Guide to the Records of the Women's Fortnightly Review of Mt. Lebanon, 1911-1982
- Repository
- Heinz History Center
- Title
- Records of the Women's Fortnightly Review of Mt. Lebanon
- Creator
- Women's Fortnightly Review of Mt. Lebanon
- Collection Number
- MSS#13
- Extent
- 3.25 cubic feet (7 boxes)
- Date
- 1911-1982
- Abstract
- The Review was founded in 1911 as a women's group, dedicated to "mental culture, mutual helpfulness, and the general advancement of women." Inventory available.Records include annual reports, minutes, historical material, membership information, scrapbooks and other sundry items which document the day to day operation of the Review and provide a comprehensive picture of the Review's activities.
- Language
- The material in this collection is in English.
- Sponsor
- This finding aid has been encoded as a part of the Historic Pittsburgh project a joint effort of the University of Pittsburgh and the Historical Society of Western Pennsylvania. Funding for this portion of the project has been donated by the Hillman Foundation.
- Publisher
- Heinz History Center
- Address
- 1212 Smallman St.
Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania 15222
library@heinzhistorycenter.org
URL: https://www.heinzhistorycenter.org
History of the Women's Fortnightly Review of Mt. Lebanon
Women's Fortnightly Review of Mt. Lebanon was organized in February 1911 as a women's group, dedicated to culture, mutual helpfulness, and the general advancement of women. The group was formed in response to a traveling salesman's attempt to sell a volume called The Book of Knowledge to Mrs. Lauman of Mt. Lebanon. While she declined to purchase the book, she determined that their community needed a forum to stimulate intellectual discussion and thought. Mrs. Lauman and sixteen of her friends met to form the Review shortly after that. The two monthly afternoon meetings provided the group with the opportunity to meet, usually at the members' homes, and to discuss intellectual, cultural and world events. At the beginning of the year, a topic was selected as the theme for all of the programs for that year. Meetings also provided the chance to hear lectures and musical performances. The Review's charter limited membership to forty active members and an unlimited number of associate members. One evening a year they held a dinner party which members attended with their husbands. The Review was also active as a philanthropic organization. They assisted numerous charitable and civic projects such as the Mt. Lebanon Public Library, the Red Cross and many others. The Altruistic Committee of the Review helped organize these activities. During World War I, they changed their meeting times to evening because a number of their members were involved in volunteer activities for the war effort during the day. Following the war, the Review donated money to a French agency to care for a young French boy whose mother needed help supporting her family after the father was killed in the war. In 1915, the Belgian government sent the Review a citation of thanks for aid received for a Belgian relief effort. During World War II, the Review sold war bonds and made donations to USO groups. Other charitable involvement included parties for underprivileged children, volunteer work with tuberculosis patients and for people in need during the great Pittsburgh Flood of 1936.
Scope and Content Notes
These records include annual reports, historical material, membership information and minutes from club meetings, the executive board and the various presidents of the club. The most significant material is in the minutes from the various committees of the Review and in the nearly complete run of annual reports and yearbooks. The club minutes provide attendance records and details of the activities and events at club meetings. The executive board minutes include budgets, correspondence, reports from various committees, and membership concerns. The presidents' minutes provide a detailed agenda for both board meetings and other meetings and appear to be a more informal and personal record of each president's term of office. Although the treasurer's reports are only available from 1934 - 1954, they reflect the various receipts and disbursements and bank balances. The run of yearbooks is complete. Some of the early annual reports are missing, but the run is nearly complete. Scrapbooks include a variety of material, but primarily contains awards and correspondence relating to their philanthropic work. Oversized items in the scrapbooks have been separated out (see below). These records are remarkably comprehensive and thoroughly document the mission, activities and organization of the club. Furthermore, they document the community of Mt. Lebanon and the various important social issues.
Arrangement
The records of the Women's Fortnightly Review of Mt. Lebanon are housed in seven archival boxes and are arranged alphabetically by folder title.
Conditions Governing Access
This collection is open for research.
Immediate Source of Acquisition
These materials were received in one accession in 1983.
Acc# 1983.59 Gift of the Women's Fortnightly Review of Mt. Lebanon, (Records).
Preferred Citation
Guide to the Records of the Women's Fortnightly Review of Mt. Lebanon, 1911-1982 MSS# 13, Historical Society of Western Pennsylvania
Processing Information
This collection was processed by Ruth Salisbury Reid in 1983. Papers rearranged and inventory rewritten by Debbie Heilman on March 22, 1993.
Revision and rearrangement for the encoded version of the finding aid provided by Doug MacGregor on January 9, 2002.
Conditions Governing Use
Property rights reside with the Historical Society of Western Pennsylvania. Literary rights are retained by the creators of the records and their heirs. For permissions to reproduce or publish, please contact the curator of the Archives.
Subjects
- Women's Fortnightly Review of Mt. Lebanon (Mt. Lebanon, Pa.)
- Mt. Lebanon Public Library (Mt. Lebanon, Pa.)
- Lauman, Mrs. Walter H.
- Mount Lebanon (Pa.) -- Women
- Charities -- Pennsylvania
- Child welfare -- Pennsylvania
- Clubs -- Pennsylvania -- Mount Lebanon
- Women -- Societies and Clubs
- Women -- Pennsylvania -- Mount Lebanon
- Women in charitable work -- Pennsylvania -- Mount Lebanon
- World War, 1914-1918 -- Civilian relief -- Pennsylvania
- World War, 1939-1945 -- Civilian relief -- Pennsylvania