Administrative Information

Access Restrictions

Collection is open to research.

Use Restrictions

See the University of Virginia Library’s use policy.

Preferred Citation

Women's Christian Temperance Union of Virginia Papers, Accession 1750, Special Collections Department, University of Virginia Library

Acquisition Information

This collection (# 1750 ) was put on deposit 1938-1953.

Funding Note

Funded in part by a grant from the National Endowment for the Humanities

Scope and Content

This collection consists of 365 items (3.5 Hollinger boxes, ca. 1.5 linear shelf feet), 1882-1958, papers of the Woman's Christian Temperance Union (Women's Christian Temperance Union) of Virginia , a women's organization whose purpose was to prevent the sale and consumption of alcohol in Virginia . The collection is arranged in three series: I. Correspondence and History File, II. Convention Programs and Proceedings, Publications, Photographs, Memorabilia, and Scrapbook, III. Bound Volumes and Printed Materials.

The correspondence includes letters to Amy C. Weech , Director of the Virginia Women's Christian Temperance Union Evangelistic Department and Mrs. Mrs. Walter [Maude] H. Page , Vice-President of the Virginia Women's Christian Temperance Union during the period in which the 18th amendment was repealed and includes a letter from Governor John Garland Pollard . The history file includes a Governor's Proclamation of Youth Temperance Education Week by Governor William A. Tuck . The major portion of the collection consists of minute books of state conventions and local union business meetings from 1882-1958. The scrapbook consists of Women's Christian Temperance Union literature produced by the Fair and Exhibits Department .

Organizational History

The Woman's Christian Temperance Union of Virginia was founded January 2, 1883, five years after the first local union was organized at Lincoln, Virginia . The object of the Women's Christian Temperance Union was to organize local unions throughout the state in order to eliminate liquor sales and production. The first efforts of the Women's Christian Temperance Union were to secure legislative adoption of the Local Option Law to enable localities to individually vote on the sale of liquor in each. The Virginia Women's Christian Temperance Union successfully agitated for the Scientific Temperance Instruction Law which mandated a temperance curriculum in state public schools. The Women's Christian Temperance Union worked for National Prohibition which occurred with the passage of the Eighteenth Amendment in 1920. Though dismayed by the repeal of Prohibition in 1933, the Virginia Women's Christian Temperance Union continued to work for temperance, especially among Virginia 's youth, and broadened its reform program beyond temperance, taking stands against gambling, poor working conditions, and smoking through educational and legislative activities.

Alderman Library holdings include a variety of collections on the Virginia Women's Christian Temperance Union . Provenance: See individual accession numbers for provenance information.

Virginia Women's Christian Temperance Union State Presidents

Mrs. William H. Pleasants , 1883, Jan.-Oct.
Mrs. Rebecca D. Wilson , 1883-1866.
Mrs. William H. Pleasants , 1886-1888.
Mrs. R. H. Jones , 1888-1898.
Mrs. Howard M. Hoge , 1898-1938.
Mrs. Amy C. Weech , 1938-1942.
Mrs. Herbert W. Phillips , 1942-1950.
Mrs. Roy T. Jarrett , 1950-1958.