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Guide to the Study Club of La Crosse Records, 1928-1982
MSS T
Table of Contents
Summary Information
- Abstract
- The Study Club of La Crosse (Wisconsin) was organized in 1928, under the name Thursday Study Club. In 1929, the group became affiliated with the Wisconsin Federation of Women’s Clubs. At biweekly meetings, club members took turns presenting programs of intellectual interest or inviting guest speakers to lecture. The name of the club was changed to Study Club of La Crosse in 1950, and the group was disbanded in 1983 due to the advanced age of its members and a lack of interest. Records of the Club, 1928-1983, include study club program announcements (1928-1983 with gaps), minutes (1962-1980) and several scrapbooks (1928-1978).
- Collection Title
- Study Club of La Crosse Records
- Date of Materials
- 1928-1982
- Creator
- Study Club of La Crosse (La Crosse, Wis.).
- Call Number
- MSS T
- Amount
- 1.4 cubic feet
- Physical Description
- 1 archives box, 6 volumes
- Language of Materials
- English
- Repository
- La Crosse Public Library Archives
Preferred Citation
[Identification of item], Study Club of La Crosse Records, MSS T, La Crosse Public Library Archives, La Crosse, WI
Historical Note
In September of 1928, six La Crosse women, who wanted to do something more useful with their time than playing cards, formed the Thursday Study Club of La Crosse. The first meeting was on October 18, 1928. They each invited one friend to join the club, one member babysitting all the members’ children. In 1934, they adopted the motto “Why Stop Learning”. At biweekly meetings, club members took turns presenting programs of intellectual interest or inviting guest speakers to lecture. They also devoted their time and money to certain projects, such as charitable Christmas donations, Indian Welfare donations, and a local nursing scholarship. They lobbied Congress about specific issues, including pollution control, conservation, and Civil Defense preparedness.
In September 1929, the group voted to join the Wisconsin Federation of Women’s Clubs with affiliation with the national organization, the General Federation of Women’s Clubs. The name of the club was changed to Study Club of La Crosse in 1950. In 1974, the club voted to have monthly meetings only. In 1983, the club was disbanded due to the advanced age of the members and lack of interest.
Scope and Contents
The collection is composed of club Programs from 1928 to 1983, secretarial minutes of meetings from 1962 to 1980, and several historical scrapbooks of club activities.
The annual programs give the dates of each meeting, with the hostess and program for that meeting. It also lists club officers, and every member’s name and address.
Besides exemplifying the manner in which the meetings were conducted, the secretarial minutes give some insight into the way the club decided which service project to fund and how the programs were chosen. The historical scrapbooks are divided into four subject areas. First are the newspaper clippings of early club meetings which discuss the program and the business meeting. There are also copies of the constitution and a few yearly budgets. Second is the material related to the club’s affiliation with the district and state organization, such as district convention programs and correspondence to and from other local clubs (much of which was invitations to special meetings). There are also several citations of achievement from the national federation. The third subject area shows the local achievement of the club; there are many thank yous for donations of time, service and money from the various organizations with which the Study Club worked. Finally events in the lives of the members and their families were recorded. This material includes business interests and achievements of family members as well as their social activities. Marriages of children and the deaths of the members and their spouses are the most notable. In several of the scrapbooks there are photographs of the charter members along with their families. There area also some mementoes of anniversary meetings and parties.
Administrative Information
Publication Information
La Crosse Public Library Archives 1987 February
800 Main St.La Crosse, Wisconsin, 54601
(608) 789-7136
archives@lacrosselibrary.org
Access to Materials
Materials in this collection are available for patron use.
Acquisitions Information
Donated by the Study Club of La Crosse via Kathryn M. Hartl, President, November 1984
(Accession No. 1984.022)
Processing Information
Processed by Peggy Beedle, February 1987
Controlled Access Headings
Corporate Name(s)
- Study Club of La Crosse (La Crosse, Wis.).
- Thursday Study Club of La Crosse (La Crosse, Wis.).
Geographic Name(s)
- La Crosse (Wis.)--Societies, etc.--Women
OCLC Number
28416972
Collection Inventory
|
Minutes |
||||
| Box | Folder | |||
|
1962-1970 |
1 | 2 | ||
|
Program Committee chairman's notebook, 1962-1982 |
1 | 3 | ||
| Box | Folder | |||
|
Program announcements, 1928-1983 |
1 | 1 | ||
|
Scrapbooks |
||||
| Volume | ||||
|
1928-1948 |
1 | |||
| Box | Folder | |||
|
Loose items from scrapbook, 1928-1948 |
1 | 4 | ||
| Volume | ||||
|
Club News, 1948-1961 |
2 | |||
|
Club Social News, 1948-1961 |
3 | |||
| Box | Folder | |||
|
Loose items from scrapbooks, 1948-1961 |
1 | 5 | ||
| Volume | ||||
|
1962-1967 |
4 | |||
| Box | Folder | |||
|
Loose items from scrapbook, 1962-1967 |
1 | 6 | ||
| Volume | ||||
|
1968-1976 |
5 | |||
| Box | Folder | |||
|
Loose items from scrapbook, 1968-1976 |
1 | 7 | ||
| Volume | ||||
|
1976-1978 |
6 | |||
| Box | Folder | |||
|
Loose items from scrapbook, 1976-1978 |
1 | 8 | ||