Guide to Archives of the Wichita State University Dames

Collection Summary

Title: Archives of the Wichita State University Dames
Call Number: MS 92-15
Size: 9.0 linear feet
Acquisition: Donated in 1990 by Annie Merriam, President of the Dames 1989-1990. Subsequent donations were made by Ruth Tasch, President of the Dames 1990-1991. Additional material is anticipated and will be accessioned as provided.
Processed by: PAM, 1-7-1992; Reprocessed by JEF, 4-23-1998; JLY 8-2008

Literary Rights

Literary rights were not granted to Wichita State University. When permission is granted to examine manuscripts, it is not an authorization to publish them. Manuscripts cannot be used for publication without regard for common law literary rights, copyright laws and the laws of libel. It is the responsibility of the researcher and his/her publisher to obtain permission to publish. Scholars and students who eventually plan to have their work published are urged to make inquiry regarding overall restrictions on publication before initial research.

Content Note

The Archives of the Wichita State University Dames include minutes, agendas, committee reports, correspondence, memorandum, treasurer's reports, budgets, ledgers, procedures, guidelines, calendars, posters, newsletters, scrapbooks, clippings and photographs. The records are organized into 16 series: President; 1st Vice-President (Membership) and Membership Committee; 2nd Vice-President (Programs) and Programs Committee; Secretary; Treasurer; Historian and Publicity Committee; Newcomers Group; Bylaws Committee; Courtesy/Gift Books Committee; Interest Groups Committee; Newsletter Committee; Social Committee; Special Projects Committee; Telephone Committee; Yearbook Committee; and Other Committees Past and Present. The name of the organization changed from the Wichita State Dames to the Wichita State Women's Association, May 5, 2001.

Administrative History

The Wichita State University Dames was founded in 1928 as the Faculty Wives Club by Mrs. H. W. Foght, wife of University of Wichita President Harold Foght. There were 30 charter members. Mrs. Foght was the first elected president of the organization. In September 1929, the name of the club was changed to the University of Wichita Dames and again in July 1964 to its present name (in response to the renaming of the University as a whole).

In 1954, a small group was created within the original organization and called the Newcomers Group. The primary purpose of this group was to organize and sponsor socialization activities for first year members.

In March 1972, by a resolution to the original bylaws, women faculty of the University were invited to become Dames. Before this time, members had been only the wives of current, retired or deceased faculty and administrative personnel.

According to the bylaws printed in the 1991-1992 Wichita State University Dames Yearbook, the following officers are elected each year in March: President, lst Vice-President, 2nd Vice-President, Secretary, Treasurer, and Historian. The President appoints the following officers: Curator, Parliamentarian, and Newcomers Coordinator. There are twelve committees: Auditing, Bylaws, Courtesy/Gift Books, Interest Groups, Membership, Newsletter, Programs, Publicity, Social, Special Projects, Telephone and Yearbook.

In the early years, the Wichita State University Dames generally was a social organization. After a tragic airplane crash in 1970, which killed many football players and faculty on their way to a game, the Dames organized their first fund raising event, a pre-game lunch, in their memory. The Wichita State University Dames became a successful service organization during this time, organizing a contribution campaign and assisting with the Night of Stars television benefit show. The collected monies were donated to the Football 1970 Memorial Fund. Since then, the Dames have raised money for their scholarship fund, through the efforts of the Special Projects Committee. The Gift Book Program honors Wichita State University Dames by placing a selected book in the Ablah Library in their name, upon their death or retirement. A book is also placed for the wife of each new President of the University and each retiring Dames President.

May 5, 2001 the name of the organization changed from the Wichita State University Dames to the Wichita State Women's Association.

Series Listing

Series 1

Box 1-Box 3

Officers. The files include the office of the President, the office of the Treasurer, and the office of the Secretary.

Series 1.1

Box 1 FF 1-17

Office of the President. The series includes the “President’s Book” that include minutes, correspondence, newsletters, and reports. The materials range in date between 1928 and 1998.

Series 1.2

Box 2 FF 1-Box 3 FF 4

Office of the Treasurer. Includes ledgers, reports, budgets, bills, receipts, and bank statements from 1950 through 1996.

Series 1.3

Box 3 FF 5-12

Office of the Secretary. Includes minutes and agendas for board and general meetings from 1972 to 2001.

Series 2

Box 4-Box 16

Committees. The materials document the numerous committees created by the Dames.

Series 2.1

Box 4 FF 1

First Vice-President/Membership Committee. Reports and guidelines, circa 1976-1986.

Series 2.2

Box 4 FF 2

Second Vice-President/Programs Committee. Calendars, reports, invitations and posters, 1972-1988.

Series 2.3

Box 4 FF 3 and Box 7-Box 16 (Scrapbooks)

Historian and Publicity Committee. Series includes reports, correspondence, photocopies of clippings, and photographs. Due to their size the Scrapbooks are located at the end of the collection

Series 2.4

Box 4 FF 4-8

Newcomers Group. Minutes and reports, 1955-1970.

Series 2.5

Box 4 FF 9-10

Bylaws Committee. Constitution, bylaws, and correspondence.

Series 2.6

Box 4 FF 11-12

Courtesy/Gift Book Committee. Correspondence and reports, 1970 - 1991.

Series 2.7

Box 4 FF 13

Interest Groups Committee. Reports, correspondence, and members lists, 1972-1986.

Series 2.8

Box 4 FF 14-15

Newsletter Committee. Reports, correspondence and newsletters.

Series 2.9

Box 4 FF 16-17

Social Committee. Reports and posters, 1971-1986.

Series 2.10

Box 4 FF 18-20

Special Projects Committee. Reports and correspondence. The series also includes materials documenting the Quilt Project (1978-1979).

Series 2.11

Box 4 FF 21

Telephone Committee. Reports, guidelines and procedures, 1975-1986.

Series 2.12

Box 4 FF 22-25

Other Committees Past and Present. Includes reports for the Nursery Committee (1972-1981), and guidelines for the Curator and Auditor.

Series 2.13

Box 4 FF 26-Box 6

Yearbook Committee. Yearbooks, 1947-1948 through 2007-2008.

Series 2.14

Box 7-Box 16

Historian and Publicity Committee. Scrapbooks include materials documenting the years 1920-2007.


Box and Folder Listing

Series 1 – Officers

 

Series 1.1 – Office of the President

 

Box 1

FF 1

Office of the President. “President’s Book,” 1928-1936 includes meetings, treasurer’s reports, and attendance information.

Box 1

FF 2

Office of the President. “President’s Book,” 1936-1954 includes meeting minutes and treasurer’s reports. (Due to poor condition of this volume, use restricted to photocopy.)

Box 1

FF 3

Office of the President. Photocopy of 1936-1954 “President’s Book.”

Box 1

FF 4

Office of the President. “President’s Book,” 1954-1971 includes meeting minutes and treasurer’s reports.

Box 1

FF 5

Office of the President. “President’s Book,” 1971-1978 includes meeting minutes and treasurer’s reports.

Box 1

FF 6

Office of the President. “President’s Book,” 1978-1981 includes meeting minutes and treasurer’s reports.

Box 1

FF 7

Office of the President. “President’s Book,” 1982-1986 includes agendas, minutes, newsletters, treasurer’s reports.

Box 1

FF 8

Office of the President. “President’s Book,” 1986-1989 includes agendas, meeting minutes, newsletters, and treasurer’s reports.

Box 1

FF 9

Office of the President. “President’s Book,”1991-1992 and 1992-1993 includes meeting minutes, newsletters, and reports.

Box 1

FF 10

Office of the President. “President’s Book,”1993-1994 and 1994-1995 includes meeting minutes, newsletters, and reports.

Box 1

FF 11

Office of the President. “President’s Book,”1995-1996 and 1996-1997 includes meeting minutes, newsletters, and reports.

Box 1

FF 12

Office of the President. “President’s Book,”1997-1998 includes meeting minutes, newsletters, and reports.

Box 1

FF 13

Office of the President. Survey results, c. 1973; correspondence to Dames, 1976-1986.

Box 1

FF 14

Office of the President. Officer and board member lists and telephone trees, 1972-1988; memoranda, 1985-1986. (Removed from green notebook “Committee Reports thru 1980-81.”)

Box 1

FF 15

Office of the President. President’s Report, 1969-1984 (1977-1984). (Removed from green notebook “President’s Book thru 1983-84.”)

Box 1

FF 16

Office of the President. President’s Letter, 1955-1985. (Removed from green notebook “President’s Book thru 1983-84.”)

Box 1

FF 17

Office of the President. Contains agendas, correspondence, calendars, misc., c. 1975-1985.

 

Series 1.2 -- Office of the Treasurer

 

Box 2

FF 1

Office of the Treasurer. Ledger book #1, 1950-51 to 1961-62.

Box 2

FF 2

Office of the Treasurer. Ledger book #2, 1961-1962 to 1969-1970.

Box 2

FF 3

Office of the Treasurer. Ledger book # 3, 1969-1970 to 1985-1986.

Box 2

FF 4

Office of the Treasurer. Treasurer’s Reports Book # 6, 1978-1979 to 1980-1981.

Box 2

FF 5

Office of the Treasurer. Treasurer’s Reports Book #7, Fall 1981 to March 1984.

Box 2

FF 6

Office of the Treasurer. expenditures, guidelines, memorandum, proposed budgets, treasurer’s reports, 1958-1988.

Box 2

FF 7

Office of the Treasurer. Treasurer’s committee reports, 1981-1986. (Removed from white notebook “Start 1981 Reports.”)

Box 2

FF 8

Office of the Treasurer. Receipt book, 1975-1979.

Box 2

FF 9

Office of the Treasurer. Bills, receipts, deposit slips, and Statements, 1979-1980.

Box 2

FF 10

Office of the Treasurer. Bills and Receipts, 1980-1981.

Box 2

FF 11

Office of the Treasurer. Treasurer’s Report and Statements, 1981-1982.

Box 2

FF 12

Office of the Treasurer. Statements, receipts, cancelled checks, 1981-82.

Box 2

FF 13

Office of the Treasurer. Statements, receipts, check carbons, 1983-1984

Box 2

FF 14

Office of the Treasurer. Cancelled checks, financial statements, receipts, invoices, and bills paid, 1990-1991. (Removed from large envelope “1990-1991.”)

Box 2

FF 15

Office of the Treasurer. Financial statements, receipts, invoices, and bills paid, 1991-1992. (Removed from large envelope “Bills Paid 1991-1992.”)

Box 2

FF 16

Office of the Treasurer. Financial statements, receipts, invoices, and bills paid, 1992-1993. (Removed from large envelope “Invoices, Bank Statements 1992-1993.”)

Box 3

FF 1

Office of the Treasurer. Cancelled checks, financial statements, receipts, invoices, and bills paid, 1993-1994. (Removed from large envelope “Invoice, Bank Statements, Saving Acct. 1993-1994.”)

Box 3

FF 2

Office of the Treasurer. Cancelled checks, financial statements, receipts, invoices, and bills paid, 1994-1995. (Removed from a large envelope “1994-1995.”)

Box 3

FF 3

Office of the Treasurer. Cancelled checks, financial statements, receipts, invoices, and bills paid, 1995-1996. (Removed from a large envelope “1995-1996.”)

Box 3

FF 4

Office of the Treasurer. Ledger with pages titled Disbursement Journal, 1986-1987 - 1991-1992; Income Journal, 1987-1988 - 1991-1992; entries for Campus Credit Union, 1987-1988, 1990-1991, 1991-1992.

 

Series 1.3 -- Office of the Secretary

 

Box 3

FF 5

Office of the Secretary. General Meeting minutes, guidelines, 1975-1988.

Box 3

FF 6

Office of the Secretary. Board meeting minutes, agendas, 1972-1980. (Removed from notebook “1972-1987 Minutes of General and Board Meetings.”)

Box 3

FF 7

Office of the Secretary. Board and General Meeting minutes, agendas, and guidelines, 1980-1988. (Removed from notebook “1972-1987 Minutes of General and Board Meetings.”)

Box 3

FF 8

Office of the Secretary. Board and General Meeting minutes, agendas, and newsletters, 1989-1991. (Removed from notebook “Old Dames Minutes.”)

Box 3

FF 9

Office of the Secretary. Board and General Meeting minutes, agendas, newsletters, and financial reports, 1991-1992. (Removed from notebook “Old Dames Minutes.”)

Box 3

FF 10

Office of the Secretary. Board and General Meeting minutes, agendas, and newsletters, 1992-1994.

Box 3

FF 11

Office of the Secretary. Board and General Meeting minutes, agendas, and newsletters, 1995-1999.

Box 3

FF 12

Office of the Secretary. Board and General Meeting minutes, agendas, and newsletters, 1999-2001.

 

Series 2 -- Committees

 

Series 2.1 -- First Vice-President/Membership Committee

 

 

 

Box 4

FF 1

First Vice-President, Membership and Membership Committee. Contains committee reports, guidelines, c. 1976-1986.

 

Series 2.2 -- Second Vice-President/Programs Committee

 

 

 

Box 4

FF 2

Second Vice-President, Programs and Programs Committee. Contains calendars, committee reports, guidelines, invitations, posters, 1972-1988.

 

Series 2.3 -- Historian and Publicity Committee

 

 

 

Box 4

FF 3

Historian and Publicity Committee. Contains committee reports, annual reports, correspondence, guidelines, metal strip from President’s gavel, 1974-1988; photocopies of clippings, 1951-1987; misc. photographs, and a sample of envelopes and letterhead, undated, materials range from 1951 - 1995.

 

Series 2.4 -- Newcomers Group

 

 

 

Box 4

FF 4

Newcomers Group. Contains minutes, memorandum, program lists, treasurer’s reports, 1955-1960.

Box 4

FF 5

Newcomers Group. Contains minutes, memorandum, program lists, treasurer’s reports, 1960-1970.

Box 4

FF 6

Newcomers Group. Contains bank statements, memorandum, minutes, program lists, treasurer’s reports, 1970-1978.

Box 4

FF 7

Newcomers Group. Contains bank statements, constitutions circa 1954-1980), memorandum, program lists, treasurer’s reports, minutes, 1978-1982. (Removed from grey notebook “Notebook of Secretary-Treasurer University of Wichita Newcomers.”)

Box 4

FF 8

Newcomers Group. Committee reports, 1972-1986. (Removed from green notebook “Committee Reports thru 1980-81" and white notebook “Start 1981 Reports.”)

 

Series 2.5 -- Bylaws Committee

 

 

 

Box 4

FF 9

Bylaws Committee. Constitution, 1951-1985; Bylaws, c. 1975-1988.

Box 4

FF 10

Bylaws Committee. Committee report, correspondence and memorandum, 1971-1985. (Removed from green notebook “Committee Reports thru 1980-81" and white notebook “Start 1981 Reports.”)

 

Series 2.6 -- Courtesy/Gift Book Committee

 

 

 

Box 4

FF 11

Courtesy/Gift Book Committee. Correspondence, guidelines, procedures, 1970-1991.

Box 4

FF 12

Courtesy/Gift Book Committee. Committee reports, 1976-1986. (Removed from green notebook “Committee Reports thru 1980-81" and white notebook “Start 1981 Reports.”)

 

Series 2.7 -- Interest Groups Committee

 

 

 

Box 4

FF 13

Interest Groups Committee. Committee reports, correspondence and member lists, 1972-1986. (Removed from green notebook “Committee Reports thru 1980-81" and white notebook “Start 1981 Reports.”)

 

Series 2.8 -- Newsletter Committee

 

 

 

Box 4

FF 14

Newsletter Committee. Committee reports, correspondence, memorandum and newsletters, 1973-1988. (Removed from green notebook “Committee Reports thru 1980-81" and white notebook “Start 1981 Reports.”)

Box 4

FF 15

Newsletter Committee. Newsletters, 1974/1988 and September 2000 - April 2001.

 

Series 2.9 -- Social Committee

 

 

 

Box 4

FF 16

Social Committee. Guidelines, c. 1974 - c. 1986.

Box 4

FF 17

Social Committee. Committee reports and posters, 1971-1986. (Removed from green notebook “Committee Reports thru 1980-81" and white notebook “Start 1981 Reports.”)

 

Series 2.10 -- Special Projects Committee

 

 

 

Box 4

FF 18

Special Projects Committee. Committee reports, correspondence, guidelines, memorandum, and posters, 1970-1985. (Removed from green notebook “Committee Reports thru 1980-81" and white notebook “Start 1981 Reports.”)

Box 4

FF 19

Special Projects Committee. Quilt Project correspondence, drawings, photographs, 1978-1979.

Box 4

FF 20

Contains items related to the Special Projects Committee. Contains Quilt Project drawings, 1978-1979.

 

Series 2.11 -- Telephone Committee

 

 

 

Box 4

FF 21

Contains items related to the Telephone Committee. Contains committee reports, guidelines, procedures, c. 1975-1986.

 

Series 2.12 -- Other Committees Past and Present

 

 

 

Box 4

FF 22

Contains items related to Other Committees Past and Present. Contains Nursery Committee reports and guidelines, 1972-1981.

Box 4

FF 23

Contains items related to Other Committees Past and Present. Contains curator guidelines, auditor guidelines.

Box 4

FF 24

Contains lists of materials compiled by Annie Merriam and Ruth Tasch, both presidents of the Dames, to be donated to Special Collection for the Dames Archives.

Box 4

FF 25

Responses from past presidents about their tenure.

 

Series 2.13 -- Yearbook Committee

 

 

 

Box 4

FF 26

Yearbook Committee. Committee reports, guidelines, and procedures (bulk mailings), 1972-1986.

Box 5

 

Yearbook Committee. Yearbooks, 1947-1948 thru2001-2002 (excluding 1948-1949 and 1949-1950).

Box 6

 

Yearbook Committee. Yearbooks, 2002-2003 thru 2007-2008.

 

Series 2.14 -- Historian and Publicity Committee

 

 

 

Box 7

 

Historian and Publicity Committee. Scrapbook, 1920-1960

Box 8

 

Historian and Publicity Committee. Scrapbook, 1961-1974

Box 9

 

Historian and Publicity Committee. Scrapbook, 1974-1979

Box 10

 

Historian and Publicity Committee. Scrapbook, 1979-1985

Box 11

 

Historian and Publicity Committee. Scrapbook, 1985-1986

Box 12

 

Historian and Publicity Committee. Scrapbook, 1986-1991

Box 13

 

Historian and Publicity Committee. Scrapbook, 1991-1994

Box 14

 

Historian and Publicity Committee. Scrapbook, 1995-1996

Box 15

 

Historian and Publicity Committee. Scrapbook, 1997-2000

Box 16

 

Historian and Publicity Committee. Scrapbook, 2006-2007