RIT Student Wives' Association records

Collection — Multiple Containers

Identifier: RITArc-0025

Staff Only

Scope and Contents

The RIT Student Wives' Association records consist of materials related to the activities of the organization. The collection contains a scrapbook of materials from 1968-1969, including photographs, fliers, and other related ephemera. The book also contains a newspaper clipping from the May 20, 1960 issue of the Rochester Democrat & Chronicle, which discusses the organization's founding, purpose, and upcoming activities. The second bound volume includes administrative documents from 1962-1971 such as correspondence, budget materials, organization reports, meeting minutes, club rosters, and a copy of the constitution and by-laws.

Dates

Creation: 1960-1971

Creator

Rochester Institute of Technology. RIT Student Wives' Association (Organization)

Conditions Governing Access

This collection is open to researchers.

Biographical / Historical

The RIT Student Wives' Association (RITSWA) was started in 1960 as a club for women whose husbands were full-time students at the Rochester Institute of Technology (RIT). Because of RIT's history as a vocational school, many of its students at that time were already married. Women followed their husbands to Rochester, not knowing anyone else in the area. Additionally, their husbands spent evenings studying, which decreased the amount of time the couple had to socialize with others. Inspired by a social tea held by the RIT Women's Club, several women, including Marcia Ellingson, began working on organizing an association specifically for these wives.

Although plans for RITSWA began as early as January of 1960, the association was not formally "launched" until the April 20th meeting of that year. The first set of officers, trustees, and committee chairmen were chosen at this meeting and a constitution and set of by-laws were put in place in May. RITSWA met once a month and was open to all women whose husbands were day students at RIT. In addition to these meetings, the association organized picnics; parties such as a Halloween party and an ice skating party; social teas; trips such as a tour of the Memorial Art Gallery; card parties; and slide presentations on various topics. By October 1960, RITSWA had 40 active members.

The official objectives of the organization were to:

Promote a spirit of friendliness

Provide social fellowship

Stimulate culture

Encourage a feeling of belonging to and being a part of the school

Extent

0.6 Linear Feet (2 bound volumes)

Language

English

Additional Description

Overview

Records of the RIT Student Wives' Association, a social group for the wives of full-time students at the Rochester Institute of Technology during the 1960s and 1970s. The collection contains a scrapbook of club activities, along with correspondence, meeting minutes, reports, and other administrative documents.

Arrangement

The collection consists of two bound volumes and a single folder. One volume is the scrapbook from 1968-1969, while the other contains the administrative documents from 1962-1971. Within the second volume, materials are divided into series: Secretary's Notes, Constitution, and Records.