Kiwanis Club of Indianapolis Records, 1916-2011
MSS 087
20.2 c.f. (23 boxes)

ABSTRACT

Kiwanis International, briefly called the Supreme Lodge Benevolent Order Brothers, was officially chartered in 1915 as a club for businessmen that also had social and commercial benefits. That original intent evolved quickly into a club for businessmen who wanted to improve their communities, hence the 1920 motto “we build.” Today, Kiwanis International is a global organization, with numerous projects dedicated primarily to their current motto of “serving the children of the world.” The Downtown Kiwanis Club of Indianapolis was the first Kiwanis club in Indiana, founded in 1916, and currently has more than 250 members, making it the largest Kiwanis Club in Indiana.

This collection contains by-laws, minutes, correspondence, newsletters, club rosters, tax information, yearbooks, scrapbooks, and brochures.

ACCESS

This collection is open to the public without restriction. The copyright laws of the United States (Title 17, United States Code) govern the making of photocopies or other reproductions of copyrighted material.

PREFERRED CITATION

Cite as: The Kiwanis Club of Indianapolis Records, Ruth Lilly Special Collections and Archives, IUPUI University Library, Indiana University Purdue University Indianapolis, Indianapolis.

ACQUISITION

Presented by the Kiwanis Club of Indianapolis, Indianapolis, IN, A2014/15-040

Processed by Denise Rayman, May 2015.

RELATED RECORDS

Related materials providing background on the parent organization to this club may be found in MSS 078: Kiwanis International Records.

HISTORICAL NOTE

The Kiwanis Club of Indianapolis, sometimes referred to as the Downtown Kiwanis Club of Indianapolis, was the first Kiwanis Club in Indiana, founded in 1916, and currently has more than 250 members, making it the largest Kiwanis Club in Indiana. It became the largest Kiwanis club in the world in 1974 with 400 members, and was also the first club to hit 500 members in 1988. Notable achievements of this club include assisting in the establishment of the Riley Hospital for Children in 1924, Club member Jackson A. Raney being elected as International president in 1955, and being the 3rd largest contributing club to the Kiwanis International’s ongoing campaign to eliminate iodine deficiency disorder in developing countries.

Some of the Downtown Kiwanis Club’s members, along with the Lilly Endowment, campaigned for the Kiwanis International Headquarters’ move from Chicago to Indianapolis in 1982.

REFERENCES

http://www.kiwanis.org/

http://indykiwanis.org/

SCOPE AND CONTENT NOTE

Administrative Records 1919-2011 consist of internal documentation produced by the Kiwanis Club of Indianapolis.

By-laws: Copies of the by-laws as well as correspondence among members and with Kiwanis International discussing amendments and changes to the official by-laws

Record Books: Organized chronologically in yearly bound volumes, these contain records of Board of Trustees meetings, annual reports, financial information, official correspondence, weekly/biweekly newsletters, and clippings of Kiwanis Downtown and local Kiwanians in the news for that year.

Tax Information: Organized chronologically, these contain federal and state tax returns, including 990s.

Kiwanis Foundation of Indianapolis Records 1947-2011 consist of internal documentation produced by the Kiwanis Foundation of Indianapolis, which raises funds on behalf of the Kiwanis Club of Indianapolis, funding programs and distributing grants and scholarships to benefit central Indiana youth. These records contain:

Record books: Organized chronologically in yearly bound volumes, contain records of the Board of Directors meetings, annual reports, financial information, and official correspondence.

Tax Information: Organized chronologically, these contain federal and state tax returns, including 990s.

Publications 1921-2007 consists of material published by the Downtown Kiwanis Club, including brochures for the club as well as for local events sponsored by the club; weekly/biweekly newsletters (note: these are duplicated in the yearly bound Record Books); and yearbooks and memberships rosters, which include names and photographs of club members for that year (note: rosters are duplicated in yearly bound Record Books).

SERIES LIST