Guide to the Washington CattleWomen's Assocation Records 1951-1984
Cage 828

Summary Information

Repository
Washington State University Libraries, Manuscripts, Archives and Special Collections
Creator
Washington CattleWomen's Association
Title
Washington CattleWomen's Association records
ID
Cage 828
Date [inclusive]
1951-1984
Extent
2.75 linear feet of shelf space, 6 containers
Language
Collection materials are in English.
Abstract
The Washington CattleWomen's Association Records consists of materials related to the organization's promotion of beef production and consumption. This includes meeting minutes, files on CattleWomen efforts to promote beef, reports, and correspondence. This collection spans a time period (1951-1984) when the organization was known as the CowBelles.

Preferred Citation

[Item description]. Washington CattleWomen's Association Records, 1951-1984. Manuscripts, Archives, and Special Collections, Washington State University Libraries, Pullman, WA.

Return to Top »


Historical Note

The Washington CattleWomen’s Association (formerly the Washington State CowBelles) has promoted the production and consumption of beef in Washington state since its inception in 1952. As a state branch of the American National CowBelles, the Washington CowBelles functioned as an auxiliary to the Washington Cattlemen’s Association.

Between 1952 and 1984, the Washington CowBelles remained heavily active at the national level of the organization. The state CowBelles boasted the highest national membership in 1959, even though Washington state ranked 31st in beef production at that time. Their national participation in beef advocacy was reflected in several promotional and educational activities at the state level. Most notably, the Washington CowBelles supported 4-H demonstrations, published and sold beef cookbooks, sponsored “Beef Queen” contests, and partnered with home economic courses across the state to promote cooking with beef. In 1987, the CowBelles changed their name to the Washington CattleWomen’s Association.

Return to Top »


Scope and Content

The collection consists of promotional material and publicity, as well as internal records for the Washington State CowBelles (now known as the Washignton CattleWomen's Association) from 1952 – 1984. This includes meeting minutes and reports from county chapters, editions of “Top Hands” the Washington Cattlemen and CowBelles annual directory, correspondence, yearbooks, membership lists, and internally generated histories of the CowBelles. The collection also includes promotional materials such as napkins and placemats as well as internal discussions regarding the effectiveness of the organization's various educational activities.

Return to Top »


Arrangement

The collection is arranged in four series as follows:

Series 1: Publicity, events, and programs, 1959-1976. This series consists of promotional material advocating beef consumption as well as internal documents evaluating the effectiveness of various educational activities. These include CowBelles sponsored 4-H demonstrations, outreach programs promoting the use of beef in Washington home economics courses, the creation and sale of beef cookbooks, and the organization of “Beef Queen” contests.

Series 2: Administrative and financial records, 1952-1984. This series consists of internal organizational records including: membership and officer lists (1958-1967), the Washington CowBelles and Cattlemen’s directory “Top Hands” (1966-1976), accounting ledgers (1958-1966), meeting minutes (1952-1981), and histories of the Washington State and National CowBelles.

Series 3: Correspondence, 1955-1976. This series consists of inter-organizational correspondence, outgoing and incoming communications with the national CowBelles and national Cattlemen’s Association, and letters with Washington state residents involved in 4-H or similar programs. Note: There are two overlapping runs of correspondence (1970-1974 and 1955-1976) that the CowBelles filed separately.

Series 4: Reports and yearbooks, 1957-1975. This series consists of annual reports from 1967-1975 outlining the accomplishments, membership, and financial state of county CowBelles chapters, National CowBelles reports from 1964-1975, and Washington CowBelles yearbooks from 1957-1962.

Return to Top »


Administrative Information

Publication Information

Washington State University Libraries Manuscripts, Archives, and Special Collections  © 2015

http://www.libraries.wsu.edu/masc/

Terrell Library

P.O. Box 645610

Pullman, WA, 99164-5610 USA

509-335-6691

mascref@wsu.edu

Restrictions on Access

This collection is open and available for research use.

Restrictions on Use

Copyright restrictions may apply.

Acquisition Information

The Washington State CattleWomen's Association Records were donated to Washington State University by Christine Marsh from 1980 to 1984 (MS 1980-11; MS 1981-26; MS 1984-19).

Processing Information

This collection was processed by Jason Hogstad in 2015.

Return to Top »


Related Materials

Related Material

Washington Cattlemen's Association records (Cage 367)

Grant County Cattlemen's Association Records (Cage 186)

Return to Top »


Names and Subjects

Corporate Name(s)

Subject(s) :
  • Washington CattleWomen's Association--Archives.

Subject(s)

  • Beef industry--Washington (State).
  • Beef industry--Promotion--Washington (State).
  • Women in the cattle industry--Washington (State).
  • Agriculture
  • Advertising and Marketing
  • Land Use
  • Ranching
  • Women
  • Washington (State)

Return to Top »


Detailed Description of Collection

Series 1  Publicity, events, and programs   1959-1976 

box folder

4-H demonstration program   1963-1967  

1 1

4-H demonstration program   1968-1970  

1 2

4-H demonstration program   1974  

1 3

4-H letters, data   1966-1970  

1 4

4-H report - Washington CowBelles   1974  

1 5

American Agriculture Day   1976  

1 6

Agricultural Day   1974  

1 7

Beef for Father's Day   1971-1972  

1 8

Beef Queen   1970-1976  

1 9

Beef Queen   1970  

1 10

Beef-a-Rama   1971  

1 11

Cookbook   1971-1972  

1 12

Cook-off   1976  

1 13

Know the facts (1)   1973  

1 14

Know the facts (2)   1973  

1 15

Miscellaneous   1959-1962  

1 16

Napkins and placemats   undated  

OS

National beef cook-off   1975  

1 17

National cook books   1973-1974  

2 18

National CowBelles pins and bicentennial charm information   1974-1975  

2 19

News releases   1960-1967  

2 20

Newspaper clippings   1970-1971  

2 21

Photographs of posters and costuming   undated  

2 22

Washington cook book letters   1970-1971  

2 23

Return to Top »


Series 2 Administrative and financial records 1952-1984 

box folder

Beef commission minutes   1971-1972  

2 24

County directories   1961  

2 25

County ledgers, A - K   1954-1960  

2 26

County ledgers, L - Z   1954-1960  

2 27

County reports   1974  

2 28

Ledger   1958-1960  

2 29

Ledger   1953-1960  

2 30

Ledger   1962-1966  

2 31

List of officers   1958-1967  

2 32

Membership awards   1971  

3 33

Membership lists   1958-1967  

3 34

Minutes   1952-1969  

3 35-38

Minutes   1958-1959, 1965  

3 39

Minutes   1967-1970  

3 40

Minutes   1971-1973  

3 41

Minutes   1974-1977  

3 42

Minutes   1978-1981  

3 43

Miscellaneous   1977-1979  

3 44

National and state histories of the CowBelles   1958  

4 45

Receipts   1970-1972  

4 46

Resolutions   1973  

4 47

Resolutions, organizationl history   1984  

4 48

State directory, annual meeting programs, photographs   1963, 1967-1976  

4 49

Washington Cattlemen and CowBelles directory   1966-1967  

4 50

Washington Cattlemen and CowBelles directory   1967-1968  

4 51

Washington Cattlemen and CowBelles directory   1968  

4 52

Washington Cattlemen and CowBelles directory   1969  

4 53

Washington Cattlemen and CowBelles directory   1972  

4 54

Washington Cattlemen and CowBelles directory   1974  

4 55

Washington Cattlemen and CowBelles directory   1975  

4 56

Washington Cattlemen and CowBelles directory   1976  

4 57

Return to Top »


Series 3 Correspondence 1955-1976 

box folder

Correspondence   1970  

4 58

Correspondence   1971  

4 59

Correspondence   1973  

4 60

Correspondence   1974  

5 61

Correspondence   1955-1967  

5 62

Correspondence   1960-1970  

5 63

Correspondence   1963-1976  

5 64

Correspondence   1968-1969  

5 65

Correspondence   1974-1976  

5 66

Return to Top »


Series 4 Reports and yearbooks 1957-1975 

box folder

State and county reports   1955-1967  

5 67

Yearbooks and promotional material   1957-1962  

5 68

Yearbook   1959  

5 69

Yearbook   1960  

5 70

County reports   1967  

5 71

CowBelle Reports   1968  

5 72

CowBelle Reports   1969  

5 73

CowBelle Reports   1970  

5 74

CowBelle Reports   1971  

5 75

County Reports   1974  

6 76

County Reports   1975  

6 77

County Reports   1975  

6 78

National CowBelles reports   1964-1975  

6 79

Return to Top »