Study Club of Fargo Records

Collection

Identifier: Mss 175

Staff Only

Scope and Contents

[Identification of item]. Study Group of Fargo Records, MS 175, Institute for Regional Studies, North Dakota State University, Fargo.

Scope and Contents The Study Club of Fargo Records consist of the constitutions and bylaws, minutes, annual historical summaries, program booklets, financial ledger, scrapbooks, guest book and programs. All of the above series are arranged in chronological order. None of the series are complete except the minutes, annual historical summaries, and program booklets. The Constitution and Bylaws Series covers roughly the dates from 1902-1984. The constitutions and bylaws were amended many times over the years. The Minutes Series includes information on the semi-monthly meetings of the group. Depending on the recorder, the minutes are either handwritten or typed. The series is complete with the dates running from 1902 - 1975. The Annual Historical Summaries Series begins with a handwritten history organized in chronological order done through 1931. That history was typed with annual supplements added bringing the history through 1975. The Program Booklet Series includes an annual brief explanation of the clubs agenda and the programs presented by the members. All are bound in small booklets and the series is complete from 1912 - 1992. The Subject Files Series includes a financial ledger contains early records of the club. Dates on the ledger are rather sketchy. The scrapbook contains newspaper and magazine clippings pertaining to the various subjects that the women studied. The guest book contains one scrapbook from a recognition tea in 1976 for longtime members. The programs file contains a variety of items from various programs that the club participated in or sponsored.

Dates

1897-1992.

Creator

Study Club of Fargo. (Organization)

Access

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

Copyrights

History

Early in 1897 a small group of women connected with the Fargo College formed a society for "mutual improvement." Mrs. H.C. Simmons, wife of the president of the college, was the leader of the group, later to be known as the Fargo College Reading Circle. In 1912, the name was changed to the Study Club of Fargo. At that time membership was limited to twelve. The Study Club of Fargo was affiliated with the Federation of Women's Clubs from 1911 until May 20, 1945 when it was decided to withdraw from the Federation. Some of the early members who remained active for many years and are often referred to in the club history: Mrs. H.C. Simmons, Mrs. P.G. Knowlton, Mrs. Corrine Grinnell, Mrs. Laura Flanders, Mrs. H.F. Emery, Mrs. F.E. Stratton, Mrs. Emerson H. Smith, Mrs. Edwin H. Stickney, Mrs. F.L. Anders, Mrs. E.K. Bitzing, and Mrs. A.J. Clay. Membership in the club is by invitation and the current membership limitation is twenty-two. Meetings are held on every first and third Monday afternoons in the homes of the members during the club year (September through May). Motto of the club is the same one adopted in 1902 when the first constitution was adopted: "To be rather than to seem." The club color is gold and the flower is a white carnation. Subjects of study are varied: travel, geography, women of history, arts, antiques, ethnic groups, biographies, and heritage. The purpose of the Study Club of Fargo as stated in the constitution is the advancement of its members in all lines of general thought and culture. Mrs. Frederick G. Walsh also expressed a similar thought in her 75th anniversary message: “No one expects Utopia, No one person can prepare a land fit for heroes, But almost everyone can try to understand the past and the present in order to enrich the future.”

Extent

1 Linear Feet (1 linear ft.)

Language of Materials

English

Additional Description

Abstract

The Study Club of Fargo, established in 1897, adopted in its first constitution the motto "To be rather than to seem." Its records consist of constitutions and bylaws, minutes, annual historical summaries, program booklets, financial ledger, scrapbooks, guest book and programs.

Provenance

Donated by Study Club of Fargo, 1992 (Acc. 2302)

Separation Record

The following non-manuscript items were removed from the Study Club of Fargo records and have been sent to the section indicated. Photographs (Institute photograph collection)  2 photo prints of Josephine Vial