The Ward M. Canaday Centerfor Special CollectionsThe University of Toledo |
Finding Aid
Alliance Française of Toledo Records, 1962-1999
MSS-143
Size: 4.5 linear feet (plus oversize).
Provenance: Gift of Christopher Malhoit, president of the Toledo Chapter of Alliance Française, on behalf of Alliance Française.
Access: Open
Related Collections: Betty Mauk Papers, MSS-135
Copyright: The literary rights to this collection are assumed to rest with the person(s) responsible for the production of the particular items within the collection, or with their heirs or assigns. Researchers bear full legal responsibility for the acquisition to publish from any part of said collection per Title 17, United States Code. The Ward M. Canaday Center for Special Collections may reserve the right to intervene as intermediary at its own discretion.
Completed by: Magdalena Delicka and Benjamin Grillot, Spring 2000.
Historical Sketch
The origins of The Alliance Française in the United States are rooted in Alliance de Paris, an organization dedicated to the promotion of French language and culture, founded in Paris in 1883. The first chapter of the Alliance de Paris in the United States emerged in 1888 and by 1902 there were 33 chapters across the country. These 33 chapters, deciding they were large enough to form their own organization, united in 1902 to form the Federation of Alliance Française aux États-Unis. The organization grew quickly and by the mid 1960s had reached over 200 chapters.
Nationwide, the organization's official mission was "to increase understanding of the French language, literature, history and culture among people in the United States and to encourage cultural exchange, mutual understanding and friendship." This goal was achieved in a variety of ways including cultural events, language instruction, and foreign exchange programs. Alliance Française has branched out into cyberspace and their website can be found at http://www.afusa.org/.
The roots of Alliance Française in Toledo can be traced to a singular, dynamic individual -Mrs. Betty Mauk. In the late 1950s, Mrs. Mauk and several other French-speaking Toledoans began to meet regularly to converse in French and promote French culture. As this group became larger and increasingly formal, they decided in 1967 to be officially incorporated into the national Alliance Francaise. Membership continued to grow quickly reaching 200 individuals by 1967 and 250 by 1969.
Under the leadership of Mrs. Mauk, Alliance Francaise of Toledo offered the community lectures, films, a French library, trips to France, and programs devoted to French culture. In 1967, setting a precedent of cultural activity that they would continue for years to come, the group sponsored a troupe of French actors to perform Turcaret, an 18th century French play.
Throughout the late sixties, Alliance Française offered private language instruction at all levels: beginner, intermediate and advanced. As the organization expanded, so did the demand for their services. In the late 1960s, Alliance Française organized a school where French language courses could be taught to the general public.
Mrs. Mauk was also known for her ardent support of the revitalization of Toledo's downtown riverfront. During the 1970s when the aging Habor and Bridges Building was demolished, she approached the director of Toledo's Urban Renewal program with a plan for a riverfront park. After much lobbying, hard work and persuasion, her dream became a reality and Promenade Park was born. To the delight of many native Toledoans, she sold homemade French crepes at the riverfront concession stand. Betty also converted a downtown tailor shop near the park into Alliance office space.
The vision and ideals upon which Alliance Française was founded continue to guide the organization today. Alliance Française donates scholarship money to outstanding French language students for travel to France, organizes lectures with internationally known speakers, and plans cultural events to be enjoyed by its members and the city at large. The club's membership has remained steady and they plan to continue their efforts to educate Toledoans about French culture and language well into the next century.
Scope and Content Note
The Alliance Française of Toledo Records has been separated into eight series: Administrative Materials, Correspondence, Cultural Events, Financial Materials, Legal Materials, Photographs, Printed Materials and School Materials. The fourth box contains oversized items from each of these series.
The first series, Administrative Materials, documents the operational proceedings of the organization and is subdivided into seven sub-series: 1) Affiliate Organizations 2) Annual Meetings 3)Board Meeting Minutes 4)Contacts 5)Membership Materials 6)Message Books and 7)Volunteers.
The Affiliate Organizations sub-series contains office files with interaction between the Alliance Française of Toledo and the National Federation of Alliance Française, the International Institute of Greater Toledo, and the Toledo Area International Trade Organization.
The second sub-series, Annual Meetings, is comprised of materials from the annual meetings of Alliance Française aux États-Unis (the national organization). Board Meeting Minutes contain the minutes of board meetings held by the Alliance Française Board of Trustees and Contacts includes lists of individuals with whom there was an important affiliation.
The fifth sub-series, Membership Materials, is composed of rosters, account books, lists and summary reports. These items authenticate membership in Alliance Française in different ways. Message Books, the next sub-series, consists of telephone and interoffice messages recorded in these volumes. The last or seventh sub-series, Volunteers, has chronicled the activities of the organization's volunteers.
The second series of the Alliance Francaise of Toledo Records is Correspondence. It, too, has been separated into six additional categories by the type of correspondence and the organization where it was sent. Where appropriate, the letters have been separated into French and English to facilitate research. The sub-series are: Administrative, Alliance Francaise of the United States, Board of Trustees, General Correspondence, Legal, and Personal.
The next series, Cultural Events, documents the many varied activities sponsored, organized and attended by Alliance Française members. Included here are pamphlets, playbills, advertisements, budget materials, correspondence and reports. They are arranged into three sub-series, Cultural Events - General, Cultural Events - Project/Trip Sponsoring, and Cultural Events - Specific. Cultural Events - General is arranged chronologically and contains general subject files kept by the organization. The second sub-series, Cultural Events - Project/Trip Sponsoring, consists of trips and projects sponsored by the Alliance Française. The third sub-series has information on specific cultural events relative to the organization.
Financial Materials details the financial status of the organization. Treasurer’s reports, financial statements and budget information constitute the fourth series and are arranged alphabetically then chronologically. Additional financial materials can be found in the Oversize materials box.
Legal Materials is a small series with just three folders. The formal Code of Regulations and the legal paperwork surrounding the organization's official incorporation can be found here.
Photographs, series six, are arranged chronologically by the event named in the folder title. Additional large-scale photos are in the Oversize materials box.
The seventh series consists of Printed Materials. Included in this series are three sub-series: Pamphlets, Newspaper Clippings, and Newsletters. Pamphlets are informational brochures or fliers created by the organization for purposes of self-promotion. Newspaper Clippings are cuttings from various local newspapers relating to the activities of Alliance-Française. These materials date to the earliest days of the organization. The Newsletter sub-series contains copies of the Newsletter published by Alliance Française. Arrangement is alphabetical by folder title and chronological inside each folder.
The final series is comprised of School Materials and denotes activities of the school whose purpose was to provide French language instruction and promote French culture in Northwest Ohio. It contains correspondence, financial materials, administrative materials, essays, resumes and student lists.
A fourth box with oversize materials has many items from the original eight series, including oversize scrapbooks with news clippings, photographs, financial documents and ephemera.
Folder List
Box |
Folder |
S1. Administrative Materials |
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A. Affiliate Organizations |
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1 |
1 |
Chapters in the United States, 1985-1989 |
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2 |
Federation of Alliance Française, United States, 1982-1996 |
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3 |
International Institute of Greater Toledo, 1988-1990 |
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4 |
Toledo Area International Trade Organization (TAITA), 1988-1991 |
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B. Annual Meetings |
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5 |
Annual Meetings, Alliance-Française, Toledo, 1982-1999 |
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6 |
Annual Meetings, Alliance-Française, United States, 1983-1997 |
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C. Board Meeting Minutes |
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7 |
Board Meeting Minutes, 1969-1978 |
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8 |
Board Meeting Minutes, 1978-1981 |
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9 |
Board Meeting Minutes, 1982-1987 |
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10 |
Board Meeting Minutes, 1988 |
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11 |
Board Meeting Minutes, 1989 |
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12 |
Board Meeting Minutes, 1990 |
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D. Contacts |
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13 |
Contacts |
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E. Membership Materials |
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14 |
Membership Account Book, 1975-1985 |
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15 |
Membership List, Alliance Française - United States, 1983-1988 |
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16 |
Membership Materials - Misc., 1980-1992 |
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17 |
Membership Payments and Donations, 1982-1992 |
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18 |
Membership Rosters, 1968-1969 |
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19 |
Membership Rosters, 1984-1993 |
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20 |
Membership Summary Reports, 1988-1993 |
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F. Message Books |
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21 |
Message Books, 1986-1987 |
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22 |
Message Books, 1988-1990 |
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G. Volunteers |
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23 |
Alliance-Française Toledo Volunteers, 1989-1991 |
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II. Correspondence |
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A. Administrative |
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2 |
1 |
Alliance Française Toledo Correspondence, Administrative, 1984-1988 |
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2 |
Alliance Française Toledo Correspondence, Administrative, 1989 |
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3 |
Alliance Française Toledo Correspondence, Administrative, 1990-1996 |
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4 |
AFT Correspondence (French), Administrative, 1985-1990 |
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B. Alliance Française - United States |
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5 |
Alliance Française USA Correspondence (English), 1982-1995 |
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6 |
Alliance Française USA Correspondence (French), 1989-1997 |
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C. Board of Trustees |
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7 |
Board of Trustees Correspondence, 1984-1992 |
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D. General Correspondence |
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8 |
General Correspondence, 1965-1977 |
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E. Legal |
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9 |
Legal Correspondence, 1984-1990 |
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F. Personal |
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10 |
Personal Correspondence (English), 1988-1993 |
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11 |
Personal Correspondence (French), 1987-1993 |
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III. Cultural Events |
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A. Cultural Events Files - General |
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12 |
Cultural Events, 1962-1977 |
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13 |
Cultural Events, 1979-1983 |
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14 |
Cultural Events, 1984-1987 |
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15 |
Cultural Events, 1988 |
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16 |
Cultural Events, 1989 |
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17 |
Cultural Events, 1990 |
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18 |
Cultural Events, 1991-1994 |
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19 |
Cultural Events, 1995 |
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20 |
Cultural Events, 1996 |
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21 |
Cultural Events, 1997-1999 |
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B. Cultural Events - Project/Trip Sponsoring |
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22 |
Concourse Nationale de France, 1986-1997 |
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23 |
Local Project Sponsoring, 1986-1996 |
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C. Cultural Events - Specific |
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24 |
30th Anniversary Celebration, 1997 |
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25 |
Bastille Day Celebration, 1989 |
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26 |
Bicentennial of the French Revolution - School Registrations, 1989 |
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27 |
Christmas Party, 1997 |
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28 |
International Heritage Festival, 1997 |
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29 |
"Jacques Brel" play at the Rep, 1997 |
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30 |
Nouveau Beaujolais Celebration, 1997 |
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31 |
Renoir Exhibit Trip, 1997 |
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IV. Financial Materials |
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3 |
1 |
Billings for Translations, 1990-1991 |
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2 |
Budget Information, AF - Toledo, 1987-1991 |
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3 |
Financial Materials, 1967-1982 (1 of 2) |
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4 |
Financial Materials, 1967-1982 (2 of 2) |
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5 |
Financial Statements, AF - USA, 1988-1995 |
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6 |
Invoices, 1989-1990 |
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7 |
Travel, 1989-1996 |
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8 |
Treasurer's File, 1973-1975 |
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9 |
Treasurer's Reports, 1983-1989 (1 of 2) |
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10 |
Treasurer's Reports, 1983-1989 (2 of 2) |
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11 |
Treasurer's Reports, 1990-1994 |
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V. Legal Materials |
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12 |
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13 |
Building and Grounds, 1984-1990 |
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14 |
Code of Regulations, 1982-1988 |
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Incorporation Materials, 1966-1988 |
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VI. Photographs (See Also: VIII. Oversize) |
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15 |
French Photographs, 1981 & n.d. |
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16 |
Photographs, 1986 |
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17 |
Photographs, 1989 |
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18 |
Photographs, Christmas, 1990 |
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19 |
Photographs, Christmas, 1991 |
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20 |
Photographs, Friends' Meeting, 1991 |
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21 |
Photographs, 1991 |
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22 |
Photographs, Mardi Gras, 1993 |
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23 |
Photographs, Miscellaneous, 1993 |
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24 |
Photographs, Christmas, 1994 |
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25 |
Photographs, French Students Visiting, 1994 |
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26 |
Photographs, Le Piaf Fete, 1994 |
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27 |
Photographs, 1994 |
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28 |
Photographs, Soiree au Restaurant, 1994 |
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29 |
Photographs, Entre Amis, 1995 |
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30 |
Photographs, 1995 |
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31 |
Photographs, Beaujolais Party, 1998 |
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VII. Printed Materials |
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A. News clippings |
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32 |
News clippings, 1967-1980 |
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33 |
News clippings, 1984-1997 |
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B. Newsletter |
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34 |
Newsletter, 1974-1997 |
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C. Pamphlets |
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35 |
Bicentennial of the French Revolution - Pamphlets, 1989 |
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VIII. School Materials |
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36 |
Experiment in International Living, 1971-1972 |
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37 |
French Courses, 1969-1998 |
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38 |
Payments to Teachers, 1988-1990 |
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39 |
Private Lesson Payments, 1989-1990 |
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40 |
Resumes in English, 1984-1988 |
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41 |
Resumes in French, 1982-1987 |
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42 |
Scholarship Materials, 1988-1995 (RESTRICTED) |
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43 |
School Correspondence, 1985-1995 |
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44 |
School Income Reports, 1988-1990 |
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45 |
School Related Materials, 1988-1990 |
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46 |
Student Essays, 1992 |
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47 |
Student Lists, 1984-1990 |
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48 |
Teacher Information, 1986-1989 |
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49 |
Teacher - M. Jacques Navarro, 1971 |
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50 |
Teacher - Mlle. L. Annichini, 1969 |
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51 |
Teacher's Time Sheets, 1987-1988 |
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IX. Oversize |
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Items distributed among 3 oversize boxes: 4, 5, and 6. |
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4,5,6 |
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III. Cultural Events: Ephemera - Mardi Gras, 1993; Scrapbook, Cultural Events, 1985-1987; Scrapbook, Cultural Events, 1987-1988; Scrapbook, Cultural Events, 1989-1990 |
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IV. Financial Materials: Cash Receipts and Disbursements Journal, 1975-1981; Financial Information, 1980-1982; Financial Information, 1982-1983 |
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VI. Photographs: Photographs, Assorted, n.d. |
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VII. Printed Materials: Scrapbook, News clippings, 1959-1977 |
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VII. Ephemera: Medallions, Commemorative Coins |
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