University of Michigan - Flint

Name of the collection: Junior League of Flint
Inclusive years: 1929-1987
Quantity: 7 linear ft. and 8 outsized vols.
Acquisition: This record group (donor no. 095) was deposited with the Genesee Historical Collections Center in June 1985.
Access: There are no restrictions.
Photographs: Photographs were removed from the collection with the intention of cataloging them separately.
Processed by: Darwin C. Matthews, September 1985.

HISTORY

The Junior League for the Promotion of Settlement Movements was founded in New York City in 1901 by Mary Harriman. In the following years similar organizations were formed in various American cities by young women who recognized society's needs. They realized that as young women they could play an active role in service to their communities through volunteer work.

In 1927 the Wednesday Club of Flint applied for membership in the Association of Junior Leagues of America. The Junior League of Flint, Inc., was officially accepted by the national organization in March of 1928. One of the requirements for membership was the successful operation of a project beneficial to the community. The charter members decided there was a need in Flint for a home for dependent girls aged 12 to 17. Over $1,000 was raised, and the Junior League House was established on Church Street on January 3, 1928. Mrs. Loretta Norris was the matron and Blanche Dubruill the housekeeper. The League supported the house until 1932. In that year cases were taken over by the State of Michigan's Children's Aid.

The League's philosophy is to design projects which will benefit the total community as well as serve as an educational and training experience for its members. The projects accepted and supported by the League do not focus on one area of the community. A diversified slate of projects is presented to League members each year so that the League can gain a complete picture of the community's needs. In keeping with the philosophy of the League, support given to these projects is primarily through volunteer service rather than financial assistance.

In addition to the home for teenage dependent girls, in the late 1920s and 1930s the League established the circulating library at Hurley Hospital (1928-1940); the Children's Theatre program (1929-1969); puppet shows by League members for schoolchildren (1930-1942); a handicraft
exchange, which gave financial assistance to needy women who were able to sew (1938-1941); the Child Benefit Fund, which provided hot lunches and clothing, as well as libraries with books for elementary grades (1938-1944); and the Children's Hospital Work Program, which gave aid to crippled children and made funds available to hire a part-time therapist (1939-1945).

In the early 1940s, League activities were focused on the Red Cross, the U.S.O., and other activities which supported the war effort. Of the 5,000 hours League members spent in volunteer work in 1941-1942, over 2,500 were spent working for national defense. By 1943, 42 League members served on community boards, including the Genesee County Price and Rationing Board, the Office of Civil Defense, and the Red Cross Blood Bank.

Programs established after the war centered on the arts and the Cerebral Palsy Nursery School. The Cerebral Palsy Nursery School began in 1949 with financial assistance from the League and a matching grant from C. S. Mott. In 1955, the school was firmly established, and the administration of the school was turned over to the Flint Board of Education.

In the 1940s the bylaws of the League were amended so that professional women living in Flint could join the organization. Certain requirements, such as attendance at a minimum of six meetings, were omitted for these professional members.

Following the 1953 tornado, which devastated Flint and Beecher, the Junior League of Flint was appointed by the Red Cross to organize volunteer services. League members worked two 9½-hour shifts each day for nine weeks. The disaster center was housed in the St. Francis of Assisi School.

Other programs in the 1950s included the Children's Theatre, puppet shows, radio series for WFBE and WFDF, and working on community committees investigating fluoridation, mental health and international tensions, the problems of senior citizens, and lurid literature in the community.

The Children's Theatre program remained a community favorite throughout the 1960s with over 57,000 elementary school children attending nine different plays. Volunteer services were given to 22 different community agencies or organizations, including the Community Planning Committee for Senior Citizens, the Flint Institute of Arts, Hurley Hospital, and the Whaley Memorial Foundation. Major financial contributions during the 1960s were for mental
health programs, Community Planning Committee for Senior Citizens, the Council of Social Agencies, the Day Care Center, and the Volunteer Bureau.

Moneys raised by the League's Town Hall Lecture Series and the annual charity balls in the 1960s were put into a community trust fund account. This fund supports projects that benefit the community, such as the Mental Health Clinic, the Flint Institute of Arts, the Children's Theatre program, and the puppet theatre.

In the 1970s, the League focused on cultural activities, civic responsibilities, and social problems. The League was instrumental in organizing Leadership Flint, a program designed to recruit potential leaders in the Flint area. This program introduces people to the work and actions sponsored by governmental agencies, corporations, and private foundations in Flint.

The League confronted social problems such as child abuse and neglect with a Child Advocacy program. An Everywoman's Center of Flint was established to counsel women with various problems, and a Youth Listening Post program served as a listening outlet for local young people.

The League sponsored the Young People's Concert series (1969-1971) and worked with the Affiliate Artist Program of New York City to arrange for ballet master Milenko Banovitch to appear in Flint for two years. League members also served as docents at the Flint Institute of Arts and the Sloan Museum.

The programs initiated in the early 1980s were designed to assist the elderly, the handicapped, immigrants, women, and the poor. Along with these social awareness programs, the League continued to support programs which encouraged community involvement and development, such as Leadership Flint and the education and training component of the Voluntary Action Center.

In 1984-1985 the Junior League of Flint had 159 active members, 41 provisional members, three non-resident active members, 235 sustaining members, and 18 non-resident sustaining members. Just as the original members of the Junior League of Flint recognized their responsibilities to the community, today's members are taking leadership roles in the community. As a result of the Junior League's volunteer services, Flint's cultural activities have grown,
and social problems facing the community are being addressed.
 

DESCRIPTION OF THE RECORDS
 

Whenever possible, the records of the Junior League of Flint have been retained in their original order. There are five major subgroups of files: Historical Files, 1928-1960; Administrative Files, 1936-1991; Financial Records, 1928-1960; Committee and Activity Files, 1929-1985; and Publications and Articles Files, 1955-1988.

The Historical Files consist of manuscripts relating to the organization of the Junior League of Flint. These papers include materials on the organizational meeting of the Junior League of Flint, the bylaws, minutes of the first meetings, and the Articles of Association (1929) with Certificate of Amendment to the Articles of Incorporation (1960).

The Administrative Files contain several separate series of records. The annual reports and yearbooks (1936 and 1953/1954-1990/1991) also include the administrative structure of the organization, the history of national and local Leagues, the articles and bylaws, standing rules, and policies and procedures. Minutes contain the records of the Board of Directors, annual meetings, general meetings, special board meetings, and executive meetings. The Board
of Directors files consist of correspondence (1977-1979) and manuals issued to Board members. Other series of records include administrative budgets (1978-1982), administrative and President's annual reports (1979/1980 and 1980/1981), bylaws standing rule revisions, correspondence (1958-1969),
and membership lists (1975-1983).

The Financial Records consist of reports of examination (1959-1976), declaration of trust (1974), and non-profit corporation annual reports (1930 and 1933-1936).

The Committee and Activity Files contain papers which reflect the League's varied community programs. Of these papers, several series of records thoroughly document these activities: the Advisory Planning Committee, the Children's Theatre Committee, the Committee on Aging-Aging Interest
Group, the Drug Interest Group, and the Leadership Flint program.

The Publications and Articles Files consist of the League's monthly publications, the Gazette (1954-1982) and League Connections (1982-1988). Other papers include monthly publications from various Junior Leagues throughout the United States and Canada, National Junior League Outlines and Planning Guides, the program from the League's 1980 Decorator Showhouse, and miscellaneous newspaper articles.

There are eight outsized scrapbooks in the collection (1953-1973). These focus on publicity for programs established by the League, such as the Children's Theatre program, the Town Hall series, and the Junior League Follies.

FOLDER LIST

BOX 1
HISTORICAL FILES
        Organizational meeting with bylaws and minutes, 1928-1929
        Articles of association with certificate of amendment to the articles of incorporation, 1929 and 1960

ADMINISTRATIVE FILES
        Administrative budgets, 1978-1982
        Administrative vice president's annual report, 1979/1980 and 1980/1981
        Annual reports and yearbooks
                1934/1935
                1936
                1953/1954
                1954/1955
                1956/1957
                1957/1958
                1958/1959
                1959/1960
                1960/1961
                1961/1962
                1963/1964
                1967/1968
                1969/1970
                1970/1971
                1971/1972
                1972/1973
                1973/1974
                1974/1975
                1975/1976
                1976/1977
                1981/1982
                1984/1985
                1986/1987
                1988/1989
                1990/1991
        Minutes
                1931-1932
                1932-1933
                1934
                1935
                1936
                1937-1938
                1938-1939
                Board of Directors
                        1958-1966
                        1967-1969
                        1970-1971
                        1971-1972

BOX 2
                        1972-1973
                        1974-1975
                        1975-1976
                        1976-1977
                        1977-1978
                        1978-1979
                        1979-1980
                        1980-1981
                        1981-1982
                        1982-1983
            Executive
                        1967-1968
                        1968-1969
                        1969-1970
                        1970-1971
                        1971-1972
                        1972-1973
                        1973-1974
                        1975-1976
                        1976-1977
                        1977-1978
                        1978-1979
                        1979-1980
                        1980-1981
                        1981-1982
                        1982=1983
            General membership meetings
                        1967-1968
                        1968-1969
                        1970-1971
                        1971-1972
                        1972-1973
                        1973-1974
                        1978-1979
                        1980-1981
            Board of Directors
                        Correspondence
                                1977
                                        September
                                        November
                                        December
                                1978
                                        January
                                        February
                                        March
                                        April
                                        May
                                        June
                                        September
                                        October
                                1979
                                        March
                        Manual
                                1981
                                Outline for planning: New Board members orientation
                                Parliamentary procedures and guidelines
            Bylaws standing rule revisions, 1969-open

BOX 3
            Correspondence
                        Michigan Corporation and Securities Commission, 1958-1959
                        Michigan Department of Treasury Corporation Division, 1969
            Membership lists
                        1979-1980
                        1981-1982
                        1982-1983
                        Correspondence, 1978
                        Status changes, 1975-1982

FINANCIAL RECORDS
            Reports of examination (3 folders), 1959, 1961, 1962, 1963, 1964, 1965, 1966, 1967,1968, 1969, 1970, 1971, 1972, 1975, 1976
            Declaration of trust, 1954
            Non-profit corporation annual reports, 1930 and 1933-1936
            U.S. Savings Bonds receipts, 1965

COMMITTEE AND ACTIVITY FILES
            AM-PM Committee, 1979
            Acronyms of the Junior League of Flint
            Admissions and sponsor kits
            Advisory Planning Committee
                    1976/1977
                    1977/1978
                    1978/1979
                    1980/1981
                    1981/1982
                    1982/1983
                    Goals and objectives, 1977-1981
            Anniversary Committees
                    50th anniversary (2 folders)
                    40th anniversary
            Arts Interest Group – Committee, 1972-1985
                    Affiliate artist program, Milenko Banovitch
                    Correspondence and notes
            Carnival reports, 1950-1952
            Charity Ball, 1966

BOX 4
            Children's Theatre Committee, 1929-1969
                    American Educational Theatre Association, 1967
                    American Junior League Association, 1962-1965
                    Bower Theatre, 1964-1969
                    Budgets, 1962
                    Children's Theatre Bureau of Flint, 1956
                    Committee reports, 1962-1968
                    "Let Children Create": project sponsored by the University of Michigan, Flint Public Schools, and the Mott Foundation, 1951 (?)
                    Plays presented by Junior League of Flint
                            Chronological list, 1929-1969
                            Schedules
                            Scripts
                                   Beauty and the Beast
                                    The Bremen Town Musicians
                                    Carnival of the Animals
                                    Christmas Eve in the Used Car Lot and Pancho
                                    Danny the Dark Green Dinosaur
                                    Dr. Gray Matter's Dilemma
                                    The Ghost Story
                                    Hansel and Gretel
                                    The Land of the Alligator
                                    Niccolo and Niccollette of the Puppet Prince
                                    The Pied Piper of Hamelin
                                    The Princess and the Swineherd
                                    Simple Simon
                                    The Sorcerer's Apprentice
                                    The Three Bears and the Three Little Pigs
                                    Tina and the Three Billy Goats Gruff
                                    Willie Williams Goes to Mars
                                    The Wizard of Oz
                        Procedures
                        Puppets (2 folders)
                        Script royalties
            Committee on Aging – Aging Interest Group, 1964-1970
            Council of Social Agencies of Flint and Genesee
            County. Community Planning Committee for Senior Citizens
                        Board of Directors – Minutes, 1964-1970 (2 folders)
                        Steering Committee – Minutes, 1965-1967 (2 folders)
                        Annual inventory of programs and services for older adults of Flint and Genesee County, 1967
                        Committee on Study of Nursing Professional Needs, 1966
                        Institute on Working With Older People, 1965
                        Reports and notes of the Committee for Senior Citizens
                        Subcommittee to Explore Needed Action to Deal with the Problems of Medically Indigent Senior Citizens, 1964-1966
                        Printed materials

BOX 5
            Community Research Committee, 1967-1970
            Crossroads Village Interest Group – Buzzell House, 1975-1976
            Drug Interest Group, 1970-1973
                    Correspondence (3 folders)
                    Drug counselor – Carl S. Wilson
                    Genesee County Regional Drug Abuse Commission
                    Minutes and reports of Board meetings
            Ecology Interest Group, 1965-1973
            Financial Committee, 1971
            Five-Year Survey on Transferring and Changes – Flint League, 1956-1961
            Flint Community Schools – Bucket Brigade Program, 1973
            Grantsmanship Interest Group, 1971-1975
            Homemaker Service (Joint project between the Junior League of Flint and the Family Service Agency), 1968
            Human Relations Interest Group, 1971-1972
           Interest Group orientation, 1972
            Junior League Welfare Conference, Milwaukee, 1937
            League Restructuring Task Force, 1971
            Leadership Flint, 1973-1975
                    Correspondence
                    Leadership Interest Group minutes
                    Minutes and reports (3 folders)
            Learning Disabilities Interest Group, 1973-1975
            Placement skits, 1954
            Professional Group meeting minutes, 1969-1974
            Project research reports, 1962-1963
            Proposal for change, 1970
            Proposed placement guidelines, 1981-1982
            Public Affairs Committee, 1970
            Public Relations Committee, 1968-1971
            Publications Committee, 1969-1970

BOX 6
            Report of Region IV Regional Conference, Association of the Junior Leagues of America, 1961
            State Board meeting minutes, Michigan Junior Leagues, 1977
            Study and development report, 1970
            Surveys and questionnaires
                    Evaluation of the community, 1968-1969
                    Annual questionnaire, 1977/1978
                    Organizational Self-Assessment program, 1981
            Volunteer career development workshop, 1978-1979
            Wednesday Club, 1956-1967
            Young people's concerts, 1969-1971 (2 folders)
            Youth Listening Post, 1970
            Youth volunteer program, 1977

PUBLICATIONS AND ARTICLES FILES
           Gazette
                   1954-1955
                    1955-1956
                    1956-1957
                    1957-1958
                    1958-1959
                    1959-1960
                    1960-1961
                    1961-1962
                    1962-1963
                    1963-1964
                    1964-1965
                    1965-1966
                    1966-1967
                    1967-1968
                    1968-1969

BOX 7
                    1969-1971
                    1971-1972
                    1972-1973
                    1973-1974
                    1974-1975
                    1975-1977
                    1977-1979
                    1979-1981
                    1981-1982 and undated
                    Editorial notes, 1978-1980
                    Budget
           League Connections
                    1982-1983
                    1984-1985
                    1985-1986
                    1986-1987
                    1988
            Junior League monthly publications from various cities
            National Junior League outlines and planning guides
            Marketing planning outline
            S.T.O.P. Violence planning guide
           Decorator Showhouse Flint, 1980
            Newspaper articles