Federation of Texas A&M University Mothers' Club
The Texas A&M Mothers' Club is a service organization. Its objective is to "contribute in every way to the comfort and welfare of the boys, and to co-operate with the faculty of the College in maintaining a high standard of moral conduct and intellectual attainment." In 1922, Mrs. H. L. Peoples set forth this challenge for mothers of A&M students in her organization of the first Mothers' Club in Dallas.
The clubs became a Federation in 1928 with Mrs. F. L. Thomas as its first president. The Federation is gaining new clubs and new strength each year. Currently, it has more than 90 clubs in the state and well over 6,000 paid club membership. It has been the pleasure of A&M Mothers to be actively involved with student life in the past. It is the desire of A&M Mothers to continue this activity on a larger expanded scale and at the same time to retain the personal contact with the individual student.
Physical Description of the Papers
67.5 Linear Feet (75 boxes of records and 10 shelves of scrapbooks)
Federation of TAMU Mothers' Clubs (13.0 linear feet)
Correspondence, Financial Documents, Legal Documents, Minutes, Newsletter, Report, and Yearbook 1928- (arranged together chronologically by year 9.5 linear feet)
Scrapbook [1956-91] (arranged chronologically by year 3.5 linear feet)
Amarillo A&M Mothers' Club (1.0 linear feet)
Minutes 1949-[60](arranged together chronologically by year 0.5 linear feet) Scrapbook 1952-60 (arranged chronologically by year 0.5 linear feet)
Austin A&M Mothers' Club (3.0 linear feet)
Correspondence [1956-71]; Citation from U. S. Treasury Department 1945; Minutes 1952-66; Newsletter 1957-61, 1963-76; Report 1945-46, 1957-58,1963-64, 1969; Scrapbook 1941-48, 1966-72; Yearbook 1946-66, 1970-71, 1975-76, (arranged chronologically by year 3.0 linear feet)
Baytown A&M Mothers' Club (1.5 linear feet)
Checkbook 1963-68, Minutes 1953-67, Receipt book 1962-71,Treasurers Record 1965-68, and Yearbook, 1960-1972, 1979-80 (1.5 linear feet)
Beaumont A&M Mothers' Club (1.5 linear feet)
Correspondence 1964
Photographic Material & Miscellaneous
Report 1979-80
Scrapbook 1964-65, 1976-77
Yearbook 1971-94
Brazos County A&M Mothers' Club (3.0 linear feet)
Scrapbook 1970-87 (arranged chronologically by year 2.5 linear feet)
Guest book 1964-69 (1 vol. 0.5 linear feet)
Brown County A&M Mothers' Club (0.5 linear feet)
Scrapbook 1954-57; 1960-61; 1970-72 (arranged chronologically by year 0.5 linear feet)
Corpus Christi A&M Mothers' Club (0.5 linear feet)
Yearbook 1979-80
Dallas A&M Mothers' Club (15.0 linear feet)
Correspondence [1932-67] (arranged chronologically by year 0.5 linear feet)
Minutes 1922-35; 1939-64, 1987-89 (arranged chronologically by year 1.0 linear feet)
Treasurer's Report 1939-59, 1988 (arranged chronologically by year 0.5 linear feet)
Yearbook [1924-80] (arranged chronologically by year 1.0 linear feet)
History of the Club Update 1926-28; 1922-78, 2 vols. (1.5 linear feet)
President's Book 1984-90 (3.0 linear feet)
Scrapbook 1939-88; Boys in Service 1941-43 (7.5 linear feet)
East Bell County A&M Mothers' Club (3.5 linear feet)
Minutes 1949-69(0.5 linear feet)
Scrapbook 1927-70; 1982-84; 1987-92 (arranged chronologically by year 3 linear feet)
Fort Worth A&M Mothers' Club (4.0 linear feet)
Correspondence [1940-63]; Newsletter [1955-59]; Minutes1941-71; Club's flag; Ledger 1956-69; Treasurer's Report 1966-71; Year book 1938-43, 1946-66, [1972-80]; & Misc.(2.5 linear feet)
Scrapbook 1950-51; 1957-66 (arranged chronologically by year 1.5 linear feet)
Houston A&M Mothers' Club (8.5 linear feet)
Correspondence 1957-77; Minutes and Report 1957-88 (arranged chronologically by year 4.5 linear feet)
Yearbook 1939- , and History of the Club 1927-78 (1.0 linear feet)
Cookbook, Photographic Material and Proclamation from Mayor of Houston 1977 (1.5 linear feet) Scrapbook 1958-77(1.5 linear feet)
Midland A&M Mothers' Club (0.5 linear feet)
Newspaper clippings and Report 1956-73 (arranged chronologically by year 0.5 linear feet)
Montgomery County A&M Mothers' Club (3.0 linear feet)
Correspondence, Minutes, Newsletter, Report, Yearbook and Misc. 1979- 92 (3.0 linear feet)
Orange County A&M Mothers' Club (4.0 linear feet)
Constitutions, By-laws, Membership Rosters, Correspondence, Minutes, Newsletter, Report and Misc.1948-86 (2.5 linear feet)
Scrapbook 1958-67; 1971-74; 1977-83; (arranged chronologically by year 1.5 linear feet)
Plano A&M Mothers' Club (1.5 linear feet)
Scrapbook 1981-86 (arranged chronologically by year 1.5 linear feet)
San Angelo A&M Mothers' Club (0.5 linear feet)
Correspondence 1964, and Yearbook 1979-80
Williamson County A&M Mothers' Club (1.5 linear feet)
Bank Statements 1953-59; Correspondence 1951, 1955-57, 1969, Minutes 1951-57; Receipts 1951-57; Report and Misc.1958-65; Scrapbook 1960-61,1964-65 and Yearbook 1958-72 (1.5 linear feet)
District IV of the Federation of TAMU Mothers' Clubs (1.5 linear feet)
Scrapbook 1974-82 (1 vol. 1.5 linear feet)
Scope and Content Notes
Correspondence, financial documents, legal documents, newsletters, reports, scrapbooks, and yearbooks 1922- (49 linear feet) created and maintained by the Federation of TAMU Mothers' Clubs document a detailed history and activities of the organization and its achievement.
The bulk of the records concentrate on the activities of the clubs with the basic objective set up in 1922. That is: "By individual and united effort to contribute in every way to the comfort and welfare of the boys, and to co-operate with the faculty of the college in maintaining a high standard of moral conduct and intellectual attainment."The accomplishments of the Federation and its local affiliated clubs in the state were shown throughout the records, especially in the scrapbooks. Also in the scrapbooks, a brief history of the university administration and sports events were shown.
Correspondence, financial documents, legal documents, newsletters, and reports document the official activities of the Federation. The yearbooks contain the president's message, the by-laws, and all the officers of the Federation. Since the Dallas A&M Club is the founder of the Texas A&M University Mothers' Clubs, it has the largest file among the local clubs. The history update of the Texas A&M Mothers' Clubs from 1922 to 1978 can be found in its file.
These records of the Federation of Texas A&M University Mothers' Club reveal the strong support for the students as well as for the University from the Federation.
The objective of the Federation is "by individual and united effort to contribute in every way to the comfort and welfare of the boys, and to co-operate with the faculty of the college in maintaining a high standard of moral conduct and intellectual attainment." Mrs. H. L. Peoples, in 1922, set forth this challenge for mothers of A&M students in her organization of the first Mothers' Club.
While particularly active in the parent-teacher association, she represented her hometown of Dallas, Texas, at the state convention in San Antonio. Here, she was inspired by a personal conversation with Governor Pat Neff. They discussed the need for parental guidance to avoid the trend of students dropping out of school. She was of the firm belief that individual security and stability were products of strong ties with the home and that these traits extended into a student's activities at work, play, or at school.
Immediately following the convention, Mrs. Peoples traveled to College Station to visit her son. She was quite concerned with the barren rooms, the stark masculine life, and the decaying moral conditions on the A&M Campus. She returned to Dallas with her mind firmly fixed on the coordinated effort of herself and other Dallas A&M Mothers to bring some of the nicer parts of home life to the school.
She grouped 11 mothers of A&M students into several Model T's and made the 180-mile journey to College Station to see what they could do for the school. They were practically laughed off the campus.
With no loss of enthusiasm, the 11 mothers returned to Dallas and officially organized (Oct. 1922) the Dallas A&M Mothers' Club as an auxiliary branch of the A&M Club. The charter members were Mrs. E. A. Flowers, Mrs. S. D. Hanley, Mrs. Lewin Plunkett, Mrs. A. L. Egan, Mrs. H. G. Stephenson, Mrs. A. G. Cockrell, Mr. R. G. Estep, Mrs. R. W. Mayo, Mrs. George Dart, Mrs. Mr. Rainey, and Mrs. H. L. Peoples.
The "little tender things that Mothers do" (quote from Mrs. Peoples) began with a "spread" (this is actually what they called it in newspapers) to be sent to the Dallas County Boys attending A&M. Pies, sandwiches, cookies, fried chicken, and other homemade goodies were taken via the Model T caravan to the campus. The mothers "spread" their rich and bounteous food in a private section of the mess hall, and with President and Mrs. W. B. Bizzell participating as honored guests, the feast was served to more than 100 members of the Dallas A&M Club of which Cadet Chaplain A. E. Flowers was president. This "spread" was made an annual affair and extended to the entire student body.
On this trip, the Mothers originated the student-loan fund with a total of $500. This fund was set up for students who had "not the price but the ambition for education."
The A&M Mothers began sending luxury items to the boys and soon set up a library of "Victrola records" and magazines in the YMCA Building. Students could check-out these items on the honor system for a period of one week.
Another project involving massive home-cooked food was a party for the A&M foreign students. This time the Model T caravan provided enough food for 1000 students. This became a much-appreciated annual affair. At this party, a minister became aware of the effects the mothers were having on the upgrading of moral conditions at College Station. He decided that it was time for his town to become involved. Consequently, in late 1922, the Fort Worth Mothers' Club was organized.
Dr. Bizzell mentioned to the mothers the need for an organ in Guion Hall. Immediately, the fund-raising projects began. Teas, socials, bridge parties, musicals, bake sales, benefits, and various other money-making enterprises were arranged until the beautiful organ was purchased.
From 1922 through 1925, Mrs. Peoples worked on plans for Parents Day. She and Mrs. Kirk Hall, in February of 1925, took their well-organized plans to Dr. Bizzell, who was delighted with the idea. On May 10 of that year, the first "Mother and Dad's Day" was originated.
One of the historical strong points of the Mothers' Clubs has always been in the scholarship department. The first scholarship fund was begun in 1922. By 1929, the scholarship fund had grown to the amount of $1602.90. In those days, when a dollar would last a while, this fund was a means of staying in school for many students.
The Mothers' Club ideas and enthusiasm spread quickly; Brownwood organized their club in late 1922. The three 1922 clubs are followed by San Antonio (1926), Bell County (1927), Brazos County (1927), Houston (1927), San Angelo (1927), and Beaumont (1933). The clubs became a Federation in 1928 with Mrs. F. L. Thomas as its first president.
The clubs did not hesitate to lobby in the Texas Legislature. In 1929, the clubs collectively and individually exerted all the influence they could muster to persuade the senators and representatives to appropriate money to A&M for new dorms and salaries for instructors. The Legislature gave A&M $150,000 per year.
The Federation of Mothers' Clubs since its beginnings has worked as a coordinated group of clubs on a central basis and as individual clubs on local levels to provide the personal, unfunded necessities and luxuries which are overlooked or forgotten by the administration. During the war years, the clubs were invaluable in contributing time, money, home-cooking, and personal encouragement to Aggies at school and in service. The Austin Club received a personal commendation from the President of the United States for their massive fund-raising drive.
Collectively, the Federated Clubs in 1974 spent $27,000 on projects such as the hospital, Singing Cadets, Fish Drill Team, Fighting Texas Aggie Band, A&M Research Area, M.S.C. Library, Federation Scholarships, Chapel, SCONA, and others. Individual clubs donate, additionally, to projects of their own such as assisting local students financially with loans and scholarships. Local Clubs also recruit and encourage desirable students to attend A&M. Parties, picnics, and dinners are given on the local scenes to inspire and create enthusiasm in Aggies of every age. The duchesses for the Cotton Ball are selected and sponsored by the local clubs.
Dollars are carefully placed in the most wanted and most deserving areas. These dollars are collected one-by-one from bake-sales, hand-crafted items (usually with Aggies motifs), bazaars, donations, rummage sales, sponsoring concerts by the Singing Cadets or other performing A&M organizations, or from personal funds. The hours of personal time donated by A&M Mothers on the local level and the Federation level is astronomical.
The Federation of Texas A&M University Mothers' Clubs has become a powerful, well-organized and sophisticated delegation. Student groups, at the beginning of each year, do not hesitate to come before the board of the Federation to present their individual needs for funds. Every effort is made by the federation to accept these needs as their yearly challenge, and to jointly direct massive support to worthy causes.
The Federation is gaining new clubs and new strength each year. It has been the pleasure of A&M Mothers to be actively involved with student life in the past. It is the desire of A&M Mothers to continue this activity on a larger expanded scale and at the same time to retain the personal contact with the individual student.