Finding Aid for Society of Engineers' Wives records, 1828-1999
03092

Summary Information

Repository
Detroit Public Library. Burton Historical Collection.
Creator
Society of Engineers' Wives.
Title
Society of Engineers' Wives records
ID
03092
Date [inclusive]
1828-1999
Extent
5.0 Linear feet (4 boxes, 19 volumes)
Language
English
Language of Materials
In English.

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Biographical/Historical note

Loosely organized as an auxiliary of the Detroit Engineering Society by the wives of its officers and members in 1928, the Society of Engineers' Wives began officially in 1930 as the Women's Auxiliary to the Detroit Engineering Society (DES). Members were wives of DES members, corporate executives and prominent engineers in the Detroit area. Many husbands were members of the Wayne University faculty. At first, the auxiliary helped DES mainly by serving as hostesses for visiting engineering groups. In 1935, the DES became the Engineering Society of Detroit (ESD), and they moved into the Rackham Memorial Building as their headquarters. At the same time, the ladies' auxiliary changed their name to Society of Engineers' Wives (SEW). SEW played a big part in the social life of ESD, decorating the new headquarters, donating a piano, holding fund raisers, sponsoring a scholarship fund, and continuing to serve as hostesses to wives accompanying their husbands to engineering conferences. During the World War 11 years, SEW was heavily involved in Bonds for Victory, volunteer service for the Red Cross, and other volunteer war work. By the 1970s, with membership dropping, SEW decided to open membership to wives of graduate and qualified engineers in the Detroit Metropolitan area. By 1999, however, the club was disbanded. The last meeting was held in September 1999 at the Grosse Pointe Yacht Club (see Scrapbooks, Volume 13).

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Scope and Contents note

Papers for this collection include history, minutes, reports and organizational records. Scrapbooks contain photographs, newspaper clippings and history of the organization

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Arrangement

Organized into four series: I: Organizational papers. II: Membership. III. Committees. IV: Programs/Miscellaneous. Series;

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Administrative Information

Publication Information

Detroit Public Library. Burton Historical Collection. Dec. 22, 2009

Restrictions on Access

This collection is open for research use as of Jan. 18, 2008.

Immediate Source of Acquisition

03092

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Society of Engineers' Wives records, 1828-1999 (OCLC record)

[http://www.worldcat.org/oclc/492201296]

Controlled Access Headings

Subject(s)

  • Engineers
  • Spouses--Societies, etc.
  • Women--Societies and clubs.--Michigan--Detroit Metropolitan Area

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Collection Inventory

Series I: Organizational Papers 

BOX 1 

General note

This series contains Annual and Board Meeting minutes, Treasurer's reports, legal papers, and the Constitution and By-laws, including the several revisions beginning in 1933. See also Volumes for additional organizational materials.

1:1 Annual Meeting Minutes & Reports, 1933-1944 

1:2 -- 1945-1967 

1:3 -- 1967-1985 

1:4 Board fleeting Minutes, 1932-1952 

1:5 -- 1959-1963 

1:6 -- 1964-1969 

1:7 -- 1970-1973 

1:8 -- 1974-1979 

1:9 -- 1982-1985 

1:10 Constitution/By-laws, 1933-1984 

1:11 Legal Papers, 1941-1982 

1:12 Treasurer's Reports, 1967-1986 

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Series II: Membership 

General note

Membership applications are arranged here alphabetically. Also included are membership cards and directories.

BOX 1 (Continued) 

1: 13 Applications, A-G 

Box 2 

2:1 Applications, H-M 

2:2 -- N-Z 

2:3 -- Associate/Resigned 

2:4 Cards, 1999, A-Z 

2:5 -- Deceased Members 

2:6 -- Honorary/New Members 

BOX 3: Membership Cards 

3:1 Dropped, A-L 

3:2 -- M-Z 

3:3 Resigned, A-D 

3:4 -- E-L 

3:5 -- M-R 

3:6 -- S-Z 

3:7 Directories, 1957-1968 

3:8 -- 1968-1980 

BOX 4 

4:1 Directories, 1980-1988 

4:2 -- 1988-1999 

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Series III: Committees 

General note

SEW was active with many committees, some of which are represented here, such as Science Fair Committee, Scholarship Committee, and more. For additional Committee papers, see Volumes: Organizational Papers Volumes 2 and 3.

BOX 4 (Continued) 

4:3 Aims & Goals, 1971-1972 

4:4 Membership, 1966-1986 

4:5 Revisions, 1971-1985 

4:6 Scholarship, 1948-1985 

4:7 Science Fair, 1970-1986 

4:8 Special Study, 1972 

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Series IV: Programs/Miscellaneous 

General note

Photographs of a number of programs sponsored by SEW in the 1980s are contained here, which included fashion shows, membership and meeting luncheons, and scholarship benefits. See Scrapbooks for more material on programs.

BOX 4 (Continued) 

4:9 Anniversaries-50'" Golden Gala, 1987 

4:10 Photographs, 1981-1984 

4:11 -- 1986-1988 

4:12 Rubber Stamps 

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VOLUMES: Organizational Papers 

Volume 1: Procedures, Minutes & Newsletters, 1976-1999 

Volume 2: Committee Reports, Book 1, A-N 

Organizational Papers: 

Volume 3: -- Book 2, O-R 

Volume 4: Scholarship Reports, Book 1, A-G 

Volume 5: -- Book 2, H-J 

Volume 6: Miscellaneous Information: 

President's Closing Thoughts, 1978-1993 

Historical Profiles, 1930-1997 

Legal Papers, 1985-1998 

Insurance/Bonding Papers 

Members, Personal Notes, Newspaper Clippings, Letters 

Guest Speakers & Correspondence 

Personal Correspondence of Jean Rice 

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Scrapbooks: 

Volume 1: 1928-1939 

Volume 2: 1939-1945 

Volume 3: 1947-1953 

Volume 4: 1952-1953, Photographs of Members 

Volume 5: 1953-1957 

Volume 6: 1957-1959 

Volume 7: 1959-1965 

Volume 8: 1965-1972 

Volume 9: 1972-1979 

Volume 10: 1980-1986 

Volume 11: 1988-1990 

Volume 12: 1990-1993 

Volume 13: 1993-1999 

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