Overview of the Collection

Biographical Note

Scope and Contents

Arrangement

Restrictions

Index Terms

Administrative Information

Detailed Description of the Collection

Series 1: Plainfield Branch Documents, 1920-1922, 1930

A Finding Aid for the Records of the Business and Professional Women’s Club [1920-1922, 1930]

Part of the Local Organizations Collection at the Plainfield Public Library

Finding aid prepared and encoded by Anna Henderson.

Biographical Note

While mobilizing for World War I, the United States Government recognized the need for a cohesive group to coordinate identification of women's available skills and experience. A Women's War Council, financed through a federal grant, was established by the War Department to organize the resources of professional women. The National Federation of Business and Professional Women's Clubs was founded on July 16, 1919. BPW/USA became the first organization created to focus on the issues of working women.

The New Jersey Federation of Business and Professional Women (NJBPW) was founded on May 30, 1919. The purpose of the New Jersey Federation of Business and Professional Women's Clubs, as expressed in the earliest extant example of the state constitution, was: to promote the interests of Business and Professional Women; to secure beneficial legislation for women, to encourage co-operative efforts among women and an inter change of ideas; to gather and distribute information relative to vocational opportunities and to bring about a great solidarity of feeling among business and professional women throughout the State.

A charter was presented to the Plainfield branch on November 19, 1923. After spending their first few years concentrating on starting new clubs, in the late 1920s, the NJBPW followed the lead of the national federation in supporting the cause of international peace. The economic crisis of the Great Depression, however, led to a change in the federation's direction. In 1931, the national federation broadened their mission to include "improving social and economic conditions of everyone to ensure fullest opportunities for development of their varying capacities."

During World War II, the federation contributed and raised funds for the war effort and also drafted revisions of the constitution replacing “men” with “person” and advocating the rights of women in the workplace.

The 1950s were years of prosperity for the NJBPW. The federation continued to the governor to appoint more women to civil service posts and Congress regarding income tax deductions and the Equal Rights Amendment. New Jersey also embarked on several new program areas during the 1950s. As part of the new women's health area, local clubs studied ageing, mental health, children, accident prevention, and the provision of housing for retired women. The federation also promoted legislation for the mandatory licensing of nurses.

In the 1960s, the federation was involved in legislative activity at both the national and state level, including work on the Equal Pay Act, Civil Rights Act, and Equal Credit Act. The state federation's program expanded into several new areas during this period, many of which reflected an attempt to attract younger women. In 1962-1963, reflecting changing priorities, several new committees were created or renamed: Personal Development, Civic Participation, World Affairs and Public Relations.

In spite of the New Jersey federation's many successes during the 1960s, signs were already appearing that the membership base was weakening. The federation continued to try to increase and retain members through various schemes including a revamped award system for local clubs successful in attracting members, and a new district-based structure, allowing for more combined meetings and programs.

In the 1980s and 1990s, the NJBPW undertook new legislative and programmatic goals. In addition to the traditional equity and workplace issues, the federation lobbied for legislation related to women's health and welfare. In spite of successful campaigns, membership continued to decline. The federation introduced several initiatives to attract new members. In 1980, men were allowed to join for the first time, and in 1987, a new category of at-large members was introduced. Other strategies were the formation of membership expansion teams throughout the state, mergers, reforming or relocating old clubs, and relocating meeting places. The federation also introduced new fund-raising schemes, such as fashion shows.

However, by 1990 the BPW/USA's Revitalization Action Plan stated that the group was at a crisis point in regards to membership. Although the New Jersey Business and Professional Women closed its state headquarters in 2001, it maintains a web site and virtual office and continues its educational, scholarship, publications and legislative programs in cooperation with the national federation.

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Scope and Contents

The New Jersey Federation of Business and Professional Women (NJBPW) was founded on May 30, 1919. The Plainfield branch was founded shortly thereafter. This collection consists of committee and membership lists, as well as a banquet program.

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Arrangement

The "Business and Professional Women’s Club" collection is arranged into one series:

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Restrictions

Restrictions on Access

The “Business and Professional Women’s Club” collection is available for research.

Access is restricted to materials prepared by the Local History department staff. All materials must be viewed in the Plainfield Room and may not be removed to another area of the library without permission of the Library Director or designee. Materials must be handled carefully and kept in order. Materials must not be leaned upon, altered, folded, ripped, or traced upon. Marks may not be added or erased from materials. Materials must be returned directly to Local History department staff and inspected before the researcher leaves the Plainfield Room.

Restrictions on Use

One photocopy may be made (by Plainfield Public Library staff) of each document for the purpose of research; official Local History departmental reproduction fees may apply. Permission to publish must be obtained by the Plainfield Public Library Board of Trustees as delegated to the Library Director. Permission to publish does not constitute a copyright clearance. The researcher is responsible for further copyright restrictions. The Plainfield Public Library is not responsible for the misuse of copyrighted material.

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Index Terms

This record series is indexed under the following controlled access subject terms.

Organizations:

Places:

Subjects:

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Physical Charateristics or Technical Requirements

This collection consists of paper documents, which do not require any additional technology for access.

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Administrative Information

Preferred Citation

Identification of item; Date (if noted); “Business and Professional Women’s Club” collection, Box and Folder Number; Local History Department, Plainfield Public Library, Plainfield, New Jersey.

Acquisition Information

Unknown

Processing Information

This collection was processed by Anna Henderson in February 2008. The finding aid was written by Anna Henderson in February 2008. Finding aid content follows the guidelines suggested by Describing Archives: A Content Standard.

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Detailed Description of the Collection