Overview
Constitutions, minutes, membership lists, correspondence, etc., of the Mothers' Thursday Club of Cambridge (Mass.), established to promote discussion and socializing among its members.
Dates
- Creation: 1920-2011
Language of Materials
Materials in English.
Access Restrictions:
Access. Collection is open for research.
Conditions Governing Use
Copyright. Copyright in the records created by the Mothers' Thursday Club is held by the 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. Records may be copied in accordance with the library's usual procedures.
Extent
1.88 linear feet (4+1/2 file boxes)These records include minutes, proceedings, programs, membership lists, memorial minutes, correspondence, photographs, etc., from the Club's inception in January 1920 to 2011. In May 2011, additional records were added to the original finding aid: this new material is found in #PD.2-PD.3, 1.1-1.3, 2.1-2.5, 3.1-3.13, 4.1-4.2, 4.5-16, 5.1-5.4.
HISTORY
The Mothers' Query Club (as it was first called), of Cambridge, Massachusetts, was organized in the winter of 1919-1920; 40 members attended its first meeting on January 29, 1920. One year later, in January 1921, the name was changed to the Mothers' Thursday Club. Its purpose was "to promote discussion of subjects of interest to mothers, and to secure a better acquaintance among its members." This organization, limited to 60 women, continues to meet once a month to enjoy social events, lectures, and discussions on topics of current interest. Many lectures have been given by members of the Harvard faculty; among the earliest were Basil King, speaking at the very first meeting on "The Edge of the Unseen"; Floyd Henry Allport, speaking on "The Psychology of Child Development"; and Dr. Martin Edwards on "The Importance of Proper Nutrition, Posture and Exercise." In the fall of 1920 the Club discussed the upcoming election (the first with women enfranchised nationally), with the members' support divided among Warren G. Harding, James M.Cox, and Eugene Debs. The Club's charter members and first officers were Mrs. I.L. Winter, President; Mrs. Stoughton Bell, Treasurer; Mrs. Herbert Weir Symth, Secretary.
Physical Location
Collection stored off site: researchers must request access 36 hours before use.
Immediate Source of Acquisition
Accession numbers: 1549, 76-M383, 79-M45, 92-M94, 93-M94, 97-M12, 2000-M41, 2001-M213, 2005-M63, 2009-M92, 2009-M223, 2010-M111, 2011-M81
The records of the Mothers' Thursday Club were given to the Schlesinger Library between March 1969 and May 2011 by the Mothers' Thursday Club (via Mrs. Dwight Harken, Mrs. Charles Almy, and other members).
Processing Information
Processed: April 1976; updated May 2011
By: Louise Meier; updated by Anne Engelhart
- Title
- Mothers' Thursday Club (Cambridge, Mass.). Records of the Mothers' Thursday Club, 1920-2011: 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 by a gift from the Mothers' Thursday Club.
- EAD ID
- sch00750
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.