Arrangement: The collection is arranged by topic as follows: correspondence, administrative material, financial records, annual reports, booklets, histories, promotional material, printed matter, secretarial and treasury records, and volumes. The volumes are in turn divided into administrative, rentals, financial, exchange shop, and printed materials. The collection consists of 9 boxes and 97 bound volumes. It is 22.5 linear feet.

Date Acquired: 04/14/1972

Subjects: Charitable organizations -- Louisiana -- New Orleans., Christian Woman's Exchange (New Orleans, La.), Hermann-Grima House (New Orleans, La.), Historic buildings -- Louisiana., Local exchange trading systems -- Louisiana., Membership., New Orleans (La.) -- Economic conditions -- 19th century., New Orleans (La.) -- Economic conditions -- 20th century., New Orleans (La.) -- History -- 19th century., New Orleans (La.) -- History -- 20th century., Women's exchanges -- United States -- History., Women -- Employment -- Louisiana -- New Orleans., Women -- United States -- Economic conditions.

Forms of Material: Annual reports., Correspondence., Financial records., Ledgers (account books), Membership lists., Merchandise inventories., Receipts (financial records), Tax records.

Languages: English

Scope and Contents of the Materials

This collection consists of records of the Christian Woman's Exchange of New Orleans, Louisiana, including handwritten and typed correspondence, administrative documents and legal and financial records. The bound volumes in this collection are chiefly handwritten ledgers concerning the running of the shop and the operation of the rooming house. The collection also includes minute books, roll books, microfilm, and printed material, including annual reports and issues of the organization's newsletter, the Exchange news.

Biographical Note

The Christian Woman's Exchange was founded in New Orleans in 1881. Its original purpose was to provide a place where needy women could sell homemade products or family heirlooms. Throughout its history, the Christian Woman's Exchange has been financially supported by prominent New Orleans women including, Ira A. Richardson, Caroline S. Tilton, Charles L. Howard, and M.L. Whitney. In 1887, the Exchange acquired the Edwards House, on the corner of Camp and South Streets, which held a shop, a library, a lunchroom, and a rooming house for women. In 1924, the Exchange purchased the Hermann-Grima House at 820 St. Louis Street. This building was restored in the twentieth century; in 2009, for more information, see: http://www.hgghh.org/.

Subject/Index Terms

Charitable organizations -- Louisiana -- New Orleans.
Christian Woman's Exchange (New Orleans, La.)
Hermann-Grima House (New Orleans, La.)
Historic buildings -- Louisiana.
Local exchange trading systems -- Louisiana.
Membership.
New Orleans (La.) -- Economic conditions -- 19th century.
New Orleans (La.) -- Economic conditions -- 20th century.
New Orleans (La.) -- History -- 19th century.
New Orleans (La.) -- History -- 20th century.
Women's exchanges -- United States -- History.
Women -- Employment -- Louisiana -- New Orleans.
Women -- United States -- Economic conditions.

Administrative Information

Repository: Louisiana Research Collection

Alternate Extent Statement: 22.5 linear feet

Access Restrictions: Collection is open to the public. No known restrictions.

Use Restrictions: Physical rights are retained by the Louisiana Research Collection. Copyright is retained in accordance with U.S. copyright laws.

Acquisition Source: Helen M. Shaw, President of Christian Woman's Exchange.

Acquisition Method: Gift.

Preferred Citation: Christian Woman's Exchange records, Manuscripts Collection 257, Louisiana Research Collection, Howard-Tilton Memorial Library, Tulane University, New Orleans, LA 70118.

Processing Information: Collection originally processed ('cataloged') in 1978.

Finding Aid Revision History: Revised and inventory entered into Archon by LAC Group in 2011.

Other Note: OCLC Number: 489712963

Box and Folder Listing

Volume A (3): Minutes of board, 1881-1885

Tulane University Special Collections