Swedish Club of Chicago, Ladies' Auxiliary records, 1950-1984

Processed with funding provided by the National Historical Publications and Records Commission.

Copyright may be retained by the creators of items, or their descendants, as stipulated by United States copyright law, unless otherwise noted.

Gift of the Swedish Club of Chicago in 1984 (accession # 2010.0049).

Swedish Club of Chicago, Ladies' Auxiliary records (Chicago History Museum) plus a detailed description, date, and box/folder number of a specific item.

Correspondence, minutes, financial records, newspaper clippings, scrapbooks, yearbooks and other records of the Ladies' Auxiliary of the Swedish Club of Chicago. Most of the collection pertains to the administration of the Ladies' Auxiliary, including meeting minutes, membership lists, financial statements, and papers of the Ladies' Auxiliary president. Also present are technical drawings for a planned addition of a boiler room to the Swedish Club of Chicago in the 1950s, as well as a scrapbook containing mailings to members about cultural and social events sponsored by the club.

The Swedish Club of Chicago grew out of several Swedish singing and social clubs founded in Chicago in the late 19th century. The Swedish Club of Chicago was incorporated in 1923 and was located at 1258 North LaSalle Street on the Near North Side. The club closed in 1984 due to rising costs and shrinking membership. The Ladies' Auxiliary of the Swedish Club of Chicago hosted social and cultural events, including luncheons throughout the year and an annual Oktoberfest celebration. Furthermore, the Ladies' Auxiliary raised awareness and funding for community organizations and charitable foundations.

• Names
  • Swedish Club of Chicago. Ladies' Auxiliary--Archives
  • Swedish Club of Chicago
• Subject
  • Swedish Americans--Illinois--Chicago--Societies, etc.--20th century
  • Women--Illinois--Chicago--Societies and clubs--20th century
• Geographic Coverage
  • 1258 North LaSalle Street (Chicago, Ill.)
  • Chicago (Ill.)--Social conditions--20th century
  • Chicago (Ill.)--Social life and customs--20th century
  • Near North Side (Chicago, Ill.)

The collection is arranged in four series.

Series 1. Correspondence, 1950-1955 (box 1)

Series 1 consists of correspondence between the Ladies' Auxiliary and various local and national organizations. Letters concern money raised for organizations such as the Red Cross, the American Cancer Society, and local hospitals.

Series 2. Organizational records, 1959-1979 (box 1-3)

Series 2 contains meeting minutes, correspondence, notes, newspaper clippings and other records pertaining to the administration and activities of the Ladies' Auxiliary. Included are letters by presidents of the Ladies' Auxiliary, as well as materials related to the social calendar organized by the president. Also present are yearbooks and lists recording new members and deaths of members.

Series 3. Financial records, 1958-1984 (box 3-5)

Series 3 consists of correspondence, bank receipts, and other financial records of the Ladies' Auxiliary. Included are records of membership dues and yearly financial statements.

Series 4. Miscellaneous records, ca. 1950-1976 (box 6)

Series 4 contains correspondence, technical drawings, and other miscellaneous records related to the planned addition of a boiler room to the Swedish Club of Chicago in the early 1950s. Also included is a scrapbook containing mailings sent to members announcing cultural and social events organized by the Swedish Club of Chicago (1973-1976), as well as newspaper clippings about the club.