US-RPB-msspooner Woman's Christian Temperance Union records collected by Edna Maine Spooner1890-1974 (bulk 1920-1950) Finding aid prepared by Robert Rosa. Brown University Library
John Hay Library, University Archives and Manuscripts Box A Brown University Providence, RI, 02912 Tel: 401-863-3723 email:hay@brown.edu
2013 This finding aid was produced using the Archivists' Toolkit 2014-09-29 English Finding aid based on Describing Archives: A Content Standard (DACS) Woman's Christian Temperance Union records collected by Edna Maine Spooner Ms.Spooner John Hay LibraryUniversity Archives and Manuscripts
Box A Brown University Providence, RI 02912 Telephone: Manuscripts: 401-863-3723; University Archives: 401-863-2148 Email: Manuscripts: hay@brown.edu; University Archives: archives@brown.edu
English 3.25 Linear feet (bulk 1920-1950) 1890-1974 Edna Maine Spooner, of Rhode Island, devoted much of her life's work to the cause of the Woman's Christian Temperance Union. This collection, gathered by Spooner, is a rich source of materials documenting the W.C.T.U.'s efforts on both the local, state and national levels. The entire range of materials dates from 1890 to 1974, with most beginning in the 1920s and ending around the 1950s. It includes assorted materials from both the Roberts chapter of the W.C.T.U. of R.I. (based in Cranston, R.I.), and W.C.T.U. of R.I. itself, most likely collected by Spooner when she was an an active member and assumed various administrative and other leadership roles within the local and state organizations. It also includes a significant amount of materials that she collected from the National W.C.T.U--materials which document the W.C.T.U.'s broader perspective: its administrative operations; its social, political and religious agenda; its educational outreach; and its publicity endeavors. What makes this collection particularly strong is its substantive collection of booklets, brochures, and leaflets, along with a few scattered issues of periodicals and a small group of monographs, principally published by the National W.C.T.U. Publishing, the Signal Press, and other affiliate groups. This is an excellent collection of documentation for anyone interested in Women's Studies, and in the social, religious, and political history of the U.S. in the first half of the 20th century. Anti-Saloon League of Rhode Island. Spooner, Edna Maine Woman's Christian Temperance Union of Rhode Island. Roberts Union. Woman's Christian Temperance Union of Rhode Island. Woman's Christian Temperance Union. Young People's Branch. Woman's Christian Temperance Union Youth Temperance Council. Woman's Christian Temperance Union records collected by Edna Maine Spooner Biographical/Historical note

Edna Maine Spooner

Edna Maine Spooner, a lifelong resident of R.I., was born in 1891, in the White Rock area of Westerly. She resided in the Eden Park section of Cranston before settling in Kingston near the end of her life. She was the daughter of Reuben C. and Minnie M. Maine. She married Leroy A. Spooner and had one daughter, Lucille S. Votta, with whom she lived when she passed away in 1981.

Spooner, a music educator, was the director of the Hawthorne Music School in Cranston for several years where she taught voice and piano. She was also one of the original members of the Phillips Memorial Baptist Church, where she taught Sunday School, shared her musical expertise, helped organize charities, and assumed the office of church historian for many years. Later on in her life, she became a member of the Kingston Congregational Church.

Spooner was also a temperance reformer. She became an active member of the National Woman's Temperance Union and took on various leadership and administrative roles within the local chapter, the Roberts Union, based in Cranston, R.I. as well as within the state wide W.C.T.U. of R.I.

The National Woman's Christian Temperance Union (WCTU)

"The Woman's Christian Temperance Union (WCTU) was founded in Cleveland, Ohio in November of 1874. It grew out of the "Woman's Crusade" of the winter of 1873-1874. Initial groups in Fredonia, New York and Hillsboro and Washington Court House, Ohio, after listening to a lecture by Dr. Dio Lewis, were moved to a non-violent protest against the dangers of alcohol. Normally quiet housewives dropped to their knees in pray-ins in local saloons and demanded that the sale of liquor be stopped. In three months the women had driven liquor out of 250 communities, and for the first time felt what could be accomplished by standing together.

In the summer of 1874 at Chautauqua, preorganizational discussion was held by the women. They decided to hold a national convention that fall in Cleveland and the WCTU was formed. Mrs. Annie Wittenmyer was elected president; Miss Frances E. Willard, corresponding secretary; Mrs. Mary Johnson, recording secretary; and Mrs. Mary Ingham, treasurer.

Behind the WCTU's temperance reform was "protection of the home." The slogan "For God and Home and Native Land" (later changed to "Every Land") expressed the WCTU's priorities. Through education and example the WCTU hoped to obtain pledges of total abstinence from alcohol, and later also tobacco and other drugs. The white ribbon bow was selected to symbolize purity, and the WCTU's watchwords were "Agitate - Educate - Legislate."

Local chapters were called "Unions" and were largely autonomous, but closely linked to the state unions and national headquarters. There were clear channels of authority and communication and the WCTU quickly became the largest woman's organization in the United States (and later, in the world.)"*

*from: Welcome to the WCTU, last modified Friday, June 14, 2013, http://www.wctu.org/earlyhistory.html

 Collection information

This collection dates from 1890 to 1974, the bulk of which ranges from 1920 to 1950. It contains an assortment of materials, including business letters; a wide variety of administrative documents; a prodigious amount of printed materials (primarily in the form of booklets, brochures, and leaflets), along with a few scattered monographic and serial titles; a small strand of subject files; some ephemeral materials (primarily comprised of newspaper clippings); and a small, but quaint collection of artifacts.

Series 1: Correspondence includes business correspondence either originating from Edna Maine Spooner or sent to her, most of which documents her various administrative roles within the local chapter, the Roberts Union (of Cranston, R.I.) and the statewide Woman's Christian Temperance Union of R.I. The core of this series is the correspondence sent from the national W.C.T.U., to the W.C.T.U. of R.I.--a particularly strong set of letters, dating from 1926 to 1949 which document a wide-range of the W.C.T.U.'s corporate concerns, strategies, mission, and administrative procedures.

Series 5: Printed materials, is comprised of a substantial collection of printed materials published by the W.C.T.U. It includes a particularly strong and hefty assortment of booklets, pamphlets, and leaflets from national W.C.T.U.'s affiliate publishers--the National W.C.T.U. Publishing House and the Signal Press--as well as from other W.C.T.U. divisions, the Young People's Branch and the Youth Temperance Council. These files together with a smaller, but significant (and rare) assortment of W.C.T.U monographic and serial titles, form a comprehensive record of the W.C.T.U.'s intellectual history as a corporate body and as an agent for social, religious, and political change.

Series 6: Subject files, incorporates a small collection of topical files associated with the W.C.T.U. and the temperance movement, including materials referencing the political significance of 18th Amendment of the United States Constitution, as well as an interesting collection of materials associated with a local temperance organization, the Anti-Saloon League of R.I. It also includes files with assorted materials referencing a few prominent W.C.T.U. members from both the state and the national W.C.T.U.: Frances E. Willard, Edna M. Spooner, and Ethelyn H. Roberts.

Series 7: Ephemera, is relatively small in scope, consisting primarily of newspaper clippings arranged into broad topical files.

Series 8: Artifacts, is also small in scope, and includes paper envelopes and small cloth pouches that were made by hand and designed to be money holders for W.C.T.U. fund-raising endeavors, as well as a few W.C.T.U. convention paraphernalia, including ribbons, pins, and paper napkins.

Although Brown University has physical ownership of the collection and the materials contained therein, it does not claim literary rights. Researchers should note that compliance with copyright law is their responsibility. Researchers must determine the owners of the literary rights and obtain any necessary permissions from them.

There are no restrictions on access, except that the collection can only be seen by prior appointment. Some materials may be stored off-site and cannot be produced on the same day on which they are requested.

Woman's Christian Temperance Union records collected by Edna Maine Spooner, Ms.Spooner, Brown University Library.

This collection is arranged in 8 series:

Series 1: Correspondence: organized into files by recipient/sender, or by sender/recipient; letters within each file are arranged chronologically. Series 2: Woman's Christian Temperance Union (R.I, Roberts Union): arranged alphabetically by topic. Series 3: Woman's Christian Temperance Union (R.I.): arranged alphabetically by topic. Series 4: Woman's Christian Temperance Union (National): arranged alphabetically by topic. Series 5: Printed materials: arranged by type of publication ; further subdivided by publisher. Series 6: Subject files: arranged alphabetically by topic. Series 7: Ephemera: arranged alphabetically by topic. Series 8: Artifacts: arranged alphabetically by topic. Administrative information

Collection received as gift from Lucille Spooner Votta, given in memory of Edna Maine Spooner, circa 1980.

 Additional information

See also the periodical Outlook, a publication of the Woman's Christian Temperance Union of Rhode Island.

 Names Christine Dunlap Farnham Archive. Subjects Temperance--Societies, etc Temperance--United States--20th century Women and religion--United States Women--Rhode Island--Societies and clubs Women--United States--History--20th century--Sources Types of Materials Booklets Brochures Ephemera Lapel pins Leaflets (printed works) Letters (Correspondence) Newspaper clippings RIAMCO Browsing Term Add RIAMCO Browsing Term HERE Correspondence Series 1 1926-1973 From: Edna Maine Spooner / To: Miscellaneous persons 1 1 1939-1949 To: Edna Maine Spooner / From: Miscellaneous persons 1 2 1934-1950 From: Woman's Christian Temperance Union (R.I.) / To: Miscellaneous persons 1 3 1926-1973 To: Woman's Christian Temperance Union (R.I) / From: Woman's Christian Temperance Union (National) 1 4 1929-1949 To: Woman's Christian Temperance Union (R.I) / From: Miscellaneous persons 1 5 1926-1949 Woman's Christian Temperance Union (R.I, Roberts Union) Series 2 1923-1970 Awards, Certificates 1 6 1939-1943 Books, Pamphlets & Leaflets for School, Church and Public Libraries (Catalog) 1 7 n.d. Legal document 1 8 n.d. Scope and Contents note

Copy of Thirtieth Paragraph - Will of Mary Abby Tefft

 Manuscripts 1 9 n.d. Scope and Contents note

Two hand-written poems (or song lyrics) and one typescript poem.

 Membership materials 1 10 1927-1970 Memorials 1 11 1923-1927 Politics - Cranston Ballot 1 12 1936 Programs 1 13 1946-1950 Reports 1 14 1942-1943 Roberts W.C.T.U. scrapbook 4 1 circa 1945 White Ribbon recruits 1 15 1947-1950 Woman's Christian Temperance Union (R.I.) Series 3 1925-1977 Constitution and by-laws 1 16 n.d. Conventions, conferences, Providence district 1 17a 1925-1939 Conventions, conferences, State of R.I 1 17b 1926-1977 Forms, Miscellaneous 1 18 1926-1942 Fund raising envelopes 1 19 1940-1944 Lyrics to songs for meetings 1 20 n.d. Scope and Contents note

Includes marginalia and scores.

 Membership pledges 1 21 1928-1946 Memoranda 1 22 1927-1943 President's Recommendations 1 23 1926-1928 Reports 1 24 1946-1947 Stationary 1 25 n.d. Subscriptions 1 26 1937-1938 Youth programs 1 27 1934-1941 Manuscripts 1 28 n.d. Scope and Contents note

Small file of hand-written and typescript; includes notes, prayer, presentation & lesson plans.

 Woman's Christian Temperance Union (National) Series 4 1925-1971 Catalogs 1 29 1939-1950 Certificate (Fruitful Union) 1 30 n.d. Conferences, conventions, miscellaneous meetings 1 31 1927-1949 Facts and figures 1 32 1943 Forms 1 33 1951-1971 Fun raising materials 1 34 1937 Fun raising materials - Willard Memorial Fund 1 35 n.d. Meetings, organization and planning 1 36 1946 Membership plans and campaigns - additional materials 4 2 1937-1938, u.d. Membership plans and campaigns 1 37 1944-1946 Membership pledges 1 38 n.d. Membership pledges (non-W.C.T.U.) 1 39 n.d. Memoranda 1 39a 1925-1949 Political action 1 40 n.d. Programs and projects 1 41 1934-1951 Radio scripts 1 42 n.d. Reports 1 43 1926-1946 Rules, guidelines, procedures 1 44 n.d. Youth Temperance Council 1 45 1938-1951 White Ribbon materials 1 46 n.d. Printed materials Series 5 1890-1974 Booklets, brochures, leaflets Series 5, Subseries A W.C.T.U. (R.I.) - Amethyst Drinks 1 47 n.d. W.C.T.U. (R.I.) - Conventions 4 3 1947-1958 W.C.T.U. (R.I.) - A friendly glass... 1 48 n.d. W.C.T.U. (R.I.) - Loyal Temperance Legion 1 49 n.d. W.C.T.U. (R.I.) - Loyal Temperance Legion - additional materials 4 3 n.d. W.C.T.U. (R.I.) - A true Story 1 50 W.C.T.U. (National) - Loyal Temperance Legion 1 51 n.d. W.C.T.U. (National) - Loyal Temperance Legion - additional materials 4 3 n.d. W.C.T.U. (National) - National W.C.T.U. Publishing House (1 of 4) 1 52 n.d. W.C.T.U. (National) - National W.C.T.U. Publishing House (2 of 4) 1 53 n.d. W.C.T.U. (National) - National W.C.T.U. Publishing House (3 of 4) 1 54 n.d. W.C.T.U. (National) - National W.C.T.U. Publishing House (4 of 4) 1 55 n.d. W.C.T.U. (National) - National W.C.T.U. Publishing House - additional materials 4 3 1939-1940, n.d. W.C.T.U. (National) - Signal Press (1 of 2) 1 56 n.d. W.C.T.U. (National) - Signal Press (2 of 2) 1 57 n.d. W.C.T.U. (National) - Signal Press - additional materials 4 3 n.d. W.C.T.U. (National) - Young People's Branch 1 58 n.d. W.C.T.U. (National) - Young People's Branch - additional materials 4 3 n.d. W.C.T.U. (National) - Youth Temperance Council 1 59 n.d. W.C.T.U. (National) - Youth Temperance Council - additional materials 4 3 n.d. non-W.C.T.U. - Christianity and temperance 1 61 circa 1940 non-W.C.T.U. - Anti-Saloon League 1 60 n.d. non-W.C.T.U. - Anti-Saloon League - additional materials 4 3 1930 non-W.C.T.U. - Commission on International Justice and Goodwill 1 62 n.d. non-W.C.T.U. - Miscellaneous publishers 2 1 n.d. non-W.C.T.U. - Miscellaneous publishers - additional materials 4 3 n.d. non-W.C.T.U. - Narcotics 2 2 1927-1935 non-W.C.T.U. - National Temperance Society 2 3 n.d. non-W.C.T.U. - Nicotine 2 4 n.d. non-W.C.T.U. - R.I. World Affairs Week 2 5 1939-1949 non-W.C.T.U. - Temperance, Prohibition 2 6 circa 1940-1950 Monographs Series 5, Subseries B W.C.T.U. (R.I.) - Amethyst Drinks for All Occasions 2 7 1940 W.C.T.U. (R.I.) - Providence Woman's Christian Temperance Union 2 8 1924-1925 W.C.T.U. (R.I.) - W.C.T.U Cook Book. Health and Comfort for the Home 2 9 1893 W.C.T.U. (National) - Barnes, Mary Clark. 'We the people' and our Constitution. 2 10 1927-1972 W.C.T.U. (National) - Holiday Goodies (Cookbook) 2 11 n.d. W.C.T.U. (National) - Learning to Choose. A Lesson Course about Sobriety and Good Citizenship 2 12 n.d. W.C.T.U. (National) - Miscellaneous songbooks 2 13 1890-1974 W.C.T.U. (National) - One-act plays 2 14 1938 W.C.T.U. (National) - One-act plays - additional materials 4 4 n.d. W.C.T.U. (National) - Palmer, Bertha Rachel. A syllabus in alcohol education. 2 15 1934 W.C.T.U. (National) - Pennington, Blanch. Teas of the U.S.A. 2 15a 1944 W.C.T.U. (National) - Report of the 54th Annual Convention 2 15b 1928 non-W.C.T.U. - Nichol, Francis D. Wet or Dry? 2 16 1932 non-W.C.T.U. - Prohibition Quiz Book 2 17 1929 non-W.C.T.U. - Republican Party materials 2 18 n.d. non-W.C.T.U. - School and College Service publications 2 19 1939-1967 non-W.C.T.U. - U.S. Government publications 2 20 1928-1945 Serials Series 5, Subseries C W.C.T.U. (R.I.) - L.T.L. news 2 21 circa 1934 Scope and Contents note

(mimeographed?) copies of hand-written and monthly serial (1page each.)

 W.C.T.U. (National) - Alcohol education series 2 22 n.d. Scope and Contents note

Series bound together in folder marked "Alcohol education."

 W.C.T.U. (National) - Bulletin of the Sunday School Department 4 5 n.d. W.C.T.U. (National) - Christian herald 2 22a 1929-1930 W.C.T.U. (National) - Comments and epigrams 2 22b 1946 W.C.T.U. (National) - Handbook of the National Woman's Christian Temperance Union 2 23 1938-1940 W.C.T.U. (National) - Membership campaign plan 2 24 1938-1942 W.C.T.U. (National) - National Woman's Christian Temperance Union Legislative programs (Dept. of Legislation) 2 25 1935-1952 W.C.T.U. (National) - White Ribbon publications 2 26 1930-1947 W.C.T.U. (National) - November Roll Call 2 27 1941-1950 W.C.T.U. (National) - The Ohio Messenger 2 28 1951 W.C.T.U. (National) - Plan of work (National Woman's Christian Temperance Union) (1 of 2) 2 29 1926-1940 W.C.T.U. (National) - Plan of work (National Woman's Christian Temperance Union) (2 of 2) 2 30 1940-1951 W.C.T.U. (National) - Plan of work (National Woman's Christian Temperance Union) - additional materials 4 5 1943-1948 W.C.T.U. (National) - Program guide 2 31 1928-1976 W.C.T.U. (National) - The program planner 2 32 1968-1970 W.C.T.U. (National) - The promoter 2 33 1945-1978 W.C.T.U. (National) - Publicity in action (bulletin) 2 34 1943-1944 W.C.T.U. (National) - Quarterly temperance lesson 2 34a 1927-1944 W.C.T.U. (National) - Quarterly temperance lesson - additional materials 4 5 1939-1940 W.C.T.U. (National) - Temperance Sunday 2 35 n.d. W.C.T.U. (National) - Temperance Sunday - additional materials 4 5 n.d. W.C.T.U. (National) - Topical programs 2 36 1928-1945 Scope and Contents note

Annual serial, entitled, "Topical Programs," published by the National W.C.T.U. Publishing House

 W.C.T.U. (National) - The Twentieth Century Medal Contest reciter 2 37 n.d. W.C.T.U. (National) - The union signal 2 38 1939-1949 W.C.T.U. (National) - The W.C.T.U. messenger 2 39 1934-1945 W.C.T.U. (National) - The young crusader 2 40 1932-1947 W.C.T.U. (International) - World's Woman's Christian Temperance Union white ribbon bulletin 2 41 1938-1973 W.C.T.U. (International) - World's Woman's Christian Temperance Union white ribbon bulletin - additional materials 4 5 1973 non-W.C.T.U. - America, Awake 4 5 1940 non-W.C.T.U. - Book reviews by Esther Jenks 2 42 1948 non-W.C.T.U. - The Christian Advocate 4 5 1944 non-W.C.T.U. - The civic bulletin 2 43 1928-1933 non-W.C.T.U. - The civic forum 4 5 1928-1933 non-W.C.T.U. - Congression record 2 44 1923-1950 non-W.C.T.U. - Miscellaneous titles 2 45 1925-1958 non-W.C.T.U. - The national prohibitionist 2 46 1944-1945 non-W.C.T.U. - The national prohibitionist - additional materials 4 5 1939-1945 non-W.C.T.U. - The national voice 2 47 1939-1949 non-W.C.T.U. - The new statesman 2 48 1944 non-W.C.T.U. - Progress (Publication of the International Reform Federation 2 49 1937-1949 non-W.C.T.U. - The reform bulletin 2 50 1927-1929 non-W.C.T.U. - The reform bulletin - additional materials 4 5 1929 non-W.C.T.U. - The Rhode Islander (Providence Sunday Journal) 4 5 1973 non-W.C.T.U. - Signs of the Times 4 5 1932 non-W.C.T.U. - The temperance bulletin (American Temperance Society) 4 5 1944 non-W.C.T.U. - The voice (Board of Temperance of the Methodist Church) 4 5 1943 Subject files Series 6 1922-1968 18th amendment 2 51 1922 Francis Willard Centenary 2 52 1936-1939 Politics 2 53 1928-1968 R.I. Anti-Saloon League 2 54 1926-1931 Roberts, Ethelyn H. (former president of Roberts Union W.C.T.U. (R.I.)) 2 55 1951 Spooner, Edna M. 2 56 1928-1947 Temperance education materials 3 1 n.d. Willard, Frances E. 3 2 circa 1930 Willard, Frances E. - additional materials 4 6 1928-1939 Ephemera Series 7 1923-1943 Church programs 3 3 1942-1943 Newspaper clippings - elections, 1928 3 4 1928 Newspaper clippings - elections, 1930 3 5 1930 Newspaper clippings - elections, 1932 3 6 1932 Newspaper clippings - miscellaneous 3 7 1923-1932 Newspaper clippings - miscellaneous - additional materials 4 6 n.d. Newspaper clippings - R.I. 3 8 1936 Newspaper clippings - R.I. - additional materials 4 6 n.d. Newspaper clippings - W.C.T.U. (National) 3 9 n.d. Newspaper clippings - W.C.T.U. (National) - additional materials 4 7 n.d. Newspaper clippings - W.C.T.U. (R.I.-Roberts) 3 10 1932 Newspaper clippings - W.C.T.U. (R.I.-Roberts) - additional materials 4 7 1923-1943 Artifacts Series 8 1918-1949 Calendar (W.C.T.U. of R.I.) 4 8 1933 Envelope, fund raising, hand-made paper apron, with pocket and accompanying hand-written note 3 11 n.d. Exhibition display panels 4 8 n.d. General note

Consists of small handmade cardboard panels that fold with miscellaneous clippings affixed.

 Fund raising hand-made cloth bag envelopes, with each with accompanying hand-written note 3 12 n.d. Name tag, metallic, with inserted, hand-written designee: "Mrs. Leroy A. Spooner." 3 13 n.d. Napkins, paper, white, for White Ribbon event, with printed graphic of white ribbon against blue background 3 14 n.d. Napkins, paper, white, with printed text in gold: "WCTU 1874-1949" 3 15 1949 Pin, Temperance, with graphic and text: "The real issue: the saloon or the boys and girls" 3 16 n.d. Pin, U.S.A. flag, cloth 3 17 n.d. Poster (W.C.T.U. event) 4 8 n.d. Ribbon, convention, printed with text, "Alternate, National Woman's Christian Temperance Union...," with attached medallion 3 18 1928 Scope and Contents note

Ribbon includes paper hand-written tag, "Mrs. E.M. Spooner.... with "Boston Beans" metal pin attached.

 Ribbon, convention, printed with text, "Delegate, Annual Convention W.C.T.U. of Rhode Island...." 3 19 1918 Ribbon, printed with text, "Wonderful peace...." 3 20 n.d. Souvenir Scarf - Map of Memorials of a Famous Woman, Frances E. Willard 2 (6N) 2 1938 Scope and Contents note

The scarf was created in 1939 to commemorate the centenary of the birth of Frances E. Willard. Author of print, Ida Schmid Randall; dimensions: 28 1/2" x 38 1/4"

 Scrapbook pages, loose 3 22 1933