Woman's Club of Fargo Records
Collection
Identifier: Mss 47
Scope and Content
The Woman's Club of Fargo Records document the activities and some of the projects of the club for almost a century from its organization in 1884 to 1980. The records have been organized into consists of meeting minutes, articles of incorporation and by-laws, treasurers records, secretary's reports, histories of the club, annual program booklets, presidents annual and inaugural speeches, program presentations, correspondence and various subject files.
The Meeting Minutes Series are contained in nine ledger books and are arranged chronologically dating from 1886 to 1973. They are inclusive except for the years 1892 to 1900 and 1909 to 1919, which are missing. Nine editions of the constitution and by-laws are included in chronological order.
The Treasurer’s Records Series consist of two ledgers dating from 1896 to 1948, and a file of loose papers dating from 1945 to 1950 and 1962.
The Secretary and Historian Reports Series consists of a single secretary report for 1945 while the historian reports only cover from 1951 to 1958. There are ten histories of the club ranging in years from 1895 to 1967, one being undated.
The annual Program Booklets Series, dating from 1887 to 1980, is complete except for one booklet, September 1953 to May 1954.
The Presidents Annual Reports Series includes the presidential annual reports from 1885 to 1977 and is complete up to 1913. There are six presidential inaugural speeches dating from 1901 to 1927. The program presentations range from the years 1896 to 1963 with three pages undated. The correspondence is limited to five letters dating from 1924 to 1957.
The Subject Files Series contain a wide variety of information. A report sent to the Chicago World's Fair in 1893 contains a brief historical sketch of the club. The miscellaneous file includes a memorandum booklet, a list of the presidents of the club from 1884 to 1940, and a bookplate sticker. The newspaper clippings date from 1932 to 1978, with most of the clippings from the 1960s. The file containing material on the North Dakota Federation of Women's Club and the General Federation of Women's Clubs is made up of correspondence, programs, constitution and by-laws, an award for a community improvement program and newspaper clippings.
The scrapbook contains primarily newspaper clippings about club activities and club members. The speeches include a speech on the 60th anniversary of the Fargo Public Library, two speeches given in memory of Theoling Gunderson Whiting and Louise Adele Hansen, and a speech nominating Mrs. Walter Murfin for YMCA Woman of the Year, 1974-1975. Mrs. C.E. Webster, born in 1865, was the longest active and living member of the 'Homan's Club and the file about her includes newspaper clippings and speeches in honor of her at various times. She died at 101 years of age in 1966.
The Meeting Minutes Series are contained in nine ledger books and are arranged chronologically dating from 1886 to 1973. They are inclusive except for the years 1892 to 1900 and 1909 to 1919, which are missing. Nine editions of the constitution and by-laws are included in chronological order.
The Treasurer’s Records Series consist of two ledgers dating from 1896 to 1948, and a file of loose papers dating from 1945 to 1950 and 1962.
The Secretary and Historian Reports Series consists of a single secretary report for 1945 while the historian reports only cover from 1951 to 1958. There are ten histories of the club ranging in years from 1895 to 1967, one being undated.
The annual Program Booklets Series, dating from 1887 to 1980, is complete except for one booklet, September 1953 to May 1954.
The Presidents Annual Reports Series includes the presidential annual reports from 1885 to 1977 and is complete up to 1913. There are six presidential inaugural speeches dating from 1901 to 1927. The program presentations range from the years 1896 to 1963 with three pages undated. The correspondence is limited to five letters dating from 1924 to 1957.
The Subject Files Series contain a wide variety of information. A report sent to the Chicago World's Fair in 1893 contains a brief historical sketch of the club. The miscellaneous file includes a memorandum booklet, a list of the presidents of the club from 1884 to 1940, and a bookplate sticker. The newspaper clippings date from 1932 to 1978, with most of the clippings from the 1960s. The file containing material on the North Dakota Federation of Women's Club and the General Federation of Women's Clubs is made up of correspondence, programs, constitution and by-laws, an award for a community improvement program and newspaper clippings.
The scrapbook contains primarily newspaper clippings about club activities and club members. The speeches include a speech on the 60th anniversary of the Fargo Public Library, two speeches given in memory of Theoling Gunderson Whiting and Louise Adele Hansen, and a speech nominating Mrs. Walter Murfin for YMCA Woman of the Year, 1974-1975. Mrs. C.E. Webster, born in 1865, was the longest active and living member of the 'Homan's Club and the file about her includes newspaper clippings and speeches in honor of her at various times. She died at 101 years of age in 1966.
Dates
- 1884-1980.
Creator
- Woman's Club of Fargo (N.D.) (Organization)
Access
The collection is open under the rules and regulations of the NDSU Archives.
Copyrights
Copyrights to this collection remain with the NDSU Archives.
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
1.8 Linear Feet (1.8 linear ft.)
Language of Materials
English
Abstract
Founded in 1884 at Fargo, the oldest club in North Dakota, the Woman's Club of Fargo is primarily a study club and involved in community improvement projects. Its records document its activities and some of its projects, covering almost a century from 1883 to 1980. The records include meeting minutes, articles of incorporation and by-laws, treasurers records, secretary's reports, histories of the club, annual program booklets, presidents annual and inaugural speeches, program presentations, correspondence and various subject files.
Provenance
Donated by Woman's Club of Fargo, 1981, 1985 (Acc. 2066, 2126).
Separation Record - Books (Institute book collection)
Issues of the "North Dakota Clubwoman", 1964 – 1967
Separated Materials - Photographs (Institute photograph collection)
7 images of club members.(Photo 500 & Photo Folio 47)
Separated Materials - Artifacts (Institute artifact collection)
Bookplate die and metal initial die.
Property rights
The NDSU Archives owns the property rights to this collection.
Creator
- Woman's Club of Fargo (N.D.) (Organization)
- Title
- Finding Aid to the Woman’s Club of Fargo Records
- Description rules
- Appm
- 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