Santa Claus Girls collection
Scope and Contents
The collection as initially processed was said to contain 37 scrapbooks. 17 brown envelopes of Grand Rapids Press newspaper clippings about the Santa Claus Girls, 1959-1968, were found in Box 4. Also found was 1 brown envelope of Grand Rapids Herald clippings 1954-1958, re the Santa Claus Girls. It was discovered that these envelopes of general file clippings from the publishers had been called [vol. 16], 1954-1968, as previously processed.
These general clippings from the publishers files themselves have been placed in other collections, as follows:
Coll. 297, the Grand Rapids Press Collection, in process 6/18/2003.
Coll. 259, the Grand Rapids Public Library Newspaper Collection. Herald Clippings Series. Box 111.
Thus, as of June 2003, the collection contained 36 scrapbooks from the initial accession and 16 scrapbooks from accession 2003.052. While there are a total of 52 scrapbooks, the numbering remains [v.1] to [v. 53], using the [v.16] as a cross reference to the new location of the general clippings.
The collection now covers the period 1941-2000.
The scrapbooks are predominately newspaper clippings. However, there are black & white or color photos in some books, as well as ephemera, some correspondence, and club documents, such as the various constitutions.
Scrapbooks [v. 32] is missing the cover.
Additionally, loose items found in the new accession, and small folder of early constitutions found in Box 1, were moved to new box 1.5.
Dates
- 1941-2000
Creator
- Santa Claus Girls (Kent County, Mich.) (Organization)
Biographical / Historical
The Santa Claus Girls were founded by Adriana VanDoorn in 1908 with the help of Senator Arthur Vandenberg, then editor of the Grand Rapids Herald. VanDoorn and other Sunday School teachers from Park Congregational Church became the first volunteers for the organization. Since the Herald closed, the organization has been sponsored by the Grand Rapids Press.
The Herald requested letters addressed to "Santa Claus" to be sent to them. The Girls then went through the letters and determined, with the help of social agencies, which children were in need. The community was encouraged to send money, clothes, toys and candies. In return for each donation the donor would see their name appear in the paper.
Local organizations aid in the Girls efforts as well. And many men assist each year, though the group has continued to retain the title “Santa Claus Girls.”
Extent
18.1 Linear Feet (15 boxes)
Language of Materials
English
Abstract
The Santa Claus Girls is a non-profit organization that provides gifts for children in Kent County, Michigan for Christmas. The collection primarily consists of newspaper clippings scrapbooks, documenting the organization from 1941 to 2000. Also included are four versions of the group's constitution and occasional photographs, ephemera and correspondence. The organization was founded in 1908 by Adriana VanDoorn with the help of Senator Arthur Vandenberg. It was sponsored by the Grand Rapids Herald and now by the Grand Rapids Press.
Immediate Source of Acquisition
Santa Claus Girls, accession numbers 00.000 and 2003.052
- Title
- Finding aid for the Santa Claus Girls collection
- Status
- Completed
- Author
- Lisa M. Beyer
- Date
- July 1995
- Description rules
- Describing Archives: A Content Standard
- Language of description
- Undetermined
- Script of description
- Code for undetermined script
Repository Details
Part of the Grand Rapids History Center Repository
Grand Rapids Public Library
111 Library Street NE
Grand Rapids Michigan 49503 USA
616-988-5497
localhis@grpl.org