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Arlington Public Library, Center for Local History
Arlington Public Library, Center for Local History© 2017 Arlington Public Library, Center for Local History
Heather Crocetto
The collection is open for research.
There are no restrictions.
Kiwanis Club of Arlington Records, Collection # RG 102, Arlington Public Library, Center for Local History
Gift of the Kiwanis Club of Arlington in 2002 and 2008.
Founded in 1915, the Kiwanis Club is an international community service organization. The Arlington chapter was founded in June 1931. On Charter night, August 12, 1931, there were 25 members. Originally for men only, the Arlington Kiwanis started accepting women members in 1988, after the international organization voted to change the membership rules. Until World War II, activities centered on youth work, such as picnics for underprivileged children and the Boy and Girl Scouts. During the war, there was more emphasis on patriotic and civil defense activities. After the war, emphasis returned to raising money to give to local charitable groups and to youth development organizations. The following is a sampling of recipients of the club's donations: local chapters of the Red Cross and Salvation Army, the Arlington Hospital and Arlington YMCA, Hospice of Northern Virginia, and Meals-on-Wheels.
RG 102 houses the records of the Kiwanis Club of Arlington, Virginia. The record group measures three linear feet and dates from 1931 to 2006. Types of material include minutes, newsletters, correspondence, club histories, reports, posters and other publicity materials, clippings, and financial records.
Series 1 contains Board minutes, 1931-1957 and 1980-1981, and document the club's plans for raising and distributing funds. Fundraising activities included peanut sales and especially in later years, an annual oyster/pig roast and a series of narrated travelogue films. Series 2, Travelogue Files , documents this major activity from 1979-1996 and includes film lists, contracts, budgets, correspondence, and publicity materials. Attendance at the travelogues was somewhat lower in the 1990s.
The club has maintained enthusiasm with weekly luncheon meetings and the weekly newsletter, Arki (for Ar lington Ki wanis). Series 3, Newsletters , covers 1936-2005 (bulk 1976-2005) and contains the newsletters. This series constitutes approximately half the collection. Arki summarizes club luncheons and other activities and often has included photographs and cartoons and encourages members to maintain a high level of involvement in charitable fund-raising. There are several volume numbering irregularities (e.g. there are two volumes 29 and 30 and no volumes 35-48). Series 4, Miscellaneous , has various club items that are not part of the above series. It includes histories of the Arlington Kiwanis, membership brochures, and a photograph of membership as of February 13, 2006.
Record Group 102 is organized into four series by type of material. Arrangement within series is generally chronological. Oversized materials, including one photograph, have been removed and placed in proper storage in Box 7. Folders with oversized materials have an asterisk [*] to denote where material was removed and separation sheets added.
Researchers interested in the Kiwanis Club RG 98, Records of the Ki-Wives of Arlington , and RG 197, South Arlington Kiwanis Club Records . There are many other record groups for local Arlington civic organizations throughout the Arlington Community Archives.