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› Programs › Special Projects & Programs › WHRC Exploring Our Heritage Program

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Find out how to create an archive for your club in the Exploring Our Heritage Program outline.

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GFWC - Women's History and Resource Center: Exploring Our Heritage Program

Women's History and Resource Center: Exploring Our Heritage Program

GFWC's history of women's clubs and women's volunteer work relies on a strong archival program. We encourage our members to collect, document, preserve, and promote the history of GFWC clubwomen in their own clubs just as we do on a national level in the Women's History and Resource Center.

The WHRC Exploring Our Heritage Program provides clubs with tools to engage in archival preservation, conduct oral history interviews, explore their club history in the context of their community, and publicize their legacies. The Club Histories Revealed publication, as developed by the WHRC, provides a step-by-step guide.

Some tips for beginning your own club archives include:

Much of our history is discovered once we open our eyes for it! Make it a practice to discover materials and find out where they should be deposited, either in your club or state archives. Once you find a place for your archives, remember to inform the WHRC about their location.
Conduct interviews with individual club members or women who have made significant contributions to your club/community. Examples might include interviewing a woman who has been a member for the longest time in your club, or a member who was particularly active in certain projects or a member who pioneered in politics.
Research the history of your clubhouse. Document the property by taking photographs. Submit this information along with the Historic Clubhouse Survey (available from the WHRC) to the WHRC. Explore the opportunities available to historic properties such as obtaining register status, or placing of historical markers. Even if your club does not own a property, think of other properties relating to your club’s past, such as a local library founded by your club, or other meeting places that could be significant.
Visit your Headquarters! GFWC’s Headquarters, a National Historic Landmark, is located in Washington, D.C. It is one of few landmarks related to women’s history and it is part of your club’s past. Tours and information are offered to individuals or groups.

In addition, members can support the history of GFWC and its Headquarters by making a donation to the 1734 Society. All donations to this fund go to support improvements to the historic headquarters building.