Woman's Christian Temperance Union records

The Woman's Christian Temperance Union was founded in Cleveland, Ohio in November of 1874. Born out of existing non-violent women's protests against alcohol, the organization followed the motto "For God and Home and Native Land," which summarized its view of temperance as a patriotic and individual duty inspired by religious conviction. Under the leadership of Annie Wittenmyer (1874-1879) and Frances Willard (1879-1898), the organization became the largest women's group in the United States and, eventually, the world. Beyond temperance, the Woman's Christian Temperance Union advocated for woman suffrage, educational reform and prison reform, and against prostitution and child labor. Under Willard's leadership, the organization played a major in the foundation of the National Council for Women in 1888 and the International Council of Women in 1893. The organization continued to exist even following the passage and repeal of the Eighteenth Amendment, which enacted the prohibition of alcoholic beverages in the United States, and it is celebrating its 125th anniversary in the year this finding aid is being written (2019).

The Woman's Christian Temperance Union organized in an autonomous yet well-structured manner. Local chapters were known as unions, and were largely self-governing, but reported to state and national headquarters. The defined channels of communication and authority ensured that the organization acted in a unified manner across the nation. The Fairport Union was founded on April 14, 1877, with 140 members. The group initially formed as an auxiliary to the all-male Reform Club, but entered the Woman's Christian Temperance Union on July 2, 1878. The group held prayer meetings, ran a juvenile temperance school, and provided dinners to voters on election day. For some years, it rented rooms, but moved to holding meetings in members' homes in 1894. By 1896, the Fairport Union was up to 280 members. It continued to meet well into the 20th century. While membership had greatly declined by the time of the final ledger book in this collection, it is clear that meetings continued beyond the final meeting recorded herein, that of December 10, 1941.

Information regarding the Monroe County Union is more diffuse and less definitive than that regarding the Fairport Union. A Rochester Union of the Woman's Christian Temperance Union took shape over the course of 1874, and the organization quickly rose to local prominence, with offices on Exchange Street. Indeed, the New York State Convention was held in Rochester in 1895, and the Rochester Union supported revivals and speakers throughout the early 20th century. However, the formation of a Monroe County-level Union, which clearly served primarily as an administrative body and coordinator of annual events, is not well-recorded. The earliest newspaper reference to it seems to be one of November 1879, which states that the Monroe County Union executive committee had met to plan the annual convention. The article does not state that this executive committee is new. Examination of the materials in this collection, along with newspaper accounts of executive committee meetings, consistently shows that the County Union had several standing committees, each focused on particular reform goals of the organization, and that it planned an annual county convention. It also appears that the Monroe County Union was responsible for directing funds to the State Union, as needed.