Men's Literary Club (Sandusky, Ohio) records

Collection

Identifier: MS-0297

Staff Only

Collection Overview

Abstract

The records of the Men's Literary Club span the years 1899-1954. The collection contains fairly complete minutes (1899-1944), Club calendars (1903-1954), and membership recods (1899-1946). Also included in the collection are guest speaker lists, memorial tributes and two of the members' papers.

Dates

Creation: 1899-1954

Extent

0.92 Cubic Feet (2 legal archives boxes)

Creator

Men's Literary Club (Sandusky, Ohio) (Organization)

Scope and Contents

The strength of the Men's Literary Club collection lies in the completeness of the minutes (1899-1944), membership lists (1899-1946), and Club calendars (1903-1954), which contain a listing of officers, members and the papers presented at the meetings. The minutes provide details on how the Club was organized and administered, while the Club calendars, specifically the listing of papers presented, provide insight into the interests and concerns of the Club's members. It is unfortunate, however, that only two original papers--one on India and the other an executive report--are included in this collection. The actual papers would have provided much more information on members' concerns and values.

Also included in the collection are two memorial tributes to members as well as thank-you notes for other such tributes, a guest speaker list (1909-1939) and a listing by member's name of the papers presented (1900-1940).

Biographical / Historical

The Men's Literary Club of Sandusky, Ohio was organized on the evening of December 29, 1899. The next evening the seventeen members elected officers and adopted bylaws. On January 8, 1900, the first regular meeting was held.

The object of the Club, as stated in the bylaws, was "to promote the intellectual improvement of its members," specifically accomplished through the presentation of papers written by the members and followed by a general discussion. Membership was limited to twenty-five. The first meetings were held at members' homes and followed by refreshments. At the end of the Club's calendar year (October-May), a banquet was held at which a prominent person was invited to address the Club.

The Club remained strong and active despite one episode of disbanding due to lack of interest and attendance. On September 28, 1908, the Men's Literary Club officially disbanded. By the next month, a group of men reorganized the Club and it continued to operate as before. Subjects of papers were varied and reflected the interests of the men, many of whom were lawyers, merchants, bankers, clergymen, physicians, and educators. "The 8 Hour Day," "International Relations," "The Modern High School," "Confidence," and "The Machine Worker's Personality" were examples of some of the papers presented. Although the research interests of the members continued to be an important aspect of the Club, in its later years, the Club became more social and included activities with family and friends.