Hillside Business and Professional Women's Club records

Hillside Business and Professional Women records

Dates

1956 - 1994

Scope and Contents

The records of the Hillside BPW date from 1956 through 1994, and comprise approximately 1.5 cubic feet. The documentation is not consistent throughout this time period, as there were varying types of records preserved by the organization at different times.

The collection is comprised of by-laws (undated); minutes (1983-1988); three yearbooks (1972/73, 1977/78, and 1983/84) with basic organization information and officer rosters; and two large scrapbooks (1956-1961, and 1963-1966) containing a variety of press clippings, correspondence, proclamations and awards, banquet programs, meeting bulletins, and photographs. It also contains administrative files (1966-1994, with gaps) encompassing meeting agendas and newsletters, correspondence, treasurer’s and financial reports, budget and fundraising material, and officer nominations; annual banquet programs (1971-1994, with gaps), a guest book (1972-1992, with gaps), photographs from Hillside events (1967/68, 1981/82, 1987/88, 1989, and Undated); certificates and proclamations (1964-1967, 1978-1984, 1988-1990, 1992-1993) awarded for achievement and National Business Women’s Week; and press clippings (1966-1969, 1971-1972, 1981-1992 and undated).

The most comprehensive overview of the organization is provided by the administrative files and the press clippings, as well as the scrapbooks. These administrative papers and press clippings document the types of activities and programs that were organized over the years. The administrative papers include meeting agendas and newsletters, as well as financial reports and information, and correspondence that demonstrate monthly activities. The press clippings particularly document the officer elections and scholarship awards, along with the various political, civic, educational/mentoring, and cultural programs of the Hillside BPW.

The organization was devoted to raising scholarship funds for young women, and over the years steadily increased the scholarship award values. They worked with youth through the Girl Scouts, as well as other youth mentoring organizations, and on behalf of working women through the annual promotion of National Business Women’s Week. Their speaker programs encompassed a variety of topics. While in the 1950s and 1960s they focused on health, international travel topics, and civic responsibility, they also agitated against pornography. In the 1970s their interests expanded to include the Equal Rights Amendment, child abuse, cancer, and battered women. The 1980s brought a shift to more programs about finance and investments topics, as well as interest in changing tax laws. In the 1990s, fundraising for, and awareness of, the homeless, retarded children, and Black History Month occurred.

These records may be helpful to researchers studying the large-scale movement of women into the workforce and into an organized political faction. The documentation demonstrates the organization’s goals for increasing educational and career opportunities for women. It may also prove helpful for individuals interested in the differences in the internal workings and interests of men’s and women’s civic organizations.

Note: Although the available records for the Hillside BPW terminate in 1994, evidence exists in the state records that the organization continued operations past the 1994/95 fiscal year.

Extent

c. 1.5 Cubic Feet (2.5 manuscript boxes (legal size), 2 phase boxes)

Language of Materials

English

Additional Description

Biographical / Historical

The Business and Professional Women’s Club, Inc. of Hillside, New Jersey (Hillside BPW) was chartered on July 1, 1956, and held its opening meeting on September 6, 1956. The official charter was received at a banquet on September 27, 1956. The group was formed at the suggestion of the members of the Elizabeth (NJ) BPW. Members of that organization who were working at the Elizabeth Public Library contacted the Library Director of the Hillside Public Library (along with a teacher from the Hillside school system), suggesting the formation of the Hillside group. While these two individuals did not become charter members of the Hillside BPW, they, in turn contacted Jean White, who launched the Hillside BPW. The organization was formed as a local chapter of the state organization, which was founded in 1919. The stated goals of the Hillside BPW were to elevate standards of women in business professions, promote cooperative action among business and professional women nationwide, increase education for women in business, and to seek needed legislation on topics of importance to the group. It was the first women’s civic organization in Hillside. In 1956, the group was a part of District 4 of the NJ Business and Professional Women.

In 1958, the Hillside BPW started a scholarship fund. The fund was to supply scholarships to two women: one seeking a professional career, and one seeking a business career. The 1958 fund created two scholarships of $100 each.

The group was incorporated on November 28, 1961. In the 1960s, the group focused its work on increasing the scholarship fund, participating in National Business Women’s Week, and supporting programs for youth, such as the Girls Scouts and the Youth Employment Project, which they organized in 1966.

One of the most visible legislative activities of the group took place in the late 1970s, when the Hillside BPW, in conjunction with the state organization, worked actively for the success of the Equal Rights Amendment.

Over the years, the Hillside BPW remained active in supplying scholarships to young women interested in business and professional careers. They increased the fund regularly, and in 1988/89 they were able to award the two customary scholarships (increased to $700 each), plus two $500 scholarships for women returning to school. It was their most successful scholarship fund year.

In 1989/90, Hillside’s membership included women from Union and Elizabeth, New Jersey because these towns did not have active chapters. As a result, Hillside opened up the scholarships to women from Union and Elizabeth, awarding the first scholarship of $500 to a non-resident.

In 1992/93, there was a redistricting of the state organization and Hillside BPW moved from District 4 to District 2.

Although the records of this organization date only through 1994, there is evidence in the records of the New Jersey Federation of Business and Professional Women that the organization continued operations at least through 1997, and possibly later.

List of Presidents

1956 – 1958: Jean White

1958 – 1960: Helen Chumar

1960 – 1962: Helen Kirkpatrick

1962 – 1964: Lida Aronson

1964 – 1966: Irene Phillips

1966 – 1967: Rachael Whalen

1967 – 1968: Louise Vit

1968 – 1969: Helen Radzinski

1969 – 1971: Jeannette Chambliss

1961 – 1973: Jacqueline Anderson

1973 – 1975: Marie Oakie

1975 – 1976: Annette Gensler

1976 – 1977: Marguerite Lynch

1977 – 1978: Rose Intrabartolo

1978 – 1979: Eileen Albanese

1979 – 1981: Evelyn Buttwell

1981 – 1982: Emily Fogerty

1982 – 1983: Janice Carroll

1983 – 1985: Marilyn Krulewicz

1985 – 1986: Patricia Govan

1986 – 1987: Unknown

1987 – 1989: Margaret J. Bieg

1989 – 1990: Jean-Rae Turner

1990 – 1991: Linda Lee Kelly

1991 – 1992: Jean-Rae Turner

1992 – 1993: Toni-Ann Finzi-DeJesus

1993 – 1994: Ann Knapp

1994 – 1995: Marie Oakie

Arrangement

Series Descriptions

BY-LAWS, Undated (1 folder)

By-laws of the Hillside Business and Professional Women provide the group’s official name (the Business and Professional Women’s Club, Inc. of Hillside, New Jersey), and the club’s objectives, which are to elevate standards for women in business and professions, promote their interests, induce cooperation among business and professional women throughout the United States, and extend opportunities for education to women. The by-laws describe the group’s emblem and state that the group is nonsectarian, nonpartisan, and nonprofit. Regulations mandate that members be employed or, if retirees, formerly employed when they joined the organization. The organization must maintain an active roster of at least ten members, with the majority actively employed. There are also regulations governing dues, terms for and responsibilities of officers, procedures for officer nominations, meeting protocols, representation at the state organization, protocols for the Board of Directors, the Executive Committee, and the Standing Committees (defined therein as: Archives, Bylaws, Finance, Foundation, Legislation, Membership, Issues Management, Public Relations, and Young Careerist). Also contains the seal of the national organization.

MINUTES, 1983-1988 (5 folders)

Arranged chronologically by fiscal year. Minutes are from the monthly meetings, with some months not available. The minutes demonstrate the established meeting protocols: Ensuring that a quorum is present; reading and acceptance of the previous meeting’s minutes; reading and filing of the treasurer’s report, reading of correspondence, reading of the committee reports; and new business. With the exception of the committee reports and new business, there is no restatement of the information beyond a statement that it was read. The committee reports (including information on project status, fundraising, or activities completed) are briefly summarized within the minutes. New business is also briefly summarized in the minutes, such as nominations for officers, proposals for fundraising, and information on upcoming state or national meetings. Supplemental supporting documentation from the meetings is occasionally supplied in the form of treasurer’s reports, officers’ statements of accomplishments, nominations for officers, fundraiser financial statements, and sample meeting agenda.

YEARBOOKS, 1972/73, 1977/78, 1983/84 (1 folder)

Arranged chronologically by fiscal year. Small yearbooks containing such organizational information as: the list of state officers; dates for the State Board and District meetings; dates for National Business Women’s Week; the list of Hillside’s officers and Executive Board (President, First Vice President, Second Vice President, Recording Secretary, Corresponding Secretary, and Treasurer). There is also a list of District delegates, Standing Committees’ officers, past Hillside presidents, monthly meeting dates and program themes; and current membership roster. Each yearbook also contains a copy of “The Collect,” a poem by Mary Stewart, used to open meetings. The 1977/78 and 1983/84 yearbooks also have copies of a club pledge.

SCRAPBOOKS, 1956-1961, 1963-1966 (.5 cubic feet)

Grouped chronologically. A scrapbook format containing a variety of documents about the early history of the Hillside BPW. Included are the certificate of incorporation, monthly meeting bulletins, correspondence, certificates, banquet programs, photographs, and press clippings.

ADMINISTRATIVE FILES, 1966/67–1994/95 (with gaps) (23 folders)

Arranged chronologically. A variety of documents on the administrative functions of the organization. Meeting agendas and newsletters, budget proposals, budget and treasurer’s reports, officer nominations, general correspondence, correspondence and materials from the district organization, license and application forms for fundraising activities, fundraising reports and inventories, brochures. Legislative activity is found in a 1976/77 letter from Senator Alexander J. Menza’s office on the Equal Rights Amendment; and a 1977/78 letter from the office of Governor Brendan Byrne regarding sentencing for criminals. For similar earlier material, see the Scrapbooks series.

ANNUAL BANQUET PROGRAMS, 1971-73, 1976, 1979, 1981, 1982, 1984, 1986-89, 1994 (1 folder)

Arranged chronologically. Programs for the annual banquets contain agendas that demonstrate a consistent protocol for the annual banquet meetings. This is comprised of a greeting, a salute to the flag, recitation of “The Collect,” introduction of guests, entertainment, possibly a speech, scholarship awards, installation of officers, additional presentations, and singing (usually God Bless America). The programs also contain the list of officers, list of past presidents, menu, and the banquet committee roster. The 1981 program for the organization’s 25th anniversary contains a brief history of the Hillside BPW. The annual banquets were held consistently at a local restaurant through 1980. By the late 1980s the banquets were moved to a different restaurant. For similar earlier material, see the Scrapbooks series.

GUESTBOOK, 1972-1992 (with gaps) (1 folder)

Entries in the volume are arranged chronologically, with the exception of between May 1977 and June 1977 there are entries for January 1980. There are also gaps between February 1986 and February 1988; September 1988 and September 1989, and October 1989 and April 1992. One guestbook appears to have been used for the monthly meetings. Most pages contain only dates, names and addresses; however, for some of the annual banquet meetings held in June, the anniversary year (or the fact that it is the installation banquet) has been noted at the top of the page (e.g., the June 1976 page has the note 20th Anniversary). Occasionally the pages contain only dates and names, without addresses.

PHOTOGRAPHS, 1967/68, 1981/82, 1987/88, 1988/89, and Undated (9 folders)

Grouped chronologically, with undated photographs at the end. Photographs in black and white, and color; some negatives are included. Photographs are from parties, banquets, National Business Women’s Week, the NJBPW 70th anniversary banquet, scholarship awards, and other unidentified photographs from Hillside events. Many of the photographs are of groups, and are unlabeled.

CERTIFICATES/PROCLAMATIONS, 1964-1967, 1978-1984, 1988-1990, 1992-1993 (1 folder)

Arranged chronologically. Certificates from NJBPW and the Business and Professional Women’s Foundation for membership equalization, sponsorship for career advancement scholarships contributions, and program participation. Proclamations and resolutions from the Union County Board of Chosen Freeholders, and the Mayor of Hillside commemorating National Business Women’s Week and Women’s History Month. For additional similar material, see the Scrapbooks series.

PRESS CLIPPINGS, 1966/67-1968/69, 1971/72, 1981/82-1985/86, 1987/88-1991/92 and Undated (15 folders)

Grouped chronologically, with undated clippings at end. Press clippings cover the activities of the club. Topics include: officer election announcements, scholarship winners and amounts, National Business Women’s Week, programs and speakers, fundraising events, philanthropic endeavors, meeting dates. For additional earlier material, see the Scrapbooks series.