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Woman's Monday Club
Scrapbook
Page 46
City’s Oldest Federated Club Plans Feb. 14
Birthday Party
Corpus Christi’s oldest federated
women’s club is nearing another birthday.
On Feb. 14, the Woman’s Monday Club
will entertain guests at the 53rd anniversary program, in the
home of Mrs. H. H. Watson, on Ocean Drive.
It was on St. Valentine’s Day, 1897,
that a group of friends organized the club. The founder was the late Mrs.
G. R. Scott, who later became the club’s first president. Mrs. Scott died
last year, the last of the charter members.
Other charter members included Mrs.
W. Scott Christi, Mrs. A. G. Heaney, Mrs. David Hirsch, Miss Henrietta
Mallory, Mrs. Henry Redmond, Mrs. Frances Butler Southgate, and Mrs. George
Westervelt. Early club records indicate that first members also included
Mrs. John L. McCampbell, Mrs. W. B. Hopkins, and by 1900, Mrs. Pearce F.
Evans, Mrs. E. A. Born, among others, and Mrs. A. M. French, who still is
active in the club.
Federated in 1901
Woman’s Monday Club became a member
of the Texas Federation of Women’s Club in 1901. By the beginning of 1900,
club events were moving in that direction. The club itself formally adopted
constitution and by-laws early in 1900, and in an April meeting the Texas
Federation’s constitution, by-laws and aims were outlined.
Mrs. Scott, as the first president,
served until 1909, when she was succeeded by Mrs. W. B. Hopkins.
The club became a member of the
General Federation of Women’s Clubs on March 1, 1903.
Not only are the names of early
members, as well as those of many present members, identified with those of
families who have long had a leading role in Corpus Christi affairs, but
Monday Club minutes show that the organization did not confine its
activities to club studies and programs.
Artesian Park
The club early became interested in
Artesian Park. Minutes record the purchase of Artesian Square, its
presentation to the city, the appropriation of funds by the city for
additional lots adjoining the square, a report that the well was being
rebored. Members of the Monday club voted to give $1 a month for the park,
held rummage sales and gave plays, sponsored weekly band concerts, all to
help raise the park funds. At one time, the club minutes reported that
“each lady in the city is to be solicited for 10 cents each.”
The club minutes state that on Jan.
22, 1907, the park fund of $2,300 had been raised, completed by popular
subscription.
A few years later, the South Bluff
Civic Club was formed for the purpose of establishing a park in what was
then the southern bounds of the city. The late Mrs. Born was president of
the South Bluff Club and she presented the project to the Monday Club, which
voted its hearty support.
District Meeting
In 1905, the Monday Club invited the
Fifth District, Texas Federation of Women’s Club, to hold its first meeting
in Corpus Christi.
The club inaugurated a Saturday
morning story hour at the public school, in 1906. The club presented a
piano to the school. A loan fund for students was sponsored. One year, a
pure food committee was appointed.
For a number of years, the club
presented a five dollar gold piece to each Latin American graduate of high
school here.
Woman’s Suffrage
By 1915, there was a great deal of
interest in the proposal for woman’s suffrage. The minutes report, “Mrs.
Hopkins presented a petition relative to suffrage and asked the ladies who
desired to sign it to so after the meeting.” At a meeting a few weeks
earlier, Mrs. Redmond had read a paper on “Progress of Equal Franchise in
Our Country,” and Mrs. Westervelt had prepared a paper on “What Women Are
Doing With the Ballot.”
Two More Clubs
Two other clubs had their beginning
with the Monday Club. In the club’s early years, members organized a music
department, with Mrs. Heaney as president. This later became the Harmony
Club.
La Retama Club likewise had its
beginning with the Monday Club.
As a club and as individuals,
members of the Monday Club were active during World War I and II. In 1944,
the club was presented for its sponsorship of the tuition for a cadet nurse,
for three years. In 1945, the club was presented a USO merit award. Members
assisted in the setup of an airraid shelter in event of its need, and helped
furnish an emergency first aid station.
After the first war, a Gold Star
Memorial to war dead was established on The Hill by the club.
Daughters Follow
A long established tradition of the
club is that daughters succeed their mothers as members. Mrs. Roy Miller
and Mrs. Richard King, now honorary members, are daughters of the late, Mrs.
A. G. Heaney. The late Mrs. W. W. Jones, president for the 1909-1911 term,
is represented on the honorary list by her daughter, Mrs. Frank Lewis.
Other honorary members are Mrs. Edwin Flato, Mrs. T. A. Anderson, and Mrs.
Frank de Garmo, 1936-1938 president.
Mrs. W. E. Pope is a daughter of the
founder and first president. Both Mrs. A. M. French and her daughter, Mrs.
French Smith, are active in the club. Two other present mother – daughter
members are Mrs. Vincent Bluntzer and Mrs. Roy Hebert.
Mrs. W. Boyd Brooks is the daughter
of Mrs. Born. Mrs. L. L. Wagner, president – elect, is a daughter of the
late Mrs. Redmond.
Niece, Too
Mrs. Gordon Lewis, a new member, is
a niece of the late Mrs. W. B. Hopkins. Mrs. John B. Hardwicke, now
secretary of Monday Club, is the daughter – in – law of Mrs. Maude H.
Gerhardt, long an active member, and president for 1928-1929.
Newest member, elected at the last
meeting, is Mrs. Robert McCampbell. Other active members now include Mrs.
R. R. Banner, president for 1931-1932; Mrs. Hood Boone, 1942-1944 president;
Mrs. B. B. Crowe, Mrs. James B. Hubbard president for 1944-1946; Miss Mai
Frances Hunter, Mrs. B. W. Klipstein, immediate past president; Mrs. Carrie
Lichtenstein, president for 1934-1936; Mrs. Ralph McCampbell, Mrs. E. B.
Neiswanger, president for the 1940-1942 term;
Also Mrs. John C. North, Mrs.
Charles S. Pugsley, Mrs. Sam Rankin, 1925-1927 president; Mrs. C. C. Stone,
Miss Mary Thompson, Mrs. Douglas I. Van Ness, Mrs. H. H. Watson, 1938-1940
president; and Mrs. Kate Young.
Every Monday
As its name implies, the Monday Club
meets on Monday, every Monday from early autumn until late spring. This
year’s schedule of 28 programs will be climaxed by the club’s May Day
breakfast.
Club programs have changed a great
deal with the years. Now, the programs are planned for variety in
interest. “Dixie Spins the Wheels of Industry” was the theme for one
afternoon last fall. “American Humorists,” “Background of American Poetry”
and “Old Indianola” also are from this season’s yearbook.
In earlier days, the study was
confined largely to Shakespeare. Typical were two lessons devoted to
“Mistakes of Brutus.”
The club flower is the pink
carnation; the colors are pink and white. The red carnation probably world
lend itself with greater ease in plans for Feb. 14 anniversary parties, but
there has been no change. The pink carnation was the favorite flower of the
little group of women who founded Woman’s Monday Club.
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