Cottage Homemakers Extension Club [RG5443.AM]

HISTORY NEBRASKA MANUSCRIPT FINDING AID

RG5443.AM:  Cottage Homemakers Extension Club (Elmwood, Nebraska)

Records:  1928-2001

Elmwood, Cass County, Nebraska

Size:  0.6 cu.ft.; 2 boxes

BACKGROUND NOTE

The first meeting of the Cottage Homemakers Extension Club of Elmwood, Nebraska, was held on April 27, 1928, at the home of Mrs. Bernice Dankleff.  The Fairview Extension Club (southeast of Elmwood) had grown too large to host all its members at one house, so it was decided that a group would split off and form their own extension club.  They chose “Cottage” as their name because most of the women lived in the Cottage Hill School District.

Initially the club presented members with practical homemaking tips, including proper techniques for canning as well as methods of butchery.  In later years, members presented reports on new discoveries or special concerns in the areas of citizenship, family life, health, crafts and the environment.  The club promoted literacy by presenting a book to each child born in the community.  They also raised money for various causes including local 4-H camps, nursing homes and hospitals.  The firsts officers of the club included Bernice Dankleff, president; Meta Mueller, vice-president; Hulda Oehlerking, secretary/treasurer; Amy Irons, news reporter; and Lizzie Schaffer and Marie Dankleff, project leaders.

SCOPE AND CONTENT NOTE

The collection consists of one box containing records of the Cottage Homemakers Extension Club of Elmwood, Nebraska.  The records date from 1928 to 2001 and include minutes of meetings, a scrapbook, and miscellaneous historical information about the club.  Researchers should handle the scrapbook with care as some items have come loose from pages.

Note:  Photos removed from a photo album are now part of the photo component [RG5443.PH].

INVENTORY

Box 1

Folder

1. 1. Minutes of meetings, 1928-1953

1. 1. Minutes of meetings, 1954-1971

1. 1. Minutes of meetings, 1972-1988

1. 1. Minutes of meetings, 1989-2001

1. 1. Scrapbook, 1951-1981

Box 2

Folder

1. 1. Loose items removed from front of scrapbook

1. 1. Miscellaneous materials regarding the history of the Cottage Homemakers Extension Club

1. 1. Photocopies of photos from the photo component

Subject headings:

Cass County (Nebraska) — Societies, clubs, etc.

Cottage Homemakers Extension Club (Elmwood, Nebraska)

Elmwood (Nebraska) — Societies, clubs, etc.

Women — Nebraska — Cass County

KFK                     05-23-2002

Revised TMM      06-18-2018