The University of Iowa Libraries

The Audubon Society of Manchester in eastern Iowa is a women's bird-watching club. Although there are no official club histories, an Audubon Society tradition holds that members of the Outing Club may have organized the Audubon Society in 1914. There is no evidence that the Audubon Society of Manchester had any affiliation with the national Audubon Society. The society generally held bi-monthly meetings to converse, share information about birds, and enjoy refreshments. Members remained in the club for many years and often participated in other community activities. In 2001, many, but not all, members were retired teachers with a farm background.

The Audubon Society of Manchester records date from 1903 to 2001 and measure 9 linear inches. The records are organized in one series: Administrative files.  These files include secretary's books, treasurer's books, and programs. The Outing Club minutes from 1903 to 1915 are humorous and apparently copied by hand to be included in a letter. The location of the originals is unknown. The Audubon Society records depict a fairly typical women's club in a prosperous county seat in rural eastern Iowa.
 
The Secretary's books (1903-2001) contain minutes of the Outing Club from 1903 to 1915 and the Audubon Society of Manchester from 1922 to 2001 [absent 1917/1918, 1918/1919, 1953, 1955, and 1956. The minutes detail location of meetings, members present, club business, programs, and occasional notices of the activities of various members. The Outing Club minutes describe recreational and social entertainments of prosperous women in Manchester in a light-hearted manner. The Audubon Society of Manchester records document the social and ornithological activities of its members.
 
The Treasurer's book (1945-1955) records dues paid.
 
The Annual programs (1917-2001) are the printed or handmade, sometimes decorative, programs of the Audubon Society during those years. They include a list of officers and members.

Access: The records are open for research.

Use: Copyright has been transferred to the University of Iowa.

Acquisition: The Audubon Society of Manchester records (donor no. 781) were donated by the club in 2001.

Preferred Citation: Audubon Society of Manchester records, Iowa Women's Archives, The University of Iowa Libraries, Iowa City.

Repository:	Iowa Women's Archives
Address:	100 Main Library University of Iowa Libraries Iowa City, IA 52242
Phone:	319-335-5068
Curator:	Kären Mason
Email:	lib-women@uiowa.edu
Website:	http://www.lib.uiowa.edu/iwa

This collection is indexed under the following subject terms.

Corporate Names:
Audubon Society of Manchester (Iowa)

Dates:
20th century
2000-2009

Topics:
Bird watching
Audubon societies
Clubs
Women

Geographic Names:
Manchester (Iowa)

Genre/Form of Materials:
Archives
Administrative records

Browse:
Rural and Farm Women
Women's Clubs and Organizations