Ladies' Literary Club of Salt Lake City records, 1879-2019

Overview of the Collection

Creator
Ladies' Literary Club (Salt Lake City, Utah)
Title
Ladies' Literary Club of Salt Lake City records
Dates
1879-2019 (inclusive)
Quantity
87.75 linear feet, (78 boxes and 26 oversize boxes)
Collection Number
MS 0439
Summary
The Ladies' Literary Club of Salt Lake City records (1879-2019) contain club histories, correspondence, articles of incorporation, yearbooks, financial information, membership records, scrapbooks, and news clippings. A group of Utah women organized a small cultural club called the Blue Tea Club in 1875, of which the Ladies' Literary Club was an outgrowth.
Repository
University of Utah Libraries, Special Collections
Special Collections, J. Willard Marriott Library
University of Utah
295 South 1500 East
Salt Lake City, UT
84112-0860

Telephone: 8015818863
special@library.utah.edu
Access Restrictions

Twenty-four hour advanced notice encouraged. Materials must be used on-site. Access to parts of this collection may be restricted under provisions of state or federal law.

Languages
English

Historical NoteReturn to Top

Carrying on the spirit of Sorosis, the pioneer women's club founded in New York in 1868, a group of Utah women organized a small strictly cultural club called the Blue Tea in 1875. This small club did not develop into the Ladies' Literary Club as is often believed, but rather the Ladies' Literary Club was an outgrowth of the Blue Tea Club.

The Blue Tea was an exclusive club that restricted membership to only the literary elite. However, there existed within this club a small group of women who felt there was a need in the isolated community for an unlimited club that would reach out to all women who desired intellectual experiences and companionship. As a result, in February of 1877, this small band of broad-minded women seceded from the Blue Tea Club, which now has the distinction of being the oldest women's club west of the Mississippi River.

In order to be in a position to transact business, the club incorporated under laws of the territory of Utah in 1882, and ten years later a notable milestone was reached when the group joined the General Federation of Women's Clubs.

The formal opening of the first clubhouse took place on 7 January 1898. Fifteen years later the group moved into its new clubhouse located on the old Brigham Street, now South Temple, where it continues to operate. From the beginning, the Ladies' Literary Club has offered the use of its clubhouse for charitable and educational causes, and it continues to be used for many community, civic, and social purposes. In 1976, the Ladies' Literary Club received a plaque designating their clubhouse as a Utah State Historical Landmark.

The main subject of study in the early years was history. Later, different sections were formed to satisfy the needs and interests of the members. At present, there are seven sections of study: Browning-Poetry, Arts and Arts & Crafts, Drama-Music, Civics-Parliamentary Law and Current Events, History-Tourism, and Junior and Readers.

From the beginning, the Ladies' Literary Club took an active interest in matters of community welfare, though its primary purpose lay in "literary pursuits and development of mental culture." Helping to bring about the first free public library was one of the first important community projects participated in by the club. Using the proceeds from a carnival fund-raiser, the club purchased two thousand books as a beginning to the library. The members also worked for the passage of the library bill, providing for support of the library by the city. Other projects include free kindergartens, high school art and music contests, scholarship funds, and the placing of art in public schools. The club remains active in community and civic affairs and is represented on the Women's State Legislative Council of Utah.

Mrs. J. C. Role, the first president, described the club, saying "As an infant the Club was most ambitious. We essayed great things--We were, indeed, a most precocious infant." After one hundred years of accomplishment, club historian Mrs. J. Bracken Lee described the club as "the grande dame of East South Temple."

History written by Allesen Peck, 1984.

Content DescriptionReturn to Top

The Ladies' Literary Club of Salt Lake City records (1879-2019) contain yearbooks, correspondence, financial information, membership records, news clippings, and club histories. The club has printed a small book each year giving a calendar of activities and listing current members. These yearbooks also contain information regarding the current financial position of the club. Club histories include Katherine Barrette Parsons' History of Fifty Years, Ladies' Literary Club (1927) and "Ladies' Literary Club of Salt Lake City...Celebrates its 100th Year," written in the clubs centennial year (1977). Financial records include account books, bank statements, insurance documents, and financial reports.

Use of the CollectionReturn to Top

Restrictions on Use

The library does not claim to control copyright for all materials in the collection. An individual depicted in a reproduction has privacy rights as outlined in Title 45 CFR, part 46 (Protection of Human Subjects). For further information, please review the J. Willard Marriott Library's Use Agreement and Reproduction Request forms.

Preferred Citation

Collection Name, Collection Number, Box Number, Folder Number. Special Collections, J. Willard Marriott Library, The University of Utah.

Administrative InformationReturn to Top

Acquisition Information

Donated by the Ladies' Literary Club in 1984-2013.

Processing Note

Processed by Karen Carver in 2004.

The entire collection along with the addendum was processed by Betsey Welland in 2019.

Click here to read a statement on harmful language in library records.

Related Materials

Forms part of the Aileen H. Clyde 20th Century Women's Legacy Archives.

See also the Blue Tea Society minute book (ACCN 0159). A group of Utah women organized a small cultural club called the Blue Tea Club in 1875, of which the Ladies' Literary Club was an outgrowth.

Separated Materials

See also the Ladies' Literary Club of Salt Lake City photograph collection (P0493) in the Multimedia Division of Special Collections.

Detailed Description of the CollectionReturn to Top

Organizational materials and historiesReturn to Top

Container(s) Description Dates
Box Folder
1 1-2
Constitution bylaws, and articles of incorporation
These folders include revisions to the articles of incorporations throughout the years.
1880-2001
1 3
History of Fifty Years: Ladies' Literary Club, Salt Lake City, Utah, 1877-1927
This book was written by Katherine Barrette Parsons.
1927
1 4
"History of the Ladies' Literary Club for Years 1932-1937
This article was written by Rhea Willie.
circa 1937
1 5
"Ladies' Literary Club of Salt Lake City, Oldest Women's Club in The West Celebrates Its 100th Year"
This article was written by Mrs. J. Bracken Lee.
1977
1 6
"History of the Ladies' Literary Club of Salt Lake City. Oldest Women's Club in The West Celebrates Its 120th Year"
1997
1 7
General history notes
1 8
Club rules--house, press, etc.

Annual yearbooksReturn to Top

Container(s) Description Dates
Box
2
Yearbooks
1891-1916
3
Yearbooks
1916-1930
4
Yearbooks
1930-1942
5
Yearbooks
1942-1953
6
Yearbooks
1953-1963
7
Yearbooks
1963-1970
8
Yearbooks
1970-1977
9
Yearbooks
1977-1983
10
Yearbooks
1983-1989
11
Yearbooks
1989-1995
12
Yearbooks
1995-2010

Meeting minutesReturn to Top

This series contains general meeting minutes, Board of Directors meeting minutes, and Executive Board meeting minutes. All minutes have been arranged according to year.

Container(s) Description Dates
Box
13
Meeting minutes
1879-1888
14
Meeting minutes
1894-1904
15
Meeting minutes
1902-1924
15A
Oversize ledger with meeting minutes and reports
1913-1920
16
Meeting minutes
1914-1932
17
Meeting minutes
1927-1939
18
Meeting minutes
1937-1938
19
Meeting minutes
1940-1945
20
Meeting minutes
1945-1950
21
Meeting minutes
1949-1954
22
Meeting minutes
1953-1956
23
Meeting minutes
1955-1961
24
Meeting minutes
1960-1968
25
Meeting minutes
1967-1988
26
Meeting minutes
1975-1983
27
Meeting minutes
1982-1999
28
Meeting minutes
1999-2010

Club reportsReturn to Top

This series contains the annual club reports, which includes reports from various sections of the club.

Container(s) Description Dates
Box
29
Annual reports
1904-1916
30
Annual reports
1920-1934
31
Annual reports
1935-1950
32
Annual reports
1950-1957
33
Annual reports
1958-1963
34
Annual reports
1963-1977
35
Annual reports
1995-1996; 2001-2009

Section materialsReturn to Top

Container(s) Description Dates
Arts and Crafts Section
Box Folder
36 1-7
Meeting minutes
1897-1983
36 8-9
Tresurer's reports
1999-2001; 2004-2006
36 10
Installation of officers for the Art Junior Section
1998
36 11
Invitation to the Art Junior Section planning luncheon
36 12
Schedule and membership
36 13
Art inventory
1999
Browsing Section
Box
37
Meeting minutes
1900-1966
Folder
38 1
Meeting minutes
1969-1977
Browning Section
Box Folder
38 2
Meeting minutes
1933-1938
38 3
Correspondence
1937-1938
38 4
Te Browning Society of Pasadena, booklets
1915-1931
38 5
The Bard and Age Study Club program
1907-1908
Civics-Parliamentary Law Section
Box Folder
39 1-3
Meeting minutes
1957-1984
39 4
Schedule and membership
39 5
"Parliamentary Practice - A History"
Corresponding Secretary
Box Folder
40 1-5
Correspondence
2001-2008
40 6
Note
Current Events-Current Literature Section
Box
41
Meeting minutes
1948-1979
Dancing Section
Box
42
Membership and finances
1935-1955
Drama and Music Section
Box
43
Meeting minutes
1937-1992
Folder
44 1
"Plan of Study on Musical History: Russian Music," Mrs. Frederick Schuyler Wardwell and Mrs. E. E. Hoyt
1911
44 2
Letter and treasurer's report
1963-1982
Household Economics Section
Box
45
Meeting minutes
1913-1918
Junior Section
Box
46
Meeting minutes
1937-1989
Readers/Literature Section
Box Folder
47 1-5
Meeting minutes
1961-2007
47 6-8
Treasurer reports and ledgers
1988-2006
47 9
Seekers Literary Club yearbook
1952-1953
History-Tourist and Civic Affairs Section
Box
48
Meeting minutes
1954-1993

Membership materialsReturn to Top

Container(s) Description Dates
Box Folder
49 1-2
Membership lists and rosters
1879-1929; 1960s-2019
49 3
Membership proposals and acceptance letters
1977-2008
49 4
Election ballots and results
1966-1968; 1992; undated
49 5
Resignations and general correspondence
1967; 1994-2005
49 6
Obituaries and memorials
1966-2009
49 7
Guidelines for new members
49 8
Forms
49 9
Nametags
49 10
Notes
49 11
Membership dues correspondence
1995-1997
49A
Membership cards
49B
Membership cards

CorrespondenceReturn to Top

Container(s) Description Dates
Box Folder
50 1
General correspondence
1924-2008
50 2
Althea Oberg correspondence
1949-1992
50 3
Beverly Lund correpondence
1994-1997
50 4
Club stationary

Birthday breakfast eventsReturn to Top

Container(s) Description Dates
Box Folder
51 1-3
Programs
1915-2009
51 4
Report of the Breakfast Committee for the 90th birthday breakfast
1966-1967
51 5
Speeches
1984
51 6
Assessment of the 115th year
1991
51 7
Report of the president at the 117th birthday breakfast
1994
51 8
Invitation to the 121st birthday event
1998
51 9
125th birthday cookbook
2002
Container(s) Description Dates
Box
52
Foyer binder
1992-1995
53
Foyer binder
1996-2004
Folder
54 1
Presidential binder of Lee Ashby
1996-1997
54 2-3
Presidential binder of Joan Tanner
1999-2000
55 1-2
Presidential binder of Betty Topalian
2000-2001
55 3
Presidential binder of Helen Taylor
2002-2003
55 4
Presidential binder of Laurel Hughes
2003-2004
55 5
Presidential binder of Kathryn Major
2004-2005
55 6
Presidential binder of Fay Knowlton
2005-2006
55 7
Presidential binder of Charmaine Bauer
2006-2007
55 8
Presidential binder of Kathryn Major
2007-2008

General club events and programsReturn to Top

Container(s) Description Dates
Box Folder
56 1-2
Event announcements, programs and invitations
1878-2008
56 3
"McCall's How to Plan a Club Program"
1953
56 4
"Blue Stockings Are Forever," program and draft
56 5
Student recital programs
1928-1997
56 6
KSL educational broadcasting schedule
56 7
Citizens' Conference on Hazaedous Waste grant program
1982

Donations and fundraisingReturn to Top

Container(s) Description Dates
Box Folder
57 1
Charitable donations
1966-2006
57 2
Member donations
1997-2008
57 3
Hugh O'Brian donations
2000-2003
57 4
Personalized apron sales
57 5
Fall festival sales

Speeches and general notesReturn to Top

Container(s) Description Dates
Box Folder
58 1
Speeches and notes
1966-1986
58 2
Visiting club women and rentals
1898-1919
58 3
Notes

Club library and art collectionReturn to Top

Container(s) Description Dates
Box Folder
59 1
List of books
59 2-3
Ledgers of books loaned
1901-1984
59 4
Art inventory

Building maintenanceReturn to Top

Container(s) Description Dates
Box Folder
60 1
Club house custodian job outline
2008
60 2
Correspondence, landscaping
1965-1967
60 3
Correspondence, club house property taxes
1910-1982
60 4
Renovation booklets
60 5
House improvements
1996-1999
60 6
Walk-through energy audit
1979
60 7
Club house promotional materials

General Federation of Women's Clubs materialsReturn to Top

Container(s) Description Dates
Box Folder
61 1
Ladies Literary Club roster
2000-2006
61 2
Correspondence and articles of incorporation
1984-1989
61 3
Applications
1999-2004
61 4
Salt Lake district officers
1992
61 5
Report of the Salt Lake district Utah Federation of Women's Clubs Meetings
1965-1966
61 6
Registration for the Western States conference
2006
61 7
"Home Life Development"
1992
61 8
"Living with Chemicals"
1992
61 9
"Build with Youth for a Better World"
61 10
"President's Child Safety Partnership," final report
1987
61 11
Women's State Legislative Council of Utah pamphlets
2001

General publications and news clippingsReturn to Top

Container(s) Description Dates
Box Folder
62 1
Simone Ellis and Sydney Davis
62 2
"The Flag Code"
1975
62 3
Myrtle Gamette poetry
62 4
"Let's Install Correctly"
1959
62 5
"Let's Pamper Our Group Public Relations"
1959
62 6
"Masque of Dedication of the Community Chest of Salt Lake City"
1926
62 7
"National Soiety of the Daughters of Utah Pioneers: Constitution and Bylaws"
1978
62 8
"Publicity, Answers for Club Leaders"
1968
62 9
Ann Schultz, "Each Day is Precious"
62 10
"Souvenir di Pompei"
62 11
"The Twentieth Century Clubwoman: A Handbook for Organization Leaders"
1960
62 12
Washington and Lincoln Institute newsletters
1999-2000
62 13
Women's rights slogans
63
News clippings
1920-2005

General club materialsReturn to Top

Container(s) Description Dates
Box Folder
64 1
97th birthday breakfast speech by Mrs. J. Arthur Kearns
1974
64 2
"Dos and Don'ts for Presidents"
64 3
Guidelines of Yearbook Committee
1983-1985
64 4
Mary Hadfield materials
1992-1995
64 5
Ladies' Literay Club Newsletter
2008-2009
64 6
Meeting minutes guidelines
1992
64 7
"Our Garden of Dreams"
64 8
Portraits of LLC women
64 9
Dare Ramsay materials
2008-2011
64 10
Retrospective report
1952
64 11
Secretary responsibilities
64 12
Section lists
1890s-1920s
64 13
"Some Utah Women"
Contains a typescript biographical sketch of Jennie Anderson Froiseth, one of the original members of the Blue-Stocking Tea Club. Includes brief life sketches of Jeannette Hollister Ferry, Mrs. T. B. H. Stenhouse, Matilda Work Martin, Eliza Kirtley Royle, and Helen Sprague.
64 14
Treasurer's responsibilites
64 15
"Women Who Have Made a Difference"
1995-1996

Financial materialsReturn to Top

Container(s) Description Dates
Box
65
Treasurer reports and statements
1907-1980
66
Treasurer reports and statements
1983-2002
67
Treasurer reports and statements
2002-2006
68
Treasurer reports and statements
2006-2010
A-Z
Box Folder
69 1
Auditor's reports
1913-1972
69 2
Balance sheets
1967-1980
69 3
Bank books
1953-1980
69 4-6
Bank statements
1960s-1980s
69 7-8
Bills paid
1963
69 9
Budgets
1972-2006
69 10
Cash disbursements
1985-1986
69 11
Cash receipts
1985-1986
70
Check stubs
1918-1974
71
Check stubs
1975-2004
Folder
72 1
Contents of deposit box
1965
72 2
Contributions
2001-2002
72 3
Edward MacDowell Association
1930s
72 4
Finance Committee
1967-2002
72 5-6
Insurance Policies
1950s-1980s
73 1
Investments
1966-2006
73 2-4
Receipt books
1901-2001
73 5
Receipts
1981-1982
73 6
Taxes
1950s-1960s
73 7
Taxes and insurance
1984-1985
74
Tax exempt status
1927-2002
75
Treasurer's stubs
1979-1981
Ledgers
Box
76
Ledgers
1883-1923
77
Ledgers
1924-1972
78
Ledgers
1974-1987
79
Oversize ledgers
1913-1930
80
Oversize ledgers
1930s-1950s
81
Oversize ledger
1960-1963
82
Oversize ledger
1990s-2000s

ScrapbooksReturn to Top

Container(s) Description Dates
Box
83
Scrapbook
1926-1927
84
Diamond breakfast scrapbook
1952
85
Scrapbook
1967-1968
86
Scrapbook
1970-1971
87
Scrapbook
1971-1972
88
Scrapbook
1973-1974
89
Centennial scrapbook, 1877-1977
1977
90
Scrapbook
President was Mrs. Floyd M. Oberle.
1978-1979
91
Scrapbook
President was Mrs. Roland Stucki.
1979-1980
92
Scrapbook
President was Mrs. Josephine M. Kipp.
1982-1983
93
Scrapbook
President was Mrs. O. J. Johnson.
1986-1987
94
109th anniversary scrapbook
1986
95
Scrapbook
President was Mrs. Lon Logan.
1988-1989
96
Scrapbook
President was Mrs. Mary Jane Hair.
1989-1990
97
Scrapbook
President was Mrs. Mary Hadfield.
1993-1994
98
Scrapbook
President was Mrs. Eudora Zarr.
1994-1995
99
Scrapbook
President was Midge Memmott.
1995-1996
100
Scrapbook
President was Lou Ann Carstensen.
1997-1998
101
Scrapbook
President was Eileen Christensen.
1998-1999
102
Scrapbook
President was Eileen Christensen.
1998-1999
103
Heritage and preservation scrapbook
Prepared by Ethel Louise Bowers.
1976

Oversize materialsReturn to Top

Container(s) Description Dates
Box
104
General materials
This box contains tote bags; postcards; a CD of the Furgis house plans by architect Ed Dreier; architecture plans for the building located at 850 East South Temple; and awards and certificates.
1945-2014

Names and SubjectsReturn to Top

Subject Terms

  • Book clubs (Discussion groups)--Utah--Salt Lake City--Records and correspondence
  • Book distribution programs
  • Charities--Utah--Salt Lake City--Records and correspondence
  • Literacy programs--Utah--Salt Lake City
  • Public libraries--Utah--Salt Lake City
  • Women in charitable work--Utah--Salt Lake City--Archives
  • Women--Utah--Salt Lake City--Societies and clubs--Archives

Corporate Names

  • Ladies' Literary Club (Salt Lake City, Utah)--Records and correspondence
  • Ladies' Literary Club (Salt Lake City, Utah). Clubhouse

Form or Genre Terms

  • Annual reports
  • Business correspondence
  • Charters and articles of incorporation
  • Clippings (Books, newspapers, etc.)
  • Financial records
  • Membership lists
  • Minutes (Records)
  • Programs (documents)
  • Records (Documents)
  • Scrapbooks
  • Yearbooks