| Abstract: | The Women's Christian Temperance Union was a Cuyahoga County, Ohio, women's temperance group organized in 1887 following the split in 1885 of the Woman's Christian Temperance League of Cleveland, Ohio. The Cuyahoga County W.C.T.U. supported the national W.C.T.U.'s endorsement of the Prohibition Party, while those that did not formed the Non-Partisan Woman's Christian Temperance Union (Cleveland, Ohio). Despite the decline in support for prohibition as evidenced by the repeal of the 18th Amendment in 1933, the Cuyahoga County W.C.T.U. continued to remain active throughout World War II and the following decade. The group was also involved in various charitable activities. The collection consists of minutes of regular monthly meetings, as well as executive committee meetings, quarterly and annual conventions, and occasional special meetings. Included are lists of nominated committee directors, committee reports, local union reports, treasurer's reports, election material, reports on fundraising projects, and newsletters (1949-1950). The collection pertains to the attitude and activities of the WCTU during World War II and the following decade, and deals with issues such as scientific temperance education in Cleveland's public schools, prohibiting liquor advertisements in local newspapers, limiting the number of liquor permits issue, lobbying against city owned and operated liquor outlets, and the passage of state prohibition laws. | |