National Secretaries Association, Philadelphia Chapter Records
Collection ID
Acc. 478
Related Subjects
Collecting Areas
Description
Collection Summary
Title
National Secretaries Association, Philadelphia Chapter Records
Dates
1950-1979
Collection ID
Acc. 478
Creator
National Secretaries Association. Philadelphia Chapter
Quantity
7.3 linear feet (6 boxes)
Repository
Special Collections Research Center, Temple University Libraries
Language
Materials in English.
Detailed Collection Information
Historical Note
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.
Description of Collection
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.
Organization and Arrangement
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
Series 1: Administration and Organization, includes the sub series history, minutes/agendas, committee reports, and personnel. The series spans 1950 to 1979.
Series 2: Financial, contains five sub series: Budget, Ledger, Cash Records, Reports and Miscellaneous. The series spans 1950 to 1979.
Series 3: Correspondence, contains two sub series, President’s correspondence spanning 1974 to 1977 and Committee Correspondence spanning 1974 to 1976.
Series 4: Publications/ Miscellaneous, contains three folders: Brochures, Photographs and Newspapers, and Public Relations.
Series 5: Projects, the bulk of this series is information on biannual workshops held by the Philadelphia NSA. This series spans 1971 to 1979.
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.
Series 7: Outside chapters, contains two folders on the Main Line Chapter- Chapter NSA and one folder on the Montgomery Chapter NSA.
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.
Patron Information
Research Access
Collection is open for research.
Collections Stored Off-Site
This collection may be housed off-site at the Library Depository, and require up to two business days to retrieve. Please review the finding aid and be prepared to identify specific materials to be retrieved. Contact the Special Collections Research Center in advance of your visit, so that materials may be relocated to the reading room for research.
Publication and Copyright Information
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.
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.
Administrative Information
Acquisition Information
Donated by Rose Marie Luedtke in August 1981.
Processing Information
Processed by Anastasia Karel, Susan Kearney, Jennifer Fry, Smadar Shtul, Spring 2002. Finding aid revised according to contemporary archival standards in June 2015.
Index Terms
The following headings have been used to index the description of this collection in Temple University’s electronic catalog:
Corporate Names:
National Secretaries Association. Philadelphia Chapter
Subjects:
Secretaries -- Pennsylvania -- Philadelphia
Places:
Philadelphia (Pa.)
Material Types:
Administrative records
Correspondence
Financial records
Manuscripts
Minutes
Pamphlets
Publications
Reports
Inventory
Series 1: Administration, 1950-1979
Subseries 1.1: History, 1959-1963, undated
1 1 History and By-Laws undated
1 2 Orientation Manual 1959, 1962-1963
1 3 President’s Manual Auditing /Nominating Committee undated
1 4 President’s Manual Corresponding /Recording Secretary undated
1 5 President’s Manual Correspondence /Record Keeping undated
1 6 President’s Manual General Information President/ Committees undated
1 7 President’s Manual Membership undated
1 8 President’s Manual NSA Questionnaire undated
1 9 President’s Manual President Conducting Meeting undated
1 10 President’s Manual Procedures undated
1 11 President’s Manual Statistics undated
1 12 President’s Manual Treasurer undated
1 13 President’s Manual Vice President undated
Subseries 1.2: Minutes/Agendas, 1956-1979
2 1 Minutes 1956-1957
2 2 Minutes 1957-1958
2 3 Minutes 1958-1959
2 4 Minutes 1959-1960
2 5 Minutes 1960-1961
2 6 Minutes 1962-1963
2 7 Minutes 1963-1964
2 8 Minutes 1964-1965
2 9 Minutes 1965-1966
2 10 Minutes 1966-1967
2 11 Minutes 1967-1968
2 12 Minutes 1970
2 13 Minutes 1970-1973
2 14 Minutes 1971-1973
2 15 Minutes and Agendas 1972-1974
2 16 Minutes Executive Meeting 1970-1973
2 17 Minutes 1973-1974
2 18 Minutes 1974-1975
2 19 Minutes 1975-1976
2 20 Minutes and Agendas 1976-1977
2 21 Minutes and Agendas 1977
2 22 Minutes and Agendas 1978
2 23 Minutes and Agendas 1979
Subseries 1.3: Committee Reports, 1951-1979
3 1 Annual Reports 1971-1974
3 2 Audit Committee 1972-1976
3 3 Appraisal Committee undated
3 4 Committee Reports 1951-1952
3 5 Committee Reports 1952-1953
3 6 Committee Reports 1953-1954
3 7 Committee Reports 1954-1955
3 8 Committee Reports 1955-1956
3 9 Committee Reports 1956-1957
3 10 Committee Reports 1957-1958
3 11 Committee Reports 1958-1959
3 12 Committee Reports 1959-1960
3 13 Committee Reports 1960-1961
3 14 Committee Reports 1961-1962
3 15 Committee Reports 1962-1963
3 16 Committee Reports Undated
3 17 Committee Reports Undated
3 18 Delegate Reports Division undated
3 19 Delegate Reports National undated
3 20 Delegate Reports NE District Conference undated
3 21 Executive Committee 1950-1951
3 22 Executive Committee 1951-1952
3 23 Executive Committee 1952-1953
3 24 Executive Committee 1953-1954
3 25 Executive Committee 1954-1955
3 26 Executive Committee 1955-1956
3 27 Executive Committee 1977-1979
Subseries 1.4: Personnel, 1964-1970, undated
3 28 Awards and paperwork for awards undated
3 29 Jeannette Mathieu, CPS 1969 PA Division Secretary of the Year undated
3 30 Members Removed from Roll 1 undated
3 31 Members Removed from Roll 2 undated
3 32 Membership Control Records 1964-1970
3 33 Scholarship undated
Series 2: Financial, 1950-1979
Subseries 2.1: Budget, 1972-1976
4 1 Budget 1972-1974
4 2 Budget 1974-1976
Subseries 2.2: Ledger, 1953-1978
4 3 Ledger Administrative Expense 1963-1976
4 4 Ledger Cash Fidelity-Philadelphia Trust Co 1953-1963
4 5 Ledger Cash Philadelphia 1963-1978
4 6 Ledger Chapter Dues 1963-1971
4 7 Ledger Chapter Reinstated Fees 1963-
4 8 Ledger Division Dues 1965-1972
4 9 Ledger Dues to Headquarters 1963-1978
4 10 Ledger Exchange 1964, 1977-1978
4 11 Ledger Exchange Accounts 1953-1963
4 12 Ledger Expense Committee 1953-1963
4 13 Ledger Expense General 1953-1963
4 14 Ledger Hospitality Committee 1963-1973
4 15 Ledger Income 1953-1963
4 16 Ledger Miscellaneous Expenses 1963-1970
4 17 Ledger Miscellaneous Expenses 1963-1977
4 18 Ledger Miscellaneous Income 1965-1973
4 19 Ledger New Member Credits 1963-1975
4 20 Ledger President’s Fund Delegate Expense 1963-1969
4 21 Ledger Way and Means 1963-1976
Subseries 2.3: Cash Records, 1962-1973
4 22 Cash Records 1962-1967
4 23 Cash Records 1967-1973
Subseries 2.4: Reports, 1950-1979
4 24 Treasurer’s Reports 1950-1951
4 25 Treasurer’s Reports 1951-1952
4 26 Treasurer’s Reports 1952-1953
4 27 Treasurer’s Reports 1953-1954
4 28 Treasurer’s Reports 1954-1955
4 29 Treasurer’s Reports 1955-1956
4 30 Treasurer’s Reports 1956-1957
4 31 Treasurer’s Reports 1957-1958
4 32 Treasurer’s Reports 1958-1959
4 33 Treasurer’s Reports 1959-1960
4 34 Treasurer’s Reports 1960-1961
4 35 Treasurer’s Reports 1961-1962
4 36 Treasurer’s Reports 1964-1965
4 37 Treasurer’s Reports 1965-1966
4 38 Treasurer’s Reports 1966-1967
4 39 Treasurer’s Reports 1967-1968
4 40 Treasurer’s Reports 1970-1971
4 41 Treasurer’s Reports 1974-1976
4 42 Treasurer’s Reports 1977-1978
4 43 Treasurer’s Reports 1978-1979
Subseries 2.5: Miscellaneous, undated
4 44 Safe Deposit Box Contents undated
Series 3: Correspondence, 1974-1976
Subseries 3.1: Presidents, 1974-1977
5 1 Correspondence 1974-1977
Subseries 3.2: Committee, 1974-1976
5 2 Correspondence By Laws 1974-1976
5 3 Correspondence CPS 1974-1976
5 4 Correspondence Educational Program 1974-1976
5 5 Correspondence Historian 1974-1976
5 6 Correspondence Home Service 1974-1976
5 7 Correspondence Membership 1974-1976
5 8 Correspondence Newsletter and Nominations 1974-1976
5 9 Correspondence Publicity and Hospitality 1974-1976
5 10 Correspondence Secretaries Week 1974-1976
5 11 Correspondence Social 1974-1976
5 12 Correspondence Ways and Means 1974-1976
5 13 Correspondence Workshop 1974-1976
Series 4: Publications/Miscellaneous, undated
5 14 Brochures undated
5 15 Photographs and Newspapers undated
5 16 Public Relations undated
Series 5: Projects, 1971-1979
5 17 Conference and Convention undated
5 18 Workshop Committee Permanent File undated
5 19 Workshop Pamphlets undated
5 20 Workshop 1971
5 21 Workshop 1973
5 22 Workshop 1975
5 23 Workshop 1977
5 24 Workshop 1979
Series 6: Pennsylvania Division, 1960-1978
6 1 Northeast Division Minutes 1976-1979
6 2 Pennsylvania Division Banquet 1960
6 3 Pennsylvania Division Budget and Expenses 1960
6 4 Pennsylvania Division Bulletins 1976-1977
6 4a Pennsylvania Division 1977-1978
6 5 Pennsylvania Division Churches 1960
6 6 Pennsylvania Division Committees and Duties 1960
6 7 Pennsylvania Division Correspondence 1960
6 8 Pennsylvania Division Correspondence 1976-1977
6 9 Pennsylvania Division Entertainment Committee 1960
6 10 Pennsylvania Division Exhibits 1960
6 11 Pennsylvania Division History 1960
6 12 Pennsylvania Division Hostess Committee 1960
6 13 Pennsylvania Division Letters to Committee Chair 1960
6 14 Pennsylvania Division Minutes of Annual Meetings 1973-1977
6 15 Pennsylvania Division Miscellaneous 1960
6 16 Pennsylvania Division Prizes and Loot 1960
6 17 Pennsylvania Division Program 1960
6 18 Pennsylvania Division Publicity 1960
6 19 Pennsylvania Division Registration Committee 1960
6 20 Pennsylvania Division Reports 1960
Series 7: Outside Chapters, 1958, undated
6 21 Main Line Chapter- Chapter Procurement Committee 1 undated
6 22 Main Line Chapter- Chapter Procurement Committee 2 undated
6 23 Montgomery Chapter NSA 1958
Series 8: National Secretaries Association, 1965-1979
6 24 Helen White vs. International Directors Meeting 1972-1973
6 25 Kathleen M. Graham HTF nominee
6 26 NSA Home Trust Fund
6 27 NSA Report of Commission on the Status of NSA 1965-1967
6 28 NSA Reports 1976
6 29 NSA Reports 1977
6 30 NSA Reports January- April, 1978
6 31 NSA Reports August- December, 1978
6 32 NSA Reports 1979
6 33 NSA Directory undated
6 34 NSA Handbook for Association Procedures undated
6 35 NSA Conferences I undated
6 36 NSA Conferences II undated
6 37 NSA Miscellaneous undated
OVERSIZE
7 2 oversize items, Tribute to the American Secretary 1960-1961
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