4-H Girls Club Short Course Scrapbooks

Ms Coll. 91 consists of two scrapbooks containing photographs, newspaper clippings and ephemera from the 1937 and 1951 Florida 4-H Home Demonstration Short Courses. The 1937 scrapbook documents the state 4-H Short Course Jubilee in celebration of the 25th annual short course (1912-1937). Both of the short courses were held in Tallahassee.

The Short Courses lasted a week and young women from counties around the state of Florida attended. (In 1951 there were approximately 600 registered.) Various criteria, such as leadership, club accomplishments, the number of years involved in the particular club, and projects finished, were used to determine which girls from each county club would attend. The Short Courses included lectures and instruction in food preservation, clothes making, home improvement, and health. Courses were also taught in poultry and gardening. There were outings, refreshment breaks, a dress revue, and other entertaining events.

The 1937 scrapbook contains copies of telegrams, correspondence, newspaper clippings, a program, schedules of events, photographs, fliers, pins, two copies of certificates, and other ephemera. Eight photographs depicting a special pageant celebrating twenty five years of Home Demonstration work in Florida are among the many images in the scrapbook. Newspaper clippings are from the Democrat, the Tallahassee newspaper. The Short Courses took place from June 5 to June 12 at the Florida State College for Women, and there was almost daily media coverage of the event. Another photograph of note is that of African-American extension workers and 4-H youth at their nineteenth annual state convention at Florida A and M University.

The 1951 scrapbook consists mainly of photographs. About eight pictures show the picnic and swimming at Wakulla Springs. There was also a visit to the Governor's Mansion and eight photos show groups from some of the different counties posed on the lawn or by the front entry of the Mansion. The winner of the dress revue is shown with the sewing machine she won. Also seen are an assembly meeting, milk refreshment breaks, the aftermath of the group photo, a reception for senior 4-H Club members, a presentation of an award, and the candle lighting ceremony that concluded the week's activities. All of the photographs in the 1951 album are 8 x 10 inches in black and white and are of good quality.