Jackson County Historical Society

Archives & Research Library

Women’s History Collections (11/09)

The Jackson County Historical Society began actively assembling a more comprehensive collection of materials focusing on women’s history in 1997. Specifically, the Society began soliciting archival materials of individual women and women’s organizations in order to preserve and make available primary source material on the women of the greater Kansas City metropolitan area. The project initiated after research revealed that the contributions of women to the development of American culture and its institutions had not been adequately included in most history accounts. Further, what has been retained is in fragmented locations, and not easily accessible to the public.

A determination to reverse this trend, and to reserve the 20^th century women’s legacy in the Kansas City region, prompted Historical Society volunteers Barbara Potts (a former mayor of Independence and executive director of the Historical Society), and Jane Fifield Flynn (a former administrator of Kansas City’s Landmarks Commission, president of Historic Kansas City Foundation and author of two books Kansas City Women of Independent Minds and Kansas City Style: A Social and Cultural History of Kansas City as Seen Through Its Lost Architecture) to launch this venture. Thus, the Jackson County Historical Society began its work to fill a major void in the recorded history of the metropolitan Kansas City region.

Potts said, “The preservation of the history of women’s contributions to our community is very important to future generations ability to understand the women of the 20^th century.”

Flynn added, “We have long suspected that invaluable primary sources were being lost to us because of inattention to the historical perspective of women. [The women’s history collections at the Jackson County Historical Society] will provide the first opportunity in our area to gather together in one location the documentation of the contributions made by individual women and women’s organizations, which reveal the presence of not only city fathers but city mothers.”

Efforts to increase awareness of the importance of women in the history of Kansas City And Jackson County has led to the collection of a number of prominent women’s collections. A broad range of original materials comprise these collections, which includes among other types of historical objects: letters, diaries and journals, memoirs, scrapbooks, reports, minutes, memoranda, labeled photographs, speeches, audio- and videocassettes, slides, films, and oral history interviews.

Represented here are the personal, business and professional papers of women who have contributed to the heritage of the greater Kansas City metropolitan from all walks of life. Pioneers, politicians, writers, teachers, suffragettes, artists, homemakers, athletes, businesswomen, journalists, and volunteers are among those represented in these collections:

A

Alternate Tuesday Club Records, 1880s to present

American Association of University Women, Independence Chapter, 1940-1994

Association for Women in Communications (formerly Theta Sigma Phi), Kansas City Chapter, 1914-1990s

Association of High School Women, Independence Chapter

Association of Women Lawyers of Greater Kansas City

B

Blanch Barnes Scrapbook Collection

Matilda Caroline Bidstrup Papers, 1874-1939

Mattie Lykins Bingham Reminiscences, 1880s

Black Women of Justice, Inc. Papers

Beulah L. Boone Papers, 1760-1960s

Roberta Leinweber Bonnewitz Collection

Dolly Breitenbaugh Papers, 1848-1948

Evelyn Duncan Brown Papers

Skiley Briggs Papers, 1860s-1970s

Business and Professional Women’s Club Records, 1930s-1960s

Dorothy Pierson Butler Papers, 1910-1970s

Dorothy Butler Scrapbook Collection, 1973-1976

C

Anna Parker Campbell Scrapbook Collection

Central Exchange Records

Adrienne Christopher DAR Scrapbook Collection, 1932

Church Women United, Independence Chapter

Church Women United, Kansas City Chapter

Marcella Martha Conrad Papers and "Dollie Dolls" Collection, 1930s

Alberta Wilson Constant Papers, 1855-1978

Mize and Lucy Conway Papers, 1856-1962

D

Nancy DeLaurier Papers

Mary Mildred DeWitt Scrapbook Collection

E

Joanne Chiles Eakin Collection

Englewood Live and Learn Club scrapbook

Loula Grace Erdman Manuscript, 1966

Nancy M. Ehrlich papers, 1830s-1980s

F

Jane Fifield Flynn Papers, 1990s to present

Mrs. Frank (Pauline) Fowler Papers, 1940s-1970s

G

Nadine Harness Garner Family Papers, 1960s-1970s

Susannah Gentry Papers, 1880s-1980s

Mrs. George (Claude) Gorton Papers, 1919-1975

Greater Federation of Women’s Clubs, Independence Chapter

Mary Fitzgerald Green Papers, 1890-1964

H

Mrs. Horace S. (Georganne) Hedges, 1950s-1980s

Hickman Mills Homemakers Club Scrapbook Collection, 1918-1978

Mollie Hughes Scrapbook Collection, 1880-1900

Hyatt Manuscripts (recipes), 1871-1940

I

Independence Garden Club Scrapbook Collection, 1945-1972

Independence Junior Service League Records, 1940s to present

Independence Music Club

Independence Young Matrons, 1941-present

J

Miss Cammie Johnson Papers, 1941-1935

Lizzie Price Johnson Papers, 1860s-1930s

K

Edna Virginia Kinnamann Papers, 1779-1960s

L

League of Women Voters-Tri County Chapter

Landon and Mary Graham Minor Laird Papers, 1930s-1940s

Anna Marie Lentz Papers, 1880-1940s

John and Susan Lewis, Sr. Family Papers, 1832-1884 [1917]

Margaret Bird Luce Scrapbook Collection, 1883-1933

M

Gilda Zoe Harrell-Gilda Manning Papers, 1941-1999

Ruby Short McKim Papers (see also www.rubyslegacy.com and www.mckimstudios.com)

Mattie Rhodes Center Records

Mid-Continent Council of Girl Scouts Records

Grace Minor Papers, 1830s-1988

Berta E. Montgomery Scrapbook Collection, 1906-1909

O

Biographical files for John M. and Mitzi (Watt) Overman

P

Carole Roper Park Papers

Sallie Jane Parker Papers, 1880-1918

Mary Paxton Study Class Records, 1890s-1980s

Phi Omicron Society-Rho Sigma Phi Chapter

Mayor Barbara J. Potts Papers, 1980s-2001

R

Rho Sigma Phi (formerly Phi Omicron Sorority)

Hazelle Hedges Rollins Papers, 1930s-1950s

S

Salvation Army Women’s Auxiliary Papers

Mary Gentry Shaw Family Papers, 1851-1972

Mathilda Dallmeyer Shelden Scrapbook Collection, 1914-1929

Sorsis Club Papers

William Franklin and Fannie (Ware) Smith Collection of Family Papers, 1840s to 1880s

Sybil Burris Snyder Papers, 1924-1974

Stratler-Mifflin Papers, 1910-1930s

T

Ethel Tiffy Scrapbook Collection

V

Mrs. John Van Brunt Papers, 1906-1941

W

Mrs. George P. Wallace Scrapbook Collection

Westport Ballet Theater Papers

Ann Prewitt Wright Scrapbook Collection

Y

Lucy Sparks Yantis Papers, 1850s-1960s

Z

Mary Mercer Zick Scrapbook Collection

The women’s history collections at the Jackson County Historical Society are available for research by the public. The Society collects, preserves, and makes available to researchers materials that provide a broad insight into the county’s civic, social, cultural, economic, and educational development.

Individuals and organizations interested in preserving their collections at the Jackson County Historical Society’s Archives facility are encouraged to follow this two-step process:

STEP ONE

Begin the process by taking a few moments to survey their records and write down as much of the following as possible:

Name (and any previous names) of the creating individual or institution

The quantity of materials (an approximate number of folders, boxes, or drawers)

The dates the materials cover

The types of materials (artifacts, correspondence, diaries, photographs, reports, etc.)

STEP TWO

Contact the Jackson County Historical Society to discuss your interest in making a donation.

Jackson County Historical Society

Archives, Research Library and Bookshop

112 West Lexington Ave, Ste 103

Independence, MO 64050

816.252.7454

816.461-1510 (fax)