MS-290 The Friday Afternoon Club

Introduction

The papers of the Friday Afternoon Club were accessioned into Wright State University's Special Collections and Archives on February 11, 1999.  They were donated by the Executive Committee of the Friday Afternoon Club, and brought to the Archives by President Maria Castleman.  The deed of gift imposes no access restrictions, but all literary copyrights in this property remain with the Friday Afternoon Club.  Publication of materials from this collection must be approved by the current officers of the Friday Afternoon Club.

The dates of the F.A.C. range from 1893 to 2003.  The collection is comprised of 8 boxes, containing minutes and member rosters, attendance records, financial records, yearly programs from 1893 to 2003, as well as 3 albums or scrapbooks.  This collection describes the function and activities of a Dayton women’s organization.

Series Listing:
Series I  - Minutes and Member Roster
Series II  - Yearly Programs
Series III  - Financial Records
Series IV - Albums
     Subseries 1: Album 1
     Subseries 2: Album 2
     Subseries 3: Album 3

Organizational History

The Friday Afternoon Club was founded in 1893 as a literary club for women in the Dayton area. A number of ladies first met on February 17, 1893 at the home of Mrs. Charles Williams for the purpose of starting a literary club. The following officers were elected: Mrs. Charles Kumler, President; Mrs. Edward Baird, Vice President; Mrs. Frank Fox, Secretary; Mrs. Oscar Woodruff, Treasurer; Mrs. Charles James, Critic.

After this first meeting, meetings were held each Friday afternoon to complete the organization of the club. In June of 1893, the organization was complete and regular meetings with a set program would begin in October of 1893.

Membership was limited to 25, but this number was raised to 35 in May of 1894. It was again raised to 40 and later to 45, which is the current limit. Membership was granted first by the membership of the club, but later only by vote of the Executive Committee.

The Executive Committee prepares the program for the upcoming year. For the first 25 years, history was the primary topic, with one program for music, one for an American author, and one for a miscellaneous topic. History was the predominant topic of study for many years, and after the first 25 years, literature became the topic of choice.

Aside from academic and literary studies, the Friday Afternoon Club also enjoyed a variety of social events. Many lectures and plays were a diversion to the more serious programs, as well as evening parties and annual picnics. In more recent years, an Officers' Tea, a Christmas Tea, and the popular Book and Thimble Day were added to the yearly events. The Book and Thimble Day is an occasion where luncheon is served by the Social Committee and is followed by the reading of a play, or plays, and creative writings by members of the Club.

The Club has also selectively joined a few local associations. They have joined the General Federation, became a charter member of the Ohio Federation and were instrumental in forming the Dayton Federation. The Club also retains membership in the Dayton Art Institute and the City Federation of Women's Clubs. Due to the low member dues, the Club cannot support many organizations and encourages members as individuals to support worthwhile organizations, however does not encourage personal interest in these groups to be brought to the attention of the club for solicitation or support.

The Club also prides itself on the familial relationships within the organization. Over the years there have been many mothers and daughters, sisters, and cousins within the Club.

Scope and Content Note

The collection from the Friday Afternoon Club consists of minutes, financial records, programs and albums or scrapbooks. The earliest documents date from 1893 and the latest date to 2003.

Series I: The minutes included in this collection are comprehensive. They begin in 1906 and continue to 1998. Most contain a membership roster, with records of attendance and excused or unexcused absences.

Series II: The programs are printed programs, each with the specific programs for each meeting on every other Friday, a brief history, names and addresses of full and associate members, and past and current presidents. Each bi-weekly program listing includes the topic, an appropriate quote, the club member presenting a paper and often a reading list.

Series III: The financial records begin in 1936 and continue until 1992. There is an early receipt book, dating from 1894 to 1897. The records are in ledger books, each filed in a separate folder.

Series IV: There are three albums, or scrapbooks. The first album contains a few original writings of the club members and has been filed in one folder. The second album contains a few photos, newspaper articles and a book of Christmas Sonnets written by Margaret Shardelow Young, and covers several years. These items have been filed in several folders, each folder representing a page in the album. The last album is more like a scrapbook, with a variety of items in no particular order. The original order has been preserved and each folder represents a page in the scrapbook.

The information contained in the Friday Afternoon Club collection would be of interest to anyone studying Dayton history, the history of Dayton women’s organizations, as well as some prominent women as individuals. Papers of Margaret Shardelow Young, a member of the Friday Afternoon Club, are housed in the Wright State University’s Special Collections and Archives department under MS-285.

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