Date Range

1939-2006

Description Level

Fonds

Creator

Warner East Neighborhood Club; Tracy McNab

Physical Description

0.15 m of textual records, 425 photos

History Biographical

Originally organized on March 23, 1939, as a social group in the east Warner district, “The Busy Bee Club”, later named the “Watt Community Club” and subsequently changed to East Warner Neighborhood Club, has grown in membership from nine the first year to 31 women in the final years. The club’s purpose and activities have also grown to include charity work and contributions to community projects. The club was active between 1939 and 1991. Clara Currie, was the first president and secretary of this club. The first members were: Clara Currie, Beatrice Halmrast, Hope Shaffer, Elizabeth Orcutt, Martha Orcutt, Edith Lillie, Lena Currie, Matilda Martin and Grandma Orcutt. The yearly dues were only 25 cents when the club was first formed and finished with annual dues of five dollars. On a regular basis the club has tea and hostess prizes at their regular monthly meetings. Over the years the club has made money by having hobo-teas, bake sales, food basket raffles, quilt raffles, flea markets, serving at garage sales and wedding dances, and with all money raised by the club, kindly given back to the community in the form of donations. Other activities included Christmas parties, making of parade floats for fairs, ballgames and horseshoes. In 1989, the East Warner Neighborhood Club celebrated their 50th Anniversary, bringing together all past members of the club at a small party in Warner. The ladies sang songs, recited their Creed and reminisced about their time as club members. The Creed: May we always try to be cheerful, and work in harmony. Be kind to one another and feel that we are free to do a good deed unto others, whatever the need may be. To see only the good in each other, and lay all fault-finding aside, teach us to be strong in heart and mind, so God give us faith to abide. The records were used in the following research (included - file 2012.1092/9): PICNICS, POTLUCKS & COOKBOOKS: FARM WOMEN’S CLUBS AND THE LIVELIHOOD OF COMMUNITY IN TWENTIETH CENTURY SOUTHERN ALBERTA - MA Thesis (University of Lethbridge) by Tracy McNab 2006. This thesis examines the collective labour and resources utilized by farm women within the context of the farm women’s neighbourhood club in rural communities in twentieth century Southern Alberta. The ethnographic research explores the historic, cultural and political foundations of women’s labour on farms and in formal and informal farm organizations through interviews conducted with former members of two clubs that were actively involved in fundraising and philanthropic projects in their rural communities for more than forty-five years. The critical perspective argues farm women in rural clubs responded to the patriarchal farm discourse that gendered their labour by using their reproductive skills and resources to build and maintain friendships, social networks and mutuality, and do good works that ensured the livelihood of their rural communities.

Custodial History

Materials donated by Tracy McNab

Scope and Content

2012.1092/1 Photo Album Decorative Cover. 2012.1092/2 Club Meeting Minutes 1949-1954 (original): club members, bylaws, money collected and activities. 2012.1092/3 Club Meeting Minutes 1955-1963 (original): club members, bylaws, money collected and activities. 2012.1092/4 Memorial Photo Album 1939-1988. 125 photos, memorabilia, ribbons, news clippings. 2012.1092/5 Club Meeting Minutes 1973-1979 (original) club members, bylaws, money collected and activities. Also Club Bylaws 1970 and Highlights of meetings 1964-1973. 2012.1092/6 Club Meeting Minutes 1980-1991 (original) club members, bylaws, money collected and activities. Includes 16 photo negatives. 2012.1092/7 Club Photo Album 1953-1997 includes 25th anniversary items, 50th Anniversary photos and items, and other historical information on club and also includes news clippings (part 1) 2012.1092/8 Club Photo Album 1953-1997 includes 25th anniversary items, 50th Anniversary photos and items, and other historical information on club and also includes news clippings. (part 2) 2012.1092/9 Tracy McNab MA Thesis, University of Lethbridge 2006 "Picnics, Potlucks & Cookbooks: Farm Women's Club and the livelihood of community in the 20th century southern Alberta".

Accession No.

20121092

Collection

Archive

Less detail