Inventory

Terre Haute Day Nursery Association
Dates: 1892-1950
Accession Number: 900312; SM D.C. 17; SM D.C. 18
Donor: Glenice Ramsey
Description: One document case and two small document cases

History

The Terre Haute Day Nursery Association was organized October 5, 1892. According to the Association's Constitution, the primary objective was "to establish and maintain a Day Nursery which shall undertake the care of young children of wage-earning women during working hours." The first officers of the organization were: Mrs. M. H. Waters, president; Mrs. R. S. Tennant, vice-president; Mrs. W. W. Parsons, secretary; and Mrs. W. S. Rea, treasurer.

The group's objective became a reality when the Nursery opened on April 27, 1893 in a small cottage at 314 North Fourth Street. Mrs. Mary E. Rumbly was the first matron at a salary of $10.00 per month and with permission to have her own two children at the Nursery without charge.

The Nursery was largely supported by donations by members of the community. Before opening, 400 patrons had been identified, each of whom had agreed to donate $100 per year to maintain the organization. Additional support came from the $.05 per day fee for each child attending the nursery.

In its first year of operation, the Nursery cared for over 400 children. Many of the mothers of these families were employed in homes in the area near the Nursery; others were employed by hotels, restaurants, and other local businesses, such as Sage's Dry Goods and Wabash Lace. The Nursery also cared for the children of a single father who was employed by a rolling mill.

On June 26, 1895, the Nursery moved to 410 North Fourth Street. In 1917, the Association was able to open a branch nursery at 2115 Beech Street with money from Judge and Mrs. E. H. Pierce. Later the branch moved to 1928 Eighth Avenue where it remained until its closing on September 1, 1947.

The Nursery itself was forced to move to its present location at 8th and Elm streets in 1960, when the Indiana State Teachers College expanded.

Content and Scope of Collection

This collection contains records of the Terre Haute Day Nursery Association from its inception in 1892 up to 1950. Included are a series of minute books from regular Board meetings, minutes and financial reports from the Association's annual meetings, one attendance book listing the children under the Nursery's care, and one scrapbook primarily composed of newspaper clippings.

The collection is arranged roughly in chronological order. Note: There is a discrepancy between dates printed on the cover of some bound volumes of minutes and the actual dates reflected inside.

Small Document Case 1
Loose	Terre Haute Day Nursery Association, Inc.: Minutes of the Board (bound volume)	1892-1895
Folder 1	Attendance book, pp. 1-48	May 1, 1893- March 17, 1894
Folder 2	Attendance book, pp. 49-102	March 17, 1894- Feb. 9, 1895
Folder 3	Attendance book, pp. 103-150	Feb. 11, 1895- Nov. 19, 1895
Folder 4	Terre Haute Day Nursery: Annual Reports	1894; 1895
Folder 5	"Scrap Book of the Terre Haute Day Nursery	1892-1919
Loose	Terre Haute Day Nursery Association, Incorporated: Minutes of the Board (bound volume)	1895-1911
Document Case
Loose	Terre Haute Day Nursery Association, Incorporated: Minutes of the Board (bound volume)	1911-1919
Folder 1	Terre Haute Day Nursery Association: Annual Records, pp. 1-60 (includes Constitution and By Laws; minutes of annual meetings of the Association	1895-1905
Folder 2	Terre Haute Day Nursery Association: Annual Records, pp. 61-132 (includes minutes of annual meetings of the Association)	1905-1918
Folder 3	Terre Haute Day Nursery Association: Annual Records, pp. 133-200 (includes minutes of annual meetings of the Association	1918-1921
Loose	Terre Haute Day Nursery Association, Inc. Minutes of the Board (bound volume)	1919-1929
Loose	Terre Haute Day Nursery Association, Inc.: Minutes of the Board (bound volume)	1929-1939
Small Document Case 2
Loose	Terre Haute Day Nursery Association, Inc.: Minutes of the Board (bound volume)	1939-1950
Folder 1	Terre Haute Day Nursery Association, Inc.: Minutes book, pp. 1-26	1922-1928
Folder 2	Terre Haute Day Nursery Association: Minutes book, pp. 27-50	1928-1939
Folder 3	Terre Haute Day Nursery Association: Minutes book, pp. 51-76 (includes records of annual meetings)	1940-1950