Overview
Records of the Tuesday Club, an women's discussion group focusing on current events, the arts, and ethical and religious issues.
Dates
- Creation: 1884-1999
Language of Materials
Materials in English.
TERMS OF USE
Access. Unrestricted.
Conditions Governing Use
Copyright. The Tuesday Club has transferred its copyright in the collection to President and Fellows of Harvard College for the Schlesinger Library. Copyright in other papers in the collection may be held by their authors, or the authors' heirs or assigns.
Copying. Papers may be copied in accordance with the library's usual procedures.
Extent
1.67 linear feet ((4 file boxes) plus 1 folio folder)The records of the Tuesday Club date from 1884 but the bulk of the collection is from 1950 to 1999.
Administrative records include by-laws with revisions; "records of service" which document attendance and dues, as well as which members were active as speakers and hostesses at meetings; minutes of the annual business meetings and the governing committee; membership lists which include lists of guests and substitute members; financial records; and correspondence.
Activities records include meeting announcements with notes regarding who hosted and who gave a paper; lists of topics and books discussed; papers presented by members; and photographs.
HISTORY
The Tuesday Club was founded in 1884 by a group of 39 women living in Boston who were seeking an opportunity to discuss issues of the day. Gradually the membership expanded to include women outside of Boston. The club met every other week in a member's home from November until April to discuss two topics per meeting. Beginning in 1905 meetings continued from December to April. The topics discussed at meetings included current events, the arts, and ethical and religious issues. Initially the meetings were held with no main speaker or moderator, but around 1915 the meeting structure changed to a speaker (always a member) presenting a paper to the group, followed by a discussion. In April 1935 the tradition of an annual book meeting began where a discussion of books was held. Beginning in 1942 meetings were monthly rather than every other week. In 1954 annual business meetings began to be held in April, and by 1964 they were held immediately prior to the annual book meeting. The tradition of a spring picnic began in 1981. For this event, the club generally traveled outside of Boston to enjoy one another's company rather than hear and discuss a paper. The Tuesday Club continues to remain active and meet monthly.
ARRANGEMENT
The collection is arranged in two series:
- I. Administration
- II. Activities
Physical Location
Collection stored off site: researchers must request access 36 hours before use.
Immediate Source of Acquisition
Accession numbers: 99-M37, 99-M50
The records of the Tuesday Club were given to the Schlesinger Library by the Tuesday Club in March and April 1999.
CONTAINER LIST
- Box 1: 1-14
- Box 2: 15-27, 29-36
- Box 3: 37-53
- Box 4: 54-60
Processing Information
Processed: September 1999
By: Deborah A. Richards
- Title
- Tuesday Club (Boston, Mass.). Records of the Tuesday Club, 1884-1999: A Finding Aid
- Author
- Arthur and Elizabeth Schlesinger Library on the History of Women in America
- Language of description
- eng
- Sponsor
- Processing of this collection was made possible through funds provided by club members.
- EAD ID
- sch00034
Repository Details
Part of the Schlesinger Library, Radcliffe Institute Repository
The preeminent research library on the history of women in the United States, the Schlesinger Library documents women's lives from the past and present for the future. In addition to its traditional strengths in the history of feminisms, women’s health, and women’s activism, the Schlesinger collections document the intersectional workings of race and ethnicity, gender, sexuality, and class in American history.