Finding aid for the Business and Professional Women's Club of Berea Records, Series II

History of the Business and Professional Women's Club of Berea

The Business and Professional Women's Club of Berea was organized in 1945 to establish a common meeting ground from which business and professional women might promote their own welfare and encourage a sense of obligation to their occupations and community. From the beginning they maintained close ties with other Cleveland-area clubs and affiliated with the Ohio State Federation of the National Federation of Business and Professional Women's Club, Inc. Meeting in each other's homes as well as in a variety of restaurants and public buildings in Berea, club members gathered monthly to offer one another fellowship, listen to programs focusing on working women's problems, and tackle projects such as a 1946 war memorial, library bookplates and the organization of Candidates Night in 1966. In 1987, the club membership of over 70 women still met monthly to address common concerns and plan community service and fundraising projects. As of 2014, they offer scholarships for the education of women re-entering the work force and actively work for legislation which ensures the fair treatment of working women and allows women opportunities for occupational and individual growth.

The Business and Professional Women's Club of Berea seeks to elevate the standards of business and professional women; promote the interests of business and professional women; enhance a spirit of cooperation among business and professional women; and extend opportunities to business and professional women through industrial, scientific, and vocational education. The club promotes a legislative platform for women's equality as well.

Scope and Content

The Business and Professional Women's Club of Berea Records, Series II, 1954-1991 and undated (bulk dates 1970-1991), consist of awards, budgets, directories, financial statements, lists, minutes, newsletters, newspaper clippings, photographs, press releases, proclamations, profiles, programs, reports, rosters, and a scrapbook.

This collection will be useful to researchers studying the history of professional, business, and working women in Berea, Ohio, in the late twentieth century. Those interested in networking opportunities for women, legislative issues regarding women's rights and equality, efforts to recognize the achievements of professional women, and efforts to promote the Equal Rights Amendment will find this collection particularly useful. The membership lists and directories provide detailed lists of Berea women, their residences, and their occupations during the late twentieth century.

Statement of Arrangement

Restrictions on Access

None.

The researcher should also consult MS 4097 Business and Professional Women's Club of Berea Records.

Indexing Terms

The following terms have been used to index the description of this collection in the library's online public access catalog.

Subjects:

Organizations/Corporations:

Preferred Citation

[Container ___, Folder ___ ] MS 5274 Business and Professional Women's Club of Berea Records, Series II, Western Reserve Historical Society, Cleveland, Ohio

Acquisition Information

Gift of the Business and Professional Women's Club of Berea in 1991.

Processing Information

Processed by Margaret Burzynski-Bays in 2014.

Detailed Description of The Collection