Serra International Records
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Loyola University Chicago ~ Archives and Special Collections UA1991.01, UA1992.19, UA2007.35 Serra International Records Dates: 1937-2006 Creator: Serra International (1934-) Extent: 61.86 linear feet Level of description: Folder Processor & date: Ashley Howdeshell, May 2012 Administration Information Restrictions: No restrictions. Copyright: Copyright and literary property rights have been transferred to Loyola University Chicago. Citation: Loyola University Chicago University Archives and Special Collections. Serra International Records, 1937-2006, Box #, Folder # Provenance: Records where donated to Loyola University from Serra International in 1991, 1992, and 2007. Separations: 5.5 linear feet of extraneous material and duplicates were discarded See Also: Administrative History Serra was founded in 1934 by Harold Haberlie, Dan Rooney, Leo Sharkey and Richard Ward in Seattle, Washington. These four men and their wives met in Leo Sharkey’s home to discuss the idea of starting a Catholic Service Club and thus Serra was born. The first Serra club was chartered in Seattle with 35 members in 1935. Serra officially became Serra International in 1938, at the first convention. The first official Serra club outside the United States was chartered in Victoria, British Columbia, Canada in 1943. Serra International is named for Father Junipero Serra, a Franciscan friar who founded the mission chain in Alta, California. The mandate of Serra International is to foster and promote vocations in the Catholic Church and to aid in financing the education of seminarians. Serra clubs were chartered around the world to help promote Catholic vocations. As interest in Serra International’s work increased, so did the number of clubs. In 1954 The Serran magazine was first published in efforts to keep Serrans across the country informed. International clubs also had their version of The Serran, which was published in a variety of languages. Every year an annual convention was held to gather the clubs and decide on uniform goals for promoting Catholic vocations. Committees and programs were also created to help promote and finance vocations. In 1946 Serra International moved its central offices to Chicago and the headquarters have remained in Chicago to this day. The growth of international clubs greatly expanded in the 1950s and 1960s as clubs were chartered in the countries of Canada, Mexico, South America, Europe, Asia, and Australia, as well additional charters across the United States. National Councils were formed in Great Britain, Brazil, and Spain in Serra International Records Page 1 Loyola University Chicago ~ Archives and Special Collections the 1970s and 1980s. In 1986, Serra International voted to welcome women as well as men to membership in the organization. The wives of Serra had always been active in the organization, but in 1986 women were finally granted full membership. Since it was founded in 1934, Serra has chartered 1,109 Serra Clubs in 46 countries on six continents. Scope and Content The records of Serra International comprise 61.86 linear feet and spanning the years 1937-2006. The records contains correspondence, governance documents, handbooks, meeting minutes, chronologies, officer lists, club lists, past presidents lists, former board members lists, publications, annual convention programs, surveys, financial ledgers, photographs, photograph alums, scrapbooks, oral history transcripts, audio cassettes, films, slides, reel-to-reel tapes, and video tapes. Languages included are English, German, Italian, Portuguese, and Spanish. Series 1: Histories, 1938-2006, no date, Boxes 1-4 Included in the series are: chronologies, historical summaries, founders’ biographies, oral history transcripts, Serra missions statements, and reports from the Serra Historian. Series 2: Founding Documents, 1937-1977, no date, Boxes 4-5 Bylaws, constitutions, articles of incorporation, club charters, officer lists, and correspondence of the first executive director are included in this series. Series 3: Past Presidents, 1941-2006, Boxes 5-7 Photographs, resumes, and correspondence are included in this series. This series is arranged alphabetically. Series 4: Former Board Members, 1967-1989, no date, Boxes 7-12 Photographs, resumes, and correspondence are included in this series. This series is arranged alphabetically. Series 5: Board Trustees Meeting Minutes, 1938-1994, Boxes 13-18 This series contains agendas and meeting minutes for the Board of Trustees. Series 6: Armed Forces Committee, 1969, Box 18 This series contains agendas and meeting minutes for the Armed Forces Committee. Series 7: Communications Committee, 1983-1988, Boxes 18-19 This series contains agendas, meeting minutes and event planning for the Communications Committee. Series 8: Compensation Committee, 1986, Box 19 This series contains agendas and meeting minutes for the Compensation Committee. Series 9: Constitution and By-Laws Committee, 1972-1987, Boxes 19-20 This series contains agendas, meeting minutes and correspondence for the Constitution and By-Laws Committee. Serra International Records Page 2 Loyola University Chicago ~ Archives and Special Collections Series 10: Executive Committee, 1943-1991, no date, Box 20 This series contains agendas, meeting minutes and photographs for the Executive Committee. Series 11: Extension and Quality Control Committee, 1965-1975, Box 20 This series contains agendas, meeting minutes and reports for the Extension and Quality Control Committee. Series 12: Finance Committee, 1940-1992, Box 20 This series contains agendas, meeting minutes and correspondence for the Finance Committee. Series 13: Future Planning Committee, 1965-1979, Box 21 This series contains agendas, meeting minutes and correspondence for the Future Planning Committee. Series 14: Gifted Speakers Committee, 1969, Box 21 This series contain a report from the Gifted Speakers Committee. Series 15: Health and Welfare of Priests Committee, 1969, Box 21 This series contain a report from the Health and Welfare of Priests Committee. Series 16: History Committee, no date, Box 21 This series contain a report from the History Committee. Series 17: Internal Program Committee, 1976-1987, Box 21 This series contains agendas, meeting minutes and correspondence for the Internal Program Committee. Series 18: Long Range Planning Committee, 1968-1989, Boxes 22-23 This series contains agendas, meeting minutes and correspondence for the Long Range Planning Committee. Subseries 18-A: Long Range Planning Sub-Committee: Spirituality, 1983- 1985 Contains agendas and meeting minutes of the sub-committee. Subseries 18-B: Long Range Planning Sub-Committee: Structures, 1984 Contains agendas and meeting minutes of the sub-committee. Subseries 18-C: Long Range Planning Sub-Committee: Theology of Serra, 1985-1987 Contains agendas and meeting minutes of the sub-committee. Serra International Records Page 3 Loyola University Chicago ~ Archives and Special Collections Subseries 18-D: Long Range Planning Sub-Committee: Women in Serra, 1977-1985 Contains agendas and meeting minutes of the sub-committee. Series 19: Membership Committee, 1970-1994, no date, Boxes 24-26 This series contains agendas, meeting minutes, correspondence, and reports for the Membership Committee. Series 20: Nominating Committee, 1984-1988, Box 27 This series contains agendas, meeting minutes and correspondence for the Nominating Committee. Series 21: Program Committee, 1940-1989, Boxes 27-28 This series contains agendas, meeting minutes and correspondence for the Program Committee. Series 22: Vocations Committee, 1980-1988, no date, Boxes 28-30 This series contains agendas, meeting minutes, correspondence, and brochures for the Vocations Committee. Languages in this series are English, Spanish, and Portuguese. Series 23: Parish Vocations Committee, 1979-1982, no date, Box 30 This series contain a report from the Parish Vocations Committee. Series 24: Vocation Activities Committee, 1971-1980, Box 30 This series contains agendas, meeting minutes and correspondence for the Vocations Activities Committee. Series 25: Organizational Directories, 1984-1998, Boxes 30-31 This series contains organizational directories for Serra International and regional clubs. Series 26: General Correspondence, 1938-1997, Boxes 31-33 Correspondence from members, officers, and working partners are included in this series. Series 27: Correspondence with Church Leaders, 1960-1994, no date, Box 34 This series contains correspondence between various church leaders and Serra International. Series 28: Guides and Handbooks, 1941-2006, no date, Boxes 34-39 This series contains guides and handbooks on how to run a Serra International Club, the values of Serra International, the conduct and responsibilities of officers, and how to conduct events. Series 29: Newsletters, 1943-2006, Box 39 This series contains the newsletters Bellringers, Serra International Bulletin, Serra International Newsletter, Serra Weekly Newsletter, Serra Leader, and You Can Help. Serra International Records Page 4 Loyola University Chicago ~ Archives and Special Collections Series 30: The Serran, 1951-2005, Boxes 40-47 This series contains the bi-monthly publication of Serra International, The Serran. Series 31: International Publications, 1967-1996, Boxes 47-48 This series contains Serra International’s international publications which are similar to the English language The Serran. Languages included in this series are Italian, Portuguese, and Spanish. Series 32: Serra Clubs – United States,