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Title: Oregon State University Dames Club Records, 1927-1973

ID: MSS Dames

Primary Creator: Dames Club (Oregon State University)

Extent: 1.1 cubic feet. More info below.

Languages of Materials: English [eng]

The Oregon State University Dames Club Records document the membership and activities of this organization of wives and mothers of Oregon State University students.

The Oregon State Dames Club Records document the membership and activites of this organization of the wives and mothers of Oregon State students. The Records include constitutions, correspondence, a history of the club prepared by Fern Roche, National Association of University Dames yearbooks, meeting minutes, financial records, and scrapbooks. The scrapbooks include information about scholarships awarded by the organization, lists of members and officers, publicity and ephemera, and yearly summaries of activities. The National Association yearbooks include a list of officers and summary of yearly actvities for each chapter.

The Oregon State College Dames Club was founded in 1927 and became a chapter of the National Association of University Dames in 1928 with the purpose of bringing social unity and advancing the interests of wives and mothers of Oregon State College students. In addition to social events for members, the Club provided scholarships, made contributions to the student loan fund, assisted students in need with food and clothing for attending campus social events, and participated in community activities.

Initially, club members were the mothers of resident students. In 1945, with the enrollment of many married students at Oregon State College, wives were invited to join the organization. The wives and mothers groups met separately, but were considered one organization as the National Association of University Dames allowed only one club at each campus. The Oregon State College Dames Club became the Oregon State University Dames Club in 1961 at the time of the name change of the university. The mothers managed the administration and organization of the Oregon State University chapter until 1963, when the wives accepted those responsibilities. The mothers continued to meet until 1972, when they retired. The student wives continued the organization through at least 1974.

More Extent Information: 2 boxes, including 1 oversize box

Statement on Access: Collection is open for research.

Related Materials: Additional materials pertaining to the Dames Club are available in the OSU Memorabilia Collection (MSS MC). The Special Collections and Archives Research Center includes the records of other women's organizations including the Oregon State University Women's Club Records (MSS OSUWomensClub), the Oregon State University Mothers Club Records (MSS MothersClub), and the Oregon State University Folk Club Records (MSS FolkClub).

Preferred Citation: Oregon State University Dames Club Records (MSS Dames), Oregon State University Special Collections and Archives Research Center, Corvallis, Oregon.

Dames Club (Oregon State University)
Dames Club (Oregon State College)
National Association of University Dames

Clubs--Oregon--Corvallis.
College environment--Oregon--Corvallis.
College students--Oregon--Corvallis.
Dames Club (Oregon State College)
Dames Club (Oregon State University)
Oregon State College--Students.
Oregon State University--Students.
Scholarships--Oregon--Corvallis.
Student activities--Oregon--Corvallis.
University History
Women--Oregon--Corvallis--Societies and clubs.

Scrapbooks.