Austin Woman's Club Records

An Inventory of the Collection

Administrative History

The Austin Woman's Club was founded on April 25, 1928 in Austin, Texas, for "the support of an educational undertaking, the study of literary, civic, patriotic, artistic and other cultural subjects," and to provide a place for women to gather, learn, and network. The first president was Mrs. Sam Smith, 1928-30. Subsequent presidents served one to two year terms. In addition to the President, there is a governing Board of Directors and numerous subject committees. An annual yearbook was printed to detail the club bylaws, active officers and members, and annual events. There were 164 charter members, including women from prominent families in Austin during the 1920s. Membership grew steadily to reach 563 members by the late 1970s, and in 1996 the club had 362 members. There were strict guidelines for membership including annual membership fees and a considerable nominating process that required final approval by the Board of Directors. Members were involved in a wide array of activities, primary amongst which were committee delegations that addressed specific concerns of the organization. These committees also discussed the philanthropic mission of the club, and managed numerous projects. Some important past activities include furnishing Austin with its first outdoor opera, a weekly speakers series, promotion of local historic areas in and around Austin, and a scholarship that provided financial assistance for women completing a degree at the University of Texas at Austin. Under the presidency of Mrs. J.O. Marberry (1937-39) the Junior Austin Woman's Club was organized to prepare future members of the AWC. Members of the JAWC were daughters and daughters-in-law of current club members.

Chateau Bellevue, originally built in 1892 and now a historic Texas landmark, became the official clubhouse of the AWC in 1929. The clubhouse was frequently rented to clubs affiliated with AWC for meetings and events. The Chateau Bellevue dining room functioned as a steady stream of revenue for the club. The mission of the club has expanded over the years to include the preservation of the historic clubhouse. As of 2009 the club is still active and in possession of the clubhouse.

Past Presidents of the Austin Woman's Club through 1996 are:

• Mrs. Sam J. Smith, 1928-1930
• Mrs. W. R. Long, 1930-1931
• Mrs. W. R. Long, 1930-1931
• Mrs. John W. Goodwin, 1931-1932
• Mrs. R. A. Buford, 1932-1933
• Mrs. P.W. McFadden, 1933-1935
• Mrs. James H. Maxwell, 1935-1937
• Mrs. J.O. Marberry, 1937-1939
• Mrs. George H. Wells, 1939-1941
• Mrs. Tom Miller, 1941-1943
• Mrs. H. Willis Sauer, 1943-1945
• Mrs. J. E. Hickman, 1945-1947
• Mrs. William M. Gambrell, 1947-1949
• Mrs. Lloyd W. Davidson, 1949-1951
• Mrs. Amos M. Felts, 1951-1953
• Mrs. Myron L. Begeman, 1953-1955
• Mrs. Starr Kealhofer, 1955-1957
• Mrs. Bryant F. Collins, 1957-1959
• Mrs. Tom E. Johnson, 1959-1961
• Mrs. Marvin Hall, 1961-1963
• Mrs. Carl H. Stautz, 1963-1965
• Mrs. Lynn W. McCraw, 1967-1969
• Mrs. J. C. Dolley, 1969-1971
• Mrs. Felix S. Thaxton, 1971-1973
• Mrs. Bascom B. Hayes, 1973-1975
• Mrs. R. V. Baker, 1975-1977
• Mrs. Ernest W. Walker, 1977-1979
• Mrs. Sterling S. Speake, 1979-1981
• Miss Jane Smoot, 1981-1983
• Mrs. C. E. Alvis, Jr., 1983-1985
• Mrs. A. M. Donnell, Jr., 1985-1987
• Mrs. John M. Moran, 1987-1989
• Mrs. William H. Raschke, 1989-1991
• Dr. Margaret Berry, 1991-1993
• Mrs. Donald VanMeter, 1993-1995
• Dr. Josie E. Champion, 1995-1996

Scope and Contents

Minutes, ledgers, printed material, correspondence, photographs, lithography print blocks, audio cassettes, clippings, planners, receipt books, legal documents, and reports, (1928-995, undated), document the actions and activities of the Austin Woman's Club, a social and philanthropic organization. The records of the Austin Woman's Club are arranged into eight series, the majority found in Administrative Records (1928-1995, undated), which illuminate the regular operations and routine actions of the Club. The largest body of material within Administrative Records is the minutes from general meetings (1928-1995)and board meetings in written form (1959-1995) with 52 meetings captured on audio-cassette (1981-1988). A significant body of membership applications (1982, 1986-88, undated) provide significant insight into the admittance process. 33 committees are documented, (1957-1995, undated) the most substantial records being those of the Resolutions and Remembrances Committee, and the Membership Committee. The preservation and maintenance of the organization's clubhouse, Chateau Bellevue, was of great importance to the Austin Woman's Club and is documented through correspondence and clippings (Chateau Bellevue; 1930-1981). Other series deal with the governing offices (1930-1993, undated), club financial records (1930-1983), notable Austin Woman's Club philanthropic work (Special Projects; 1930-1987) and visual material (undated).

Restrictions

Restrictions on Access

Open to all users.

Related Material

Separated Material

Administrative Information

Preferred Citation

Austin Woman's Club Records (AR.2000.008). Austin History Center, Austin Public Library, Texas.

Acquisition Information

Donor #: DO/2000/059

Donation Date: 2000 June 15

Processing Information

Initial Inventory and Preliminary Processing By/Date: Sue Soy/July 7, 2000 Final Processing and Finding Aid By/Date: Emily Clark, Halley Grogan, Zachary Loeb, Holly Mendenhall/November 24, 2009. Final processing and encoding by Zachary Loeb and Susan Rittereiser/ 2009 December.

Other Finding Aid

Detailed Description of the Collection