The Organizational Records, 1970-2018, and undated, include: financial reports, grant information, organizational history, one lease agreement, list of staff and volunteers, meeting minutes (agendas and reports), newspaper clippings (copies), photographs, and one oversized scrapbook. The majority of the collections consist of both meeting minutes and financial reports. The collection is organized by alphabetically and chronologically. Although the ICDC was founded in 1969, the organizational records donated to the Clarke begin in the year 1970.
A copy of William Theunissen’s book Isabella Child Development Center, a history of the Center is separately cataloged in the Clarke.
Processing Note: One cubic foot of duplicate materials and acidic materials, were removed from the collection during processing. Copies of the acidic materials were retained within the collection.
Organizational History:
The Isabella Child Development Center (ICDC) was founded in 1969 in Mount Pleasant, Michigan, as the Isabella Preschool Center. ICDC founding board members included: William Theunissen (chairman), Curt Nash (vice chairman), Reed McGee (secretary), Linnea Eber (treasurer), Linda Mortensen (transportation coordinator), Evelyn Rouner (aides coordinator), and Evelyn Greenwald (parent contact). According to its bylaws, its mission was modeled after the federally supported head start program, and focused on helping four-year- old preschool children from financially deprived families. One of the most important ICDC functions for its clients was a clothing exchange, later known as the thrift shop, which was began in 1970. This idea was suggested by then board member Louise Boyd, wife of then Central Michigan University President Bill Boyd. The thrift shop has remained at its current location on North Mission Street since 1986. Prior to this it was at various locations. (This information is from the collection.)
