Komus Klub Records

Collection

Identifier: Mss 341

Staff Only

Scope and Contents

The Komus Klub records consist of two series: Membership and Financial. The Membership Series is broken down by the years or each dance season of the Komus Klub. Each year or season includes its own booklet containing information on when and where the dances would be held, the officers, and a list of the members for the season; letters to members containing the same information; confirmation and thank you letters from business; and a membership list with contact information. This series also contains the remaining booklets not included in the season folders, and a list of the Komus Klub Officers from 1987 to 1999. The Financial Series contains bank statements and receipts each year from 1996 to 2002; receipts from 1990 to 1995; the Komus checkbook; financial notes; a financial journal of year finances for1974 to 1980, 1993 to 2000; and member dues/payments ledgers. The membership lists and financial records from the early years of the club were kept within these payment ledgers. Also, one of the ledgers contains a list of the past presidents of the club from 1936 to 1986. One of ledgers contained loose pages that had been torn out. These pages were members who have dropped; it’s assumed the secretary at the time must have pulled them out of the ledger. As a result, these loose pages have been placed in a separate folder.

Dates

1936-2002.

Creator

Komus Klub (Fargo, N.D.) (Organization)

Access

The collection is open under the rules and regulations of the Institute.

Copyrights

The Institute owns the copyrights.

History

The Komus Klub was organized in 1926 at Fargo, N.D. but also included neighboring towns such as Moorhead, Minn. and others in the surrounding area. The Komus Klub held social and dinner dances as well as formal dances many times during the year. The members of the organization mainly consisted of married couples, but on occasion single men and women were also members. In the 1949-1950 dance season there were 187 members, mostly couples but with a few singles: 92 couples and 3 singles. In the 2001-2002 Komus dance season, there were 35 members: 16 couples and 3 singles. During the 1930s into the late 1940s, the Komus Klub of Fargo-Moorhead held their formal dances and dinner dances in the Crystal Ballroom, which was located in the second floor of the Fargo, N.D. Auditorium (Armory). For the 1949-1950 season, the dances were held at the American Legion Club and the Fargo Country Club. During the 1950s all the way through the early 1970s, the Komus Klub had their three dances per season in the “Top of the Mart” at the Frederick Martin Hotel, which today is the Moorhead, M.N. Federal Building. Throughout the 1970s the Komus Klub held their dinner dances at the Fargo Biltmore Motor Hotel. At some point during the late 1970s through the mid-1980s the Komus Dance Club changed the number of dances per season from three to two. In the later years of the club, the dances were held at the O’Kelly Inn, Holiday Inn, Radisson Hotel, the Elegant Barn at the Whitehouse, “Seasons” at Rose Creek, Ramada Plaza Suites, Doublewood Inn, North Dakota State University Alumni Center, and the Avalon Events Center all in Fargo, N.D. In the early years of the club’s history, the fee or annual dues per couple appear to have been around $10, and in the later years the annual membership was $100. Members who desired to bring out of town guests to any social function could do so by notifying the secretary in advance and paying a small fee. During World War II, the Komus Klub declared men in the service, who are out of town, would have their membership retained for them without fee for the duration of their absence. In the later years of the club, there were many members who were associated with NDSU. One such person was Dr. Les Pavek, whose wife was also a member. Pavek Residence Hall is named after Dr. Pavek, who served as Vice President for Student Affairs. Other NDSU linked members include James Sugihara, who held many positions such as Dean of the College of Science and Mathematics; and Don Stockman who was the Vice President for Business and Finance. Many members came and went for the Komus Klub throughout its years, but numerous members remained loyal for many years. One such couple was Mr. & Mrs. Richard H. Barry who were members from 1943 to 1975. The North Dakota State University College of Business building, Barry Hall, is named after Richard H. Barry. Other long-term members included Mr. & Mrs. Lester Pratt, 1929 to 1969; Mr. & Mrs. Harvey J. Remund, 1939 to 1969; Mr. & Mrs. Paul Horn, 1940 to 1970; Mr. & Mrs. W.P. Tarbell, 1929 to 1957; Mr. & Mrs. E.L. Shaw, 1929 to 1954; Mr. & Mrs. J.M. Schmierer, 1933 to 1964; Mr. & Mrs. A.R. Otterson, 1934 to 1963; Mr. & Mrs. Ralph Ivers, 1934 to 1981; and Mr. & Mrs. Homer W. Ludwick, 1945 to 1981. The records indicate that the Komus Klub became defunct in 2002.