Description
The Saticoy Poinsettia Club was incorporated in 1899 and was originally named the Saticoy Literary and Social Club until 1902.
It was formed for the purpose of promoting sociality among its members and for the betterment of their recently established
community in Saticoy. This collection includes their historical documents, yearbooks, scrapbooks, minutes, financial and administrative
records.
Background
Saticoy is an unincorporated community in Ventura County, California. The settlement was laid out in 1887 along the railroad
line that was being built from Los Angeles through the Santa Clara River Valley to the town of Ventura. The Saticoy Literary
and Social Club, otherwise known as the Saticoy Poinsettia Club, was incorporated on June 14, 1899. It was established during
a time when men would gather in fraternal organizations, billiard halls, saloons and at political rallies. In the isolated
rural area of only eight hundred inhabitants, a group of women sought their own places of refuge in the form of a literary
and social club. Initially, the club meetings were dedicated to socializing, studying the classics, and drinking tea. The
first meeting was held in Anna Campbell's house and included the following women: O. Belle Arnold, Agnes B. Clark, Carrie
A. Darling, Jean B. Duval, Emma B. Kellogg, Adeline A. Kelsey, Lizzie A. Kimball, Jennie Sharp and Luna Layne. Membership
dues were twenty-five cents a year, members were fined five cents for missing meetings, only fifteen members were permitted
at any given time, and aspiring members were accepted or rejected through a secret ballot vote of the membership. The name
of the club was changed to Poinsettia Club of Saticoy on April 9, 1902, just as Poinsettias were becoming a large local crop
in the region. After incorporation, meetings quickly broadened to activities designed to, "promote the civic, social and educational
life of its members, for the betterment of the community in which they live". This included discussing current events, home
economics, fundraising, scholarships, book clubs, educational workshops, arts and crafts and involvement in national, state
and local causes. They helped fund local parks, the public library and sent aid to survivors of the 1906 San Francisco earthquake
among other charitable activities.
Restrictions
Property rights to the physical object belong to the Museum of Ventura County. Literary rights, including copyright, have
not been determined. Contact the Research Library for further information: library@venturamuseum.org
Availability
This finding aid was made possible in part through funding from the County of Ventura and the Heritage Fund at the Ventura
County Community Foundation. This collection is open for research except for Box 2, Folder 1, which is restricted.