United Way Collection

The collection includes meeting minutes of the Sangamon Council of Social Agencies, Associated Welfare Agencies, the Springfield Community Fund, the Springfield Community Chest, the War Fund Council, and the Welfare Council of Sangamon County. It also includes fund campaign materials from the 1940s-1950s and 1973, scrapbooks of general publicity news clippings from the 1900s-1950s, and annual reports from the 1940s-1990s. The audiovisual materials are United Fund slide show carousel, magnetic tape and cassette of WMAY spot, and cassette of Illinois Battle Hymn.

In November 1922, the Chamber of Commerce felt that a Community Chest and a central body of health and welfare agencies were needed in the community. In March 1923, the constitution of the newly formed Springfield Council of Social Agencies was passed. In 1934, the name was changed to Associated Welfare Agencies. In 1939, the president and chairman reorganized and changed the name to The Springfield Community Chest. In 1942, after additional reorganization, the name was changed to The War Fund Council. In 1946, there was another reorganization and revamping of the organization, as its name was changed to The Community Chest of Springfield and Sangamon County. In 1955, the leadership decided to take a slightly different direction by including a larger territory and changing the name of the organization to United Community Services of Springfield and Sangamon County.  In 1975, United Community Funds joined 2,200 local United Ways around the country by becoming the United Way of Sangamon County. In 1995, the organization’s name was changed to the United Way of Central Illinois, Inc. to reflect the organization’s service throughout the region.