Descriptive Summary

History of Organization

The Crow Peak Extension Club came into being on February 8, 1925, under the supervision of Evan W. Hall, County Agent, and May Kiethline of the State Extension Office at Brookings, South Dakota. It was the oldest extension club in Lawrence County and the only club in South Dakota to have three Eminent Homemakers as members. According to the organization´s constitution, meetings were to be held in the homes of the members, in alphabetical order, on the first Wednesday of each month. The club was organized to study problems relating to home and community and focused its energies on promoting and educating on homemaking skills.

Various homemaking demonstrations were held, such as “First Aid in the Home,” “Desserts that are Different,” and a fair exhibit entitled “Something Cooked or Sewed.” From May 2, 1934 until sometime in 1936, the Crow Peak Extension Club belonged to the Federation of Women´s Clubs. In 1938, a delegate was sent to the National Demonstration Council meeting in Lexington, Kentucky. During World War II, two Netherlands families were sponsored and packages were sent to them.

Other activities the club participated in include a reading program, 4-H Club, donating money and time to disabled children and the elderly, studying Civil Defense, and recycling. At Christmas time, a potluck supper and program by 4-H members marked the occasion; as well as a visit by Santa. Overall, the club´s goals encompassed the raising of healthy children, the maintenance of a happy home, and a sense of community that encompasses even the less fortunate.

Scope and Contents

Secretary´s Record Books, 1926-1989; Homemaker´s Handbooks; Songbooks; Misc. business papers and receipts

Acquisition Information

Received June 2007.

Preferred Citation

Crow Peak Extension Club Records, Leland D. Case Western Historical Studies

Processing Information

Beshka Ringstad

Inventory