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National Secretaries Association, Philadelphia Chapter Records

Notifications

Held at: Temple University Libraries: Special Collections Research Center [Contact Us]

This is a finding aid. It is a description of archival material held at the Temple University Libraries: Special Collections Research Center. Unless otherwise noted, the materials described below are physically available in their reading room, and not digitally available through the web.

Overview and metadata sections

Call Number:
478
Repository:
Temple University Libraries: Special Collections Research Center
Extent:
7.3 linear feet (6 boxes)
Language:
English
Preferred Citation:
[Description and date of item], [Box/folder number], National Secretaries Association, Philadelphia Chapter Records, Acc. 478, Special Collections Research Center, Temple University Libraries, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.
Date:
1950-1979 (inclusive)
Creator:
National Secretaries Association (International). Philadelphia Chapter
Form:
Administrative records, Correspondence, Financial records, Manuscripts, Minutes (administrative records), Pamphlets, Publications (documents), and Reports
Abstract:

The National Secretaries Association (NSA) was a "nonprofit, non-partisan and nonsectarian organization" founded in the Midwest where the organization was chartered in 1942. The Association was headquartered in Kansas City, Missouri and was managed by an Executive Secretary under the advisory supervision of the President and the direction of the International Board of Directors. In April 1944, the first inter-chapter meeting was held in Omaha, Nebraska with members attending from Missouri, Iowa, and Nebraska. In February 1946, the first national convention was held in Kansas City, Missouri; 200 members out of a national membership of 2,904 in 115 chapters attended. The NSA expanded and became international during 1953-54.

NSA as divided into 5 national districts: the Northeast, the Southeast, the Great Lakes, the Southwest, and the Northwest. Local chapters were under the leadership of the District Vice President. As local organizations grew, it became evident that "more localized leadership" was necessary. Therefore state organizations were accepted on a trial basis in 1952 and formally accepted in 1954. As of May 1971, there were 29 active chapters in the State of Pennsylvania; 7 chapters had already disbanded.

NSA came to Philadelphia in 1949 with the formation of 5 chapters: Betsy Ross, Sweet Brier, Liberty Belle, Quaker Maid, and Penn Treaty. A sixth chapter was added later that year: Independence. In October 1949, these six hosted their first regional meeting. By 1951, three of these merged for "further and better advancement" and called themselves the "Philadelphia Chapter": Betsy Ross, Sweet Brier, and Penn Treaty. Manetta Watson was elected President of this chapter for the year 1951-52. Eventually the remaining three merged to form the "Quaker City Chapter." The official bulletin of the "Philadelphia Chapter" was called The Philadelphian.

The organization's primary purpose was to "elevate the standards of the secretarial profession." A secretary was defined "as an executive assistant who possesses a mastery of office skills, who demonstrates the ability to assume responsibility without direct supervision, who exercises initiative and judgment, and who make decisions within the scope of assigned authority."

By 1950, the organization had established the Certified Professional Secretary program. The first examinations were given in 1951; certificates were awarded 62 persons as Certified Professional Secretaries. By 1959, there were 1,466 CPS's. In 1951, the group founded the National Secretaries Association Home Trust Fund, the goal of which was to establish a home for retired secretaries. And, in 1953, through the work of NSA and industrial management, the first National Secretaries Week was observed. NSA's national magazine was titled THE SECRETARY.

Committee members of note included Manetta Watson (1951-52), first President; Ethel Ambler, second President (1952-53) and later Northeastern Vice President (1956-58), International Secretary (1958-59). Additionally, Ethel Ambler wrote the first volume of The History of Philadelphia Chapter of The National Secretaries Association. This history is included in the collection and covers the Chapter from its inception until 1956.

Sources:

Orientation Manual Philadelphia Chapter NSA.

Ambler, Ethel. History of Philadelphia Chapter of the National Secretaries Association (International) Volume 1, 1956.

Handbook of Association Procedures, Revised 1972.

The primary focus of this collection is on the Philadelphia Chapter of The National Secretaries Association that was formed in 1949. However, since the local organization's history and activities were intrinsically linked to the larger organization, some of the collection touches on both the State and National organization. The collection contains financial records, correspondence, minutes and agendas, committee reports, project files, and other materials.

The collection is arranged into 8 series as follows:

Series 1: Administration and Organization, 1950-1979
Series 2: Financial, 1950-1979
Series 3: Correspondence, 1974-1976
Series 4: Publications/ Miscellaneous, undated
Series 5: Projects, 1971-1979
Series 6: Pennsylvania Division, 1960-1978
Series 7: Outside chapters, 1958, undated
Series 8: National Secretaries Association, 1965-1979

Donated by Rose Marie Luedtke in August 1981.

Processed by Anastasia Karel, Susan Kearney, Jennifer Fry, Smadar Shtul, Spring 2002. Finding aid revised according to contemporary archival standards in June 2015.

Subject
Place

Publisher
Temple University Libraries: Special Collections Research Center
Finding Aid Author
Machine-readable finding aid created by: Rajkumar Natarajan, Sky Global Services India (P) Ltd.
Finding Aid Date
April 2023
Access Restrictions

Collection is open for research.

Use Restrictions

The National Secretaries Association, Philadelphia Chapter Records are the physical property of the Special Collections Research Center, Temple University Libraries. Intellectual property rights, including copyright, belong to the authors or their legal heirs and assigns. Researchers are responsible for determining the identity of rights holders and obtaining their permission for publication and for other purposes where stated.

Collection Inventory

Scope and Contents

Series 1: Administration and Organization, includes the sub series history, minutes/agendas, committee reports, and personnel. The series spans 1950 to 1979.

History and By-Laws, undated.
Box 1 Folder 1
Orientation Manual, 1959, 1962-1963.
Box 1 Folder 2
President's Manual Auditing /Nominating Committee, undated.
Box 1 Folder 3
President's Manual Corresponding /Recording Secretary, undated.
Box 1 Folder 4
President's Manual Correspondence /Record Keeping, undated.
Box 1 Folder 5
President's Manual General Information President/ Committees, undated.
Box 1 Folder 6
President's Manual Membership, undated.
Box 1 Folder 7
President's Manual NSA Questionnaire, undated.
Box 1 Folder 8
President's Manual President Conducting Meeting, undated.
Box 1 Folder 9
President's Manual Procedures, undated.
Box 1 Folder 10
President's Manual Statistics, undated.
Box 1 Folder 11
President's Manual Treasurer, undated.
Box 1 Folder 12
President's Manual Vice President, undated.
Box 1 Folder 13
Minutes, 1956-1957.
Box 2 Folder 1
Minutes, 1957-1958.
Box 2 Folder 2
Minutes, 1958-1959.
Box 2 Folder 3
Minutes, 1959-1960.
Box 2 Folder 4
Minutes, 1960-1961.
Box 2 Folder 5
Minutes, 1962-1963.
Box 2 Folder 6
Minutes, 1963-1964.
Box 2 Folder 7
Minutes, 1964-1965.
Box 2 Folder 8
Minutes, 1965-1966.
Box 2 Folder 9
Minutes, 1966-1967.
Box 2 Folder 10
Minutes, 1967-1968.
Box 2 Folder 11
Minutes, 1970.
Box 2 Folder 12
Minutes, 1970-1973.
Box 2 Folder 13
Minutes, 1971-1973.
Box 2 Folder 14
Minutes and Agendas, 1972-1974.
Box 2 Folder 15
Minutes Executive Meeting, 1970-1973.
Box 2 Folder 16
Minutes, 1973-1974.
Box 2 Folder 17
Minutes, 1974-1975.
Box 2 Folder 18
Minutes, 1975-1976.
Box 2 Folder 19
Minutes and Agendas, 1976-1977.
Box 2 Folder 20
Minutes and Agendas, 1977.
Box 2 Folder 21
Minutes and Agendas, 1978.
Box 2 Folder 22
Minutes and Agendas, 1979.
Box 2 Folder 23
Annual Reports, 1971-1974.
Box 3 Folder 1
Audit Committee, 1972-1976.
Box 3 Folder 2
Appraisal Committee, undated.
Box 3 Folder 3
Committee Reports, 1951-1952.
Box 3 Folder 4
Committee Reports, 1952-1953.
Box 3 Folder 5
Committee Reports, 1953-1954.
Box 3 Folder 6
Committee Reports, 1954-1955.
Box 3 Folder 7
Committee Reports, 1955-1956.
Box 3 Folder 8
Committee Reports, 1956-1957.
Box 3 Folder 9
Committee Reports, 1957-1958.
Box 3 Folder 10
Committee Reports, 1958-1959.
Box 3 Folder 11
Committee Reports, 1959-1960.
Box 3 Folder 12
Committee Reports, 1960-1961.
Box 3 Folder 13
Committee Reports, 1961-1962.
Box 3 Folder 14
Committee Reports, 1962-1963.
Box 3 Folder 15
Committee Reports, undated.
Box 3 Folder 16
Committee Reports, undated.
Box 3 Folder 17
Delegate Reports Division, undated.
Box 3 Folder 18
Delegate Reports National, undated.
Box 3 Folder 19
Delegate Reports NE District Conference, undated.
Box 3 Folder 20
Executive Committee, 1950-1951.
Box 3 Folder 21
Executive Committee, 1951-1952.
Box 3 Folder 22
Executive Committee, 1952-1953.
Box 3 Folder 23
Executive Committee, 1953-1954.
Box 3 Folder 24
Executive Committee, 1954-1955.
Box 3 Folder 25
Executive Committee, 1955-1956.
Box 3 Folder 26
Executive Committee, 1977-1979.
Box 3 Folder 27
Awards and paperwork for awards, undated.
Box 3 Folder 28
Jeannette Mathieu, CPS 1969 PA Division Secretary of the Year, undated.
Box 3 Folder 29
Members Removed from Roll 1, undated.
Box 3 Folder 30
Members Removed from Roll 2, undated.
Box 3 Folder 31
Membership Control Records, 1964-1970.
Box 3 Folder 32
Scholarship, undated.
Box 3 Folder 33

Scope and Contents

Series 2: Financial, contains five sub series: Budget, Ledger, Cash Records, Reports and Miscellaneous. The series spans 1950 to 1979.

Budget, 1972-1974.
Box 4 Folder 1
Budget, 1974-1976.
Box 4 Folder 2
Ledger Administrative Expense, 1963-1976.
Box 4 Folder 3
Ledger Cash Fidelity-Philadelphia Trust Co, 1953-1963.
Box 4 Folder 4
Ledger Cash Philadelphia, 1963-1978.
Box 4 Folder 5
Ledger Chapter Dues, 1963-1971.
Box 4 Folder 6
Ledger Chapter Reinstated Fees, 1963-.
Box 4 Folder 7
Ledger Division Dues, 1965-1972.
Box 4 Folder 8
Ledger Dues to Headquarters, 1963-1978.
Box 4 Folder 9
Ledger Exchange, 1964, 1977-1978.
Box 4 Folder 10
Ledger Exchange Accounts, 1953-1963.
Box 4 Folder 11
Ledger Expense Committee, 1953-1963.
Box 4 Folder 12
Ledger Expense General, 1953-1963.
Box 4 Folder 13
Ledger Hospitality Committee, 1963-1973.
Box 4 Folder 14
Ledger Income, 1953-1963.
Box 4 Folder 15
Ledger Miscellaneous Expenses, 1963-1970.
Box 4 Folder 16
Ledger Miscellaneous Expenses, 1963-1977.
Box 4 Folder 17
Ledger Miscellaneous Income, 1965-1973.
Box 4 Folder 18
Ledger New Member Credits, 1963-1975.
Box 4 Folder 19
Ledger President's Fund Delegate Expense, 1963-1969.
Box 4 Folder 20
Ledger Way and Means, 1963-1976.
Box 4 Folder 21
Cash Records, 1962-1967.
Box 4 Folder 22
Cash Records, 1967-1973.
Box 4 Folder 23
Treasurer's Reports, 1950-1951.
Box 4 Folder 24
Treasurer's Reports, 1951-1952.
Box 4 Folder 25
Treasurer's Reports, 1952-1953.
Box 4 Folder 26
Treasurer's Reports, 1953-1954.
Box 4 Folder 27
Treasurer's Reports, 1954-1955.
Box 4 Folder 28
Treasurer's Reports, 1955-1956.
Box 4 Folder 29
Treasurer's Reports, 1956-1957.
Box 4 Folder 30
Treasurer's Reports, 1957-1958.
Box 4 Folder 31
Treasurer's Reports, 1958-1959.
Box 4 Folder 32
Treasurer's Reports, 1959-1960.
Box 4 Folder 33
Treasurer's Reports, 1960-1961.
Box 4 Folder 34
Treasurer's Reports, 1961-1962.
Box 4 Folder 35
Treasurer's Reports, 1964-1965.
Box 4 Folder 36
Treasurer's Reports, 1965-1966.
Box 4 Folder 37
Treasurer's Reports, 1966-1967.
Box 4 Folder 38
Treasurer's Reports, 1967-1968.
Box 4 Folder 39
Treasurer's Reports, 1970-1971.
Box 4 Folder 40
Treasurer's Reports, 1974-1976.
Box 4 Folder 41
Treasurer's Reports, 1977-1978.
Box 4 Folder 42
Treasurer's Reports, 1978-1979.
Box 4 Folder 43
Safe Deposit Box Contents, undated.
Box 4 Folder 44

Scope and Contents

Series 3: Correspondence, contains two sub series, President's correspondence spanning 1974 to 1977 and Committee Correspondence spanning 1974 to 1976.

Correspondence, 1974-1977.
Box 5 Folder 1
Correspondence By Laws, 1974-1976.
Box 5 Folder 2
Correspondence CPS, 1974-1976.
Box 5 Folder 3
Correspondence Educational Program, 1974-1976.
Box 5 Folder 4
Correspondence Historian, 1974-1976.
Box 5 Folder 5
Correspondence Home Service, 1974-1976.
Box 5 Folder 6
Correspondence Membership, 1974-1976.
Box 5 Folder 7
Correspondence Newsletter and Nominations, 1974-1976.
Box 5 Folder 8
Correspondence Publicity and Hospitality, 1974-1976.
Box 5 Folder 9
Correspondence Secretaries Week, 1974-1976.
Box 5 Folder 10
Correspondence Social, 1974-1976.
Box 5 Folder 11
Correspondence Ways and Means, 1974-1976.
Box 5 Folder 12
Correspondence Workshop, 1974-1976.
Box 5 Folder 13

Scope and Contents

Series 4: Publications/ Miscellaneous, contains three folders: Brochures, Photographs and Newspapers, and Public Relations.

Brochures, undated.
Box 5 Folder 14
Photographs and Newspapers, undated.
Box 5 Folder 15
Public Relations, undated.
Box 5 Folder 16

Scope and Contents

Series 5: Projects, the bulk of this series is information on biannual workshops held by the Philadelphia NSA. This series spans 1971 to 1979.

Conference and Convention, undated.
Box 5 Folder 17
Workshop Committee Permanent File, undated.
Box 5 Folder 18
Workshop Pamphlets, undated.
Box 5 Folder 19
Workshop, 1971.
Box 5 Folder 20
Workshop, 1973.
Box 5 Folder 21
Workshop, 1975.
Box 5 Folder 22
Workshop, 1977.
Box 5 Folder 23
Workshop, 1979.
Box 5 Folder 24

Scope and Contents

Series 6: Pennsylvania Division, contains information relating to the Pennsylvania Division of the NSA and spans 1960 to 1978 with the bulk of the records from 1960.

Northeast Division Minutes, 1976-1979.
Box 6 Folder 1
Pennsylvania Division Banquet, 1960.
Box 6 Folder 2
Pennsylvania Division Budget and Expenses, 1960.
Box 6 Folder 3
Pennsylvania Division Bulletins, 1976-1977.
Box 6 Folder 4
Pennsylvania Division, 1977-1978.
Box 6 Folder 4a
Pennsylvania Division Churches, 1960.
Box 6 Folder 5
Pennsylvania Division Committees and Duties, 1960.
Box 6 Folder 6
Pennsylvania Division Correspondence, 1960.
Box 6 Folder 7
Pennsylvania Division Correspondence, 1976-1977.
Box 6 Folder 8
Pennsylvania Division Entertainment Committee, 1960.
Box 6 Folder 9
Pennsylvania Division Exhibits, 1960.
Box 6 Folder 10
Pennsylvania Division History, 1960.
Box 6 Folder 11
Pennsylvania Division Hostess Committee, 1960.
Box 6 Folder 12
Pennsylvania Division Letters to Committee Chair, 1960.
Box 6 Folder 13
Pennsylvania Division Minutes of Annual Meetings, 1973-1977.
Box 6 Folder 14
Pennsylvania Division Miscellaneous, 1960.
Box 6 Folder 15
Pennsylvania Division Prizes and Loot, 1960.
Box 6 Folder 16
Pennsylvania Division Program, 1960.
Box 6 Folder 17
Pennsylvania Division Publicity, 1960.
Box 6 Folder 18
Pennsylvania Division Registration Committee, 1960.
Box 6 Folder 19
Pennsylvania Division Reports, 1960.
Box 6 Folder 20

Scope and Contents

Series 7: Outside chapters, contains two folders on the Main Line Chapter- Chapter NSA and one folder on the Montgomery Chapter NSA.

Main Line Chapter- Chapter Procurement Committee 1, undated.
Box 6 Folder 21
Main Line Chapter- Chapter Procurement Committee 2, undated.
Box 6 Folder 22
Montgomery Chapter NSA, 1958.
Box 6 Folder 23

Scope and Contents

Series 8: National Secretaries Association, the bulk of this series is reports from the NSA. Also included are folders focusing on the International convention and the NSA Home Trust Fund. The series spans the years 1965 to 1979.

Helen White vs. International Directors Meeting, 1972-1973.
Box 6 Folder 24
Kathleen M. Graham HTF nominee.
Box 6 Folder 25
NSA Home Trust Fund.
Box 6 Folder 26
NSA Report of Commission on the Status of NSA, 1965-1967.
Box 6 Folder 27
NSA Reports, 1976.
Box 6 Folder 28
NSA Reports, 1977.
Box 6 Folder 29
NSA Reports, January-April, 1978.
Box 6 Folder 30
NSA Reports, August-December, 1978.
Box 6 Folder 31
NSA Reports, 1979.
Box 6 Folder 32
NSA Directory, undated.
Box 6 Folder 33
NSA Handbook for Association Procedures, undated.
Box 6 Folder 34
NSA Conferences I, undated.
Box 6 Folder 35
NSA Conferences II, undated.
Box 6 Folder 36
NSA Miscellaneous, undated.
Box 6 Folder 37
Tribute to the American Secretary, 1960-1961.
Box 7 Folder 2 oversize items

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