box 12]
Series VIII – Minutes
Description: Meeting minutes for gatherings related to New Century Club activity and business.
Box 14
Three volumes:
1) “Minutes of the Executive Board”, March 16, 1894-May 12, 1902
2) “Minutes of the Executive Board”, June 9,1902-May 13, 1912
3) “Minutes of the Executive Board”, June 10, 1912-March 12, 1923
Box 15
Two volumes:
1) “Minutes of the Executive Board”, 1923-1934
2) “Minutes of the Executive Board”, 1935-1945
Box 16
Two volumes:
1) “Minutes of the Executive Board”, 1945-1955
2) “Minutes of the Executive Board”, 1959-1972
Box 17
Five volumes:
1) “Minutes of the Stated Meetings”, Book 1, February 28, 1894-April 16, 1902
2) “Minutes of the Business Meetings, Book 2”, May 19, 1902-April 20, 1914
3) “Minutes of the Business Meetings, Book 3”, October 20, 1914-November 18, 1928
4) “Minutes of the Business Meetings, Book 4” 1928-1951
5) “Minutes of the Business Meetings, Book 5”, 1951-1969
Box 18
Four volumes:
1) Minutes of the “First Currents Events Class”, 1894-1900
2) Minutes of the “Current Events Class”, 1900-1913
3) “Minutes of the Current Events Class”, 1913-1929
4) “Minutes of the Health Protective Committee”, 1897-1900
Box 19
Three volumes:
1) Regular Meeting minutes, 1929-1941
2) Regular Meeting minutes, 1941-1955
3) Regular Meeting minutes, 1955-1966
Box 20
Three volumes:
1) “Minutes of the New Century Club Corporation”, 1913-1928
2) “Minutes of the New Century Club Corporation”, 1913-1921
3) “Minutes of the Corporation Board”, 1922-1938
Shelved
1) “Luncheon Minutes” 2009-2010
2) Secretary Book, 2010-2012
Series IX – Financial Records
Description: Documents tracking club expenses and business affairs including account/treasurer books; check stubs and New Century Corporation stock certificates and correspondence related to stock transfer. The majority of documents in the series are from the first half of the twentieth century.
Box 21
Folder 1 – Correspondence, New Century Club Corporation, 1918-1928
Folder 2 – Correspondence, miscellaneous
Folder 3 – Treasurer’s Reports, 1924-1925
Folder 4 – List of stockholder’s, New Century Club Corporation, n.d.
Folder 5 – Receipts/Bills, 1987-1990
Folder 6 – Receipts/Expense reports, Antique Show, 1989, n.d.
Folder 7 – Audit, 1926
Folder 8 – Employee Information, 1967-1973
Folder 9 – Workmen’s compensation, 1986-1988
Folder 10 – Insurance Policies, 1985-1987
Folder 11 – Insurance Policies, 1964-1972
Folder 12 – Insurance Policies, 1965-1970
Folder 13 – Insurance Policies, 1968-1969
Folder 14 – Insurance Policies, 1974-1977
Folder 15 – Insurance Policies, 1980-1981
Folder 16 – Insurance Policies, 1981-1982
Folder 17 – Miscellaneous
Box 22
4 volumes:
1) Treasurer’s Book with membership lists, 1904-1920
2) Treasurer’s Book, 1920-1925
3) Treasurer’s Book, 1920-1928
4) Account Book, 1971-1989
Box 22A
1) Treasurer’s Book, 1925-1929
2) Treasurer’s Book, 1929-1932
Box 22B
1) Treasurer’s Book, 1934-1937
2) Treasurer’s Book, 1937-1941
Box 22C
1) Treasurer’s Book, 1942-1954
Box 22D
1) Treasurer’s Book, 1954-1973
Box 23
2 volumes:
1) Stock Records, New Century Club Corporation, 1913-1924
2) Stock Certificates, 1916-1924
Box 24
7 items:
Check Books/Stubs, includes blank checks from First National Bank of West Chester: 1912-1915, 1922-1928, 1942-1950, 1984-1988
Series X – Scrapbooks
Description: Covering a most of the 20th century. Primarily newspaper clippings but also includes a few photographs and ephemera. Most books are bound, all are fragile. Compiler noted if known.
Box 25
1) Newspaper clippings and ephemera, 1928-1930
2) Newspaper clippings and ephemera, 1949-1955
3) “Log Book of the Junior New Century Club, 1951-1952”, newspaper clippings;
ephemera; photographs
4) Newspaper clippings, 1961-1963
Box 26
Newspaper clippings; ephemera; correspondence. Compiled by Elizabeth H. Pratt
Box 27
1) Newspaper clippings; ephemera; photographs, 1931-1949
Box 28
1) Newspaper clippings; photographs; ephemera; pressed flowers; correspondence, 1960s [binding broken, fragile]
Box 29
1) Newspaper clippings; ephemera; pressed flowers, 1955-1956
Series XI – Miscellaneous
Box 30
Folder 1 – New Century Clubhouse, Historic Register application, 1981-1983
Folder 2 – Clippings, 1901-1925, 1969-1979 [for additional clippings see Scrapbooks-
Series X and the Clippings Files in the CCHS reading room]
Folder 3 – Club By-laws/Constitution/Charter, 1894, 1959-1969, n.d.
Folder 4 – Directories, 1943-1953
Folder 5 – Song lyrics, 1917, 1922, 1967
Folder 6 – Mae Desmond Children’s Theatre, publicity, [ca. 1960]
Folder 7 – The New Century Club Cookbook, [ca. 1910]
Folder 8 – Pennsylvania Federation of Women’s Clubs, 1908-1976
Folder 9 – Script, “In an Antique Shop”, “Pageant of Shawls”, 1937
Folder 10 – Sheet music for Sophocles Antigone, includes photo print with caption: “The
Cast of ‘Antigone’ by Swarthmore College Girls”, [ca. 1910]
Folder 11 – Guest book, unidentified
Folder 12 – Miscellaneous
Box 31
Folder 1 – Flower Mission Committee, correspondence, 1929-1934
Folder 2 – Flower Mission Committee, announcements, 1931-1934
Folder 3 – Flower Mission Committee, minutes, 1926-1931
Folder 4 – Folder Mission Committee, receipts
Folder 5 – Flower Mission Committee, list of contributors
Folder 6 – Flower Mission Committee, “Flowers for the Flowerless”, list of beneficiaries,
1933
Folder 7 – Flower Mission Committee, clippings, 1927, n.d.
Folder 8 – Flower Mission Committee, miscellaneous
Folder 9 – Awards and citations, 1975, 1983, 1994
Folder 10 – Proclamation, Arbor Day in West Chester, April 25, 1994
Folder 11 – General Federation of Women’s Clubs, manual, 1978-1980
Additional material:
Set of BLUEPRINTS for Addition, New Century Clubhouse, n.d, OV, 4B-Shelf 2
Small number of PHOTOGRAPHS transferred to CCHS Photo-archives.
225 N. High Street, West Chester, PA 19380 | 610-692-4800
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