A Guide to the San Antonio Branch of the American Association of University Women Records, 1954-2009

Historical Note

The San Antonio Branch was established on January 9, 1909 as a branch of the Southern Association of College Women that was founded in July 1903 at the University of Tennessee. In 1909, the officers of the San Antonio Branch were President, Mrs. Jean McGrath Russ; Vice-President, Miss Emily Maverick; and Secretary/Treasurer, Mrs. Carrie Pfeifer Brown.

In 1921 the Southern Association of College Women united with the Association of College Alumnae and the name was changed to the American Association of University Women. The Association of College Alumnae was a merger of two groups. A group of 17 women met in Boston in the fall of 1881 to discuss forming an alumnae organization of women college graduates. As a result the Association of Collegiate Alumnae was formally organized in January 1882. In 1889 the Western Association of College Alumnae united with this group. So the AAUW began with 17 women who came together to unite alumnae of their institutions for practical educational work.

In 1926, San Antonio was a charter branch when AAUW Texas was organized in Dallas. The state organization is the backbone that supports all of the Texas branches. In recent years, two members of the San Antonio Branch have served as State Presidents: Helen Oujesky and Malinda Gaul.

The Branch Interest Groups have enhanced the richness of the AAUW experience. Women come together to share their interests. The Historic Southwest group is the oldest of the current interest groups. Mrs. Elizabeth Dickson, President of the San Antonio Branch in 1939-1940, founded the group. This group makes a donation each year to a historical landmark or a society dedicated to preservation of landmarks. The members also make a Christmas donation to a local charity. The University Women's Garden Club, a long-time interest group, was founded in 1939. Their members donate handmade items each year at Christmas to a local hospital. They also assist with garden therapy at a local nursing homes. The San Antonio Branch also has a young professional group, a book discussion group, a book review group, a theatre group, Women Unlimited, which studies the "Great Discussion" series of public affairs issues, and two bridge groups.

Three members of the San Antonio Branch established endowments for AAUW scholarships in their wills: Mildred Magee, Irma Gesche and Jean Longwith. The interest from these endowment accounts is used for local, graduate scholarships for women that are awarded at the branch meeting in May each year. Part of the money raised at the annual Educational Foundation fundraiser is also used for local scholarships. In recent years, the scholarships have been increased from $1000 to $2000. The branch awarded six scholarships in 2003 and five in 2004.

The San Antonio Branch has a major fundraiser each year for the Educational Foundation and for local scholarships. From the 1960's through 2000, the branch fundraiser was a used book sale. Due to decreasing revenues and a request for a change from the members, the branch initiated the Breaking the Glass Ceiling Brunch and Silent Auction in 2001. In 2003, it became a luncheon and silent auction. At this luncheon the branch honors a company that practices gender equity in its policies. The branch also honors a woman who has succeeded in her field and serves as an example to young women.

In 1910, the San Antonio Branch made the following report at the Southern Association of College Women. "Our branch has been busy investigating social settlement work, and in connection with this we have made an interesting study of some of the modern dramas that deal with sociological conditions. A program for the year was arranged. Meetings were held the 1st Saturday in each month, when some able lecturer gave us the help of her experience." The San Antonio Branch meeting is still held on the first Saturday of the month. The 1910 report continued with further description of the branch activities. "This branch has become affiliated with the Kindergarten and also the Playground Association, and is taking a live interest in the recently organized Free Clinic. Our members do all they can as individuals to aid these organizations and each week two of them teach in a sewing class for girls. We have pledged our aid toward securing a compulsory education law and in all matters pertaining to the schools and youth of San Antonio."

The San Antonio Branch continues the tradition begun in 1909. The branch has long supported the Expand Your Horizons Career Conference in science and math for girls in grades six through 12 held at the University of Texas at San Antonio. In 2003 members volunteered to speak at a career day event at a local school. In 2004, one of the branch's members, Dr. Linda Vargas-Lew requested the support of the branch in mentoring young Hispanic girls at the elementary school level. These girls have been identified as at risk to drop out before completing high school. Several members responded and are serving as mentors.

The San Antonio Branch is using technology to improve communications with members. In 1994, the branch moved from the typewriter to the computer to produce the branch directory. Then, Mynda McGuire, President in 2001-03, initiated the web page and still maintains it.

In 2001, the branch took a long look at its practices and began planning for its future when it held the first of its now annual Strategic Planning meetings. Following that meeting the branch conducted a demographic survey of its members and found that the average age was 68.5, and the members were predominantly white. The membership drives, as of 2001 focuses on diversifying the membership. One of the ways was to increase the AAUW Institutional Membership of local colleges and universities from only one institution in 2001 to five in 2004. One of those is St. Philip's College which is a Historically Black and Hispanic Serving Institution.

The San Antonio Branch is recognized as an outstanding AAUW branch through the 21st Century Recognition Program, an honor bestowed upon them by the national AAUW organization.

For more information about the current activities of the San Antonio Branch of the American Association of University Women, please visit them on the Web at:    http://www.aauwsanantonio.org/.

Historical note written by Mynda McGuire, Immediate Past President of the San Antonio Branch of the American Association of University Women, February 2005.

Scope and Content Note

The San Antonio Branch of the American Association of University Women Records, 1954-2009, contain correspondence, articles of incorporation, bylaws, ledgers, legal documents, agendas, minutes, membership lists, directories, tax returns, financial statements, oral histories, awards, newsletters, invitations, programs, scrapbooks, videocassettes, creative works, and other printed materials, arranged in seven series. Though the records date from 1954, the bulk of the materials are from the 1970s to 2004. The majority of the materials are membership records, financial records, and the minutes of branch and board meetings.

The Administrative Records series includes Letters of Incorporation from 1989, the year the branch incorporated, as well as materials that govern Branch activities, including bylaws, handbooks, standing rules, and policies and procedures. Of note are the documents that, while limited in scope, provide information about the history of the San Antonio Branch.

The Officers series includes records kept by the President, President Elect, Corresponding Secretary, and Parliamentarian. The Treasurer's papers provide information about the financial activities of the Branch. Among these financial documents are ledgers kept from the early 1970s and 1980-2000; Treasurer's reports from 1966-2004; federal income tax returns from the mid-1950s through 1993; audited and unaudited financial statements from 1962-1992, and records of donations made to the branch.

Meeting minutes of the Board (1982-2004) are also included in the Officers series, as are the records related to Branch officers and the majority of the correspondence (1981-2003). The correspondence reflects the Board's involvement in local events and outreach projects, as well as documenting activities within the Branch. Other correspondence reflects information sharing between the branch and the State (1981-1986, 1990-2003) and the branch and National (1977, 2001) levels of AAUW.

The Activities series includes materials related to the activities of the San Antonio Branch. Among them are minutes for the Branch meetings from 1979 to 2003, documenting issues, events, and activities that occurred. Also included in this series are files about events, projects and outreach planned by the Branch. Award files are also located in this series, and reflect the honors and recognition bestowed upon the Branch and individual members from1971 to 2004. They include awards from the national and state levels of the AAUW and from local organizations. Other materials that reflect the activities of the branch are located in scrapbooks (1980-1982, 1989-1991) and newsclippings (1979-2002).

The Standing Committees series reflects the work and interests of different committees of the San Antonio Branch. Committees range from the Communication Committee to the Community Serve Committee and the History Committee, Legal Advocacy Fund Committee and the Scholarship Committee. However, the bulk of this series consists of materials from the Membership Committee. Included are lists of members from 1969 to 2002 and yearbook directories beginning in 1954. There are also files on twenty-two individual members, which include newspaper clippings, articles, and other printed materials, and a file for deceased members, which includes obituaries, correspondence and funeral programs. Also included in the membership records are materials used to market to new and returning members, membership reports, member surveys and questionnaires.

Other important materials in the Standing Committees series include Branch budget information to be found in the Finance Committee materials, oral histories by San Antonio Branch members to be found in the Historian Committee files, and press releases and copies of the Branch website both to be found in the Communications Committee files.

The Special Interest Groups series spans the mid-1960s through 2003 and includes information regarding special interest groups and their activities and interests, such as interior decorating, world travel, book groups, Bridge, theater and arts, gardening and genealogy. Of note in this series is the Historic Southwest Interest Group whose records contain a detailed travel itinerary for a tour of the southeast (1972), scrapbooks (1941-1972), yearbooks (1961-2000), and meeting minutes (1972-1999).

The Publications series includes an almost complete run of the San Antonio Branch News (1978-2004) and issues of The Link, a publication for Texas Branch Leaders (1995-2003).

The Conventions series contains materials about the Branch's desire to hold an AAUW conference in San Antonio, and AAUW conventions in San Antonio and other parts of Texas.

The Addition of August 2006 (Acc. 2006-58) contains San Antonio branch yearbook: 1992-2004; correspondence; files; board member handbook, cards, legacy circle; clippings; Founders Day, Breaking the Glass; awards; Get out the vote; Vote, smart; newsletters; Longwith; budget, reciepts.

The Addition of October 2006 (Acc. 2006-76) consists of minutes and newsletters.

The Addition of December 2006 (Acc. 2006-096) includes flyers, emails, and notes.

The Addition of May 2007 (Acc. 2007-054) containes legal correspondence and minutes.

The Addition of July 2007 (Acc. 2007-095) includes procedures notebook for offices.

The Addition of July 2007 (Acc. 2007-098) includes board papers.

The Addition of August 2008 (Acc. 2008-40) includes Longwith obituary, San Antonio Branch History, 1908-2008, material from the presidencies of Malinda Gaul and Mynda McGuire and includes, newsletters, correspondence, event flyers, photos, meeting minutes and other organizational material.

The Addition of October 2009 (Accession 2009-055) consists of administrative material including meeting agendas and minutes, correspondence, newsletters, reports, bylaws, job descriptions, programs, financial material and material related to scholarships, fundraising, PEARL award, and other organizational activities between the years 2006-2009.

Restrictions

Access Restrictions

There are no restrictions on use of this material.

Usage Restrictions

Permission to publish material from the San Antonio Branch of the American Association of University Women Records must be obtained from the UTSA Library, Archives.

Related Material

Administrative Information

Preferred Citation

[Identification of item], San Antonio Branch of the American Association of University Women Records, 1954-2004, MS 128, Archives, University of Texas at San Antonio Libraries.

Acquisition Information

Received from the San Antonio Branch of the American Association of University Women, 2001-2009 (Acc. 2001-018, 2002-005, 2002-059, 2002-069, 2003-040, 2003-041, 2003-042, 2003-086, 2004-004, 2004-007, 2004-032, 2005-004, 2006-058, 2006-076, 2006-096, 2007-054, 2007-095, 2007-098, 2008-040, 2009-055).

Processing Information

Processed by Traci JoLeigh Drummond, Archivist, and Gerrianne Schaad, Head of Archives and Special Collections, October 2004.

Additions encoded by Tatina Wulzer, Collections Assistant, November 2008 and October 2009.

 List of Past Presidents 

 Notes to Researchers 

Early records of the Branch were donated to the Women's University in Denton, Texas.

For more information about the current activities of the San Antonio Branch of the American Association of University Women, please visit them on the Web at:    http://www.aauwsanantonio.org/

Detailed Description of the Collection