Altrusa Club of Savannah (Ga.) records

Descriptive Summary
Repository:	Georgia Historical Society
Creator:	Altrusa Club of Savannah (Ga.)
Title:	Altrusa Club of Savannah (Ga.) records
Dates:	1938-2002
Extent:	10.9 cubic feet (21 boxes, 7 volumes, 1 oversize folder, 1 folder)
Identification:	MS 2011

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Biographical/Historical Note

The Altrusa Institute was founded on April 11, 1917 in Nashville, Tennessee by Dr. Alfred Durham. The organization was created to offer professional women opportunities in public service and personal achievement. Dr. Durham's associate, Mamie L. Bass, is credited with turning the club into a classified service organization in 1918, renaming it the National Association of Altrusa Clubs. Following Mamie L. Bass' leadership, clubs sprang up both nationally and internationally. Altrusa clubs attract professional women (and recently, men) who have an interest in volunteerism and making positive changes in their communities.

The Savannah Altrusa Club was founded on April 22, 1938 by Nancy Hatch, an International Association of Altrusa Clubs field organizer from Chicago, Illinois. At that time, the Savannah club was the thirteenth club in Altrusa's Second District, which included: Washington, D.C., Maryland, Virginia, West Virginia, North Carolina, South Carolina, Georgia and Florida. Over time, the districts changed due to increased membership and the Savannah club became of a part of District Three, which includes Georgia, Florida, and South Carolina. The Altrusa Club of Savannah was active from 1938 until 1999. Currently, the club has no members due to the small numbers of members and the strain of competing with other civic women's groups. However, the club charter is still in effect so that club funds can be distributed for scholarships.

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Scope and Content Note

The Altrusa Club Records, 1938-2002, consist of administrative organizational records as well as materials distributed by District Three and Altrusa International, Inc. The six series reflecting the organizational structure and volunteer efforts of the Altrusa Club are: Board of Directors; Projects and Programs; Publications; Clubs; Newspaper clippings and Scrapbooks; and Visual Materials. Many of the date spans listed are incomplete with significant gaps.

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Index Terms

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Administrative Information

Custodial History

Some material was acquired from the creating organization.

Preferred Citation

[item identification], Altrusa Club of Savannah (Ga.) records, MS 2011, Georgia Historical Society, Savannah, Georgia.

Acquisition Information

Deposit by Altrusa Club, 1976; gifted, 2002. Gift of Mary Alice Brown, 2001, 2002.

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Restrictions

Access Restrictions

Collection is open for research.

Publication Rights

Copyright has not been assigned to the Georgia Historical Society. All requests for permission to publish or quote from manuscripts must be submitted in writing to the Division of Library and Archives. Permission for publication is given on behalf of the Georgia Historical Society as the owner of the physical items and is not intended to include or imply permission of the copyright holder, which must also be obtained by the researcher.

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Sponsorship

Encoding funded by a 2012 Documenting Democracy grant from the National Historical Publications and Records Commission.

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Container List

 

SERIES 1:: Board of Directors, 1938-2002
This series contains five subseries: President, Corresponding Secretary, Recording Secretary, Treasurer, and General Materials. These materials document the administrative activities of the club. Each of these subseries is arranged by type of record, chronologically. The bulk dates are 1960-2000, with gaps. Within the Treasurer subseries are three oversized ledgers.
		SUBSERIES 1.1:: President, 1959-1975
Box	Fldr
1	1		Transfer of Assignment of Presidency of Savannah Altrusa Club, 1959
	2		Correspondence, 1965-1966
	3		"Letters of Congratulations to Women of the City for Outstanding Accomplishments", 1965-1966
	4		Local correspondence, 1965
	5		Local correspondence, 1966
	6		Local correspondence, 1967
	7		Correspondence, 1968-1969
	8		Correspondence, 1970-1971
	9		Correspondence, 1974-1975
	10		Agendas, 1965-1966
	11		Minutes, 1965-1966
	12		Minutes, 1968-1969
	13		Business meetings, 1968-1969
	14		Program meetings, 1968-1969
Box	Fldr
2	4		Board meetings, 1974-1975
	15		Board meetings, 1968-1969
	1		Special meetings, 1970-1971
	2		Agenda, 1974-1975
	3		Club meetings, 1974-1975
	5		Committees, 1968-1969
	6		Altrusa Information Committee, 1968-1969
	7		Community Service Committee, 1968-1969
	8		International Relations Committee, 1968-1969
	9		Vocational Services Committee, 1968-1969
	10		Entertainment Committee, 1968-1969
	11		Classification and Membership Screening Committee, 1968-1969
	12		Courtesy Committee, 1968-1969
	13		Publicity Committee, 1968-1969
	14		Waving Girl Memorial Fund Committee, 1968-1969
	15		Committee reports, 1970-1971
	16		District Three News, 1965-1966
	17		International Service Bulletin, 1965-1966
	18		Altrusa News and Views, 1968-1969
	19		International Service Bulletin, 1968-1969
	20		District Three News, 1968-1969
	21		District Three Service Bulletin, 1968-1969
Box	Fldr
3	1		District Three Service Bulletin, 1970-1971
	2		Golden Anniversary, 1965-1966
	3		President's report, 1944-1945
	4		President's report and file, 1965-1966, 1970-1971
	5		Miscellaneous, 1965-1966
	6		Altrusa International, 1965-1967
	7		President, 1966
	8		President, 1967
	9		Finance, 1968-1969
	10		Resignations, 1968-1969
	11		Miscellaneous, 1968-1969
	12		Conferences, 1970-1971
		SUBSERIES 1.2:: Corresponding Secretary, 1963-1969
Box	Fldr
3	13		Altrusa International, 1963-1964
	14		Altrusa International, 1964-1965
	15		District Three, 1963-1964
	16		District Three, 1964-1965
	17		Local correspondence, 1963-1964
	18		Local correspondence, 1964-1965
	19		Miscellaneous correspondence, 1964-1981
Box	Fldr
4	1		New clubs, 163-1964
	2		New clubs and members, 1964-1965
	3		Corresponding Secretary, 1967
	4		Corresponding Secretary, 1968
	5		Corresponding Secretary, 1969
		SUBSERIES 1.3:: Recording Secretary, 1938-2000
Box	Fldr
4	6		Minutes
	7		Minutes, July 1939-June 1940
	8		Minutes, July 1940-June 1941
	9		Minutes, July 1941-June 1942
	10		Minutes, July 1942-June 1943
	11		Minutes, July 1943-June 1944
	12		Minutes, July 1944-June 1945
	13		Minutes, July 1945-June 1946
	14		Minutes, July 1946-June 1947
	15		Minutes, July 1947-June 1948
	16		Minutes, July 1948-June 1949
Box	Fldr
5	1		Minutes, July 1949-June 1950
	2		Minutes, July 1950-June 1951
	3		Minutes, July 1951-June 1952
	4		Minutes, July 1952-June 1953
	5		Minutes, July 1953-June 1954
	6		Minutes, July 1954-June 1955
	7		Minutes, July 1955-June 1956
	8		Minutes, July 1956-June 1957
	9		Minutes, July 1957-June 1958
	10		Minutes, July 1958-June 1959
	11		Minutes, July 1959-June 1960
	12		Minutes, July 1960-June 1961
	13		Minutes, July 1961-June 1962
	14		Minutes, July 1962-June 1963
Box	Fldr
6	1		Minutes, July 1976-June 1977
	2		Minutes, 1977-1978, 1994, 1997-1998
	3		Program meetings, 1962-1969
	4		Program meetings, 1970
	5		Program meetings, 1974-1975
	6		Program meetings, 1975-1977
	7		Board meetings, 1962-1965
	8		Board meetings, 1966-1967
	9		Board meetings, 1968-1969
	10		Board meetings, 1970
	11		Board meetings, 1971
	12		Board meetings, 1972
	13		Business meetings, 1962
	14		Business meetings, 1963
	15		Business meetings, 1964
	16		Business meetings, 1965
	17		Business meetings, 1966
Box	Fldr
7	1		Business meetings, 1967
	2		Business meetings, 1968-1969
	3		Business meetings, 1970-1975
	4		Business meetings, 1975-1977
	5		Business meetings, 1982-1999, undated
	6		Club meetings, 1973-1974
	7		Board of Directors, 1973-1974
	8		Board of Directors, 1974-1975
	9		Board of Directors, 1975-1977, 2000
	10		Miscellaneous, 1967, 1975-1980
	11		Attendance, 1970-1972, 1974-1975
	12		Reports, 1977-1978
	13		Correspondence, 1977-1978
		SUBSERIES 1.4:: Treasurer, 1940-2000
Box	Fldr
7	14		Treasurer's reports, 1971-1978
Box	Fldr
8	1		Treasurer's reports, 1979-1994
	2		Budget reports, 1950-1982, undated
	3		Budget reports, 1988-2000
	4		Bank statements, January 1973-June 1976
	5		Bank statements, July 1976- June 1979
	6		Bank statements, July 1979-April 1984
	7		Bank statements, June 1993-June 1994
	8		Bank statements, July 1994-June 1995
	8		Bank statements, July 1995-June 1996
	10		Bank statements, July 1996-June 1997
	11		Bank statements, July 1997-June 1998
	12		Bank statements, July 1998-June 1999
	13		Bank statements, July 1999-June 2000
	14		Bank statements, July 2000-2002
Box	Fldr
9	1		Treasurer's guides, 1988-1989
	2		Treasurer's guides, 1991-1997
	3		Receipts and invoices, 1974-1977
	4		Receipts and invoices, 1978-1979
	5		Receipts and invoices, 1980-1982
	6		Receipts and invoices, 1989-1991
	7		Receipts and invoices, 1992-1993
	8		Receipts and invoices, 1994-1996
	9		Receipts and invoices, 1997-1999
	10		Receipts and disbursements, 1997-1998
	11		Receipts and disbursements, 1998-2000
Box	Fldr
10	1		Treasurer's file, 1979-1980
	2		Treasurer's file, 1980-1981
	3		Treasurer's file, 1983-1984
	4		Treasurer's file, 1999
	5		Filing annual corporation reports, 1940-1977
	6		Income tax exemption form 990, 1960-1981
	7		Savings account, 1961, 1971-1972, 1975
	8		District Three Annual Conference, 1971
	9		Financial correspondence, 1980-1999
	10		Altrusa merchandise orders, 1989-1994
	11		ACT Foundation, Inc. trust application, 1990, undated
	12		Federal tax information, 1994-1998
	13		Coastal Empire fair book funds, 1997-1998
	14		Myrtice Price Altrusa Achievement Award fund, 1997-1999
	15		Contingency Fund, 1997-2000
	16		Swing Medallions Program Fund, 1998-1999
	17		Fair checking account, 1998-1999
	18		Fund raising, undated
	19		Cookbook sales, undated
	20		Membership rosters, 1967-1970, 1982-1983
	21		Membership correspondence, 1979
	22		Recommendations for membership, 1971-1997
	23		Member accounts, 1967-1977
Box	Fldr
11	1		Membership and dues reports, 1970-1982
	2		Membership and dues reports, 1989-1992
	3		Membership and dues reports, 1993-1997
	4		Membership and dues reports, 1997-1999
	5		Membership information forms, 1989-1996, undated
	6		Membership standings, 1990-1995
	7		Annual dues, 1992-1997
	8		Allocation of dues, 1993-1994
	9		Emeritus memberships, 1993-1994, 1999
	10		Member dues paid/outstanding, 1999-2000
	11		Member lists, undated
	12		Member lists, 1991, undated
	13		Member account ledger, 1960-1981, bulk 1976-1980
	14		Member account ledger, 1981-1983
	15		Member account ledger, 1983-1984
Box	Fldr
12	1		Member account ledger, 1989-1990
	2		Statement ledger, 1961-1963
Volume
1			Ledger 1, 1967-1971
Volume
2			Ledger 2, 1971-1977
Volume
3			Ledger 3, 1980-1983
	3		Cash receipts ledger, 1992-1999
	4		Contingency Fund ledger, 1992-1999
	5		Myrtice Price Altrusa Achievement Award Fund, 1997-1999
		SUBSERIES 1.5:: General materials, 1938-2000
Box	Fldr
12	6		Organization welcome letters, 1938
	7		Correspondence, 1942, 1944, 1964
	8		Membership recruitment, 1942, 1968-1969, 1991-1999, Undated
	9		Inter Club banquet programs, 1995, 1958
	10		Awards presented to the Savannah Altrusa Club, 1962-1971, 1999
	11		Officer and committee directories, 1966-1967, 1993-2000
	12		Savannah's Classified Women's Civil Clubs joint meetings, 1968, 1971
	13		Articles of incorporation, 1969
	14		Altrusa Club of Savannah, miscellaneous, 1969-1996, undated
	15		Membership initiation ceremony, 1990-1992, undated
	16		Membership Committee binder, 1993-1999, undated
	17		Altrusa Club of Savannah directory, 1998-1999
Box	Fldr
13	1		Meeting schedules, 1998-2000
	2		Constitution and bylaws for Second District Altrusa Clubs, undated
	3		Meeting protocol, undated

 

SERIES 2:: Projects and programs, 1931-2002
This series contains three subseries: Waving Girl Memorial, Nurses' Loan, and Miscellaneous Projects and Programs.
		SUBSERIES 2.1:: Waving Girl memorial, 1931-1973
				This subseries documents the erection and dedication of a statue of Florence Martus, known as the "Waving Girl" of Savannah.
Box	Fldr
13	4		News clippings, 1931, 1943, 1958
	5		News clippings, 1961, 1966-1969
	6		News clippings, 1971-1973, undated
	7		Dedication invitation list, February 1972
	8		Dedication R.S.V.P. Correspondence, February 1972
	9		Dedication invitations and program, February 2, 1972
	10		Correspondence and financial, 1966
	11		Correspondence and financial, 1967
	12		Correspondence and financial, 1968
	13		Correspondence and financial, 1969
Box	Fldr
14	1		Correspondence and financial, 1970
	2		Correspondence and financial, 1971
	3		Correspondence and financial, 1972
	4		Correspondence and financial, 1973
	5		The Waving Girl Memorial Fund, Inc. incorporation Papers, 1966-1973
	6		Memorial fund, 1971-1972
	7		Birthday part for Florence Martus, 1938
	8		"Savannah's Waving Girl," by Ruth S. Healy, 1967
	9		Sculptor contract, July 10, 1968
	10		"A Tribute to Miss Martus," by Frank Rossiter, 1968
	11		Centennial birthday observance, 1968
	12		Projects Committee questionnaire, 1968
	13		Memorial example: John Wesley monument, 1969
	14		Pedestal and planter designs, 1971-1972
	15		Congressman G. Elliot Hagan speech to the House of Representatives, February 16, 1972
	16		Florence Martus poetry, undated
		SUBSERIES 2.2:: Nurses' Loan, 1942-1995
				In 1956, the Altrusa Club of Savannah began its Nurses' Loan program. The loan was given to qualified candidates enabling them to attend the Warren Candler Hospital School of Nursing. Materials in the Nurses' Loan subseries pertain to applicant and recipient information.
Box	Fldr
14	17		Recipient information, 1956-1964
	18		Correspondence, 1961-1966
	19		General information, 1962, undated
	20		Projects and programs, general, 1942-1973, 1995
	21		Civic Club Council of Savannah, 1946-1960
		SUBSERIES 2.3:: Miscellaneous projects and programs, 1956-2002
				The Miscellaneous files are arranged by project or program, chronologically and consist mainly of publicity and committee records.
Box	Fldr
15	1		Job Clinic for Mature Women, 1956-1957
	2		Advertising benches, 1959-1975
	3		Science seminar, 1965
	4		Walking tours of history, 1965-1966
	5		Nomination for the Mamie L. Bass Award, 1968-1969
	6		Altrusa Anniversaries, 1977-1996, undated
	7		Founders Fund Vocational Award, 1985-1986
	8		Fair Booth Committee, 1995
	9		Savannah Runaway Home Committee, 1995-1996
	10		Annual Luncheon, 1997
	11		Myrtice Price Achievement Award, 1997-2002
	12		Program in honor of Myrtice Price, undated
	13		"The Swinging Medallions", September 5, 1999

 

SERIES 3:: Publications, 1944-1995
This series contains two subseries: the Altrusa News and Views and the Altrusa Club of Savannah yearbooks.
		SUBSERIES 3.1:: Altrusa News and Views, 1955-1995
				This subseries consists of the Altrusa News and Views, a monthly newsletter specific to the Altrusa Club of Savannah. Highlighted in the newsletter were editorials, monthly meetings, current projects and membership. The bulk dates for the Altrusa News and Views are 1955-1973 with gaps through 1995.
Box	Fldr
15	14		1955
	15		1956
	16		1957
Box	Fldr
16	1		1958
	2		1959
	3		1960
	4		1961
	5		1962
	6		1963
	7		1964
	8		1965
	9		1966
	10		1967
Box	Fldr
17	1		1968
	2		1969
	3		1970
	4		1971
	5		1972
	6		1973
	7		1981
	8		1982
	9		1983
	10		1989
	11		1990
	12		1991
	13		1994
	14		1995
		SUBSERIES 3.2:: Altrusa Club of Savannah yearbooks, 1944-1975
				This subseries consists of yearbooks, published by the club, containing detailed lists of the club's officers, committees, projects, and membership. They date from 1944 to 1975.
Box	Fldr
17	15		1944-1950
	16		1950-1961
	17		1961-1971
	18		1970-1975

 

SERIES 4:: Clubs, 1955-2000
This series consists of three subseries: Astra Club, District Three, and Altrusa International, Inc.
		SUBSERIES 4.1:: Astra Club, 1979-2000
				This subseries consists of general information and correspondence about this youth organization hosted by the Altrusa Club of Savannah at the St. Andrews on the Marsh High School.
Box	Fldr
18	1		1979-1983, undated
	2		Correspondence, 1980-1982
	3		1987-1997, undated
	4		1998-2000
		SUBSERIES 4.2:: District Three, 1988-2000
				This subseries consists annual convention materials, manuals and publications.
Box	Fldr
18	5		1988-2000
	6		Conferences, 1990-1991
	7		42nd Annual Conference, October 17-October 20, 1996
	8		43rd Annual Conference, April 19, 1997
	9		District Service Bulletin, 1989-1990, 1997, 1999
		SUBSERIES 4.3:: Altrusa International, Inc., 1955-1997
				This subseries consists annual convention materials, manuals and publications.
Box	Fldr
18	10		24th Convention, July 1955
	11		Convention, July 1997
	12		Publications. Classification Guide: Membership in Altrusa, 1970
	13		Publications. Project Planner, Fundraising, 1977, 1981
	14		Altrusa Encyclopedia, 1986
	15		Altrusa Encyclopedia, Newly Revised, 1991
	16		Altrusa International Encyclopedia, 1997
Box	Fldr
19	1		Bylaws, 1970
	2		Bylaws and policies, 1985
	3		Bylaws and policies, 1995
	4		Club bylaws, undated
	5		Principles of Altrusa, undated
	6		International Altrusan, 1987, 1989, 1997, undated
	7		Altrusa Accent, 1986-1997

 

SERIES 5:: Newspaper clippings and scrapbooks, 1938-1975

This series contains newspaper clippings that date from the 1940s to 1960s with some undated articles. There are six scrapbooks plus addenda. Four of the scrapbooks are oversized. This subseries documents the social and charitable activities and accomplishments of the Altrusa Club, as well as administrative appointments and milestones. Scrapbooks contain clippings, photographs, programs and ephemera.

Box

19

Scrapbook 1, 1938-1946

Volume

4

Scrapbook 2, 1942-1972

Box

20

Scrapbook 3, 1946-1953

Volume

5

Scrapbook 4, 1953-1958

Volume

6

Scrapbook 5, 1958-1964

Volume

7

Scrapbook 6, 1966-1975

Box

Fldr

20

1

Scrapbook addenda, 1951-1957, undated

2

Scrapbook 2, newspaper clippings, 1942-1972

3

Scrapbook 4, newspaper clippings and addenda, 1953-1958

4

Scrapbook 5, newspaper clippings, 1958-1964

5

Scrapbook 5, newsletters, photographs, and correspondence

6

Scrapbook 6, newspaper clippings, 1966-1975

 

SERIES 6:: Visual materials, 1941-1999

This series contains 14 slides, one VHS cassette, and eight folders of photographs and scrapbook materials. The fourteen slides, March 1973, are color slides of three subjects: the chandelier at the Owens-Thomas house museum; Tayloe (?) Lanterns at the (Juliet Gordon Low?) Birthplace; and Advertising Benches. All three of these subjects were funded by the Altrusa Club. The VHS cassette is an Altrusa International Incorporated film titled, "This is Altrusa International" and is undated. The Altrusa Club photographs (1941-1999, undated) are arranged chronologically, a mixture of black and white and color, and are contained in eight folders. The bulk of the photographs, 1972, in folders 3 and 4, come from a dismantled photo album/scrapbook that documents the erection and dedication of the Waving Girl statue; a project spearheaded and funded by the Altrusa Club. Folder 1 contains three black and white photographs removed from Scrapbook #3, 1946-1953, that is found in MS 2011, Altrusa Club Records. Folders 6 and 7 contain color snapshot photographs from two unidentified Altrusa Club events. One oversize folder contains a panorama black and white photograph of Altrusa members at the 1941 Altrusa International Convention.

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1

Slides, 1-14, March 1973. Include the chandelier at the Owens-Thomas House; Tavloe Landers at the Juliette Gordon Low birthplace; advertising benches

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1

VHS tape. "This is Altrusa International," Altrusa International Incorporated, undated

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Fldr

1

1

Photographs from Scrapbook 3, 1946-1953

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1

2

Miscellaneous photographs, 1965, 1966, undated

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1

3-4

Photo album/scrapbook, The Waving Girl Memorial, 1972

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1

5

Photograph. ASTRA club officers and sponsors, 1981-1982

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1

6

Photographs. Unidentified event, 1999

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1

7

Photographs. Unidentified event, undated (circa 1999)

Photograph. Altrusa International Convention, Hotel Roanoke, Virginia, July 12, 1941