The University of Iowa Libraries

The National Secretaries Association was formed by secretaries who believed their profession, which boasted the largest contingent of business women in the 1940s, needed its own organization. The group's motto was "Better Letters; Better Living; Better Letters,"and their three-fold program focused on social, educational, and professional activities. The Robert Lucas Chapter of Iowa City, Iowa was chartered in 1947 and took its name after the first governor of the Iowa territory. In 1981, the national organization changed its name to Professional Secretaries International (PSI), and the Robert Lucas Chapter followed suit. In 1998, PSI members voted to change the name to International Association of Administrative Professionals. The Robert Lucas Chapter of Iowa City, Iowa no longer exists.

The National Secretaries Association, Robert Lucas Chapter (Iowa City, Iowa) records date from 1947 to 1987 and measure 11.5 linear inches. The records are arranged in three series: Administrative, Photographs, and Scrapbooks.

The Administrative series consists of correspondence, budgets, reports, minutes, and chapter booklets, as well as various other administrative materials. The chapter booklets list local and state officers, committees, members, and meeting dates.

The Photographs series contains miscellaneous photographs of group meetings, mostly undated.

The Scrapbooks series contains two leather-bound scrapbooks that chronicle the group's activities from its inception in 1947 up to 1987.

Alternate Extent Statement: Photographs:  In Box 1.

Access: The papers are open for research.

Use: Copyright held by the donor has been transferred to The University of Iowa.

Acquisition: The records (donor no. 795) were donated by Betty Ketchum in 2001.

Preferred Citation: National Secretaries Association Robert Lucus Chapter 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:
National Secretaries Association (U.S.), Robert Lucas Chapter (Iowa City, Iowa)

Dates:
20th century

Topics:
Professional associations
Professional education of women
Career development
Social participation

Occupations:
Businesswomen
Secretaries

Geographic Names:
Iowa City (Iowa)

Genre/Form of Materials:
Administrative records
Archives
Photographs
Scrapbooks

Browse:
Women's Clubs and Organizations