Introduction | Agency History | Scope and Content | Series Description | Inventory

Introduction

The records of the Amsden, Ohio, Woman's Christian Temperance Union date from 1907 to 1977. The history of this religious anti-alcohol and tobacco activist group is reflected in one linear foot of minutes, membership and financial records, correspondence, reminiscences, newspaper clippings, workbooks, recipes, songbooks, handbooks, pamphlets, newsletters, programs, and photos.

The records were donated on August 27, 1981 to the Women's Studies Archives Project of the Center for Archival Collections by Gladys Masamer, Fostoria, Ohio. Literary and property rights have been dedicated to the public and duplication is permitted for the purposes of preservation and scholarly research. The register was prepared by Paulette Weiser, graduate assistant for the Women's Studies Archives Project, Center for Archival Collections, in October 1981.

Agency History

The temperance movement began in Fredonia, New York, led by Dr. Dio Lewis, in December 1873. Dr. Lewis spoke in Hillsboro and Washington Court House, Ohio, later the same month, where the movement took root and Frances Willard first became involved. In February 1874, Columbus hosted the first state convention of the women's temperance movement. The Women's Christian Temperance Union was officially organized at a national convention in Cleveland in November 1874. Ms. Willard was a leader and guiding light of the organization for many years. The group's main principles included belief in God, the Golden Rule, a living wage, eight-hour work days, justice, world peace, personal abstinence form liquor and tobacco, and education of the public about temperance and prohibition. Young people were recruited actively with the White Ribbon Recruits being members from birth to six years of age and older youth belonging to either the Loyal Temperance Legion (6-12) or the Youth Temperance Council (teens and 20s).

The Amsden Union was organized on August 9, 1907. The first officers were Mrs. J. L. Nile, president; Mrs. J. W. McLaughlin, secretary; and Mrs. Plina Trumbo, treasurer. Anna Dye Wyant was elected president on September 19, 1919, and served in that capacity for more than fifty years until ill health forced her to step down in 1972. Only three members organized the Amsden Union, but membership quickly flourished with sixty-four being noted as members at a dinner on September 7, 1909. The Amsden Union seems to have been very active until the 1970s when membership declined. In 1972, the membership consisted of "18 women, 4 men, 10 boys and girls and 10 babies."

Gladys Masamer, the collection's donor, is the daughter of Anna D. Wyant and also has been an active member of the Seneca County WCTU.

Scope and Content

The records of the Amsden Woman's Christian Temperance Union reflect the history of this active religious, temperance, and social organization, its members, and programs from 1907 to 1971.

The minutes, membership and financial records, correspondence, pamphlets, songbooks, and flyers reveal why and how the group organized and attempted to educate the public and disseminate their philosophy, particularly concerning the use of alcohol. While they also were interested in fair work standards, justice and world peace, the focus of their activities was to discourage, and even outlaw, the use of liquor. The records reflect their religious and family-oriented approach to achieve that goal. The collection reflects to a much lesser extent the group's political activity.

Students of women's history will find, in addition, that woman's suffrage was an early topic of this group. The minutes for April 14, 1909, note discussion of and a vote on the issue of "free suffrage."

Also included is genealogical information on the Caywood-Dye family, Mrs. Wyant's ancestors.

Series Description

PROCEEDINGS

MEETING MINUTES
August 9, 1907-1971 (scattered).
Arranged chronologically, for the most part, but some of the volumes have minutes from one decade interspersed among minutes from another decade.
Contains minutes of meetings of WCTU, YTC, and LTL, actions taken, programs carried out, financial reports, and membership records (one notebook also contains a Dye family genealogy).

MEMBERSHIP RECORDS
1912-August 1967.
Arranged chronologically, for the most part.
Contains list of White Ribbon Recruits, mother's names, children's birth dates, and enrollment dates. Also contains volume of members and dues paid.

CORRESPONDENCE
Incoming, 1932-1949; Outgoing 1936-1953.
Arranged chronologically
Contains information regarding programs, members of the YTC, congratulations on an award won, and thanks for letters from a member in ill-health.

REPORTS

ANNUAL CONVENTIONS
1935, 1972, 1977
Arranged chronologically
Contains reports and programs relating to annual Ohio WCTU conventions and lists of previous state officers and convention speakers and present state and local officers.

LITERARY PRODUCTIONS

REMINISCENCES
Ca. 1962, 1972.
Arranged chronologically
Contains reminiscences and memoirs of Anna Dye Wyant pertaining to the Amsden Union and the Dye family.

SCRAPBOOKS AND SCRAPBOOK MATERIAL

NEWSPAPER CLIPPINGS.
1938-1950, n.d.
Arranged chronologically
Contains information on the activities, members, and officers of the national and local groups, mostly undated.

PRINTED MATERIAL

CERTIFICATES.
1942, 1971, n.d.
Arranged chronologically
Contains membership cards and Honor Certificate earned by Amsden Union.

PAMPHLETS (Songbooks)
1928, n.d.
No arrangement.
Contains songs and lyrics of a Christian, patriotic, and temperance nature.

PAMPHLETS (Workbook: "Two Bottles in a Refrigerator")
n.d.
Contains anti-alcohol program for children including story and felt board cut-outs.

PAMPHLETS (Handbooks/In-house pamphlets/newsletters)
1951-1973 (scattered), n.d.
Arranged chronologically
Contains background information on WCTU, goals, structure, parliamentary procedure, programs, plans of work, and news.

PAMPHLETS (Miscellaneous)
1913-1964 (scattered), n.d.
Arranged chronologically
Contains primarily temperance information, statistics, and stories supporting prohibition of alcohol, for distribution.

PAMPHLETS (Flyers).
n.d.
No arrangement.
Contains party ideas and non-alcoholic beverage recipes.

CLIPPINGS/CARDS
n.d.
No arrangement.
Contains two poems and three greeting cards.

PROGRAMS
1936-1952, 1967.
Arranged chronologically
Contains convention, workshop, and banquet programs with officers, speakers, and topics noted.

PHOTOGRAPHIC MATERIAL

POSITIVE PRINTS
n.d.
No arrangement.
Contains photo of national officers placing wreath at Frances Willard statue and postcard photo of WCTU Cottage, Lakeside, Ohio.

Inventory

Box 1

1. Minutes and financial records, August 9, 1907-April 29, 1914
2. Minutes, September 1930-September 1932, April-May 1938, July 1942-August 1946, September 1953-July 1963, Membership lists, 1936-1937, 1947-1949
3. YTC/LTL minutes, May 1938-1941, December 1957, WCTU Minutes, 1939, February-November 1941
4. Minutes, March-December 1942, February-May 1946, June and September 1948
5. Minutes, August 1944-September 1945
6. Minutes, April-September 1946, and Annual Reports and State Convention minutes, 1945-1948
7. Minutes, September 26, 1948; speech, n.d.; State convention minutes, October 18-22, 1948; Report, April 8, 1949
8. Membership/dues ledger, 1912-1970

1. Minutes, membership lists, dues, and financial records, 1948-1953
2. Minutes and notes, May 1932-1971, n.d.
3. Meeting and sermon notes, deaths by alcohol, 1950; Notes on trip west, 1950; Caywood-Dye family genealogy, n.d.
4. White Ribbon Recruits, 1914-August 1967
5. Incoming correspondence, 1932, 1942, 1949
6. Outgoing correspondence, 1936, 1941, 1953

Box 2

1. Ohio Annual Convention reports, 1935, 1972, 1977
2. Reminiscences of Anna Dye Wyant, 1962, 1972
3. Newspaper clippings, 1938-1950, n.d.
4. Certificate and membership cards, 1942, 1971
5. Songbooks and lyric sheets, 1928, n.d.
6. Children's workbook, n.d.
7. Handbooks, in-house pamphlets, and newsletters, 1951-1973, n.d.
8. Informational pamphlets, 1913-1964, n.d.
9. Party ideas and non-alcoholic recipes, n.d.
10. Poems, greeting cards, n.d.
11. Convention, workshop, and banquet programs, 1936-1952, 1967
12. Photos, n.d.
13. Scrapbook, 1930s-1940s

Manuscripts by Subject | Women's Studies Collections | MS 187 WCTU Amsden Selected Transcripts