The records of the La Crosse Business and Professional Women's Club were received in installments and were organized in separate parts at three different times. Part 1 dates 1916-1998 and comprises Boxes 1-10. Boxes 11-15 contain Part 2, additions organized in 1997 which date 1974-1997. Part 3 was organized in 2000, is Box 16, and dates 1981-1998. The paragraphs below describe Part 1 only. The kinds of records they describe however are also found in Parts 2 and 3. In Parts 2 and 3, the folders are in a simple alphabetical order by title.
In part 1, the records of the club have been arranged into five groups: LA CROSSE BPW; COULEE REGION BPW; DISTRICT 4, COULEE REGION DISTRICT; WISCONSIN FEDERATION; and NATIONAL FEDERATION.
The LA CROSSE BPW RECORDS (1916-1998) include articles of incorporation, bylaws, an early history of the club written by Dora D. Marshall, and other scattered materials relating to the club's history and 60th anniversary. Board and regular meeting minutes, club newsletters, scrapbooks and newsclippings, awards and certificates, correspondence, scattered annual reports of the club president, occasional photographs, and fragmentary committee and program records are also included. The record book of the Business Women's Club of the YWCA forms a part of the series and includes meeting minutes, constitution, and member list. Other membership records include annual printed directories, attendance records, dues book, lists of members, and miscellaneous items. Handbooks, rules for initiation ceremonies, and meeting guidelines relate to club structure and procedures. Financial records consist of yearly proposed budgets, monthly and annual reports of the treasurer, and other financial documents. Committee materials relate to proposed legislation of benefit to working women, programs, and scholarships. Additional program and project materials are fragmentary and include some records relating to the Equal Rights Amendment and women's rights, the National Federation's Foundation program, National Career Business Women's Week, and Young Career Women. Also contained are materials concerning the merger of the La Crosse club with the Coulee Region group, and the hosting of the Wisconsin Federation in La Crosse in 1988.
Records of the COULEE REGION BPW (1981-1992) are similar to those of the La Crosse group and consist of awards and certificates, bylaws, correspondence, newsletters, annual reports of the president, general and program correspondence, club chartering, Board and regular meeting minutes, and lists of members. Financial records include annual budgets, monthly treasurer's reports, and miscellaneous materials. Committee records are scattered as are those relating to programs. In addition to monthly meeting programs, other initiatives the club was involved in included the La Crosse Choices Initiative Task Force, Project 2012 (to improve BPW national headquarters), scholarships, sensitive crimes, Woman of Achievement, Young Career Women, a women's health conference, and an annual YWCA Tribute to Outstanding Women.
DISTRICT 4, COULEE REGION DISTRICT (1948-1992) records are spotty and include some minutes of district meetings and materials related to officers and programs. The series also includes occasional reports and newsletters of regional clubs affiliated with District 4 such as those from Neillsville, Sparta, Tomah, and the Vernon area.
WISCONSIN FEDERATION (1937-1984) and NATIONAL FEDERATION (1947-1992) records are fragmentary and include materials primarily relating to the La Crosse club's involvement in meetings and conferences, and specific programs such as International Women's Year and a candlelight ceremony for International Night.
