Women's Progressive Farmers Association of Missouri, Inc., Records, 1921-1985 (C3726)
5.5 linear feet
INTRODUCTION
Records of an organization dedicated to the improvement of rural life and the support of its counterpart, the Missouri Farmers Association. The association was affiliated with Associated Country Women of the World. The records consist of correspondence, meeting minutes, membership lists, newsletters, and account books.
DONOR INFORMATION
The Women's Progressive Farmers Association of Missouri, Inc. Records were donated to the University of Missouri by the association through Mae Hughes on 26 September 1985 (Accession No. 4669).
ORGANIZATIONAL SKETCH
The Women's Progressive Farmers Association of Missouri (WPFA) began as a single club formed in 1920 by a small group of women impressed with the Missouri Farmers Association (MFA) and its goals. By August of 1921 that small group of women had grown to over a hundred. They met during the fifth annual MFA convention and put together a state association--the WPFA. A constitution and bylaws were adopted and officers elected. On August 31st this newly-organized state association was accepted unanimously on an equal basis with the MFA.
The WPFA's objectives were simple--to offer service and loyalty to the MFA by supporting its marketing agencies, to lend strength to its legislative program, and to carry on various community activities, such as beautifying country homes and cemeteries, improving rural churches, and contributing to worthwhile causes. Subsisting on funds obtained from the MFA and the sale of cookbooks, pins, soap (White King Washing Powder), and other items, the WPFA was able to accomplish many of its objectives. It annually raised funds for the "Pennies For Friendship" drive, cofounded Missouri Girls Town, cared for the Rock Hill Cemetery (where several WPFA/MFA members are buried), and sponsored numerous self-improvement contests and workshops. It also affiliated itself with the Country Women's Council (CWC) and Associated Country Women of the World (ACWW).
The WPFA was incorporated in 1928. Its governing structure consisted of a board of directors, a president and vice-president, and a secretary-treasurer. Organized on a county basis, each county club secretary was responsible to the state secretary of secretary-treasurer for the collection of dues and other fees. By 1960 the county clubs had been reorganized into a handful of districts, reducing confusion and pulling the state association closer together.
In 1985 the WPFA disbanded, after nearly seven decades of effective community participation.
SCOPE AND CONTENT NOTE
These records provide a comprehensive view of the WPFA and its activities during its sixty-four year existence. The records are arranged by type of record with the majority spanning the entire life of the association. Only the meeting minutes and correspondence are incomplete.
The histories include ones for the Missouri Farmers Association, 1914-1964; Women's Progressive Farmers Association, 1914-1977; and Associated Country Women of the World, 1929-1953. The annual bulletins and yearbooks have a directory of leaders, list of objectives, question and answer sessions, and reviews of yearly projects and contests.
Program committee publications present programs designed to improve farm productivity and overall rural life. There are two different newsletters in the records; the newsletters from 1927 to 1936 discuss contest results, progress of various projects, and annual convention news.
Today's Farm Woman was a later newsletter containing articles on farming, tax laws, and other information pertinent to women engaged in farming.
The awards and membership lists are arranged chronologically and then alphabetically by county and city. The membership lists are the largest part of the records.
The correspondence is between the WPFA state secretary and board members, county secretaries, and officials from the following agencies: Missouri Farmers Association, MFA Oil Company, MFA Insurance Company, and MFA Milling Company. It concerned fund-raising projects, improvement projects, contests, board meetings, and conventions but only covers the years from 1978 to 1985.
The account books show annual income and expenses. Volume 5 contains the White King Washing Powder accounts from 1936 to 1942 and a list of county club officers, arranged by county and city, for 1947.
FOLDER LIST
| f. 1-2 | Histories, 1914-1977 |
| f. 3 | Constitution, 1921 |
| f. 4 | Bylaws, 1923-1982 |
| f. 5-10 | Annual bulletins and yearbooks, 1923-1985 |
| f. 11 | Program committee publications, 1922, 1924 |
| f. 12 | Annual convention programs, 1924-1980. |
| f. 13 | Newsletters, 1927-1936 |
| f. 14 | Today's Farm Woman, 1982-1984 |
| f. 15-20 | Awards, 1957-1985 |
| f. 21-28 | Minutes, 1921-1971 |
| f. 29-173 | Membership lists, 1939-1985 |
| f. 29-55 | 1939-1950 |
| f. 56-147 | 1951-1960 |
| f. 148-157 | 1961-1970 |
| f. 158-165 | 1971-1975 |
| f. 166-168 | 1975-1980 |
| f. 169-173 | 1980-1985 |
| f. 174-178 | Correspondence, 1978-1985 |
| f. 179-243 | Audit reports, 1922-1984 |
| f. 179-188 | 1922-1930 |
| f. 189-198 | 1930-1940 |
| f. 199-208 | 1940-1950 |
| f. 209-217 | 1950-1959 |
| f. 218-228 | 1960-1970 |
| f. 229-239 | 1970-1980 |
| f. 240-243 | 1980-1984 |
Account books, 1921-1984
| v. 1 | 1921-1924 |
| v. 2 | 1924-1932 |
| v. 3 | 1932-1936 |
| v. 4 | 1936-1942 |
| v. 5 | 1936-1947 |
| v. 6 | 1942-1947 |
| v. 7 | 1947-1949 |
| v. 8 | 1949-1953 |
| v. 9 | 1953-1959 |
| v. 10 | 1959-1962 |
| v. 11 | 1962-1965 |
| v. 12 | 1965-1971 |
| v. 13 | 1971-1974 |
| v. 14 | 1974-1977 |
| v. 15 | 1977-1980 |
| v. 16 | 1980-1984 |
INDEX TERMS
These index terms are the subjects, people, places, etc. under which this collection is listed in all available indexes at the Western Historical Manuscript Collection-Columbia. If you are interested in a specific index term, please contact the reference staff.
- Agriculture--Societies
- Associated Country Women of the World
- Black Elk, Ben
- Canning and preserving
- Contests
- Cookery
- Davis, Wilma
- Farm life--Missouri
- Farmers--Missouri
- Home economics
- Missouri Farmers Association
- Missouri Farmers Association Milling Company
- Missouri Farmers Association Mutual Insurance Company
- Missouri Farmers Association Oil Company
- Mount Carmel Methodist Church, Saline County, MO
- Sewing
- Women's Progressive Farmers Assn. of Missouri, Inc.
- Women--Societies