MS 443 - Oxford Homemakers County Extension Club, Erie County, Ohio

Title	MS 443 - Oxford Homemakers County Extension Club, Erie County, Ohio
Introduction	The Oxford Homemakers County Extension Club consists of materials spanning from 1956 to 1983. The collection consists of minutes detailing the monthly meetings, a book of finances, and five scrapbooks. This collection was donated to the Center for Archival Collections by the Oxford Homemakers Extension Club of Erie County in 1986. Helen Hanson of the Follett House Museum assisted in making the arrangements. No restrictions exist on the use of this collection. Duplication may be permitted for the purposes of preservation and research. This register was completed by graduate student Matthew Kilmer in December 2013.
Agency History	The Oxford Homemakers County Extension Club was formed in Oxford Township of Erie County, Ohio, in January 1956. The group was founded as a local branch of the Home Demonstration Clubs within the county. In turn, these clubs were a result of the United States’ agricultural extension initiatives, which were meant to provide educational opportunities for citizens interested in agriculture or home economics. The Oxford branch was created with the intention of promoting the homemaker as being a noble and valuable profession charged with the important task of fostering human relationships within the family unit. The group sponsored events meant to expand its membership’s knowledge of various homemaking techniques. Sometimes this would entail a member of the group providing a demonstration on something she was familiar with, such as the color display within a home or the preparation of a frozen meal. Other times this would involve inviting a speaker to make a presentation on a host of different issues ranging from home safety to local fauna.
Scope and Content	The Oxford Homemakers County Extension Club collection consists primarily of minutes and scrapbooks. The minutes are contained within five books and span from the group’s founding in 1956 to December of 1983. These minutes detail the attendance records and the events undertaken at each meeting. The scrapbooks (1956-1979) collect newspaper clippings, photographs, and programs relevant to the group and its activities. Finally, a composition book (1969-1980) contains over a decade’s worth of financial information.
Series Description	PROCEEDINGS Series MINUTES 1956-1983 Arranged Chronological Contains the minutes for meetings ranging from the founding to December of 1983. FINANCIAL DOCUMENTS Series CASH BOOK 1969-1980 Arranged Chronologically Contains information on dues collected, expenses incurred, and additional financial issues. SCRAPBOOKS AND SCRAPBOOK MATERIALS Series SCRAPBOOKS 1956-1979 Arranged Chronologically Contains newspaper clippings, photographs, and programs for the group’s events. Oversized scrapbooks are wrapped.
Inventory	Box 1 Folder 1. Minute Book, 1956-1961 2. Minute Book, 1961-1969 3. Minute Book, 1969-1973 4. Minute Book, 1974-1979 5. Minute Book, 1979-1983 6. Cash Book, 1969-1980 Box 2 1. Scrapbook 1, 1956-1960 2. Scrapbook 2, 1960-1967 3. Scrapbook 3, 1967-1970 Oversized Wrapped 1. Scrapbook 4, 1970-1974 2. Scrapbook 5, 1974-1979