Women’s Sports Club of Fargo, North Dakota Records
Collection
Identifier: Mss 350
Scope and Content
The Women’s Sports Club of Fargo later evolved into the Sports Section of the Fine Arts Club (See
“Links”, above, for more information on the Fine Arts Club and National League of Pen Women
Collections). Angela Boleyn, who acted as historian, was also a member of the Fine Arts Club and the
National League of American Pen Women, Fargo Branch. The Women’s Sports Club of Fargo Records
are organized into two series: Women’s Sports Club of Fargo and Angela Boleyn.
The Women’s Sports Club of Fargo Series consists of fifty-three unbound pages of handwritten text including but not limited to the history, activities, including informal minutes, Constitution, songs, tournament results, newspaper clippings and seventy-six photographic prints of the Women’s Sports Club of Fargo, North Dakota.
The photographs in Folder two are of winter sports such as sledding on College Hill; skiing (locations: Ski Slide in Minnesota, Island Park, College Hill, and Tourist Park); and skating (Island Park, Pelican Lake); photographs of the women who belong to the club, and officers of the club; Pelican Lake in Minnesota; horseshoe pitching at Oak Grove Park; Wheat Field near Valley City; Lake of the Woods in Canada with a Chippewa, Mrs. Silver Fox, age ninety-seven, and a papoose bound to a cradleboard; picnic at Fargo Tourist Camp, Golfing at the Country Club; Billboard from 1923 taken on a hike between Moorhead and Dilworth; and the Annual Athletic Sports Carnival held in Fargo, which was attended by over 100 people.
The photographs in Folder three are of officers of the club; Attic Picnic at Mrs. R.G. Cooke’s; hiking on the road to Dilworth; Rifle Team at Bowen’s Resort Rifle Range, and Awards and swimming at Pine Lake; Mrs. Eddy’s Cabin on Lake Melissa; fishing at Lake Floyd, Minnesota; Brainerd, Minnesota visit; Oak Grove picnic; tennis and golf photos; skating costumes from the 1925 New Year’s Ice Carnival at Island Park; Hockey at Island Park.
There is a Street Car ticket from Dilworth to Fargo on September 21, 1924, and accompanying photographs of those who rode the Street Car that day.
The Angela Boleyn Series includes twenty-two items consisting of later dated scrapbook pages, newspaper clippings, and eight photographs related to Angela Boleyn who was acting in the capacity of historian for the Women’s Sports Club. The photographs are of Angela Boleyn, who also worked for The Fargo Forum as a reporter and was editor of The North Dakota Clubwoman.
The Women’s Sports Club of Fargo Series consists of fifty-three unbound pages of handwritten text including but not limited to the history, activities, including informal minutes, Constitution, songs, tournament results, newspaper clippings and seventy-six photographic prints of the Women’s Sports Club of Fargo, North Dakota.
The photographs in Folder two are of winter sports such as sledding on College Hill; skiing (locations: Ski Slide in Minnesota, Island Park, College Hill, and Tourist Park); and skating (Island Park, Pelican Lake); photographs of the women who belong to the club, and officers of the club; Pelican Lake in Minnesota; horseshoe pitching at Oak Grove Park; Wheat Field near Valley City; Lake of the Woods in Canada with a Chippewa, Mrs. Silver Fox, age ninety-seven, and a papoose bound to a cradleboard; picnic at Fargo Tourist Camp, Golfing at the Country Club; Billboard from 1923 taken on a hike between Moorhead and Dilworth; and the Annual Athletic Sports Carnival held in Fargo, which was attended by over 100 people.
The photographs in Folder three are of officers of the club; Attic Picnic at Mrs. R.G. Cooke’s; hiking on the road to Dilworth; Rifle Team at Bowen’s Resort Rifle Range, and Awards and swimming at Pine Lake; Mrs. Eddy’s Cabin on Lake Melissa; fishing at Lake Floyd, Minnesota; Brainerd, Minnesota visit; Oak Grove picnic; tennis and golf photos; skating costumes from the 1925 New Year’s Ice Carnival at Island Park; Hockey at Island Park.
There is a Street Car ticket from Dilworth to Fargo on September 21, 1924, and accompanying photographs of those who rode the Street Car that day.
The Angela Boleyn Series includes twenty-two items consisting of later dated scrapbook pages, newspaper clippings, and eight photographs related to Angela Boleyn who was acting in the capacity of historian for the Women’s Sports Club. The photographs are of Angela Boleyn, who also worked for The Fargo Forum as a reporter and was editor of The North Dakota Clubwoman.
Dates
- 1923-1925.
Creator
- Boleyn, Angela. (Person)
Access
The collection is open under the rules and regulations of the NDSU Archives.
Copyrights
Copyrights to this collection are held by the NDSU Archives.
History
In the records there is a delightful history of the Women’s Sports Club of Fargo, as follows:
Genesis.
Now, in the beginning there was Claire Helgeson, physical culture director of the Y.W.C.A., and she perceived that there was no Women’s Sports Club in Fargo. Sport darkness was upon the face of the fair city. And Claire said, “Let there be a Women’s Sports Club”, and behold the following fair goddesses of sport gathered in council, and they labored and brot forth the organization – known to all mankind as “The Women’s Sports Club”; yea, even unto this day it is known as such. And the fame of these patronesses of sport spread over all the land known as North Dakota. Then they selected one of their number, Portia Lewis, renowned for her beauty and wisdom, as their leader, and she ruled wisely and well, so that she was elected for a second term. And they all said in council assembled, “Let us have no secretary, nor keep minutes, but let us keep this club most informal, and it was agreed, and Portia, the starry eyed, led them to a hill, known even today as College Hill, that overlooks the City, and they spent the long winter afternoon coasting. Then as the shadows lengthened, Portia hitched the large toboggan behind her car, and took them through the City to the YWCA parlors, where Mrs. Pierce and Mrs. Gottschalfa served sandwiches, cake and tea. And as they glanced at each others glowing cheeks, and brightened eyes, they saw that The Women’s Sports Club was good, and they said, “Let us meet each Tuesday for some sport”, and it was agreed. And behold the Sports Club was realized, and it was beautiful to behold. This is a true, or nearly true, chronicle of the beginning of the Sports Club and the “Goddesses of Sport”.
Now, in the beginning there was Claire Helgeson, physical culture director of the Y.W.C.A., and she perceived that there was no Women’s Sports Club in Fargo. Sport darkness was upon the face of the fair city. And Claire said, “Let there be a Women’s Sports Club”, and behold the following fair goddesses of sport gathered in council, and they labored and brot forth the organization – known to all mankind as “The Women’s Sports Club”; yea, even unto this day it is known as such. And the fame of these patronesses of sport spread over all the land known as North Dakota. Then they selected one of their number, Portia Lewis, renowned for her beauty and wisdom, as their leader, and she ruled wisely and well, so that she was elected for a second term. And they all said in council assembled, “Let us have no secretary, nor keep minutes, but let us keep this club most informal, and it was agreed, and Portia, the starry eyed, led them to a hill, known even today as College Hill, that overlooks the City, and they spent the long winter afternoon coasting. Then as the shadows lengthened, Portia hitched the large toboggan behind her car, and took them through the City to the YWCA parlors, where Mrs. Pierce and Mrs. Gottschalfa served sandwiches, cake and tea. And as they glanced at each others glowing cheeks, and brightened eyes, they saw that The Women’s Sports Club was good, and they said, “Let us meet each Tuesday for some sport”, and it was agreed. And behold the Sports Club was realized, and it was beautiful to behold. This is a true, or nearly true, chronicle of the beginning of the Sports Club and the “Goddesses of Sport”.
Biography
Angela Arvilla Green was born in Brainerd, Minnesota in 1886 to Edwin H. and Alice J. (Allen) Green. Edwin
was born in England and Alice in Michigan. Angela had an older brother, Edwin A. born 1885, a younger
brother, Burton, born 1887, then sister Alice born in 1889, Carrie M. born 1894, and George H. born
1896. The family lived five years on a claim or homestead near Brainerd which her father later sold to an
iron mining company. Edwin H. Green was one of the first engineers for the Northern Pacific. Angela
graduated from Brainerd High School and attended Nurses’ training at Northern Plains Beneficial
Association Hospital, graduating in 1907. In June of 1907 she went to Tacoma, Washington, to be in
charge of the operating room in the Northern Pacific Hospital. Later she was in charge of a hospital, and
was a member of a clinical staff in Spokane. The 1910 census records list her as a Nurse of twenty-four
years old and a lodger living in the hotel of Herbert J. White in Spokane. Red Cross Nurse No. 3649.
In connection with the nursing profession, Angela Boleyn was chairman of the committee that presented a bill to the North Dakota Legislature, which passed, to register graduate nurses and raise the standard of hospital training schools in the state. At the onset of World War I, these nurses were eligible to enroll in the American Red Cross Nurses Corps from which they entered the Army Nurse Corps. She also helped organize the North Dakota Nurses’ Association and served as secretary for some time. During World War I she was in charge of the Red Cross Hospital at the A.C. Fargo, during the flu epidemic in 1918, and enrolled Red Cross nurses for service at home and overseas, with North Dakota ranking seventh in the United State for having the largest number in service (pro rata). Angela served on several local and state Public Health Boards and for several years was city of Fargo’s chairman for Tuberculosis Christmas Seals. She helped organize the first open air school and hot lunches (in Washington School) and served on the State Board.
Angela married Paul T. Boleyn on September 2, 1911, in Crow Wing County, Minnesota, and they resided in Fargo. Paul was born in Iowa, where his parents were also married, to Jan or John Boleyn who was born in England, and Magdalena Picoli, who was born in France. Angela and Paul had a son, Paul T. Boleyn, Jr., who was born Sept. 17, 1914 in Crow Wing County, Minnesota. Paul Sr. passed away on February 11, 1934. In 1955 Angela was in Le Havre, France, with her son, Paul, who was in the military, and his wife and two daughters. Angela Boleyn died on November 18, 1962 in Oakton, Virginia.
Other accomplishments of Angela Boleyn include:
President Fargo Fine Arts Club, Chairman of Writers’ section.
State Chairman of Municipal Art for North Dakota for three years, a movement to get a cross section of art and artists in all forty-eight states, held state art exhibits in the Bismarck Capitol and then sent the exhibits to New York.
Publicized and exhibited works of state artists in Graver Hotel, Fargo, North Dakota.
Aided in obtaining scholarships for three state artists and in the sale of several pictures.
Helped organize ten thousand women in the Non-Partisan League Women’s Clubs of the State and was a statewide activist for the “cause” of the League.
Press work for women’s clubs and organizations for more than twenty years.
Press Chairman for North Dakota Federation of Women’s Clubs and editor of North Dakota Club Woman for four years, 1928 to 1932.
Served on local committee for state Pioneer Mother project for the ND Federation of Women’s Clubs, 50 books donated to State Historical Society with women’s stories.
First writing check for $10.00 from the Minneapolis Journal was for the last line of a limerick.
Wrote for pay for nearly six hundred features, articles, straight news stories, editorials and many were illustrated with her own photographs, including two published books which are collections of two of her series of columns originally published in The Fargo Forum: Quarter Sections and Wide Horizons: A Series of Stories on Pioneer Women of ND, Bismarck: ND State Library, 1978 and Blue Capes - Scarlet Linings, Reprints of The Fargo Forum articles 1935-36.
Marketed other features to various newspapers including The Christian Science Monitor.
Substantial checks for four real life pulp fiction love stories.
Wrote jingles, greeting card verses, dozen ghost articles for trade magazines.
Wrote poems, helped organize and charter member of North Dakota Poetry Society, assisted in establishing Prairie Wings, a journal of the North Dakota Poetry Society.
At the time of writing her biography, which is in the records of the National League of American Pen Women, Fargo Branch, see link above, Angela Boleyn was working on a historical biography
In connection with the nursing profession, Angela Boleyn was chairman of the committee that presented a bill to the North Dakota Legislature, which passed, to register graduate nurses and raise the standard of hospital training schools in the state. At the onset of World War I, these nurses were eligible to enroll in the American Red Cross Nurses Corps from which they entered the Army Nurse Corps. She also helped organize the North Dakota Nurses’ Association and served as secretary for some time. During World War I she was in charge of the Red Cross Hospital at the A.C. Fargo, during the flu epidemic in 1918, and enrolled Red Cross nurses for service at home and overseas, with North Dakota ranking seventh in the United State for having the largest number in service (pro rata). Angela served on several local and state Public Health Boards and for several years was city of Fargo’s chairman for Tuberculosis Christmas Seals. She helped organize the first open air school and hot lunches (in Washington School) and served on the State Board.
Angela married Paul T. Boleyn on September 2, 1911, in Crow Wing County, Minnesota, and they resided in Fargo. Paul was born in Iowa, where his parents were also married, to Jan or John Boleyn who was born in England, and Magdalena Picoli, who was born in France. Angela and Paul had a son, Paul T. Boleyn, Jr., who was born Sept. 17, 1914 in Crow Wing County, Minnesota. Paul Sr. passed away on February 11, 1934. In 1955 Angela was in Le Havre, France, with her son, Paul, who was in the military, and his wife and two daughters. Angela Boleyn died on November 18, 1962 in Oakton, Virginia.
Other accomplishments of Angela Boleyn include:
President Fargo Fine Arts Club, Chairman of Writers’ section.
State Chairman of Municipal Art for North Dakota for three years, a movement to get a cross section of art and artists in all forty-eight states, held state art exhibits in the Bismarck Capitol and then sent the exhibits to New York.
Publicized and exhibited works of state artists in Graver Hotel, Fargo, North Dakota.
Aided in obtaining scholarships for three state artists and in the sale of several pictures.
Helped organize ten thousand women in the Non-Partisan League Women’s Clubs of the State and was a statewide activist for the “cause” of the League.
Press work for women’s clubs and organizations for more than twenty years.
Press Chairman for North Dakota Federation of Women’s Clubs and editor of North Dakota Club Woman for four years, 1928 to 1932.
Served on local committee for state Pioneer Mother project for the ND Federation of Women’s Clubs, 50 books donated to State Historical Society with women’s stories.
First writing check for $10.00 from the Minneapolis Journal was for the last line of a limerick.
Wrote for pay for nearly six hundred features, articles, straight news stories, editorials and many were illustrated with her own photographs, including two published books which are collections of two of her series of columns originally published in The Fargo Forum: Quarter Sections and Wide Horizons: A Series of Stories on Pioneer Women of ND, Bismarck: ND State Library, 1978 and Blue Capes - Scarlet Linings, Reprints of The Fargo Forum articles 1935-36.
Marketed other features to various newspapers including The Christian Science Monitor.
Substantial checks for four real life pulp fiction love stories.
Wrote jingles, greeting card verses, dozen ghost articles for trade magazines.
Wrote poems, helped organize and charter member of North Dakota Poetry Society, assisted in establishing Prairie Wings, a journal of the North Dakota Poetry Society.
At the time of writing her biography, which is in the records of the National League of American Pen Women, Fargo Branch, see link above, Angela Boleyn was working on a historical biography
Extent
.2 Linear Feet (.2 linear ft.)
Language of Materials
English
Abstract
The Women’s Sports Club of Fargo Series consists of fifty-three unbound pages of handwritten text by Angela Boleyn including but not limited to the history, activities, including informal minutes, Constitution, songs, tournament results, newspaper clippings and seventy-six photographic prints of the Women’s Sports Club of Fargo, North Dakota.
Provenance
Donated by Paul T. Boleyn, son of Angela Boleyn, 1989 (Acc. 2243)
Property rights
The NDSU Archives owns the property rights to this collection.
Creator
- Boleyn, Angela. (Person)
- Title
- Finding Aid to the Women’s Sports Club of Fargo, North Dakota, Records
- Language of description
- English
- Script of description
- Latin
Repository Details
Part of the Institute for Regional Studies Repository
Contact:
West Building N
3551 7th Avenue North
Fargo North Dakota 58102 United States
ndsu.archives@ndsu.edu
West Building N
3551 7th Avenue North
Fargo North Dakota 58102 United States
ndsu.archives@ndsu.edu