Sorosis Records, 1856-1972
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Sophia Smith Collection Smith CollegeNorthampton, MA
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Encoded Archival Description
Encoded Archival Description (EAD) Version 2002
collection
Sorosis Records
Creation of Sorosis Records
Time of Creation of Sorosis Records
Sorosis
Biographical History for: Sorosis Records
Biographical Note Title page of Constitution and By-Laws of Sorosis, 1869 Sorosis is an organization of professional and literary women founded in New York City in 1868. Columnist "Jennie June" (Jane C. Croly) and other women journalists were denied tickets to a New York Press Club event honoring Charles Dickens. The presenters claimed that the presence of the women would make the occasion "promiscuous." Offended, the female journalists founded their own press club, naming it Sorosis after a botanical term referring to plants with a grouping of flowers that bore fruit. The term was meant to symbolize women's determination to transform supposedly delicate and feeble ladies into important members of public society. Jane Croly organized a group of her friends, many of whom were writers, into the club to "promote agreeable and useful relations among women," particularly those who had found "expression in outward life and work." The club's mission was to "establish a freemasonry among women of similar pursuits....[to afford] an opportunity for discussion...the results of which promise to exert an important influence on the future of women and the welfare of society." Historian Karen J. Blair states that the members tended to be "career women who had become keenly aware of sexism in their struggle for professional success."1 New York's Sorosis and Boston's New England Woman's Club (both founded in 1868) inspired the formation of women's clubs across the country. Croly called a national convention of women's clubs in 1869 that eventually led to the formation of the Association for the Advancement of Women (1873) and the General Federation of Women's Clubs (1890). From the very beginning members of Sorosis have been prominent participants in varied professions and political reform movements such as abolitionism, suffrage, prison reform, temperance and peace. Although the discussion of suffrage was forbidden in an effort to create a safe feeling of unity among the members, many Sorosis members were staunchly in favor of, and involved in, the suffrage movement. Sorosis expanded into local chapters beyond New York City in the early twentieth century and the various chapters went on to organize war relief efforts during both World Wars. Peace time activities included philanthropy (such as support for funding the MacDowell Colony), scholarship funds, and social reforms (such as literary training for immigrant women). In later years, Sorosis focused its activities on local projects, raising money for the aid of other women's clubs, funding scholarships for women, and aiding local rescue missions. Presidents of the club have included Alice Cary, Jennie C. Croly, Charlotte B. Wilbour, M. Louise Thomas, Ella Dietz Clymer and Jennie de la M. Lozier. Sorosis continues to thrive in New York City with an active charitable agenda. 1: Karen J. Blair, The Clubwoman as Feminist: True Womanhood Redefined, 1868-1914 (Homes and Meier Publishers, New York: 1980): 21.
The bulk of the records were donated in 1968 by the then President of Sorosis Dorothy Valentine Smith. In 1980 and 1987 Helen-Louise C. Fullman donated additional materials including scrapbooks, published material, and anniversary programs.
Scope and Contents of the Collection The Sorosis records include by-laws, constitutions, minutes, membership lists, yearbooks, programs, reports, histories, speeches, writings, clippings, subject files, memorabilia, publications, printed material, and scrapbooks. The Records document the club's advocacy of temperance, prison reform, and peace, as well as their programs in art, drama, education, and music. Included are bound copies of Executive Committee minutes (1884-1907, 1937-1965); and committee reports (1886-1947). There are also biographical materials, writings, and photographs of first president Jane C. Croly (1829-1901); material relating to the Women's Congress in New York City (1873-1877); and the Association for the Advancement of Women (established by Sorosis in 1873).
Periodic additions to this collection are expected and may not be reflected in this record.
The records are open to research according to the regulations of the Sophia Smith Collection.
Copyright to Sorosis Records is owned by Sorosis. Copyright to materials authored by persons or other organizations may be owned by those individuals or organizations or their heirs or assigns. It is the responsibility of the researcher to identify and satisfy the holders of all copyrights. Permission to publish reproductions or quotations beyond "fair use" must also be obtained from the Sophia Smith Collection as owners of the physical property.
The following records are also available on microfiche in History of Women located in the William Allen Neilson Library: Minutes, 1868-1937; Executive Committee Minutes, 1884-1907; Report of the 21st Anniversary of Sorosis celebrated by a Convention of Clubs held in New York City, March 1889; Selections from the Writings of the Presidents of Sorosis, A Souvenir of the Breakfast at Sherry's, March 30, 1893.
Processed by Corey Fabian Borenstein, 2007.
Literature--Societies, etc.--New York (State)--New York
lcsh
Temperance--United States--Societies, etc.
Women--United States--Social conditions
Women--United States--Societies and clubs--History--Sources
Women in the professions--United States--History--20th century--Sources
Croly, J. C. (Jane Cunningham), 1829-1901
lcnaf
Cary, Alice, 1820-1871
Cary, Phoebe, 1824-1871
Hanaford, Phoebe A. (Phoebe Ann), 1829-1921
Wilbour, Charlotte B. (Charlotte Beebe), 1833-1914
General Federation of Women's Clubs--History--Sources
MacDowell Colony--History
Sorosis--New York (N.Y.)--History--Sources
New York (N.Y.)--Clubs--History--Sources
New York (N.Y.)--Intellectual life--History--Sources
series
I. MEETINGS (1868-1965)
This series is divided into two subseries: General meetings and Executive Committee meetings each of which is arranged chronologically. The General Meeting minutes include both Social Days and Business Days. Earlier minutes (1868-1925) are bound. Printed cards listing the questions for discussion at specific meetings are also included.
II. ADMINISTRATION AND ORGANIZATION (1870-1985)
This series is divided into three subseries: Programs, Committees, and Yearbooks. The Programs subseries contains printed programs for meetings between 1883 and 1913. The Committees subseries consists of material related to the twenty-one committees that have been active in Sorosis at various times between 1879 and 1967. The committee records are arranged alphabetically. The Yearbooks subseries contains yearbooks printed by Sorosis that consist of lists of the members and officers, and by-laws. Some of the yearbooks contain schedules of events for the upcoming Sorosis year. There is a broken run of these yearbooks, 1889-1914; 1935-1983.
III. HISTORY (1871-1973, n.d.)
This series has two subseries: Anniversaries and Writings and publications. The first subseries includes reports of anniversary celebrations (1872-90) and anniversary programs (1871-1979). The twenty-fifth, seventieth, seventy-fifth, and hundredth have their own sections and are arranged chronologically. There are also photographs from the hundredth anniversary located in Oversized box 30. The Writings and publications subseries contains books and essays on the history of Sorosis written by its members as well as press clippings pertaining to Sorosis history. Of particular interest is a history by Jennie June Croly, Sorosis: Its Origins and History (1886).
IV. OFFICERS (1894-1950)
There are two subseries in this series: Presidents and Other officers. The Presidents subseries contains information on two early presidents of Sorosis: Charlotte Beebe Wilbour and Jane Cunningham Croly. The former consists of speeches by Wilbour and an address by Deborah Jackson McLeod about Wilbour (1973), and the latter consists of a biography of Croly written by her daughter, and Memories of Jane Cunningham Croly "Jennie June" compiled by members of Sorosis after her death. In addition there are selected annual reports by the President which provide a record of Sorosis activies as well as lists of the presidents (1897-1901). Other officers contains reports of additional officers including the Recording Secretary, the Vice President, the Corresponding Secretary, and the Chairman of Reception. It also contains "Chairman of Executive's Work" by E.F. Turtle, a description of the work taken on by the Chairman of the Executive in 1929.
V. MEMBERS (1868-1975, n.d.)
This series contains three subseries: Lists, Writings and Membership Corporation Law. Included in the Lists subseries are the earliest membership list (1870-71), membership and attendance lists (1868-1968), typed "Who's Who" (1947-8 and circa 1980), a binder of biographical information about deceased members (circa 1975) and death notices (1967-71). The "Who's Who" contains education, birth and death dates, and profession as well as information about the member's activities within Sorosis. The Writings subseries contains writings by Sorosis members. These include unpublished manuscripts (1893-1966), miscellaneous publications (1932-1964), and three books written by Gladys Ewing Combes. The Membership Corporation Law is an old statute of the State of New York that was combined into the current Non-For-Profit Corporation Law and dictates how an organization may be formed. The Sorosis copy of the Membership Corporation Law is fragmentary, containing only sections 6, 11, 14 and 15 and is undated.
VI. PUBLICATIONS (1869-1966)
This series consists of publications produced by and about Sorosis and includes clippings and articles (1886-1901); The Women's Cycle (1890); Sorosis Monthly Bulletins (1955-78); Esther Herrmann Testimonial (1902); Sorosis Verse (1938); and Sorosis: A Federated Woman's Club (1982).There are additional publications in SERIES V. MEMBERS.
VII. RELATED ORGANIZATIONS (1885-1937)
This series contains information and materials pertaining to the Women's Congress, the MacDowell Colony, the New York State Federation of Women's Clubs, the Ossoli Circle, the Soldiers and Sailors Club and the General Federation of Women's Clubs. These organizations were affiliated with, or related to, Sorosis.
VIII. MEMORABILIA (1880-1968)
This series contains books created by Sorosis, including numerous scrapbooks and the Sorosis Valentine Party Book. There are also books and other items given to Sorosis, such as Four Centuries After: Or, How I Discovered Europe by Ben Holt, two gavels, sheet music, a guestbook, awards, items commemorating Sorosis-related events and three portraits of Charlotte Beebe Wilbour, one painted and two in plaster.
SERIES I. MEETINGS
Social and business
Minutes
Apr 1937- Mar 1943
Feb 1943-65
Questions for Discussion 1884-92, n.d.
Executive Committee
Apr 1937-65
SERIES II. ADMINISTRATION AND ORGANIZATION
Programs
Articles of Incorporation, Constitution, and by-laws 1874
Committees
Art 1947-48
Civics 1942-48
Current Events 1896-1967
Drama 1886-1948
Education 1895-1961
Executive
Annual reports and correspondence 1927-50
Procedure and Duties 1970-73
History 1968
House and Home 1886-1903
International Relations 1943-45
Knitting (WWII) 1944-45
Legislative 1944-49
Literature 1945-50
Membership 1944-48
Motion Pictures 1944-47
Music 1894-1950
Nominating 1894-1922
Poetry 1943-49
Reception 1945-47
Resolutions 1879-97
Science
Special and Non-permanent
World's Columbian Exhibition 1892-[18?]93
Special occasions 1874-98, n.d.
Yearbooks
SERIES III. HISTORY
Anniversaries
Reports 1872-90
Twenty-fifth 1893
Seventieth 1938
Seventy-Fifth 1943
Ninety-ninth 1967
Hundredth
A Century of Sorosis, 1868-1968 by Marguerite Dawson Winant, 1968 (2 copies)
Correspondence 1968
Writings and publications
Croly, Jennie June, Sorosis: Its Origins and History, 1886
Fairfield, Frances Gerry, The Clubs of New York: with an account of the origin, progress, present condition and membership of the leading clubs; an essay on New York club-life [includes Croly, Sorosis Its Origins and History] 1873
Ross, Isabel, "Historical Ladies on Parade" n.d.
Allen, Elizabeth Akers, "Backward, turn backward, oh Time in Your Flight" 1890
Speeches, plays, and press clippings regarding Sorosis history 1954-66, n.d.
SERIES IV. OFFICERS
President
Charlotte Beebe Wilbour
Speeches
"Soul to Soul" 1856-58
"The Inviolable Home" 1873
"Address at the Third Anniversary of Egyptian Women" 1887
"Why We Ask the Ballot" 1871
"Honor Among Women" 1871
Address by Deborah Jackson McLeod about C. Beebe Wilbour 1973
Jane Cunningham Croly
President of Sorosis - Mrs. Croly, biography by her daughter
Memories of Jane Cunningham Croly "Jennie June", 1904
President's Annual Reports 1930-48
Presidents of Sorosis 1897-1901
Officers
Officer's Annual Reports 1894-1950
Turtle, E.F., "Chairman of Executive's Work" 1929, n.d.
SERIES V. MEMBERS
Lists
Roll of Members 1874, 1891-1963
Membership 1870-71
Attendance and membership (bound) 1868-1968
"Who's Who" in Sorosis 1947-8, circa 1980
Deceased members of Sorosiscirca 1975
Death notices 1967-71
Writings
Unpublished manuscript 1893-1966, n.d.
Miscellaneous publications 1932-64
Combes, Gladys Ewing
Homespun 1946
It Is Christmas 1958
A Poetry Pilgrimage Through Europe 1951
Membership Corporation Lawn.d.
SERIES VI. PUBLICATIONS
Clippings and articles 1886-1901
The Woman's Cycle 1890
Monthly Bulletins 1955-68
Monthly Bulletins 1969-78
Esther Herrmann Testimonial 1902
Sorosis Verse 1938
Sorosis: A Federated Woman's Club 1982
SERIES VII. RELATED ORGANIZATIONS
Women's Congress (A.A.W.) Programs 1873, 1887
MacDowell Colony, Sorosis studio: photograph n.d.
New York State Federation of Women's Clubs 1894-1951
Ossoli Circle: A Chronological History, 1885-1960 by Sadie Boyd Saxton and Elizabeth Skaggs Bowman, circa 1960
Soldiers and Sailors Club, New York City: correspondence 1924-37
General Federation of Women's Clubs 1920-24
SERIES VIII. MEMORABILIA
Awards 1890-1966
Guestbookcirca 1880s
Miscellaneous material for scrapbooks: correspondence 1876-1920
Sheet music
"Sorosis" by Anne Boul 1982
"Little Ioccate" by Elsa A. Stiefel 1964
"Happy Birthday" by Elsa A. Stiefel 1964
"Don't Be Sorrowful Darling" by Alice Croly and A.J. Abbey n.d.
Sorosis Valentine Party Book 1869
Four Centuries After: Or, How I Discovered Europe by Ben Holt, 1893
99th Anniversary: photographs 1967
Women's Clubs Commemorative Postage Stamp Binder 1966
New York State Federation of Women's Clubs 119th Anniversary Scroll 1987
Portraits of C.W. Wilbour
Gavels (2)
Scrapbooks
Sorosis Inter-American Committee 1916-25
circa 1959-77
Miscellaneous unidentified 1905-30