Woman's Christian Temperance Union of Minnesota

The Woman's Christian Temperance Union of Minnesota (WCTU) was organized September 6, 1877 at the Westminster Presbyterian Church in Minneapolis. Its purpose was "To unite the Christian women of Minnesota for the education of public sentiment to the standard of total abstinence from the use of alcoholic liquors; to train the young in habits of sobriety and total abstinence; to promote good citizenship, purity, peace, and the general welfare." Among its many projects the WCTU secured the first curfew ordinance, brought about the hiring of the first jail matron, instituted the first free kindergarten, founded the first Gospel Mission, secured the passage of the law requiring alcohol and drug education in the public schools, played an important part in raising the age of consent from seven to eighteen years, and secured the first three measures against the white slave traffic. The organization also supplied schools, churches, and libraries with educational literature, sound and visual aids, and speakers; presented radio programs; administered an annual camp for youth; and provided services and financial assistance to numerous charities.

The WCTU held an annual convention in September or October which included an official board meeting, a pre-convention, and a post-convention executive committee meeting. Between conventions any necessary business was conducted by the state central committee at the call of the president. The organization's official publication was The Minnesota White Ribbon and a year book was also published.

The WCTU also included two branches: the Loyal Temperance Legion (LTL), which focused on the education of children under the age of fourteen, and the Youth Temperance Council (YTC), which trained youth leaders between the ages of fourteen and twenty-five to present the Union's approach to the liquor problem to youth groups throughout the state.

Local unions were organized throughout the state and carried out the bulk of the WCTU's work. The state organization was divided into districts composed of the local unions. Each local union had representation at the state organization's annual convention and cooperated with the plans adopted at the state convention and with those adopted from the national plans for the state needs by the state executive committee.

Historical information was taken from the collection.