| Repository: | Western Reserve Historical Society |
| Creator: | Woman's Christian Temperance Union, Cuyahoga County, Ohio |
| Title: | Woman's Christian Temperance Union, Cuyahoga County, Ohio Records, Series II |
| Dates: | 1940-1956 |
| Extent: | 0.20 linear feet (1 container) |
| Abstract: | The Women's Christian Temperance Union was a Cuyahoga County, Ohio, women's temperance group organized in 1887 following the split in 1885 of the Woman's Christian Temperance League of Cleveland, Ohio. The Cuyahoga County W.C.T.U. supported the national W.C.T.U.'s endorsement of the Prohibition Party, while those that did not formed the Non-Partisan Woman's Christian Temperance Union (Cleveland, Ohio). Despite the decline in support for prohibition as evidenced by the repeal of the 18th Amendment in 1933, the Cuyahoga County W.C.T.U. continued to remain active throughout World War II and the following decade. The group was also involved in various charitable activities. The collection consists of minutes of regular monthly meetings, as well as executive committee meetings, quarterly and annual conventions, and occasional special meetings. Included are lists of nominated committee directors, committee reports, local union reports, treasurer's reports, election material, reports on fundraising projects, and newsletters (1949-1950). The collection pertains to the attitude and activities of the WCTU during World War II and the following decade, and deals with issues such as scientific temperance education in Cleveland's public schools, prohibiting liquor advertisements in local newspapers, limiting the number of liquor permits issue, lobbying against city owned and operated liquor outlets, and the passage of state prohibition laws. |
| MS Number | MS 4327 |
| Location: | closed stacks |
| Language: | The records are in English |
The Woman's Christian Temperance Union, Cuyahoga County, Ohio (WCTU CC) was formed during the temperance movement of the late 19th century. The WCTU CC was a derivative of the Cleveland Woman's Christian Temperance Union, which was formed in 1880 when the Women's Temperance League of Cleveland became affiliated with the national WCTU. In 1885 the Cleveland WCTU split into two groups due to a disagreement over the national WCTU's endorsement of the Prohibition Party: the group that disagreed with the endorsement formed the WCTU of Cleveland, Non Partisan, while the "loyalists" joined the WCTU CC. Among the goals of the WCTU CC were scientific temperance education in Cleveland's public schools, woman's suffrage, support of Prohibition Party candidates, and the passage of state prohibition laws. While the WCTU CC experienced an increase in membership after the ratification of the 18th Amendment in 1919, the eventual repeal of the 18th Amendment in 1933 reflected a decline of support for prohibition not only across the nation but in the Cleveland area as well. Even with the decline of support, the organization remained active in later decades.
The Woman's Christian Temperance Union, Cuyahoga County, Ohio, Records, Series II, 1940-1956, consist of minutes from monthly meetings and monthly newsletters.
The collection is useful to understanding the history of the temperance movement in Cleveland, Ohio, during the mid-twentieth century and women's history in Cleveland. Those researching issues addressed by the WCTU CC, such as prohibiting liquor advertisement in local newspapers, limiting the number of liquor permits issued, and lobbying against city owned and operated liquor outlets, will find this collection useful. In addition, the records contain information on WCTU CC fundraising projects, treasury reports, elections and other organizational activities.
None.
Related MaterialThe researcher should also consult MS 3526 Friendly Inn Social Settlement Records; MS 4259 Friendly Inn Social Settlement Records, Series II; PG 126 Friendly Inn Social Settlement Photographs; MS 3907 Eleanor B. Rainey Memorial Institute Records; MS 2813 Woman's Christian Temperance Union, Lakewood, Ohio Records; MS 2271 Woman's Christian Temperance Union, Cuyahoga County, Ohio Records; MS 3247 Woman's Christian Temperance Union, Cleveland, Ohio Records; MS 1210 Woman's Christian Temperance Union, Lake County, Ohio Records; and MS 65 Young Women's Christian Temperance Union, Salem, Ohio Records.
The following terms have been used to index the description of this collection in the library's online public access catalog.
[Container ___, Folder ___ ] MS 4327 Women's Christian Temperance Union, Cuyahoga County, Ohio, Records, Series II, Western Reserve Historical Society, Cleveland, Ohio
Roy Larick, Jr., 1985
Processed by Anthony Bradfield in 1989.