Title: Attic Angel Association Records
Inclusive Dates: 1889-1960, 1985, 1988-1994

Creator:

• Attic Angel Association (Madison, Wis.)

Call Number: Micro 2039; Audio 1947A; M98-089

Quantity: 3 reels of microfilm (35 mm) and 2 tape recordings; plus additions of 0.1 cubic feet

Repository:

Wisconsin Historical Society, Division of Library, Archives, and Museum Collections

Archival Locations:

Wisconsin Historical Society (Map)

COLLECTION MAY BE STORED OFF-SITE: see catalog entry to request materials and for additional information.

Abstract:

Papers of the Attic Angel Association, one of Wisconsin's oldest philanthropic organizations founded by a group of Madison women to provide for the poor initially and to provide nursing home care beginning in 1953; including constitution and by-laws, annual reports, meeting minutes, membership lists, financial records, correspondence, and scrapbooks. The materials focus on the organization and its growth from a private social welfare charity into an organization with specific interest in health care and in housing and care for the elderly. The documents also contain information about the Visiting Nurse Service in Madison, Wisconsin.

Note:

There is a restriction on use of this material; see the Administrative/Restriction Information portion of this finding aid for details.

Language: English

URL to cite for this finding aid: http://digital.library.wisc.edu/1711.dl/wiarchives.uw-whs-micr2039

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The Attic Angel Association is one of the oldest philanthropic organizations in Wisconsin. Its beginnings are dated around 1889, although the surviving minutes go back only as far as 1899. The original membership consisted of unmarried young women. Members were required to resign when they married. Later the constitution was amended to include married members. Women became members on invitation, and only a few members at a time were added.

The activities of the early organization were diverse. Members made layettes for poor families, gave Christmas parties and toys to underprivileged children, set up a sewing school for girls, and attempted to form a club for boys. One of their first large scale efforts was to raise $1,000 for the building of what was to be Madison General Hospital. After that the group decided to concentrate their energy in only a few arenas. In 1908 they sponsored the first visiting nurse service in Madison. This was to be their major concern for the next forty years. The visiting nurse service expanded. By 1926 the Attic Angels were employing three nurses and were advised to incorporate as a non-stock corporation. The Visiting Nurse Service was incorporated separately in 1950.

Other activities of the organization were also in the fields of public health. They helped sponsor Child Health Centers and Chest Clinics. When the Visiting Nurse Service became officially separated the Attic Angels turned their efforts towards raising money for a nursing home. The Attic Angel Nursing Home was opened in 1953.

The Attic Angel Association papers illustrate the role a private charitable organization played in fulfilling the early welfare needs of the city of Madison. The minutes of the organization are complete from 1899 to 1960. In addition to chronicling the activities of the Attic Angels, the minutes trace the growth of the Visiting Nurse Service in Madison. Treasurer's reports are included in the minutes. The Attic Angel scrapbook, although kept from 1904 to 1924, contains material that goes back to 1898. The scrapbook consists of newspaper clippings, programs from fund raising activities, and reports from the Visiting Nurse Service. At the time of processing the pages of the scrapbook were photocopied for preservation purposes.

The entire collection was microfilmed in 1995 and the originals returned to the Attic Angel Association.

Acquisition Information

Presented by the Attic Angel Association through past president Mrs. Robert Reynolds, Madison, Wisconsin, April 20, 1961. Accession Number: M61-99

Use Restrictions

Literary rights retained by Genevieve Whitford.

Micro 2039 Reel   1 Frame   1	Constitution and by-laws
Reel   1 Frame   65	Annual reports, 1950-1960
	Minutes
Reel   1 Frame   82	1899 December 19-1912 April 25
Reel   1 Frame   186	1912 September 5-1924 May 13
Reel   1 Frame   256	1924 October 9-1929 December 10
Reel   1 Frame   374	1930 January 14-1934 December 5
Reel   1 Frame   494	1935 January 9-1937 December 8
Reel   1 Frame   587	1938 January 12-1941 December 10
Reel   1 Frame   680	1942 January 14-1944 December 18
Reel   1 Frame   762	1945 January 10-1950 September 20
Reel   2 Frame   2	1950 October 12-1952 September 24
Reel   2 Frame   202	1952 October 17-1953 October 22
Reel   2 Frame   335	1953 November 18-1955 March 23
Reel   2 Frame   451	1955 April 6-1957 January 9
Reel   2 Frame   565	1957 February 27-1958 April 23
Reel   2 Frame   649	1958 April 29-1960 April 25
Reel   2 Frame   745	Auxiliary minutes, 1912 March-1917 October
Reel   2 Frame   803	Secretary's files and correspondence, undated, 1949-1958
Reel   3 Frame   1	Audit reports 1951, 1953, 1955, 1958, 1959
Reel   3 Frame   38	Miscellaneous treasurer's reports and notes on finances, undated, 1914-1927
Reel   3 Frame   79	Membership lists and attendance records, 1889-1961
Reel   3 Frame   268	History of the organization, 1899-1954
M98-089 Folder   1	History of the organization, 1889-1989
Micro 2039 Reel   3 Frame   335	Christmas tree book, 1899-1903
Reel   3 Frame   388	The “Park Club,” 1901
Reel   3 Frame   403	Sewing school, 1902-1905
Reel   3 Frame   448	Visiting nurse, undated, 1915-1952
Reel   3 Frame   537	Visiting nurse chest clinic, 1927-1931
Reel   3 Frame   560	Nursing home, 1951-1961
Reel   3 Frame   638	Scrapbook I, 1898-1911
Reel   3 Frame   718	Scrapbook II, 1909-1925
Reel   3 Frame   834	Scrapbook memorabilia, 1898-1919, 1927, 1948
M98-089 Folder   1	Angel Herald newsletter, 1994
1947A/1	"Women - 1985; What Are You Thinking?," 1985 February 7 Note: Recording of programs sponsored by the Educational Committee of the Association. The program was chaired by Jane Secord with speakers Mary Brennan, Jane Coleman, Karen O'Neil, and Genevieve Whitford. Use Restrictions: Literary rights retained by Genevieve Whitford.
1947A/2	"What Are Women Thinking in 1988?," 1988 March 1 Note: Recording of the Attic Angel meeting held at Covenant Presbyterian Church in Madison, Wisconsin, featuring a panel discussion. Speakers include Betty Kurtenacker, Audrey Dybdahl, Carla Smith, and Mary Geppert.