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WOMAN'S CHRISTIAN
TEMPERANCE UNION COLLECTION
1922-1977
MSG# 112
HISTORICAL NOTE
The Woman's Christian Temperance Union (W.C.T.U.) is described as
the "oldest voluntary non-sectarian woman's organization in continuous
existence" on the W.C.T.U. website ( http://www.wctu.org/, December, 2000). The women of Fredonia, NY were the first local group to use the
name "Woman's Christian Temperance Union" in 1873. The National W.C.T.U. was founded
in Cleveland Ohio in 1874. Local Chapters are called "unions" and function
autonomously but are linked to state unions and national headquarters.
For further information, see Subject Files,
folder 4, N.W.C.T.U. -- Organizational
Structure. The W.C.T.U. advocates abstinence
from alcohol, tobacco and other substances.