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Wednesday Club (Rochester, NY) papers

 Collection
Identifier: D.135

Biographical / Historical note

The Wednesday Club is a women's organization devoted to literary and intellectual pursuits, as well as issues of civic concern. The membership is composed of active and socially prominent women in the Rochester, New York area. Founded in 1890 by Carrie Butts Stoddard, Hetty Hopkins Adams, Sara Fisher, and Rose Alling, the club has seldom exceeded twenty in membership. Invitations to join are extended upon unanimous decision of the group. They meet approximately once per month during the year with a four month break for the summer. The meetings are held at the members' homes--each member hosting in her turn. At each meeting a light lunch is served and a paper of original research by one of the members is presented, with discussion following the reading. The Wednesday Club papers consist of Secretary's Minutes from the Club's founding in 1890 through 2009. Also included are Member Biographical Information forms, which the organization sent to its membership as part of its centennial celebration. Schedules and announcements of meetings document the longevity of the Club. Most valuable in this collection are the surviving reading copies of papers presented. The research papers chronicle the opinions of middle and upper-class women related to a variety of topics including travel, disarmament, gender limitations, welfare reform and the domestic arts. Most notable, were those read by Alice Wood Wynd, Harriet Steele Rhees, and Rose Alling. Papers presented by guest lecturers are also included in this collection. Correspondence, as well as materials related to the Club's Centennial Celebration, and photographs document the development of the organization. For a history of The Wednesday Club see: Nancy Wharton Bolger, "The Wednesday Club: a Centennial History," The University of Rochester Library Bulletin, vol. 41, (1989-1990), 38-51.

Scope and Contents

The collection consists of secretary's minutes from the Club's founding in 1890. Also included are member biographical information forms, which the organization sent to its membership as part of its centennial celebration, and schedules and announcements of meetings which document the longevity of the Club. Most valuable in this collection are the surviving reading copies of papers presented. The research papers chronicle the opinions of middle and upper-class women related to a variety of topics including travel, disarmament, gender limitations, welfare reform and the domestic arts. Most notable were those read by Alice Wood Wynd, Harriet Steele Rhees, and Rose Alling. Papers presented by guest lecturers are also included in this collection. Correspondence, as well as materials related to the Club's Centennial Celebration, and photographs document the development of the organization.

Creator

Dates

  • Creation: 1890-2018

Language of Materials

English

Extent

15 box(es) (15 boxes, 1 oversized folder, and 3 volumes)

Access

The Wednesday Club (Rochester, N.Y.) Papers is open for research use. Researchers are advised to contact the Rare Books, Special Collections & Preservation Department prior to visiting. Upon arrival, researchers will also be asked to fill out a registration form and provide photo identification.

Use

In consultation with a curator, reproductions may be made upon request. Permission to publish materials from the collection must be requested from a curator. Researchers are responsible for determining any copyright questions.

Immediate Source of Acquisition

Gift of the Wednesday Club, March 1980 and subsequent additions.

Preferred Citation

[Item title, item date], Wednesday Club (Rochester, N.Y.) Papers, D.135, Rare Books, Special Collections, and Preservation, River Campus Libraries, University of Rochester

Title
Wednesday Club (Rochester, NY) papers
Author
Finding aid prepared by Rare Books and Special Collections staff
Date
undated
Description rules
Describing Archives: A Content Standard
Language of description
English
Script of description
Latin

Library Details

Part of the Rare Books, Special Collections, and Preservation Library

Contact:
Rochester NY 14627-0055 USA