Clubs and Organizations

Abstract Founded in 1896, the American Guild of Organists (AGO) is a national professional association that serves the organ and choral music fields. As an educational and service organization, AGO seeks to “foster a thriving community of musicians who share their knowledge and inspire passion for the organ.” This collection contains materials relating to the Charlotte Chapter of the American Guild of Organists from 1956-1969. Examples of documents include correspondence, newsletters, newspaper...

Abstract Between 1584 and 1587, Sir Walter Raleigh attempted to colonize the Outer Banks of North Carolinawith the Roanoke Voyages. To commemorate the 400th anniversary of these voyages, in 1973 the NorthCarolina General Assembly created the America’s Four Hundredth Anniversary Committee, and chargedmembers with planning and carrying out celebrations and events from 1984-1987. Many North Carolinacounties, including Mecklenburg County, had local committees, who also focused on their own historiesfor...

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The Athenae Book Club was a women’s book club that studied various subjects through reading, lectures, and poetry. The book club had a monthly theme that the discussion was centered around. Each meeting was hosted by a different member.

This collection contains Athenae Book Club programs dated 1905-1950, a newspaper clipping, and three sets of reading notes. Materials are in good condition.

Abstract The Au Courant Book Club was organized in October 1931 and met monthly in the homes of its members. Their meetings were advertised regularly in the Charlotte Observer. They held an annual Christmas party in which the husbands were honored guests. The club frequently had guest speakers at their meetings or had outings. This collection contains programs dated 1934-1954. Each monthly program contains discussion topics, officers, committee members with their addresses, telephone...

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The Carolina Book Club was founded in May 1939 in Charlotte, North Carolina. Collection materials include essays, meeting minutes, financial records, and other miscellaneous materials relating to the club. Materials are dated 1939-1986 and in good condition, with some documents in poor condition due to fragility.

Abstract Carrie Chapman Catt founded the League of Women Voters in 1920 during the National American Woman Suffrage Association’s annual convention. It was designed to be a nonpartisan, grassroots organization that would assist the 20 million new female voters in understanding and executing their new civic duties. The League was, and continues to be, a strong advocate of politically educated citizens and government and social reform legislation. Formed in 1922, the Charlotte League of...

Abstract Belmont Vocational School was created to serve as a vocational school for the children of the Belmont and North Charlotte communities. It opened in September 1922 at 1400 Pegram Street, with Harry K. Moore serving as the first principal. The school was renamed Charlotte Technical High School in 1927. After the class of 1954 graduated, the school became Hawthorne Junior High. This collection includes diplomas, brief histories, photographs, and a scrapbook that relate to Tech...

Abstract The Charlotte Woman’s Club is the oldest civic organization in Charlotte. Organized in 1899 as the Study Club for Mothers, the club changed its name in 1902 when membership and civic activities increased. Six women organized the club, with Mrs. WS Liddell as the first president 1899-1901. In 1908, they joined the General Federation of Women’s Clubs, which is now one of the world’s largest and oldest nonpartisan, nondenominational, international women’s volunteer service organization....

Abstract The National Women’s Political Caucus (NWPC) is “a multi-partisan grassroots organization dedicated to increasing women’s participation in the political process and creating a political power base designed to achieve equality for all women.” This group was founded in July 1971 in order to increase the number of women in all aspects of political life. The Charlotte Women’s Political Caucus also began in the early 1970s, and some of its founding members included Betty Chafin Rash,...

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The Chelidon Book Club was founded in November 1901. The name “Chelidon” was chosen after a literary society of the University of the South at Sewanee, Tennessee. Chelidon is a Greek term for part of the arm, which signifies not only strength, but friendship and fellowship. Women in this club discussed a variety of topics and typically chose books to represent a given theme. Materials in this collection include annual programs and meeting minutes dated 1901-1937 and are in good condition.

Abstract The Country Club Acres Garden Club was organized in 1958. The club’s flower was the Dogwood, and their colors were pink and white. The group met on the third Thursday of each month at 8pm to discuss club matters and gardening techniques. The purpose of the club was to improve the member’s knowledge of horticulture and to beautify their homes and gardens, thus beautifying their neighborhoods and community. The members referred to the club as a “learning club” because many of those involved...

Abstract The Cranford Book Club is Charlotte’s oldest book club, organized in 1891. Fourteen prominent Charlotte ladies began the club, including Mary Anna Morrison Jackson. Mrs. Josephine Durant served as its first president. The ladies selected the name of their club from Elizabeth Gaskell’s popular book Cranford, and chose the motto “fun as well as study.” The club’s objectives are focused on two areas: “circulating the best in current literature among the membership, and selecting an annual topic...

Abstract The Daughters of the American Revolution (DAR) is a national society of women dedicated to historical preservation, promoting of education, and encouraging patriotic behavior. Founded in 1890, DAR actively participates in diverse service projects that focus on preserving cultural heritage, such as maintaining historical sites and memorializing historical figures and events through erection of monuments. This collection contains 22 paperback programs and yearbooks printed by various chapters...

Abstract The Democratic Women of Mecklenburg County seek to encourage qualified women to seek public office and participate in Democratic Party activities, and to provide support the principles of the Democratic Party and to work for the election of Democratic candidates. This video was created by Sandra Dickerson, who highlighted dynamic women in the democratic party, including Liz Hair, Dorothy Holden, Doris Cromartie, Fannie Lou Hamer, and Barbara Jordon, among others. There is also focus on the...

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The Ex Libris Book Club was organized in 1928 by a group of ten women. This collection contains annually distributed programs with information on monthly gatherings. Each program contains discussion topics, officers, and committee members with their addresses, telephone numbers, meeting date, hostess, and presenter. Materials dated 1933-1998 and arranged in chronological order.

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The Fortnightly Book Club was organized in the early twentieth century to discuss books on a variety of topics. This collection contains notebooks and programs relating to the Fortnightly Book Club. The notebooks consist of meeting minutes and general notes about the members, what they were reading, and where/what time they met. In the programs, information covered the clubs officers, program committee, members, hostess, and book lists. Materials in this collection are dated 1925-1967.

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Girl Scouting in the United States began in March 1912 in Savannah, Georgia. Juliette Gordon Low founded this organization with a vision for girls across the country to build courage, confidence, and character in a time where women were overlooked in society. This collection contains copies of The Girl Scout Clarion, a newsletter published by the Mecklenburg County Girl Scout Council. Collection materials are dated April 1947-October 1956 and are in good condition.

Abstract The American Gold Star Mothers was founded in 1928 by Grace Darling Seibold, mother of deceased soldier George Vaughn, and later incorporated on January 5, 1929 in Washington, DC. As with the American War Mothers, the Gold Star Mothers’ membership was initially limited, but was later amended to include all American conflicts, and all mothers of children killed during these conflicts. Materials in this collection include three scrapbooks with histories of the group and its...

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The Junior League of Charlotte (JLC) is a women’s organization that promotes volunteering and leadership development. The JLC's Garden Club was organized on November 5, 1925 to engage in conservation work and outdoor activities. Examples of projects undertaken by the Garden Club include flower shows, bird house contests, school gardens, home improvement contests, and flower photography. Collection materials are in good condition and dated 1937-1988.

Abstract The Junior League of Charlotte (JLC) was founded in 1926 by 30 women with the goal of encouraging young women to improve their communities through civic engagement. Members of JLC contribute both their time and financial resources to various community agencies and their projects to help meet the critical needs of the communities they serve. The organization also seeks to empower women by providing training opportunities to further develop their members’ professional and leadership skills....

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The objective of the Los Tiempos Book Club was to foster the culture and entertainment of its members. The programs and programs found in this collection include the names of the book club members, dates and locations for the meetings, a list of the books exchanged, and a copy of the constitution and by-laws. Materials are dated 1951-1970.

Abstract The Mecklenburg Citizens for Better Libraries (MCBL) was founded in 1967 as a local unit of the statewide Citizens for Better Libraries organization. The goal of the organization was to raise standards and provide library service to everyone in the county by encouraging collaboration among all the libraries within a 50-mile radius of Charlotte. The organization was involved in encouraging gifts and endowments, promoting legislative support for libraries and stimulating library use. They also...

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This collection contains scrapbooks, artifacts, bulletins and newsletters pertaining to local ornithology clubs including the Carolina Bird Club, the Mecklenburg Audubon Society, Parks and Recreation and private individuals’ personal collections. Materials are in good condition and dated 1926-2017.

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The National Society of the Colonial Dames of America (NSCDA) is a national organization that was founded in 1891. Its members actively seek to inspire patriotism through historic preservation, education, and patriotic service. NSCDA focuses its organizational efforts on sparking interest in our nation’s founding and development, and colonial history. This collection contains bound annual reports published by the North Carolina chapter of NSCDA dated 1912-1939.

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The Navajo Club was a social boys club at Central High School from 1927 to 1933. It was then reorganized on June 17, 1972. The club was for socializing only and did not carry any other qualifications for membership. Roughly 90% of the members served in World War 2. After the reorganization, members met on the first Friday of every month. This collection includes newspaper clippings, obituaries and photos of members of the Navajo Club spanning c1927-c1998.

Abstract The Penguin Dance Club was founded in 1952 in Charlotte, North Carolina. The first executive committee included: Fay and Stan Springs, Carmen and Bill Williams, Ouida and John Spillman, Virginia and Paul Hollas (who also served as first presidents), and Rachel and David Hackney. The Penguin Dance Club held annual business meetings and hosted themed dance events throughout the year. After suffering from declining membership, the Penguin Dance Club merged with the Charlotte Dance Club in...

Abstract This collection spans items of political relevance for the Carolinas between 1885-2016. The collection consists primarily of sample voting ballots for Charlotte-Mecklenburg and campaign paraphernalia. Items of particular interest in this collection include: a ticket to the 1885 Grand Inauguration Ball for President Grover Cleveland; a poll book from 1928; a signed letter from Franklin Delano Roosevelt during his term as Governor of the State of New York; a souvenir program from the 1936...

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The Pro Re Nata Book Club was organized in early 20th century. It was the outgrowth of a sewing club consisting of young women between the ages of 17 and 19. This collection contains a multi-page document outlining the history and intentions of the Pro Re Nata Club, as well as annual club programs dated 1906-1953. In each program there is a list of members and information about discussions and discussion leaders. Materials are dated 1906-1953.

Abstract The Hunter and Ranson families were two of the earliest families who settled in what was originally known as “Craighead.” In 1873, the town was renamed “Huntersville” for the Hunter family. These two families would join together through the 1890 marriage of William Joseph Ranson and Ellen Viola Hunter. The Ranson and Hunter families continued to influence the development of the Huntersville community throughout the 20th Century. The children of William and Ellen went on to serve their...

Abstract The Research Book Club was founded in 1913 and met twice a month. The club was active between 1913 and 1970 and met in the homes of its members. The community and the club’s members were kept up to date with club meetings and announcements in frequent Charlotte Observer articles. The last formal meeting was held in 1972. At the time, it was the second oldest book club in Charlotte.This collection contains 1 fragile scrapbook, meeting minutes from 1942-1972, and 73 annual...