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Needlework Guild records

 Collection
Identifier: Collection 030

Scope and Contents

The collection contains the following series: Minutes, Record Book, Correspondence, Scrapbook and Miscellaneous. The primary aspect of the material is the nearly complete run of the Guild's minutes during its existence. Other records include membership lists, financial reports and national reports. The collection also contains a scrapbook of newspaper clippings and correspondence.

The Correspondence Series (1940, 1960-1968, n.d.) contains primarily thank you letters from agencies and individuals that the Guild assisted. It also includes a letter from the national organization when the Grand Rapids branch disbanded. The scrapbooks contain newspaper clippings concerning the Guild's activities and yearly reports of numbers of people helped and the Guild's officers. The materials were once in scrapbook form. It also contains two photographs from 1960 that appear to be of Guild members.

Dates

  • 1924-1968

Biographical / Historical

The Grand Rapids Branch of the Needlework Guild of America was founded in 1921, as part of the national organization that had been formed in 1885. Throughout its 47 years of service to Grand Rapids and Kent County, the Guild distributed new clothing to needy persons through charitable agencies. These agencies included Mary Free Bed Guild, St. John's Children's Home, D.A. Blodgett Home for Children, the Butterworth Hospital Outpatient Clinic, Community Health Center, GR Association for the Blind, Villa Maria and Christian Youth Home. At its peak, the Guild distributed 18,000 garments per year. Membership in the Needlework Guild was open to anyone who contributed two new articles of clothing. The Guild disbanded in 1968 when members found that the operation required more effort than they could give.

Extent

0.5 Linear Feet (One box)

Language of Materials

English

Abstract

The Needlework Guild of America collected and distributed clothing through charitable agencies. The Grand Rapids Branch was organized in 1921 and disbanded in 1968. This collection includes the club's minutes for most years, membership lists, reports, correspondence and a substantial group of newspaper clippings from a scrapbook.

Immediate Source of Acquisition

Accession Number: 1986.036; Donor: Anonymous

Title
Finding aid for the Needlework Guild records
Status
Completed
Author
Wendy K. Walker
Date
1987
Description rules
Describing Archives: A Content Standard
Language of description
Undetermined
Script of description
Code for undetermined script
Language of description note
English

Repository Details

Part of the Grand Rapids History Center Repository

Contact:
Grand Rapids Public Library
111 Library Street NE
Grand Rapids Michigan 49503 USA
616-988-5497