IOWA WOMEN'S ARCHIVES

UNIVERSITY OF IOWA LIBRARIES

IOWA CITY, IOWA

 

 

 

CLOVERLEAF CLUB (WEST BENTON, IOWA)

 

RECORDS, 1918-2002

1 linear inch

 

 

 

ACQUISITION:

The records (donor no. 566) were donated by the Cloverleaf Club in 1998 and 2002.

ACCESS:

The records are open for research.

COPYRIGHT:

Copyright has been transferred to the University of Iowa.

PROCESSED BY:

Andrea Rasmusson, 2002.  [CloverleafClub.doc]

 

History

            The Cloverleaf Club began May 9th, 1918 in West Benton Township in Cass County, Iowa under the name “West Benton Red Cross Club.”  The group was initially formed so women in the area could get together and knit sweaters and other garments for men serving overseas in World War I.  Early meetings often lasted all day; members brought their husbands to socialize and share potluck meals.

            Club meetings were a major social event for the women where they could work together to help the community and accomplish goals, socialize, and share common interests such as sewing, cooking, and gardening.

            In the early 1960s the club had its largest membership at thirty-five members, but as the farming population declined and more women worked outside of the home, the group’s membership also declined.  In 2002 the Cloverleaf Club reorganized under a new name, the Cloverleaf Coffee Club, intending to meet at restaurants to drink coffee and socialize.

Scope and Content Note

            The Cloverleaf Club records measure five linear inches and date from 1918 to 2002.  They primarily consist of record books that contain minutes of meetings (1918-2002).  A history, newspaper clippings and anniversary programs are included in the collection.  The history of the Cloverleaf Club describes the major events that formed and changed the club through the years.  Newspaper clippings and program booklets from the 50th, 70th and 80th anniversaries of the club’s formation are also included in this folder.

 

 The record books contain the minutes of the club’s meetings, roll calls, membership lists, and agendas.  The final folder consists of the 1947 handmade booklet of club members and the club moneybag.  Club member Marcella Jensen recalled that the moneybag had been in the club for as long as some could remember, which was over sixty years.

 

Box no.   Description

Box 1

                 Newspaper clippings and club history, 1968, 1988, 1998 and 2002

                Minutes

                      1918-1923, 1933-1942

                      1942-1950, 1950-1954

                      1954-1970, 1954-1975, 1971-1981

                      1981-1993, 1993-2002

                 Member booklet, 1947, and club moneybag, ca 1940