Woman's Christian Temperance Union Collection (Mss. Gr. 112)

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.