American Association of University Women Rancocas Valley Branch New Jersey Division Records

Records from the Rancocas Valley Branch (hereafter RVB) of the American Association of University Women (AAUW) have been preserved from the second year of its existence, 1939, through very recently, 1996. These relatively full series from a small local branch provide us with an enlightening chronicle of the high quality of community service performed by a very dedicated group for nearly sixty years.

The records cover nearly all of their activities through the years. There are several histories of the branch produced for various anniversary celebrations, as well as branch bylaws and revisions modeled after the state bylaws. Nearly all copies of the annual reports submitted to the national organization are included. Minutes taken at board and membership meetings, budget reports, and some correspondence were kept less regularly.

Several nearly complete series consist of yearly Directories from 1939 to 1995, which list the names and addresses of all members, as well as annual programs. The monthly Newsletters from 1953 through 1995 provide accounts of RVB activities as well as some local and national news. The Newsletters provide ample evidence of the very active participation of many members over the years.

A most unusual feature of this collection is the set of four scrapbooks carefully tended from 1957 through 1988. They contain primarily news clippings from local papers announcing events sponsored by the RVB, as well as highlights of individual RVB members' activities.

Activities that were most important to the RVB and are well documented in the records are those in aid of higher education. One great interest involved contributions to the Educational Foundation Program of the AAUW from 1976 on. Through its fund-raising activities, the RVB became among the best contributors in the state.

Another important interest was their support in establishing the Burlington County Community College in 1969 (see Correspondence file) and in providing scholarships for students who continued on to four-year colleges (announced in news clippings from Scrapbooks). Funds to sponsor such activities are documented through the years in the Newsletters, by the book sales and other sales, and from 1983 by a book and author luncheon series. It is noteworthy that many of the photographs of members' activities published in local newspapers (and preserved in the Scrapbooks) revolve around book sales and libraries.