MS – 233 Young Women’s League of Dayton Records

Introduction

The records of the Young Women’s League of Dayton were accessioned into the Wright State University Department of Archives and Special Collections in December of 1991. The collection was donated by the Montgomery County Historical Society.

The materials in this collection date from 1895 to 1972 and fill two Hollinger boxes, a scrapbook box, 18 file folders, and one oversize file folder. The collection is arranged in eight series as follows:

Series 1: Publications

Series 2: Administrative Records

Series 3: Business/Legal Records

Series 4: Related Women’s Organizations

Series 5: Miscellaneous Correspondence

Series 6: Photographs

Series 7: Newspaper Clippings

Sub-series 1: Scrapbooks

Series 8: Oversize File

There are no restrictions on the use of this material.

Biographical Sketch

The Young Women’s League of Dayton was incorporated February 3, 1898 to promote the spiritual, moral, mental, and physical welfare of women in Dayton. The League was founded by former members of the Young Women’s Department of the Women’s Christian Association. Prominent members included Mrs. Marie J. Kumler, Miss Grace A. Greene, Miss Susannah B. Huffman, and Miss Katherine Wright. The Young Women’s league membership was open to women of all religions and its activities supported in particular young working women.

The League published two special editions of the Dayton Daily News in 1901 and 1910 to raise funds for the purchase of a building. With the purchase of their property on 24 West Fourth Street in Dayton, the Young Women’s League opened a tea room, lunch room, library and reading room, and offered classes to its members. The social activities of the League included suppers, musicales, and dances.

In 1918 the League purchased another property, the Stillwell home on First Street, to provide lodging for working women. The League also provided a retreat at Briarcliff Lodge and sponsored a scholarship for women to complete their schooling.

Various activities of the League included Charity benefit dances, hosting the Household Worker’s Training School in the 1930’s, and various support activities for the soldiers stationed at Wright Field during World War II.

The Young Women’s League membership and activities apparently declined in the 1960’s and on February 16, 1972 the League held its last official meeting. The League’s final act was to donate its property on 24 West Fourth Street to the Barney Children’s Medical Center.

Scope and Content

The records of the Young Women’s League of Dayton fall into eight series: 1) Publications, 2) Administrative Records, 3) Business/Legal Records, 4) Related Women’s Organizations, 5) Miscellaneous Correspondence, 6) Photographs, 7) Newspaper Clippings, and 8) Oversize File.

Series 1 contains assorted publications of the League. The Young Women’s League Record from November of 1901 through May of 1911, The League Lantern from May of 1922 through April of 1924, The Young Women’s League from May of 1933 through June of 1934 are included in the series. Also included is a file of various publications of the League sent to members from 1902-1950.

Series 2 contains the Administrative Records of the Young Women’s League. The first file contains scattered minutes from 1895-1972, committee lists from 1913-1938, and financial statements from 1964-1967. Also included in this series are League Program and Activities Committees’ questionnaires returned by members and membership lists from 1924, 1931, and 1936.

Series 3 consists of League business and legal records. Records of the League’s boarding house (undated), a receipt book from 1917, and the Tea Room account ledger from 1918-1919 are included. Also in this series are the deed search for the 24 West Fourth Street property and correspondence concerning the League’s tax exempt status in the 1920’s.

Series 4 contains material from related women’s organizations. An annual report from the YMCA and one from the Women’s Christian Association are included as well as a pamphlet and an annual report from the Eleanor Clubs of Chicago, dated 1910.

Series 5 consists of miscellaneous correspondence from League members. Various ‘histories’ and speeches concerning the League are included, along with correspondence from League members concerning the management of the League.

Series 6 contains photographs. Formal organization photographs from 1919-1931 portray interiors of the lunch room, tea room, photographs of the property of the League, and of the Board of Directors for 1919-1920. Also included in this series are photographs of League theatrical productions and activities related to soldier’s aid from the World War II era.

Series 7 contains copies of newspaper clippings relating to Young Women’s League activities. There is a comprehensive grouping from 1934 through 1955 and more limited information contained in a separate file which includes clippings from 1895-1969. Sub-series 1 includes a scrapbook of original clippings from 1919-1934, a scrapbook containing photographs from Briarcliff Lodge in 1920, and a scrapbook containing publications produced by the League from 1926 through 1950.

Series 8 is an oversize file of the editions of the Dayton Daily News published by the Young Women’s League to raise money. Complete copies of the League editions for March 30, 1901 and October 8, 1910 are included as well as a poster advertising the 1901 edition. A section of the October 30, 1932 edition of the Dayton Daily News which chronicles the League’s editions of the newspaper is included.

Box and Folder Listing