Title:
Optimist Club of Calgary fonds

Date(s):
1939-2007, predominant 1970-2007

Physical Description:
3.5 m of textual records

History:
Optimist International, a men's service club, was founded in the USA and incorporated in 1919. From the beginning the club's major efforts were directed towards working with youth. Each club limits its membership to one or two representatives of any business or profession in order to make up a cross section of community life. The Calgary Club was established in 1938. The group's projects have included support of the Indian Association of Alberta, Boys and Girls clubs, church camps, bicycle safety, anti-drug programs, environmental and earth studies, among others. The Calgary club's women's auxiliary, the Opti-Mrs Club was established in the 1940s but after women became eligible to join the men's organization, the local auxiliary gradually disbanded in the 1990s.

Scope and Content:
The fonds consists of minutes, financial records, newsletters, and scrapbooks. Includes some records of the Opti-Mrs club (1970s-1990s) and of the Optimist Club of High River.

Source of Acquisition:
Gift of Optimist Club of Calgary, 2001-2009 and Marnie Kelly, 2009.

Language:
The material is in English.

Restrictions:
No restrictions on access.

Finding Aids:
Inventory available. Please consult before requesting material.

View finding aid / scanned documents:
http://www.glenbow.org/collections/search/findingAids/archhtm/optimist.cfm

Call Numbers:
(M=manuscript; N&P=photos; R=sound recordings; S=slides; F=films)
M-8817, M-9160, M-9355, M-9356, PA-3553