The records of the Kiwanis Club of Eau Claire consist of materials collected or accumulated by a succession of club officers. The collection includes long runs of basic organizational records such as Board of Directors minutes, annual reports, newsletters, and news clippings, as well as photographs, film, programs and records of events and activities sponsored by the organization. There is also scattered administrative material from the Wisconsin Upper-Michigan District, to which the Eau Claire club belongs.
The bulk of material coincides with the terms of service of three officers: Noel Buckstaff (club president and district secretary, 1937-1938); Julius Dinger (club treasurer, ca. 1949-1955; vice-president, 1956; president, 1957; and secretary, 1958-1963), and Don Bartingale (vice-president, 1961; president, 1962; and secretary 1964-1980).
The present arrangement divides the material into three series: EXECUTIVE; ACTIVITIES; and WISCONSIN-UPPER MICHIGAN DISTRICT. Photocopies of photographs are filed in sequence with the other records; original photographs and the film are listed as a fourth series. They are stored in the SHSW Visual Materials Archive in Madison.
The EXECUTIVE series reflects the regular activities and responsibilities of the Secretary, President and Board of Directors. The series includes Board of Directors minutes, annual club achievement and treasurer's reports, standardized monthly reports to the Wisconsin-Upper Michigan District, newsletters and newspaper clippings, and some general correspondence. Also included are the monthly reports of committee activities that were submitted to the Secretary for use in the preparation of club monthly reports and material that reflects the Board of Directors' involvement in the new member approval process.
The Weekly Bulletin, a newsletter that was edited by the club secretary, includes the featured speaker or program for the group's regular Thursday meetings and announcements of special events. It was printed on business stationery supplied by club members on a rotating basis, providing a glimpse of the Eau Claire business and professional community. In 1979 the club began a monthly newsletter, the EauKlarian, that included occasional board reports and committee membership lists as well as a program schedule for the month.
Membership records include membership lists and directories, group portraits, correspondence regarding membership status or the selection and approval of new members, and information collected from new members upon induction into the club. Information forms may include place of birth, length of residence in Eau Claire, wedding anniversary, spouse's name and birthday, names and ages of children, business and professional organization affiliations, sports participation, and musical ability. Directories produced after 1957 include a portrait and the occupation or employer of each member. Informal photographs of club members and families may be found in the Activities series under “Social Events.”
Standing and Ad Hoc Committee files in the Executive series include committee membership lists and monthly activity reports used by the club secretary in the preparation of reports to the Wisconsin-Upper Michigan District. These files reflect the oversight and reporting functions of the Executive committee. Working papers of standing and ad hoc committees and records of committee activities may be found in the Activities series under the name of the committee, project, or event.
The ACTIVITIES series consists of scattered photographs, working papers, reports, and publications produced in the course of community projects, fundraisers, and Kiwanis functions. Coverage is haphazard. Identifiable committee correspondence and material that is clearly not part of the executive committee correspondence have been placed in this series. Where possible, events or projects have been grouped under the name of the committee responsible. Social events, which are mainly documented by informal photographs of Kiwanis members, families, and guests, also have been grouped together. Formal photographs of the entire club are filed under “Membership” in the Executive series. Further information on specific committees or events may be found in the Executive series in the Standing and Ad Hoc Committee Report files, appended to the Board of Directors minutes or in Correspondence.
The WISCONSIN - UPPER MICHIGAN DISTRICT series consists of administrative reports, meeting programs, and other records that were produced at the District level. The series is made up of material collected by Noel Buckstaff during his term as District Secretary, correspondence sent to Eau Claire club officers, and convention material and programs. The 1937 Manual for District Officers describes the structure of Kiwanis, the duties of various District Officers, the importance of membership and new club development and rules for achievement and attendance contests. Correspondence sent to club officers includes announcements, reminders, convention registration material, and results of attendance contests. Results of attendance, achievement, and other contests also can be found in Annual Reports. These provide both a summary of club membership levels and activities and a means of comparison between clubs in the Upper Michigan-Wisconsin District.
