Guide to the Business and Professional Women's Club of Pittsburgh Records 1924-1993
- Repository
- Heinz History Center
- Title
- Business and Professional Women's Club of Pittsburgh Records
- Creator
- Business and Professional Women's Club of Pittsburgh (Pittsburgh, Pa.)
- Collection Number
- MSS 996
- Extent
- 11 linear feet (11 boxes) + O/S
- Date
- 1924-1993
- Abstract
- The Business and Professional Women's (BPW) Club of Pittsburgh was established in April of 1924 under the leadership of Edith (Eda) Kann, the club's first president. At its founding, the Pittsburgh BPW club consisted of 123 members. The BPW of Pittsburgh adopted a mission to raise the standards of women in business, to promote the interest of business and professional women, to foster a spirit of cooperation among professional women across the United States, and to encourage education in "industrial, scientific, and vocational activities." The Business and Professional Women's Club (BPW) of Pittsburgh Records is housed in 11 boxes and arranged into seven series and several subseries. These records document the activities of the BPW Pittsburgh from its founding in 1924 until 1993. This collection consists of administrative records, membership records, club reports, topical records, presidential records, meeting minutes, educational fund records, public relations records, financial records and scrapbooks.
- Language
- The material in this collection is in English.
- Sponsor
- This collection has been made accessible as part of an NHPRC-funded Basic Processing grant.
- Publisher
- Heinz History Center
- Address
- 1212 Smallman St.
Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania 15222
library@heinzhistorycenter.org
URL: https://www.heinzhistorycenter.org
History
The advent of the Business and Professional Women's Foundation can be traced to the mobilization of female labor throughout the course of World War I. With grant funding, the United States War Department moved to establish a Women's War Council. This council was charged with the mission to aggregate the resources of professional women in the country. As a consequence of this council, the National Federation of Business and Professional Women's clubs was created on July 15, 1919. This federation was incorporated as the Business and Professional Women's Foundation in 1956. The Business and Professional Women's Foundation became the first foundation dedicated to researching and purveying information on working women. The foundation's mission is to "empower working women to achieve their full potential" and to partner "with employers to build successful workplaces through education, research, knowledge and policy."
The Business and Professional Women's (BPW) Club of Pittsburgh was established in April of 1924 under the leadership of Edith (Eda) Kann, the club's first president. At its founding, the Pittsburgh BPW club consisted of 123 members. The BPW of Pittsburgh adopted a mission to raise the standards of women in business, to promote the interest of business and professional women, to foster a spirit of cooperation among professional women across the United States, and to encourage education in "industrial, scientific, and vocational activities." To accomplish this mission, the BPW of Pittsburgh commissioned the following committees: career advancement, finance, health and safety, international relations, legislative, membership, national security, program coordination, public affairs, public relations and social services. BPW Pittsburgh members represented a variety of professions and included judges, artists, librarians, politicians, scientists, business owners, non-profit leaders, executives, and finance professionals. One of the most well-known members of the BPW Pittsburgh was Judge Eunice Latshaw Ross.
A year after its founding, the Pittsburgh club hosted the BPW state convention, in which 166 local women participated. In 1930, the Pittsburgh BPW became an associated member of the International Federation of the Business and Professional Women's Clubs. Four members of BPW Pittsburgh were present at the inaugural meeting of this federation in Geneva, Switzerland. In 1955, the Pittsburgh club joined BPW's District III, which was comprised of those chapters located in Allegheny and Westmoreland counties.
Members of BPW Pittsburgh met on a monthly basis, with minutes being recorded to document club decisions and activities. In 1937, the Pittsburgh BPW began publishing bulletins that distributed information on the club's activities. In adherence to the club's mission, members often enjoyed educational presentations at membership meetings on topics such as investment strategy for women, women's role in politics, and self-defense. BPW Pittsburgh members also often attended cultural events together, in some cases seeing performances that featured fellow members. In addition to educational and social events, the Pittsburgh BPW also coordinated annual activities that promoted the place of women in the workplace. One such celebration was National Business Women's Week.
Chief among BPW Pittsburgh's philanthropic efforts was a dedication to education. Since its early history, the BPW Pittsburgh chapter has offered scholarships to deserving women pursuing higher education. In particular, the Pittsburgh BPW established the Mary Clark Myers Educational Fund to support the educational aspirations of young women in Western Pennsylvania. This educational fund was named in honor of Mary Clark Myers, a charter member and past president of the BPW Pittsburgh club. Members held an annual benefit to fundraise for the educational fund. To compliment their scholarship efforts, BPW Pittsburgh members have also given vocational talks to students.
The club's social service committee oversaw the club's service activities, including volunteer efforts and contributions to local charities as well as community beatification projects. The BPW Pittsburgh collaborated with local charities such as the Home for Crippled Children, the American Cancer Society, the DePaul Institute, and the Easter Seals of Western Pennsylvania. In addition to women's advancement and education, the Pittsburgh BPW also served the community by instituting tree planting projects around Pittsburgh.
Outside of its philanthropic activities, the Pittsburgh BPW also cultivated an active civic life. Headed by the club's legislative committee, Pittsburgh BPW members were often encouraged to write their congressmen in support of legislation that advanced women's place in society such as the Equal Rights Amendment and the Fair Employment Practices Bill. Regarding employment, the BPW Pittsburgh established a committee in 1931 dedicated to finding work for those women in the club seeking employment.
Beyond their activities with the local club, members of the Pittsburgh BPW were also active supporters of and contributors to district, state, national, and international movements in the BPW. Members also often attended state and national gatherings of BPW clubs. In addition, the Pittsburgh BPW was an active participant in the Association of Pittsburgh Women's Clubs, which was a citywide organization comprised of representatives from the various women's clubs in the city of Pittsburgh. The Pittsburgh BPW often contributed resources and time to events planned by the association.
Scope and Content Notes
The Business and Professional Women's Club (BPW) of Pittsburgh Records is housed in 11 boxes and arranged into seven series and several subseries. These records document the activities of the BPW Pittsburgh from its founding in 1924 until 1993. This collection consists of administrative records, membership records, club reports, topical records, presidential records, meeting minutes, educational fund records, public relations records, financial records and scrapbooks. General administrative records include club by-laws, histories, awards, club rosters, club policy and procedure manuals, and correspondence.
Arrangement
The Business and Professional Women's Club of Pittsburgh Records is arranged into seven series and several subseries.
- Series I. Administrative Records (1924-1993)
- Series II. Presidential Records (1955-1984)
- Series III. Meeting Minutes (1929-1989)
- Series IV. Mary Clark Myers Education Fund (1965-1977)
- Series V. Public Relations Records (1952-1984)
- Series VI. Financial Records (1963-1986)
- Series VII. Scrapbooks (1956-1976)
Conditions Governing Access
None.
Immediate Source of Acquisition
Gift from Ann Connelly in 1993.
Archives accession # 1993.0160
Preferred Citation
Business and Professional Women's Club of Pittsburgh Records, 1924-1993, MSS 996 , Detre Library and Archives, Senator John Heinz History Center
Processing Information
Preliminary processing by Sierra Green on 10/07/2013.
Conditions Governing Use
Property rights reside with the Senator John Heinz History Center. Literary rights are retained by the creators of the records and their heirs. For permission to reproduce or publish, please contact the Library and Archives of the Senator John Heinz History Center.
Related Materials
Altrusa Club of Pittsburgh Records, 1939-1994, MSS 662, Detre Library and Archives, Senator John Heinz History Center.
Business and Professional Women's Club (Beaver Falls, Pa.). Program. Beaver Falls, Pa.: the Business and Professional Women's Club (Beaver Falls, Pa.), 1978. HQ 1871 B.371 d.
Zonta Club of Pittsburgh Scrapbooks, 1934-1980, MSS 648, Detre Library and Archives, Senator John Heinz History Center.
Subjects
- Business and Professional Women's Club of Pittsburgh (Pittsburgh, Pa.)
- Community Chest of Allegheny County (Pittsburgh, Pa.)
- Association of Pittsburgh Women's Clubs (Pittsburgh, Pa.)
- Ross, Eunice Latshaw.
- McDonnell, Alice.
- Kennedy, Kathy.
- Tack, A. Catherine.
- Morgan, Gladys.
- Poland, Alvina.
- Women in business--Pennsylvania--Pittsburgh
- Women in the professions--Pennsylvania--Pittsburgh
- Women--Societies and clubs--Pennsylvania--Pittsburgh