Rebecca Williams Community House records

Finding Aid

Prepared by Sheppard Black June 4, 1976; Prepared for the Web by Barbara Bass, August 23, 1999; Last Updated: April 2024

Inclusive Dates: 1929-1969
Extent: 8.5 cubic feet (9 record storage boxes + 1 oversized folder)
Physical Location: Storage; 11th floor map case

Storage Note: This collection is housed in a climate-controlled environment off site and requires at least up to three weeks for retrieval. Please call or email the department with requests for this material prior to planning your visit.

Historical Note: The Rebecca Williams Community House was founded in 1924 to meet the needs of boys and girls in a crowded section of the city of Warren. The Trumbull Steel Company and later the Republic Steel Corporation, of which it became a part, had attracted workers to the community. Many of these settled near the mill in the area south of the Erie railroad tracks. Living conditions became crowded and playground space and recreational facilities for young people were negligible. When the Rebecca Williams Community House was incorporated on March 19, 1930, the objectives, as stated in Article II, were as follows: The aim of this organization shall be to enlist and organize the efforts of Christian men and women and young people in the social and religious work, and in community welfare in Warren and vicinity, and to cooperate with other societies and agencies in such work.

Scope and Content: The collection includes correspondence, reports, minutes, financial records, publicity materials and information on the organization's programs and services.

Arrangement: The division of materials within the collection reflects original file identification wherever possible and appropriate. Materials within the collection have been assigned to ten series.

• Series 1: Correspondence
• Series 2: Community Chest
• Series 3: Administration, Reports and Minutes
• Series 4: Finance
• Series 5: Gifts and Acknowledgements
• Series 6: Publicity
• Series 7: Camp and Summer Program
• Series 8: Activities
• Series 9: Printed Materials, Origin other than RWCH
• Series 10: Case Records

Acquisition Information: The materials in this collection were transferred to Special Collections and Archives by Christopher Faiver, Acting Director of the Rebecca Williams Community House, and James H. Culver, Sr., President, Board of Directors at the time of transfer. The initial collection was received on November 17, 1975; additional photographs were received on January 16, 1976.

Restrictions on Access: Please note that Case Records, Series 10, Box 9, of the collection are restricted until 2025.

Box 1
Folder -- Contents

1. Correspondence: miscellaneous: 1929
2. Correspondence: miscellaneous: 1930's
3. Correspondence: miscellaneous: 1940's
4. Correspondence: miscellaneous: 1950, January-March
5. Correspondence: miscellaneous: 1950, April-June
6. Correspondence: miscellaneous: 1950, July-September
7. Correspondence: miscellaneous: 1950, October-December
8. Correspondence: miscellaneous: 1951, January-March
9. Correspondence: miscellaneous: 1951, April-June
10. Correspondence: miscellaneous: 1951, July-September
11. Correspondence: miscellaneous: 1951, October-December
12. Correspondence: miscellaneous: 1952, January-March
13. Correspondence: miscellaneous: 1952, April-June
14. Correspondence: miscellaneous: 1952, July-September
15. Correspondence: miscellaneous: 1952, October-December
16. Correspondence: miscellaneous: 1953, January-March
17. Correspondence: miscellaneous: 1953, April-June
18. Correspondence: miscellaneous: 1953, July-September
19. Correspondence: miscellaneous: 1953, October-December
20. Correspondence: miscellaneous: 1954, January-February
21. Correspondence: miscellaneous: 1954, March-April
22. Correspondence: miscellaneous: 1954, May-July
23. Correspondence: miscellaneous: 1954, August-October
24. Correspondence: miscellaneous: 1954, November-December
25. Correspondence: miscellaneous: 1955
26. Correspondence: miscellaneous: 1956
27. Correspondence: miscellaneous: 1957
28. Correspondence: miscellaneous: 1958
29. Correspondence: miscellaneous: 1959
30. Correspondence: miscellaneous: 1959
31. Correspondence: miscellaneous: 1959

Box 2
Folder -- Contents

1. Correspondence: miscellaneous: 1960
2. Correspondence: miscellaneous: 1961
3. Correspondence: miscellaneous: 1962
4. Correspondence: miscellaneous: 1963
5. Correspondence: miscellaneous: 1964
6. Correspondence: miscellaneous: 1965
7. Correspondence: miscellaneous: 1966
8. Correspondence: miscellaneous: 1967
9. Correspondence: miscellaneous: 1968
10. Correspondence: miscellaneous: undated
11. Correspondence: Annual meeting: 1943-1962
12. Correspondence: Annual meeting: 1963-1965
13. Correspondence: Annual meeting: 1967-1968
14. Correspondence: Insurance: 1939-1952
15. Correspondence: Insurance: 1953-1961
16. Correspondence: Insurance: 1962-1963
17. Correspondence: Insurance: 1964-1968
18. Correspondence: Tri-State Area Northeast Ohio Federation of Settlements (TANOFS): 1954-1961
19. Correspondence: Tri-State Area Northeast Ohio Federation of Settlements (TANOFS): 1962-1968
20. Correspondence: Job Applications: RWCH: 1952
21. Correspondence: Sightless Club: 1952-1953
22. Correspondence: Miscellaneous, including invoices; Flood Relief: 1959-1960
23. Correspondence: Miscellaneous, dealing with building: includes Supervision Notes: 1950-1957
24. Correspondence: Probation: 1963

Series 2: Community Chest

Scope and Content: Reports etc. Self Study. In August 1954, the Board of Directors of the RWCH requested the aid of the National Federation of Settlements and Neighborhood Centers in undertaking a self study. That study and materials associated with its preparation are to be found in Folders 15 through 18. The self study itself will be found in Folder 15. The self study includes an historical overview of the RWCH and much additional material of interest to the researcher. Staff Logs: These records apparently are largely incomplete. They indicate an effort made for an unknown period of time to more accurately assess how, in what kinds of activity, staff time was spent. Report: RWCH, An Evaluative Study. This evaluation report was requested by the Women's Division of Christan Service of the Board of Missions and Church Extension of the Methodist CHurch. It was prepared by Dr. Henry B. Ollendorff of Cleveland, Ohio, and submitted on January 7, 1948. The report is likely to be a great interest to the researcher.

Box 3
Folder -- Contents

1. Annual Chest appropriation: monthly reports: 1958-1959
2. Annual Chest appropriation: monthly reports: 1960-1961
3. Annual Chest appropriation: monthly reports: 1962-1963
4. Annual Chest appropriation: monthly reports: 1964-1965
5. Miscellaneous correspondence and financial reports: Community Chest: 1934-1951 (folder 1 of 2)
6. Miscellaneous correspondence and financial reports: Community Chest: 1934-1951 (folder 2 of 2)
7. Miscellaneous correspondence and financial reports: Community Chest: 1952-1953 (folder 1 of 2)
8. Miscellaneous correspondence and financial reports: Community Chest: 1952-1953 (folder 2 of 2)
9. Miscellaneous correspondence and financial reports: Community Chest: 1954-1957 (folder 1 of 2)
10. Miscellaneous correspondence and financial reports: Community Chest: 1954-1957 (folder 2 of 2)
11. Miscellaneous correspondence and financial reports: Community Chest: 1958-1961 (folder 1 of 2)
12. Miscellaneous correspondence and financial reports: Community Chest: 1958-1961 (folder 2 of 2)
13. Miscellaneous correspondence and financial reports: Community Chest: 1962-1965 (folder 1 of 2)
14. Miscellaneous correspondence and financial reports: Community Chest: 1962-1965 (folder 2 of 2)
15. Miscellaneous correspondence and financial reports: Community Chest: 1966
16. Miscellaneous correspondence and financial reports: Community Chest: 1962-1965
17. Miscellaneous correspondence and financial reports: Community Chest: 1967-1968
18. Director's Reports: 1946-1951
19. Director's Reports: 1952-1959
20. Director's Reports: 1960-1967
21. Self Study
22. Self Study
23. Self Study
24. Self Study
25. Staff Logs: 1954-1955
26. Staff Logs: 1954-1955
27. Staff Logs: 1954-1955
28. Report, RWCH, An Evaluative Study

Series 3: Administration, Reports and Minutes

Box 4
Folder--Contents

1. Blueprints: Rebecca Williams house, Warren, Ohio, 1940; 1956
   Physical Location: These items are oversized and are stored in the map case.
2. Report: Juvenile Court, 1950-1952; summaries, 1932-1942. Reports from Juvenile Court, monthly, listing delinquents, names, addresses, ages, religion and race, offenses, and disposition.
3. Reports: minutes of the RWCH Program Committee:1950-1954
4. Reports: minutes of the RWCH Board of Directors: 1947-1967
5. Reports: records, attendance summaries, etc. for Women's Division of Christian Service (WDCS): 1938-1949
6. Reports: records, attendance summaries, etc. for WDCS: 1950-1959
7. Reports: records, attendance summaries, etc. for WDCS: 1960-1962
8. Reports: records, attendance summaries, etc. for WDCS: 1963-1967
9. Reports: records, attendance summaries, etc. for WDCS: undated
10. Reports: minutes, ect., RWCH Auxiliary Council: 1954-1964
11. Reports: minutes, ect., RWCH Auxiliary Council: 1965-1969
12. Reports: minutes, etc., Board of Management, RWCH: incomplete
13. Reports: Girl's Division: 1942-1949: incomplete
14. Reports: Boy's Club: 1933-1940: incomplete
15. Reports: Boy's Club: 1941-1947: incomplete
16. Reports: Boy's Club: 1948-949: incomplete
17. Reports: Boy's Club: miscellaneous materials: 1932-1942
18. Reports: minutes: RWCH Advisory Board: 1951-1966
19. Minutes: Staff Meetings: 1960-1965: incomplete
20. Reports: etc., received from Women's Division of Christian Service (WDCS): 1946-1954
21. Reports: etc., received from WDCS: 1956-1962
22. Reports: etc., received from WDCS: 1964
23. List of volunteers and officers: 1941-1968: incomplete
24. Records, attendance, miscellaneous: 1931-1951
25. Records, attendance, miscellaneous: 1952-1965

Series 4: Finance

Box 5
Folder--Contents

1. Audits: 1944-1966: incomplete
2. Finance: miscellaneous correspondence and financial records: 1957
3. Finance: miscellaneous correspondence and financial records: 1957
4. Finance: miscellaneous correspondence and financial records: 1958
5. Finance: miscellaneous correspondence and financial records: 1959
6. Finance: miscellaneous correspondence and financial records: 1960
7. Financial reports prepared for the Women's Division of Christian Serivce (WDCS): 1931-1942: incomplete
8. Financial reports prepared for the WDCS: 1943-1951
9. Financial reports prepared for the WDCS: 1952-1958
10. Financial reports prepared for the WDCS: 1959-1966
11. Financial reports: miscellaneous: 1939-1963
12. Financial reports: monthly, RWCH: 1958-1959
13. Financial reports: monthly, RWCH: 1960-1961
14. Financial reports: monthly, RWCH: 1962-1963
15. Financial reports: monthly, RWCH: 1964-1965
16. Finance: tax returns and payroll: incomplete
17. Finance: receipts and disbursements (records in ledger pad): 1949-1950
18. FInance: institutional income, including fees, sales, admissions, camp fees, etc.: 1960-1963
19. Finance: utilities, including Community House, residence, and other utilities
20. Finance: miscellaneous records, both income and disbursements: 1958-1962
21. Finance: miscellaneous records, including utilities, repair and maintenance, new equipment purchases
22. Finance: miscellaneous, including records for WDCS: 1958-1963
23. Finance: miscellaneous records, including telephone, supplies, maintenance, dues, etc.: 1958-1963
24. Finance: miscellaneous records: 1958-1962
25. Finance: miscellaneous records: 1958-1962

Series 5: Gifts and Acknowledgements

26. Correspondence: gifts and acknowledgements: 1956
27. Correspondence: gifts and acknowledgements: 1957
28. Correspondence: gifts and acknowledgements: 1958
29. Correspondence: gifts and acknowledgements: 1959
30. Correspondence: gifts and acknowledgements: 1965
31. Correspondence: gifts and acknowledgements: 1966
32. Correspondence: gifts and acknowledgements: 1967

Series 6: Publicity

33. Correspondence and miscellaneous publicity: 1940-1952
34. Correspondence and miscellaneous publicity: 1952-1966
35. Newspaper clippings

Series 7: Camp and Summer Program

Scope and Content: Camp and Summer Program materials include correspondence, applications, minutes of staff meetings and miscellaneous items.

Box 6
Folder--Contents

1. Camp and Summer Program: 1951
2. Camp and Summer Program: 1958
3. Camp and Summer Program: 1959
4. Camp and Summer Program: 1960
5. Camp and Summer Program: 1961
6. Camp and Summer Program: 1962
7. Camp and Summer Program: 1963
8. Camp and Summer Program: 1963
9. Camp and Summer Program: 1964
10. Camp and Summer Program: 1965
11. Camp and Summer Program: 1966
12. Camp and Summer Program: 1967
13. Camp and Summer Program: 1968

Series 8: Activities

14. Correspondence and micellaneous material: Homemaker Service: 1963-1964
15. Correspondence and micellaneous material: Communtiy Welfare Council: 1951
16. Correspondence and micellaneous material: immigration and naturalization: For additional information on this area of RWCH activity, see Box 9, Case Records
17. Correspondence and micellaneous material: Citizenship Day: 1952-1953; RWCH Style Shows: 1964-1967

Historical Note: Windham Community Service was apparently an affiliate of the Rebecca Williams Community House. Records of various types associated with the Windham Community Service are grouped in the following folders.

18. Windham Community Service: correspondence and miscellany: 1958-1960
19. Windham Community Service: correspondence and miscellany: 1960-1961
20. Windham Community Service: correspondence, Women's Division of Christian Service (WDCS): 1951-1961
21. Windham Community Service: correspondence, Women's Division of Christian Service (WDCS): 1954-1961
22. Windham Community Service: minutes, Windham Industrial Development Committee: 1961
23. Windham Community Service: financial records; ledger books (2); receipts and disbursements: 1954-1962; first volume includes record of Windham Community Service Pledge Fund
24. Windham Community Service: financial records; monthly reports, apparently incomplete: 1959-1961. Also includes budget askings, 1961-1962, and miscellaneous items
25. Windham Community Service: Financial records; audit reports, incomplete 1954-1961; also contains related correspondence and a bank book
26. Windham Community Service: financial records; income tax and social security, misecllaneous materials
27. Windham Community Service: printed materials origin other than Windham Community Service
28. Windham Community Service: printed materials origin other than Windham Community Service

Series 9: Printed Material, Origin other than Rebecca Williams Community House.

Processing Note: Of these two boxes (Box 7 and 8) of material please note the following: The miscellaneous printed and mimeographed material is not filed by subject matter nor by agency or origin. Nor is it arranged either alphabetically or chronologically. It is felt that this material is likely to be of interest to the research only as indicative of the wealth of printed material reaching a social service agency of the sort represented by the Rebecca Williams Community House.

Box 7
Folder--Contents

1. Printed Material, etc.
2. Printed Material, etc.
3. Printed Material, etc.
4. Printed Material, etc.
5. Printed Material, etc.
6. Printed Material, etc.
7. Printed Material, etc.
8. Printed Material, etc.
9. Printed Material, etc.
10. Printed Material, etc.
11. Printed Material, etc.
12. Printed Material, etc.
13. Printed Material, etc.
14. Printed Material, etc.
15. Printed Material, etc.
16. Printed Material, etc.
17. Printed Material, etc.
18. Printed Material, etc.

Box 8
Folder--Contents

1. Printed Material, etc.
2. Printed Material, etc.
3. Printed Material, etc.
4. Printed Material, etc.
5. Printed Material, etc.
6. Printed Material, etc.
7. Printed Material, etc.
8. Printed Material, etc.
9. Printed Material, etc.
10. Printed Material, etc.
11. Printed Material, etc.
12. Printed Material, etc.
13. Printed Material, etc.
14. Printed Material, etc.
15. Printed Material, etc.
16. Printed Material, etc.
17. Printed Material, etc.
18. Printed Material, etc.

Series 10: Case Records

Scope and Content: Records are largely incomplete and apparently dealt with efforts made by the RWCH to assist in problems of immigration and naturalization. These materials have been filed alphabetically by name.

Restrictions on Access: The records in this series are restricted until 2025.

Box 9
Folder--Contents

1. A
2. B
3. C
4. D-G
5. H-J
6. K, 1 of 2
7. K, 2 of 2
8. L
9. M-O
10. P, 1 of 2
11. P, 2 of 2
12. R
13. S
14. T-Z