Muskogee's New Century Club
In a month, one of Muskogee's organizations will celebrate its 105th anniversary. The New Century Club first met on September 10th, 1902, in the home of Mrs. D. H. Middleton. That Wednesday afternoon tea proved memorable.
The eleven members that afternoon included Mrs. R. H. Holloway, Mrs. John Downing Benedict, Mrs. A. P. Rachal, Mrs. Alex Todd, Mrs. Theodore W. Gulick, Mrs. C. L. Steele, Mrs. L. C. Bennett, Mrs. J. B. Campbell, Mrs. S. A. Cobb and Mrs. Rachal's daughter.
In this picture, fifteen members from an early date stand proudly for their photograph.
Membership was limited initially to twenty-five women. Over the years, the organization kept close to that size. Today there are twenty-seven active members and three honorary members. Membership continues to be by invitation only.
Mrs. Rachal was the wife of a large cattle rancher from Texas. Mrs. Benedict's husband was in charge of all of the tribal schools in Indian Territory. Along with Mrs. Cobb, these three chose the club's name.
Another task the organizers undertook was choosing the society's flowers and colors. Members chose the colors of pink and green. To accentuate these colors, they chose a pink carnation.
From the beginning, club activities focused on presenting and hearing book reviews. It meets twice a month from October to May on the first and third Thursdays, except in December. Eloise Cable says "It's a nice old club, really."
Margaret Ann Lehman, who has been a member since 1957, summed up the organization's purpose. She said "It's a great club because it tries to instill an appreciation of contemporary literature." This heritage began with the first meeting.
On October first, 1903, Mrs. R. G. Holloway started the club's second year with a review of a book that was published the previous year by a new writer. "The Spenders: A Tale of the Third Generation" was written by Harry Leon Wilson. Wilson became a popular American writer whose writing appeared in print for the next quarter of a century. His work is still studied today.
It is great that an organization is still going strong in Muskogee after such an early beginning. Beginning with the second year, the society published an annual for each member. These annuals document the club's activity during the year.
The club's motto, below, is appropriate.
"Attempt the end and never stand to doubt!
Nothing so hard but search will find it out."
The eleven members that afternoon included Mrs. R. H. Holloway, Mrs. John Downing Benedict, Mrs. A. P. Rachal, Mrs. Alex Todd, Mrs. Theodore W. Gulick, Mrs. C. L. Steele, Mrs. L. C. Bennett, Mrs. J. B. Campbell, Mrs. S. A. Cobb and Mrs. Rachal's daughter.
In this picture, fifteen members from an early date stand proudly for their photograph.
Membership was limited initially to twenty-five women. Over the years, the organization kept close to that size. Today there are twenty-seven active members and three honorary members. Membership continues to be by invitation only.
Mrs. Rachal was the wife of a large cattle rancher from Texas. Mrs. Benedict's husband was in charge of all of the tribal schools in Indian Territory. Along with Mrs. Cobb, these three chose the club's name.
Another task the organizers undertook was choosing the society's flowers and colors. Members chose the colors of pink and green. To accentuate these colors, they chose a pink carnation.
From the beginning, club activities focused on presenting and hearing book reviews. It meets twice a month from October to May on the first and third Thursdays, except in December. Eloise Cable says "It's a nice old club, really."
Margaret Ann Lehman, who has been a member since 1957, summed up the organization's purpose. She said "It's a great club because it tries to instill an appreciation of contemporary literature." This heritage began with the first meeting.
On October first, 1903, Mrs. R. G. Holloway started the club's second year with a review of a book that was published the previous year by a new writer. "The Spenders: A Tale of the Third Generation" was written by Harry Leon Wilson. Wilson became a popular American writer whose writing appeared in print for the next quarter of a century. His work is still studied today.
It is great that an organization is still going strong in Muskogee after such an early beginning. Beginning with the second year, the society published an annual for each member. These annuals document the club's activity during the year.
The club's motto, below, is appropriate.
"Attempt the end and never stand to doubt!
Nothing so hard but search will find it out."
Labels: Eloise Cable, Margaret Ann Lehman, Mrs. John D. Benedict, Mrs. Theo. Gulick, New Century Club
posted by Wally Waits at
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