Woman's Club of Fargo Photograph Collection
Collection
Identifier: Photo 500-Photo Folio 47
Scope and Content
The Woman's Club of Fargo Photograph Collection is comprised of 7 photographic prints. The oldest print in the collection is from 1932, taken for the 47th anniversary of the club. It has the original members of the club dressed in period costumes. Women featured on the print are Mrs. C. E. Webster, Mrs. C. M. Pollock, Mrs. John Wooledge, Mrs. J. W. Snyder, Mrs. C. Foster, Mrs. Albert Hallenberg, Mrs. G. A. Carpenter, Mrs. J. G. Dickey, Mrs. F. E. Stockton, Mrs. W. W. Fuller, and Mrs. E. A. Engebretson. Due to the size of the photo, it is house in folder 47 of the Institute’s Photo Folio Collection. A second photograph shows club members taken on March 2, 1941. Five photographs were taken at the club’s 80th Anniversary Celebration held at the First Baptist Church. As part of the celebration, the club’s oldest member Mrs. C. E. Webster was honored. Four of the five photographs were published in the Fargo Forum on September 27, 1964.
Dates
- 1932-1964.
Access
The collection is open under the rules and regulations of the NDSU Archives.
Copyrights
Copyrights to this collection remain with the creator.
History
The Woman's Club of Fargo was founded in January of 1884, and was the first women's club in North
Dakota. The first president was Mrs. Clara G. Conover. The Woman's Club was primarily a literary study
club, but also took part in some community projects. In the early years, the club studied primarily English
and American history and literature. The women were assigned topics which they researched themselves,
and then would read the papers at the meetings. After about 1900, the women not only studied past
literature and history, but topics of the day, such as women's suffrage, temperance and present day
happenings in world affairs.
In 1899, the Woman's Club initiated the movement for a public library in Fargo. The committee; composed of Mrs. E.H. Smith, Mrs. Seth Newman, Mrs. I.P. Clapp, and Mrs. H.L. Bolley, petitioned the city council to submit a proposal to the citizens of Fargo. Judge B.F. Spalding, whose wife was a member of the club, wrote to the Andrew Carnegie Fund for a contribution and received $20,000.00. On May 19, 1900, the Fargo Public Library was organized and the building itself was built in 1902 and was formally opened in January of 1903. The Woman's Club has had a member on the board since the library was begun.
The Woman's Club of Fargo became a member of the General Federation of Women's Clubs in 1890 and a member of the North Dakota State Federation in 1906. In the years 1964-1966, the club was involved with a community improvement project in connection with the general and state federations. They chose to initiate the push for a new library building that was begun in 1966.
Many of the members were well known outside of the Woman's Club and active in community affairs such as Mrs. C.A. Pollock, Mrs. E.M. (Clara) Darrow, Mrs. B.F. Spalding and Mrs. H.L. Bolley. Mrs. C.A. Pollock was president in 1905. Mrs. C.E. Webster was the club's longest living member who joined in 1893 and died in 1966 at the age of 101.
In 1899, the Woman's Club initiated the movement for a public library in Fargo. The committee; composed of Mrs. E.H. Smith, Mrs. Seth Newman, Mrs. I.P. Clapp, and Mrs. H.L. Bolley, petitioned the city council to submit a proposal to the citizens of Fargo. Judge B.F. Spalding, whose wife was a member of the club, wrote to the Andrew Carnegie Fund for a contribution and received $20,000.00. On May 19, 1900, the Fargo Public Library was organized and the building itself was built in 1902 and was formally opened in January of 1903. The Woman's Club has had a member on the board since the library was begun.
The Woman's Club of Fargo became a member of the General Federation of Women's Clubs in 1890 and a member of the North Dakota State Federation in 1906. In the years 1964-1966, the club was involved with a community improvement project in connection with the general and state federations. They chose to initiate the push for a new library building that was begun in 1966.
Many of the members were well known outside of the Woman's Club and active in community affairs such as Mrs. C.A. Pollock, Mrs. E.M. (Clara) Darrow, Mrs. B.F. Spalding and Mrs. H.L. Bolley. Mrs. C.A. Pollock was president in 1905. Mrs. C.E. Webster was the club's longest living member who joined in 1893 and died in 1966 at the age of 101.
Extent
7 Photographic Prints (7 photographic prints.)
Language of Materials
English
Abstract
Founded in 1884 at Fargo, the oldest club in North Dakota, the Woman's Club of Fargo was primarily a study club and involved in community improvement projects.
Provenance
Donated by Woman's Club of Fargo, 1981, 1985 (Acc. 2066, 2126).
Property rights
The NDSU Archives owns the property rights to this collection.
- Title
- Finding Aid to the Woman's Club of Fargo Photograph Collection
- 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