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Women’s Reading Club Collection (MC 299) - Columbus State University

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Archives and Special Collections

Women’s Reading Club Collection (MC 299)

Organizational Note

The first meeting of the Women's Reading Club of Columbus, Georgia was February 14, 1888 at the home of Misses Anna and Theresa Griffin to form the first organized woman's club in Columbus and the first in the state with a constitution and by-laws.

The story started in 1888 in a small dark room over the old Enquirer-Sun building in Columbus' claim to a library and its librarian Miss Anna Hull. She dreamed that her library would hold a rightful place of importance in the community. One day two women from Indiana climbed her stairs seeking information on the Woman's Cub of Columbus. Miss Hull listened to their story of their home club where friends met to study and improve their minds. She envisioned such a club for Columbus and her library as a place of importance. And so it was that in February 1888, a small group of women met at the library and listened to Miss Hull's plan for a Woman's Study Club. Kindling much enthusiasm among her friends, a short time later a group of women met at the Griffin home to organize their club. Mrs. Helen Spencer was the first president. These women realized that the "feminine brain could not be cramped forever as was the feminine figure at that time." Miss Theresa Griffin held the torch for temperance while her sister Anna flaunted the banner of woman's suffrage. From this group sprang the City federation of Women's Clubs . In 1904 they joined the Georgia Federation and by 1912 formed the City Federation. The members of this club were the "movers and shakers" of the community. Their 100th anniversary was in 1988.

Scope and Content

This collection consist of 2 boxes of material from the Women's Reading Club, from its earliest programs, the constitution and by-laws, minutes and financial records.

1888-2014 2 boxes (2 .f.)

Permission to Publish

Permission to publish material from the Women's Reading Club Collection must be obtained from the Columbus State University Archives at Columbus State University. Use of the following credit line for publication or exhibit is required:

Women's Reading Club Collection (MC 299) Columbus State University Archives Columbus, Georgia

Box and Folder List

Box 1

  • Folder 1 - 100th Anniversary, 1988
  • Folder 2 - Bank Statements, 1992, 1994-1996
  • Folder 3 - Bank Statements, 1997-2000
  • Folder 4 - Bank Statements, 2001-2002
  • Folder 5 - Women's Reading Club Budget for 2004 & Correspondence, 2003-2004
  • Folder 6 - Women's Reading Club Budget for 2006 & Correspondence, 2005/06
  • Folder 7 - Women's Reading Club Budget for 2006-2007 & Correspondence - Linwood Legacy Program, 2006-2007
  • Folder 8 - Women's Reading Club Budget 2008-2009 & Correspondence, 2008-2009
  • Folder 9 - Assorted Correspondence, 1984-2004
  • Folder 10 - Correspondence-Mercer University President's Giving Report, 2003-2004
  • Folder 11 - Financial papers
  • Folder 12 - Guest Book, 1888-1998
  • Folder 13 - Historic Columbus Foundation Preservation Award Present to the Reading Club, Oct. 13, 1988
  • Folder 14 - Assorted Historical News & Documents
  • Folder 15 - History of Woman's Reading Club - Paper Given by Sara Ruth Carrol, Feb. 18, 2003
  • Folder 16 - Meeting Schedule (Framed)
  • Folder 17 - Minutes, 1988-1995
  • Folder 18 - Minutes, 1988-2002
  • Folder 19 - Newspaper Clippings, 1938-1943
  • Folder 20 - Photos of the 100th Anniversary, Feb. 15, 1988
  • Folder 21 - Receipts Book - Ledger, 1945 thru 1985
  • Folder 22 - Reports and Minutes, Jan. 1938-1946
  • Folder 23 - Women of the Reading Club

Box 2

  • Folder 1 - Notes: (& By-Laws Revision) - (Notes for Presidents), 2003/04
  • Folder 2 - Originals C+B (2 copies) + Revisions (Constitution by Laws), 1988/1924/1936/1946/1955/1982/1992 (8 copies)
  • Folder 3 - Program (First Program Modern Authors), 1888-1891
  • Folder 4 - Program - 1892/93 - German Life and Thought, 1892/93
  • Folder 5 - Program - Italian Life and Letters, 1893/94
  • Folder 6 - Program - Political and Literary Life of France, 1894/95
  • Folder 7 - Program - Greek Life and Thought, 1895/96
  • Folder 8 - Program - A Study of Russia, 1896/97
  • Folder 9 - Program - Spanish and Spanish Conquests in America, 1897/98
  • Folder 10 - Program - Dutch at Home and Abroad, 1900/01
  • Folder 11 - Program - A Brief Summary of Race Influence, 1904/05
  • Folder 12 - Program - Our Own Country, 1905/06
  • Folder 13 - Program - The Pursuit of the Ideal, 1906/07
  • Folder 14 - Program - Progression, 1907/08
  • Folder 15 - Program - Islands of the Sea, 1909/10
  • Folder 16 - Program - Our Changing World, 1937/38
  • Folder 17 - Program - The US: Her Possessions and her Defense Program, 1941/42 and The Democratic Way, 1943/43
  • Folder 18 - Program - The Post War America, 1948/49
  • Folder 19 - Program - Highlights of Art and Architecture, 1949/50
  • Folder 20 - Program - Short Stories in the Last Quarter Century, 1952/53
  • Folder 21 - Program - Literary Prizes and their Winners, 1953/54
  • Folder 22 - Program - The Hope of Our Nation, 1955/56
  • Folder 23 - Program - Art Museums, symphony Orchestras & Newspaper Clippings, 1956/57
  • Folder 24 - Program - Book Reviews, 1957/58
  • Folder 25 - Program - Changing Trends, 1958/59
  • Folder 26 - Program - Russia: Her Arts and Letters, 1959/60
  • Folder 27 - Program - Alaska and Hawaii, 1960/61
  • Folder 28 - Program - Travelogue in southern Europe and Africa, 1961/62
  • Folder 29 - Program - Interesting Women in History, 1962/63
  • Folder 30 - Program - Glimpses of Unforgettable Characters - Creative Writing, 1963/64
  • Folder 31 - Program - Reminiscence of Centuries Homes in Columbus, 1964/65
  • Folder 32 - Program - Our Columbus Treasures, 1965/66
  • Folder 33 - Program - Authors and their Short Stories & Flower Painting, 1966/67
  • Folder 34 - Program - Toward One World, 1967/68
  • Folder 35 - Program - Aesthetic View of Cities in the US, 1968/69
  • Folder 36 - Program - World Personalities of the 20th Century, 1969/70
  • Folder 37 - Program - Families of Achievement, 1970/71
  • Folder 38 - Program - Great Homes of the World, 1971/72
  • Folder 39 - Program - Prominent Men and Women of the SE States, 1972/73
  • Folder 40 - Program - World Museums: Their History and their Collections, 1973/74
  • Folder 41 - Program - First Ladies of the white House, 1974/75
  • Folder 42 - Program - The Signers of the Declaration of Independence, 1975/76
  • Folder 43 - Program - World Cuisine, 1976/77
  • Folder 44 -- Program - State of the World today, 1977/78
  • Folder 45 - Program - Review of the Past Quarter-Century Events, Literature, Arts and Music, 1978/79
  • Folder 46 - Program - Egypt and Iran, 1979/80
  • Folder 47 - Program - Let's Travel the Waterways, 1980/81
  • Folder 48 - Program - My Most Memorable Experience, 1981/82
  • Folder 49 - Program - Gems and Jewelry, 1982/83
  • Folder 50 - Program - The world of Allah, 1983/84
  • Folder 51 - Program - The 100:" A Ranking of the Most Influential Persons in History", by M.Hart, 1984/85
  • Folder 52 - Program - Pulitzer Prize Winners in fiction (1966-1984), 1985/86
  • Folder 53 - Program - Great Cities: Their Histories, Attractions and Interesting Residents, 1986/87
  • Folder 54 - Program - Modern Authors: A Hundred Years Ago 1888, 1987/88
  • Folder 55 - Program - Cities of the Ancient World, 1988/89
  • Folder 56 - Program - Art Through the ages, 1989/90
  • Folder 57 - Program - Gateways to Sound, 1990/91
  • Folder 58 - Program - The South through a Looking Glass, 1991/92
  • Folder 59 - Program - American and English Gardens, 1992/93
  • Folder 60 - Program - Seats of Worship, 1993/94
  • Folder 61 - Program - Hearts and Flowers, 1994/95
  • Folder 62 - Program - Colorful Characters, 1995/96
  • Folder 63 - Program - Creative Geniuses, 1996/97
  • Folder 64 - Program - Ladies of the Court, 1997/98
  • Folder 65 - Program - The Great American, 1998/99
  • Folder 66 - Program - The Last Quarter of the 20th Century, 1999/2000
  • Folder 67 - Program - Travel the World with Great Explorers, 2000/01
  • Folder 68 - Program - Global Adventures, Present Day Politics, Places and Faces, 2001/02
  • Folder 69 - Program - Histories - Islands of the Heart (History), 2002
  • Folder 70 - Program - Islands of the Heart, 2002/03
  • Folder 71 - Program - Entrepreneurs and Empire Builders, 2003/04
  • Folder 72 - Program - Eight Presidents and their First Ladies, 2004/05
  • Folder 73 - Program - Living History in Historic Linwood Cemetery, 2005/06
  • Folder 74 - Program - Time of Meetings, 2006/07
  • Folder 75 - Program - Distinguished American Woman, 2006/07
  • Folder 76 - Program - Introduction to a Southern Perspective, 2007/08
  • Folder 77 - Program - Constitution and By-Laws of the Woman's Reading Club of Columbus, GA Revised + Cards, 2011
  • Folder 78 - Program - The Grand Tour & Postal Card, 2011/12
  • Folder 79 - Program - Through the Eyes of a Child, 2012/13
  • Folder 80 - Program - Women's Roles in the Early 20th Century, 2013/14

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