Co-Signers Engineer Students' Wives' Club Collection, 1958-1978

The Co-Signers Engineer Students’ Wives’ Club Collection is comprised of materials generated and collected by the Club from its establishment in 1958, until 1978, and include meeting minutes, organizational records, scrapbooks, and photographs.

Both minutes ledgers in Series 1 discuss similar topics, including the annual selection of “Mrs. Engineer;” projects to be worked on during the year; organizing events such as bake sales, teas, and birthday parties; yearly planning for group educational programs (e.g. flower arranging, and hair styling); election of officers, and amendments of the constitution and by-laws; ways to increase membership; and recommendations of special guests and speakers at meetings. Of special note, is a suggestion made at the meeting on April 1, 1959 that a letter be sent to the Legislature, expressing the need for on-campus housing for married students.

The by-laws of the Co-Signers, and the responsibilities of the Vice President, Treasurer, and Secretary of the club are documented in Series 2. The Vice President, Treasurer, and Secretary “manuals” all report on what exiting officers did during their tenure, and also include blank forms, advice, and specific instructions to new officers. In addition, the Vice President’s manual includes lists of guest speakers and meeting places used; letters to incoming Vice Presidents from each of the preceding Vice Presidents; and names of advisors to the group from the Engineering Department. The Treasurer’s manual contains financial reports, blank forms, and a copy of the Club’s by-laws; the Secretary’s manual contains a copy of the by-laws, and examples of Engineering scholarship submittal forms.

Series 3, Photographs, contains 12 photographs and 57 negatives. The photographs are primarily in color, and are duplicative of photographs found in the scrapbooks, documenting social events and club meetings.

Series 4, Scrapbooks, primarily documents the social and fund-raising activities of the club, and the installation of new officers. Materials in the scrapbooks include approximately 400 photographs; club newsletters; event ephemera; news clippings about club events and fundraisers; lists of elected members and board members; and correspondence regarding and from Co-Signers scholarship recipients.