W.I.A. Las Cruces Woman’s Club records
Collection
Identifier: Ms-0152
Scope and Content
The records of the W.I.A. Las Cruces Woman’s Club document the organization’s activities from its founding in 1894 to its dissolution in 2000. Copies of the original Articles of Incorporation, constitutions and by-laws, and Articles of Dissolution are held in this collection. Records of club meetings and minutes span much of the club’s existence, and yearbooks, convention programs and various other records show club activities through the mid 20th century.
The largest part of the collection is taken up by scrapbooks, most of which were created for exhibition at annual meetings of the New Mexico Federation of Women’s Clubs. These scrapbooks contain photographs, newspaper clippings, party favors, correspondence, programs and cards. They present group activities in general throughout the course of a year, or document specific projects such as beautifying the entrances to the Las Cruces Downtown Mall in 1973.
Additional club records, including minutes from 1894-1908, are held at the Branigan Cultural Center in Las Cruces.
The largest part of the collection is taken up by scrapbooks, most of which were created for exhibition at annual meetings of the New Mexico Federation of Women’s Clubs. These scrapbooks contain photographs, newspaper clippings, party favors, correspondence, programs and cards. They present group activities in general throughout the course of a year, or document specific projects such as beautifying the entrances to the Las Cruces Downtown Mall in 1973.
Additional club records, including minutes from 1894-1908, are held at the Branigan Cultural Center in Las Cruces.
Dates
- 1880 - 2000
Access and Use Restrictions
This material may be examined by researchers under supervised conditions in the Caroline Straus Research Room.
Copy Restrictions
Limited duplication is allowed for research purposes. User is responsible for compliance with copyrightand other applicable statutes. Copyrights associated with this collection have not beentransferred and assigned to New Mexico State University.
Historical Sketch
The Woman’s Improvement Association was organized and incorporated in Las Cruces in 1894 by Mary S. McFie, Kate Reymond, Emma R. Dawson, Emelia Ascarate and Ida M. Llewellyn. The organization joined the General Federation of Women’s Clubs (GFWC) in 1897 and the New Mexico Federation in 1911. The organization was commonly referred to as the WIA, and in 1938 officially changed its name to the W.I.A. Las Cruces Woman’s Club. The club was re-incorporated in 1945 and again in 1994 with revised constitution and by-laws.
The WIA served an important role in the growth of Las Cruces. They provided such amenities as the first hearse for the city of Las Cruces, the first park, the first swimming pool, and a water wagon which sprinkled the dirt streets. In 1924, the group began a subscription library, the first public library in Las Cruces, which was the forerunner to the Thomas Branigan Memorial Library. The WIA library closed in 1935 and donated their collection to form the nucleus of the Branigan collection.
Throughout its existence, the WIA was instrumental in organizing the Hospital Auxiliary, Junior Women’s Club, citizenship classes, and health medical facilities in Las Cruces including the Well Baby Clinic and Mental Health Clinic. Prominent members of the club have included Laura Frenger (who founded the Las Cruces chapter of the Pan-American Round Table in 1931), Alice Gruver and Carmen Freudenthal.
In 1998 the officers and members of the WIA decided to dissolve the organization and after paying off all its bills, donated the club’s remaining assets to the NMSU Foundation, the Mesilla Valley Hospice and the Thomas Branigan Memorial Library. The Articles of Dissolution were filed on March 14, 2000.
The WIA served an important role in the growth of Las Cruces. They provided such amenities as the first hearse for the city of Las Cruces, the first park, the first swimming pool, and a water wagon which sprinkled the dirt streets. In 1924, the group began a subscription library, the first public library in Las Cruces, which was the forerunner to the Thomas Branigan Memorial Library. The WIA library closed in 1935 and donated their collection to form the nucleus of the Branigan collection.
Throughout its existence, the WIA was instrumental in organizing the Hospital Auxiliary, Junior Women’s Club, citizenship classes, and health medical facilities in Las Cruces including the Well Baby Clinic and Mental Health Clinic. Prominent members of the club have included Laura Frenger (who founded the Las Cruces chapter of the Pan-American Round Table in 1931), Alice Gruver and Carmen Freudenthal.
In 1998 the officers and members of the WIA decided to dissolve the organization and after paying off all its bills, donated the club’s remaining assets to the NMSU Foundation, the Mesilla Valley Hospice and the Thomas Branigan Memorial Library. The Articles of Dissolution were filed on March 14, 2000.
Extent
9 Linear Feet (21 Boxes)
Language of Materials
English
Abstract
The Woman’s Improvement Association was organized and incorporated in 1894 and joined the General Federation of Women’s Clubs in 1897 and the New Mexico Federation in 1911. In 1938 the club changed its name to the W.I.A. Las Cruces Woman’s Club. This collection of scrapbooks, minutes and some other records shows many of the club’s activities from its founding through its dissolution in 2000.
Processing Information
Processed by Merleen Dibert, June 1980. Revisions and additions made by Maura Kenny, June 2005, and Charles Stanford, December 2008.
- Title
- Guide to the W.I.A. Las Cruces Woman’s Club records
- Status
- Completed
- Author
- Charles Stanford
- Date
- 2008
- Description rules
- Describing Archives: A Content Standard
- Language of description
- Undetermined
- Script of description
- Code for undetermined script
Repository Details
Part of the New Mexico State University Library Archives and Special Collections Repository