Texas Federation of Business and Professional Women Records

An Inventory to the Collection

Historical Notes

Many of the earliest business and professional women's clubs grew out of the Young Women's Christian Association or the YWCA. There were, however, a number of independent business women's clubs throughout the United States before the founding of the National Federation of Business and Professional Women (NFBPW). The U.S. government and the events of World War I provided the catalyst for bringing these clubs together under the umbrella of a federation.

Many of the earliest business and professional women's club grew out of the Young Women's Christian Association or the YWCA. There were, however, a number of independent business women's clubs throughout the United States before the founding of the National Federation of Business and Professional Women (NFBPW). The U.S. government and the events of World War I provided the catalyst for bringing these clubs together under the umbrella of a federation.

""While mobilizing for World War I, the U.S. Government recognized the need for a cohesive group to coordinate identification of women's available skills and experience. A Women's War Council, financed through a federal grant, was established by the War Department to organize the resources of professional women." " (BPW/USA website)

The YWCA organized a number of meetings and decided to found a federation of business and professional women clubs. A representative from the YWCA traveled to Texas to survey the existing clubs and encourage them to meet to elect delegates to go to St. Louis July 14-18, 1919, for the purpose of founding a national federation.

Representatives from Texas business women's clubs in El Paso, Dallas, Fort Worth, Houston, and Austin attended a meeting on July 12, 1919, at the Adolphus Hotel in Dallas, Texas. After electing the delegates, a constitutional committee was appointed and Dr. Minnie Maffett (Dallas) was elected president of the Texas Federation of Business and Professional Women's Clubs (TFBPW).

Resulting from the St. Louis meeting, the National Federation of Business and Professional Women's Clubs was formed ari July 15, 1919.

"Throughout the years, three major issues shaped BPW's legislative agenda: elimination of sex discrimination in employment, the principle of equal pay, and the need for a comprehensive equal rights amendment." (From the BPW/USA website)

Throughout its history, the TFBPW has worked to expand opportunities for women in business and gain equal rights. It was especially active in passing the Equal Rights Amendment in Texas in 1972 under the leadership of the BPW Legislative Steering Committee and attorney, BPW member Hermine Tobolowsky, also known as the "mother of the Texas Equal Legal Rights." The TFBPW's "mission is to achieve equity for all women in the workplace through advocacy, education and information." (From the BPW/Texas website)

The TFBPW has established many funds and scholarships that encourage education and employment among women. The TFBPW supports two scholarship funds, Minnie L. Maffett Scientific Fellowship Fund and the Mary Lilyerstrom Foreign Scholarship, that give money to deserving women for the pursuit of higher education. They also supported the state funding for the M.D. Anderson Cancer Center and continue to support the Cancer Center through the Chloe Monroe M.D. Anderson Fund and a scholarship (Past State President's Award).

Sources:

BPW/USA website. Address:www.bpwusa.org.

BPW/Texas website. Address: www.txbpw.org

"A Brief History of the Texas Federation," typescript, 1930. Texas Woman's University, TFBPW Collection, "History File."

"The Texas Federation comes of Age," Irene Scott Dicklow. Texas Business and Professional Woman, May, 1940.

Scope and Contents of the Collection

This collection contains records of the state, district/regions, and the local organizations. In addition, there are two cubic feet of National organization records that pertain primarily to Texas events. It is important to note that the state federation reorganized its districts in 2003 from fifteen districts into seven regions.

A number of local organizations and Districts have donated extensive files to the BPW/Texas files, including BPW Club of Fort Worth, Inc. South Fort Worth BPW Club, Garland BPW Club, Angleton BPW Club, Denton BPW Club, District 11 (Fort Worth), and others. Denton BPW is located under a separate location number.

Restrictions

Access to Collection:

Researchers may access the records of the Texas Federation of Business and Professional Women Monday through Friday, 8:00 am to 5:00 pm in the Woman's Collection. The Woman's Collection is located on the second floor of the Blagg-Huey Library. All materials are viewed in the Catherine Merchant Reading Room, and photocopies are provided at the discretion of the Woman's Collection.

Publication and Copyright Statements:

Permission to publish materials must be obtained in writing from the Coordinator for Special Collections.

All responsibility for questions of copyright that may arise in copying, scanning, and use of material shall be assumed by the user.

Administrative Information

Provenance

Gift of the Texas Federation of Business and Professional Women, 1991.

Encoded by:

Ranu Singhvi, 2007

Detailed Description of the Collection