Woman's Christian Temperance Union Collection

University Archives and Special Collections
15 Lippitt Road
Kingston, RI 02881-2011
Tel: 401-874-4632

email: archives@etal.uri.edu

Published in 2009

Collection Overview

Title:	Woman's Christian Temperance Union Collection
Date range:	1922-1977
Creator:	Woman's Christian Temperance Union of Rhode Island.
Extent:	2.25 linear feet 3 box(es)
Abstract:	This collection contains the papers of Edna Maine Spooner (1891-1981) that relate to her participation in the local, state, and national chapters of the Woman's Christian Temperance Union.
Language of materials:	English
Repository:	University Archives and Special Collections
Collection number:	Mss. Gr. 112

Scope & content

Edna Maine Spooner (1891-1981) was a resident of Cranston, RI and an active member of her local, state and national W.C.T.U. This collection is that portion of her papers pertinent to her involvement with the W.C.T.U.

This collection is divided into two series:

Subject Files, which consists of printed materials, assorted propaganda, pamphlets, leaflets, and broadsides arranged alphabetically by subject. These printed materials were published by either the W.C.T.U. Press or the Signal Press or unidentified publishers.

The Outlook, 1922-1973, consists of scattered issues of The Outlook, the official publication of the W.C.T.U. of Rhode Island.

This collection was donated in 1996 by Mrs. Spooner's daughter and son-in-law, Lucille and Fred Votta. A significant portion of Mrs. Spooner's papers relating to the W.C.T.U. were donated to Brown University. A copy of the finding aid prepared by Brown University describing the records donated in 1997 is included with this collection. Records of the W.C.T.U. of Rhode Island as well as some local Rhode Island unions are located at the Rhode Island Historical Society.

Access Points

Subject Names

• Spooner, Edna Maine.

Subject Organizations

• Woman's Christian Temperance Union of Rhode Island.

Subject Organizations

• Woman's Christian Temperance Union of Rhode Island.

Subject Topics

• Spooner, Edna Maine -- Archives.
• Temperance -- Rhode Island -- Societies, etc.

Subject Topics

• Race, Ethnicity and Gender

• Outlook.

Arrangement

This series is arranged into two series:

• 1. Subject Files
• 2. Outlook

Historical note

The Woman's Christian Temperance Union (W.C.T.U.) is described as the "oldest voluntary non-sectarian woman's organization in continuous existence" on the W.C.T.U. website.

The women of Fredonia, NY were the first local group to use the name "Woman's Christian Temperance Union" in 1873. The National W.C.T.U. was founded in Cleveland Ohio in 1874. Local Chapters are called "unions" and function autonomously but are linked to state unions and national headquarters. For further information, see Subject Files, folder 4, N.W.C.T.U. -- Organizational Structure. The W.C.T.U. advocates abstinence from alcohol, tobacco and other substances.

Access & Use

Access to the collection:	Open for research.
Use of the materials:	Terms governing use and reproduction: Photocopying and scanning of materials is a fee based service available in the repository and is allowed at the discretion of the Archivist when in compliance to the Unit's policy on copyright and publication.
Preferred citation:	Woman's Christian Temperance Union Collection, Mss. Gr. 112, University of Rhode Island, University Archives and Special Collections.
Contact information:	University Archives and Special Collections 15 Lippitt Road Kingston, RI 02881-2011 Tel: 401-874-4632 email: archives@etal.uri.edu

Administrative Information

ABOUT THE COLLECTION
Acquisition:	This collection was donated in 1996 by Mrs. Spooner's daughter and son-in-law, Lucille and Fred Votta.
ABOUT THE FINDING AID
Author:	Finding aid prepared by Ruthann Gildea.
Encoding:	Finding aid encoded by Hailie D. Posey 2009 July 21, updated by Mark Dionne on 2020 April 10
Descriptive rules:	Finding aid based on Describing Archives: A Content Standard (DACS)

Additional Information

Inventory

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Inventory