Grand Forks County Homemakers Records, 1922-2016
Collection Overview
Title: Grand Forks County Homemakers Records, 1922-2016
ID: OGLMC1657
Primary Creator: Grand Forks County Homemakers Clubs (1922-2016)
Extent: 4.5 Linear Feet
Date Acquired: 06/02/2017
Subjects: Agriculture, Grand Forks, Grand Forks County, North Dakota, Organizational Records, Women's History - Women's Organizations
Languages: English
Abstract
Scope and Contents of the Materials
The Grand Forks County Homemakers Records is divided into two series: Series 1 consists of material related to the Grand Forks County Homemakers; and Series 2 contains material for the Country Gals Homemakers Club..
Included in Series 1 are record forms (1983-2005) providing summary information and lists of members for individual Homemakers/Family and Community Education clubs, programs for the annual Achievement Day (1962-2016), and scrapbooks documenting activities of local clubs. This series also contains an extensive card index, organized chronologically, listing the officers, members, and project highlights of individual clubs in Grand Forks County (1922-1985/86).
Series 2 is for the Country Gals club, which began in Walsh County in 1956 as the Gay Country Gals. About 1988, this club became affiliated with the other clubs in Grand Forks County. Included in this series are secretary books including meeting minutes and activity information (1956-2006), a treasurer's book (1957-1963), program booklets (ca. 1956-1997), and photographs.
Collection Historical Note
Homemakers clubs began to be organized in North Dakota in the early 1920s. As more clubs started locally, there was a need for coordination at the county level. For Grand Forks County, their county council was organized in 1929 and consisted of the presidents of individual clubs. Local clubs functioned as important social networks for farm women. Working with county Cooperative Extension offices, members of Homemakers clubs were taught and participated in activities to promote a better lifestyle such as food preparation, health care, hygiene, home management, sewing, handicrafts, and decorating. In addition to programs, clubs exchanged ideas and were involved with local charities and 4-H.
While many of the clubs in Grand Forks County were organized in the 1920s and 1930s, others were established as recently as the 1970s. The Grand Forks County Homemakers had an annual achievement day to recognize members of individual clubs and install new officers. For some years, the name was changed from Homemakers clubs to Family and Community Exchange (FCE) clubs to reflect the changing role of the organization.
Subject/Index Terms
Agriculture
Grand Forks
Grand Forks County, North Dakota
Organizational Records
Women's History - Women's Organizations
Administrative Information
Repository: Elwyn B. Robinson Department of Special Collections
Access Restrictions: Open for inspection under the Rules and Regulations of the Elwyn B. Robinson Department of Special Collections.
Acquisition Source: Brenda Beck, Arvilla, North Dakota
Acquisition Method: Donation; 2017-3338
Related Materials:
Bathgate Homemakers Club, OGLMC 1322
Brenna Homemakers Club, OGLMC 1585
Chester Homemakers Club, OGLMC 1393
Preferred Citation: (Description of Item). Grand Forks County Homemakers Records. OGLMC 1657. Elwyn B. Robinson Department of Special Collections, Chester Fritz Library, University of North Dakota, Grand Forks.
Processing Information: Collection was processed and added to Archon in 2017.
Box and Folder Listing
Browse by Series:
[Series 1: Grand Forks County Homemakers],
[Series 2: Country Gals Homemakers Club],
[All]
- Series 1: Grand Forks County Homemakers
- Box 1
- Folder 1: Club Record Forms, 1983-1987/88
- Folder 2: Club Record Forms, 1989/90-1991/92
- Folder 3: Club Record Forms, 1992/93-1994/95
- Folder 4: Club Record Forms, 1995/96-1997/98
- Folder 5: Club Record Forms, 1998/99-2000/01
- Folder 6: Club Record Forms, 2001-2005
- Folder 7: Grand Forks County Fall Council Meetings, 1998-1999
- Includes photographs and details of activities.
- Folder 8: Homemakers Achievement Day Programs, 1964-1992
- Folder 9: Homemakers/FCE Achievement Day Programs, 1993-2003
- Folder 10: Homemakers Achievement Day Programs, 2004-2016
- Folder 11: Miscellaneous Booklets, 1979 and undated
- Contains a 50th anniversary booklet for the Grand Forks County Homemakers from 1979, which includes sketches of local clubs in the county, and a FCE officer handbook.
- Item 1: Information Cards for Individual Clubs, 1923/24-1953/54
- Folder 1: Club Record Forms, 1983-1987/88
- Box 3
- Item 1: Grand Forks County Historical Scrapbook (1873-1920), February 1964
- Scrapbook assembled by Kempton Homemakers Club. Contains brief histories of the cultural, social, and economic development of Grand Forks County. Also includes photographs and maps.
- Item 2: Homemakers Scrapbook, 1990-1996
- Scrapbook includes Grand Forks County Homemakers Council meeting minutes, NDSU Extension Service brochures, and photos of meetings.
- Item 3: "In Remembrance" book
- Lists names of deceased members from March 1955 to 1999.
- Item 4: Information Cards for Individual Clubs, 1954/55-1966/67
- Contains membership information for the different clubs, including officers and members names.
- Item 5: Information Cards for Individual Clubs, 1967/68-1985/86
- Contains membership information for the different clubs, including officers and members names.
- Item 1: Grand Forks County Historical Scrapbook (1873-1920), February 1964
- Box 4
- Box 5
- Box 1
- Series 2: Country Gals Homemakers Club
- Box 1
- Folder 12: Miscellaneous - Country Gals, 1956-2015
- Includes constitutions, photographs, newspaper clippings, and a historical sketch.
- Folder 13: Program Booklets - Country Gals, ca. 1956-1997
- Folder 14: Secretary's Record Books - Gay Country Gals, 1956/57-1962/63
- Folder 15: Secretary's Record Books - Gay Country Gals, 1963/64-1968/69
- Folder 16: Secretary's Record Books - Gay Country Gals, 1970/71-1975/76
- Folder 17: Secretary's Record Books - Country Gals, 1976/77-1981/82
- Folder 12: Miscellaneous - Country Gals, 1956-2015
- Box 2
- Folder 1: Secretary's Record Books - Country Gals, 1982/83-1987/88
- Folder 2: Secretary's Record Books - Country Gals, 1988/89-1994/95
- Folder 3: Secretary's Record Books - Country Gals, 1995/96-2006
- Folder 4: Treasurer's Book and Major Project Record Books - Gay Country Gals, 1956-1963
- The treasurer's book covers 1957-1963.
- Folder 1: Secretary's Record Books - Country Gals, 1982/83-1987/88
- Box 1
Browse by Series:
[Series 1: Grand Forks County Homemakers],
[Series 2: Country Gals Homemakers Club],
[All]