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Helen Quirini joined the Schenectady YWCA in 1943 and later became one of its strongest advocates. She went on to serve on the board of directors and was elected president in 1979. This subseries contains materials illustrating the YWCA's day-to-day activities and its contributions to the community. The subseries consists of agendas, minutes, newsletters, magazines and flyers. It also features pamphlets on domestic violence, racism, feminism and equality as well as information on the YWCA-run battered women's shelter in Schenectady.

The Recording Secretary's minutes of meetings have some gaps. The earliest recorded minutes in this collection are from 1902. The minutes are generally limited to one or one and a half pages. The minutes record Club activities at their meetings. The number of members present is listed, sometimes along with an attendance list. Next the secretary records the introduction of a topic, the title of the paper, and the presenter. The secretary also records briefly the actions of the business meeting following the presentations. Included also in the Sub-series are the minutes of the Executive Committees meetings for 1910-1923. Attendance records appear as part of Secretary's Minutes, except for a folder of separate attendance entries for 1903-1916 and 1941-1957.

This series consists of reels containing annual meeting minutes (with tables of contents), correspondence, CSEA President's reports, and verbatim transcripts of Board of Directors, County and State Delegate, and State Executive Committee meetings. Also contained on Reel 10 are the minutes of special delegates meetings and the records of the Capital City Council of the Civil Service Association which formed in 1918. The series also includes Board of Director Meeting files related to the quarterly Board meetings. These files feature committee reports, memorandums, state officer reports, interim Board of Directors meeting materials, and meeting minutes.

This sub-series is made up of the photographic materials in the Creative Services series. It consists of contact sheets, negatives and photographic prints. Also includes a largely complete alphabetical series of faculty portraits from the period of 1991-1997.

This subseries contains manuscript and typescript drafts, typescripts, notes, reprints, monographs, and a small amount of correspondence related to Studer's writing projects. Of interest are two typescript drafts of unpublished projects: Community Life and Woodland Story both of which are reflective pieces examining Studer's life and work at the Downtown Community School and Camp Woodland respectively. Please note that Studer published some Woodland Story chapters separately. For instance, "Folklore from a Valley that Died" (Chapter 9) was a standalone article in New York Folklore Quarterly in 1956. The standalone article "Yarns of a Catskill Woodsman" (Chapter 16) appeared in New York Folklore Quarterly in 1955. "Mike Todd's Story" (Chapter 11) later evolved into and was published as A Catskill Woodsman. A draft of Woodland Story's Chapter 17 entitled "Our Catskill Teachers" also appears as a section of a draft of Chapter 3. Therefore draft text is found in both files. This collection is missing later draft chapters of Woodland Story so there are gaps in the order.

The Administration subseries documents the functions of the director, Board of Trustees, and staff of Camp Woodland as they relate to the operation of the Camp. Materials include annual reports, meeting minutes, correspondence, litigation, counselor in training handbooks, as well as documents related to the Larkin Committee and an investigation of Norman Studer and Camp Woodland for possible subversive activities and ties to the Communist Party. The annual reports provide fiscal summary data related to the operation of the Camp, including, but not limited to, tuition costs, expenditures, operating costs, tax liability, fixed assets and accumulated depreciation, and accumulated funds. These reports were prepared by certified public accountants and record the fiscal state of Camp Woodland in great detail. The folder entitled "Board of Director's Dispute" documents an effort by three of Camp Woodland's founders and Board members - Mrs. Ferber, Mrs. Sydney, and Mrs. Abramson - to separate themselves, legally and financially, from the Camp. It is unclear what precipitated the dispute, but ultimately, it appears there were philosophical differences as well as divergent financial interests.

The Activities subseries consists primarily of publications, event announcements, writings, and art produced by campers, or counselors of Camp Woodland. Notable materials include copies of the Camp magazine, Neighbors; programs, announcements, news clippings, and correspondence related to the Folk Festival of the Catskills; ephemeral publications; and various creative writings. There also are materials about the Folk Museum.

The Activities subseries contains material produced by or involving the students of the Downtown Community School, as well as Norman Studer, beyond his administrative responsibilities. Materials include notes from field trips, graduation dramas, student writings, and Downtown Community School publications, the Downtowner and Scribbler. The Downtowner was an internally published periodical containing a calendar of events, an editorial from Studer, announcements, and student writings. The Scribbler differed in that it was solely composed of student writings from each grade level. This subseries is particularly strong in its representation of field trips sponsored by Studer, many of which were taken to the Catskill Mountains. The folders often include itineraries, curricular guides, local history and maps, as well as student reflections and drawings. Many of the Downtown Community School graduation dramas were predicated on the field trip experiences. Also of interest are a number of folders containing general student writings and drawings and a file on the successful 1965 efforts by the children to help save the historic Old Merchant's House in New York City from demolition.

The Correspondence sub-series includes notes and correspondence regarding the disposition of the Club's archival records; informal and social correspondence; and letters regarding meeting sites; and correspondence with the printing company which printed yearbooks, and programs.

Included in the Annual Delegate Meetings subseries are agendas, resolutions, and bylaws under consideration, officer reports, lists of delegates, committee reports, and meeting minutes. Annual Delegate Meetings are held on a yearly basis over a three or four day period.