Guide to the Wistaria Study Club Records

Descriptive Summary
Creator: Wistaria Study Club of Mobile
Title: Wistaria Study Club Records
Dates: 1941-2002
Quantity: 5.75 cubic feet
Abstract: Contains the scrapbooks, minutes, annual reports, newsclippings, correspondence, and financial records of the Wistaria Study Club, a woman's organization, as well as information pertaining to the club's nursing scholarship program.
Accession: 05-09-445

Biographical Note
The Wistaria Study Club, affiliated with the General Federation of Women's Clubs and the Alabama Federation of Women's Clubs, was organized in 1937 to "encourage educational betterment and stimulate intellectual and liberal culture." Throughout its existence the club remained committed to education. Each year, local and state education officials attended a Wistaria Study Club luncheon and lectures on various educational topics. The club also sponsored events for several Mobile area high schools and other state and national educational programs.

One of the club's most far-reaching efforts to aid education was its nursing scholarship program, which the group has sponsored since 1940. The scholarships supported nursing students recommended by college administrators or the Mobile Welfare Department, and club members hosted receipients in their homes and purchased for them clothing and other necessities. The club financed the scholarships with raffles and rummage sales, and by selling vanilla extract. In addition to the nursing program, the Wistaria Study Club supported various local, state, and national charities or groups such as Murphy High School, the Miss Alabama Scholarship Fund, and the Creek Indian Fund.

On September 9, 2005 members voted to withdraw from the Federation, but a small cadre of still meet monthly and still continue the nursing scholarship program.

Scope and Content
The records consist of club minutes and correspondence, financial documents, and information on the nursing scholarship program. In addition, the collection has eleven scrapbooks prepared by the club historian that relate to Wistaria Study Club activities and contain programs, newsclippings, and photographs, among other material.

Arrangement
Arranged into 5 series: 1. Minutes, 1941-1963, 1969-1990, 1993-1996 [.25 cu. ft.]; 2. Club Reports and Subject Files, 1978-2002 [1 cu. ft.]; 3. Financial Records, 1990-2004 [1 cu. ft.]; 4. Scholarship Material, 1952-1990 [.25 cu. ft.]; 5. Scrapbooks, 1940-2007 [3.5 cu. ft.].

Access Restrictions
This material is open for research with the exception of the material in series 4, to which access is restricted.

Preferred Citation
[Title of item],Wistaria Study Club Records, The Doy Leale McCall Rare Book and Manuscript Library, University of South Alabama, Mobile, Alabama

1. Minutes 1941-1949
2. Minutes 1950-1955
3. Minutes 1956-1963
4. Minutes 1969-1978
5. Minutes 1975-1980
6. Minutes 1981-1984
7. Minutes 9/13/85-9/13/88
8. Minutes 8/18/88-5/11/90
9. Minutes 1993-1996 (out of order)

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1. Alabama Federation of Woman's Clubs (AFWC) Themes
2. Alabama Institute for the Deaf and Blind
3. American Red Cross
4-21. Annual Reports
22. Award Resolutions, 1985
23. Budget Reports, 1985-2001
24. Club-Related Pamphlets
25-36. Correspondence
37. Environmental Literature and Pamphlets
38. General Federation of Woman's Clubs (GWFC), Literature and Reports, 1981-1982
39. Handbooks and By-Laws
40. Heifer International
41. Installation Service
42. Junior Olympics
43. Membership Lists, 1991-1992 and n.d.
44. Miscellaneous Reports, 1984-1986
45. Newspaper Clippings
46. Non-Club Literature and Pamphlets
47. Past-President Reports
48-50. Reports to the President
51. Report for the 50th Anniversary Project
52. Resolutions of Sympathy
53. Tracy Hamilton, Inc.
54-66. Treasurer's Reports

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Box 3

1. Bienville Club Receipts
2. Deposit Slips
3-12. Financial Statements
13. International Trade Club Receipts
14. Miscellaneous Receipts
15. Miscellaneous Statements
16-20. Savings Account
21. Skyline Club Receipts
22. SouthTrust Bank CD Statements, 1991-2005
23. SouthTrust Bank Miscellaneous
24. Canceled Checks

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1-4. Scholarship Material
5-6. Semester Grades
7-8. Misc. Correspondence
9. Correspondence with Mobile Infirmary - 1958-1990

Scrapbook - 1954-1963
Scrapbook - 1967-1973
Scrapbook - 1977-1979
Scrapbook - 1980-1981
1966 Achievement Award
2 Scholarship Scrapbooks - 1940-1967

Scrapbook 1973-1978

Scrapbook - 1982-1989
Scrapbook - 1986-1990
Scrapbook - 1991-1992

Box 8

Scrapbook - 1992-1993
Scrapbook - 1997-1998
Scrapbook - 1999-2001
Scrapbook - 2002-2007

Box 9

Scrapbook - 1937-1954
Guestbook - 1987-2007