Identifier
MA 16
Dates
1956-2007
Extent
Altrusa International, District Seven Records Creator SDSU Archives and Special Collections, Hilton M. Briggs Library Identifier MA 16 Dates 1956-2017 Extent 5.26 linear feet (4 records boxes, 3 document cases)
Abstract
The Altrusa International District Seven Records document the administrative, philanthropic, and service activities of the organization from 1956 to 2017, with a particular focus on the Brookings, South Dakota club. This collection includes meeting minutes, treasurer’s reports, committee records, bylaws, conference proceedings, and correspondence, providing insight into the governance and development of a major women’s professional service organization. Notable materials include conference records from 1956 to 1995, featuring programs, reports, banquet menus, and minutes from president’s workshops and annual district meetings. Additionally, the collection highlights Altrusa’s involvement in community service, vocational education, and literacy initiatives, such as Books for Babes, Harvest and Harmony, and the Brookings Backpack Program.
This collection is a valuable resource for researchers studying women’s civic engagement, professional service organizations, and grassroots philanthropy in the Midwest. The records illustrate Altrusa’s evolution, particularly its efforts in promoting education, literacy, and leadership development for women. The fundraising documents, including those from the Altrusa Wild Game Dinner and Literacy Lunch, offer insight into nonprofit funding strategies. Additionally, the conference proceedings and administrative records provide context for organizational governance, volunteerism, and community-based leadership. The photographs, newsletters, and media materials further enrich the collection, offering a visual and narrative record of Altrusa’s impact over six decades.
Historical Note
Dr. Alfred Durham founded the Altrusa Institute in Nashville in 1917 to support professional women as more entered the workforce during World War I. His vision was a national network of clubs where businesswomen could connect and share ideas. He established clubs in Nashville, Louisville, and Dayton before moving to Indianapolis, where he met Mamie L. Bass.
Bass, a former Superintendent of the Women's Division of the U.S. Employment Services and partner in her brother’s architecture firm, saw greater potential for Altrusa. At its first convention in June 1918, she transformed it into a classified service organization for women, later renamed the National Association of Altrusa Clubs. In 1921, she introduced the Principles of Altrusa, defining it as an organization for merit and accomplishment. By 1922, Altrusa had 20 clubs.
With a focus on vocational education for women, Altrusa expanded its mission to scholarships and career guidance. It became international in 1935 with its first club in Mexico and later expanded to countries across North America, South America, Europe, and Asia. In 1946, Altrusa gained representation at the United Nations.
In 1966, ASTRA was founded to engage young women (ages 13-21) in education, professions, and community service. Literacy became a core initiative in 1977, followed by the Camp Safe Haven project in 1997 for children with HIV/AIDS. The 1980s and 1990s saw further expansion, including environmental advocacy and clubs in the former Soviet Union.
Today, Altrusa remains a grassroots organization addressing local and global challenges. Members support charities, shelters, youth programs, and projects like Habitat for Humanity. Inspired by Thoreau, Mamie L. Bass emphasized: "It is not enough to be good; Altrusans must be good for something."
Altrusa clubs are grouped by geographic districts. District Seven includes Iowa, Minnesota, Nebraska, North Dakota, South Dakota, Michigan, and Wisconsin.
Content Notes
This collection documents the history, administration, and activities of Altrusa International District Seven, with a particular focus on the Brookings, South Dakota club. Spanning from 1956 to 2017, the collection highlights Altrusa’s mission of professional development, community service, and philanthropy.
A significant portion of the collection consists of conference records, including proceedings from annual district and international meetings, as well as president's workshops held between 1956 and 1995. These materials include programs, reports, banquet menus, and minutes, covering pre-conference, conference, and post-conference activities. Administrative records, such as meeting minutes, treasurer’s reports, committee records, and bylaws, provide insight into the governance and organizational structure of the club.
Altrusa’s commitment to community service and philanthropy is reflected in extensive documentation of literacy programs, scholarships, and vocational education grants. Notable initiatives include Books for Babes, Harvest and Harmony, and the Brookings Backpack Program, demonstrating the organization’s dedication to education and social welfare. Fundraising events, such as the Altrusa Wild Game Dinner, Literacy Lunch, and Camp Safe Haven initiative, showcase the club’s efforts to support its charitable activities.
The collection also contains correspondence, newsletters, brochures, and press releases, providing context on the club’s outreach and public relations efforts. Photographs and media document Altrusa’s community engagement, offering a visual record of its impact.
Overall, this collection provides valuable insight into women’s professional service organizations, their contributions to community development, and Altrusa’s long-standing commitment to vocational education, literacy, and civic engagement across the Midwest and internationally.
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Language
English
Publisher
South Dakota State University Archives and Special Collections, Hilton M. Briggs Library, Brookings, South Dakota.
Rights
In Copyright: This Item is protected by copyright and/or related rights. You are free to use this Item in any way that is permitted by the copyright and related rights legislation that applies to your use. For other uses, you need to obtain permission from the rights-holder(s). Materials in this collection may be subject to Title 17, Section 108 of the United States Copy-right Act. Users are responsible for ensuring compliance with copyright, privacy, publicity, trademark, and other applicable rights for their intended use. Obtaining all necessary permis-sions is the user's responsibility. Written authorization from the copyright and/or other rights holders is required for publication, distribution, or any use of protected materials beyond what is permitted under fair use.
Recommended Citation
SDSU Archives and Special Collections, Hilton M. Briggs Library, "Altrusa International, District Seven Records" (2025). Archives Finding Aids. 16.
https://openprairie.sdstate.edu/archives_finding_aids/16
