Regional History Center Regional Collections Thursday Arts Club Records ... Finding AidTitle: Thursday Arts Club Records (DeKalb), 1925-2001
ID: RHC/RC/250
Extent: 1.25 Linear Feet
Date Acquired: 03/06/2000. More info below under Accruals.
Subjects: Arts Club, Societies-- DeKalb, Thursday Arts Club, Women--Societies and clubs.
Languages: English
In February 1925, four lady friends, Mrs. Simms, Mrs. Crego, Mrs. Powell, and Mrs. Gould, decided to turn their frequent habit of meeting for coffee, sewing and visiting into “a club composed of intelligent women who were interested in intellectual development.” These ladies, along with a few other friends, eventually formed the Thursday Arts Club.
The ladies met and agreed that membership would be limited to twenty (this was later increased to twenty-four). Each member was to present one topic each year that she had thoroughly studied. The ladies then compiled a list of names of potential members and extended an invitation to each person on the list. On March 17, 1925, the members agreed to name their group “Thursday Arts Club,” and to meet on the second and fourth Thursday from the months of September to May.
A program committee was formed and began to outline programs for the coming year. In the early years meetings included current topics presented by several ladies and followed by a book review by another member. In the beginning years of the club, the ladies discussed such topics as prohibition, The Great Depression, promotion of education, and foreign countries. In later years, programs continued to discuss current topics but in addition branched out to include pleasures such as flowers, collecting gemstones, and listening to music.
In February 2000, the Club celebrated its 75th anniversary with its current 23 members who are dedicated to the intellectual growth and friendships the club brings.
Repository: Northern Illinois University
Accruals: An addendum was added in May 2003.
Access Restrictions: There are no restrictions on access to the materials in the collection.
Use Restrictions: Property rights in the collection belong to the Regional History Center; literary rights are dedicated to the public.
Acquisition Source: Sally Deihl
Acquisition Method: Sally Deihl donated the Thursday Arts Club Records to the Northern Illinois Regional History Center on March 6, 2000 and May 1, 2001.
Related Materials: For additional information on the Thursday Arts Club and other women’s organizations researchers should consult the Regional History Center’s guide and reference shelflist.
