Women's Literary Club of Carrington Records

Collection

Identifier: MSS 182

Staff Only

Scope and Content

The Women's Literary Club Collection consists of correspondence, manuscripts and secretary books. In the correspondence is a 1904 letter to Clara Putnam from the National Organization of Eastern Star, and a 1954 letter from Mrs. E.F. Coyne to Leonard Sackett of the Institute. The manuscripts contain several short family histories and anecdotes by Zerlina Eakin, Jemima Burnham, Nellie Cousins, Mrs. Ralph Hall, Marie Harmon, Mrs. H. Page and Mrs. Russell, with a 1915 article on the club, a short history of Foster County, and an article on the City Library and its beginnings. The four Secretary's Books contain minutes of the club from 1897 to 1925.

Dates

1897-1925, 1954.

Creator

Women's Literary Club of Carrington (N.D.) (Organization)

Access

The collection is open under the rules and regulations of the NDSU Archives.

Copyrights

Copyrights to this collection are not held by the NDSU Archives.

History

The Women's Literary Club was founded October 7, 1897 and is the oldest club in Foster County. It federated with the state organization in October, 1904 and with the National Organization in February, 1914. The first president was Mrs. G.L. Farnham. The club was organized by a group of pioneer women as a study club with regular courses in literature and history. Originally, the Bay Books were used, but later programs became more general and suited to the interests of individual members.

The club also had an interest in community betterment and its outstanding achievement was the founding of what later became the Carrington City Library, despite problems such as blizzards and the near disastrous fire of February, 1908. It also helped purchase a prize cup for County Play Day, furnished a Sun Room for the hospital, subscribed to Liberty Bonds, donated sewing machines and made other donations, especially in the field of Child Welfare.