Language of Material: English

Contributing Institution: Center for Sacramento History

Title: Tuesday Club of Sacramento records

creator: Tuesday Club of Sacramento

Identifier/Call Number: MS0014

Physical Description: 19.25 Linear Feet (27 boxes)

Date (inclusive): 1897-2003

Abstract: Tuesday Club of Sacramento records includes administrative and financial records of the Tuesday Club of Sacramento from 1897 through 2003. The Tuesday Club kept thorough account ledgers, property inventories, scrapbooks and correspondence. Club members documented their activities through a club historian, personal scrapbooks, and a monthly newsletter. In the 1970s, club members became involved in the Old Schoolhouse Museum and Old Sacramento. Guidebooks, tour pamphlets, docent materials, and artifacts concerning these two areas are found in the collection. Also included are artifacts concerning the 100th anniversary of the club and a former club president.

Physical Location: SV: 7A3-5, 7B3-5

Language of Material: Languages represented in the collection: English

Collection is open for research use.

All requests to publish or quote from private collections held by the Center for Sacramento History (CSH) must be submitted in writing to csh@cityofsacramento.org. Permission for publication is given on behalf of Center for Sacramento History as the owner of the physical items and is not intended to include or imply permission of the copyright holder, which must also be obtained by the patron. No permission is necessary to publish or quote from public records.

[Identification of item], [box and folder number], Tuesday Club of Sacramento records, MS0014, Center for Sacramento History.

Donated by Orene E. Dunzweiler in 2002 (accession # 2002/019), Catherine Scott in 2007 (accession # 2007/032), the Tuesday Club in 2014 (accession # 2014/027), Ryan Ann Polli in 2015 (accession # 2015/02), and Nancy Leneis in 2021 (2021/027).

Processing and finding aid by Melissa Jones, 2009. Accessions #2007/032 and 2015/029 added by Sean Heyliger in May 2019. Accession #2014/027 added by Kim Hayden in July 2022.

As women began to emerge more and more into nineteenth century public life, Mrs. Finley R. Dray developed the idea for a women's literary group in Sacramento. After speaking to her friends in the city, 17 women gathered together in 1896 to form The Tuesday Literary Club. The founding members included Mrs. William Beckman, Mrs. B.F. Crocker, Mrs. A.A. Goddard, Mrs. C.H. Hubbard, Mrs. T.A. Snider, Mrs. E.I. Galvin, Mrs. S. Pope, Mrs. L. Tozer, Mrs. J. Frank Clark, Mrs. Mary Cushman, Mrs. Helen Hopkins, Mrs. P.L. Lykins, Mrs. A.C. Tufts, Mrs. Edward Twitchell, Mrs. H.M. La Rue, and Mrs. E. B. Purnell. Mrs. William Beckman served as the club's first president. During the first four years of the organization members discussed literature and listened to lectures and papers presented by other members. The women followed rules of order and established by-laws. In addition, members started a Current Topics section and a Home and Education section. Members could attend these meetings in addition to the regular club meetings. In 1900, club president Luella Johnston changed the mission and direction of the organization. Progressive attitudes grew and the prominent women of Sacramento wanted a greater involvement in the civic affairs of their community. Members changed their name to the Tuesday Club of Sacramento and vowed:

. . . to form a recognized center for social and mental culture; to further educate women for the responsibilities of life; to encourage all movement for the betterment of society; and to foster a generous public spirit in the community.

Right away the newly named club took steps to improve their community. The club petitioned the city trustees for a matron at the city jail, started a cooking school for young girls, convinced the city to establish McKinley Park in East Sacramento, and petitioned the city trustees to no longer grant saloon licenses in residential areas. Furthermore, in 1904 the Tuesday Club formed a group of Sacramento women's clubs known as the Woman's Council. Together with the council, these groups actively campaigned for woman's suffrage in 1911. The growing size of the Tuesday Club altered the organization's structure. In 1896, the club met in member's homes; however, local interest grew and members needed a regular meeting place. The club created a separate organization, which had its own board of directors and officers, to hunt for a permanent clubhouse as well as to handle the business affairs of the Tuesday Club. In 1905 the Tuesday Club House Association purchased a plot of land at 2722 L Street for $4,500. In 1912, construction ended on the new clubhouse. Moreover, in 1920 the Tuesday Club Auxiliary formed with 53 charter members. The auxiliary club allowed the unmarried daughters of club members to participate in Tuesday Club activities. Later, two auxiliary branches started in Fair Oaks and Roseville. The interests of club members changed as the club moved through the twentieth century. In 1903, the club invited Booker T. Washington to speak at the Crocker Art Museum. Members sold war bonds during World War I and World War II and used the clubhouse as an air raid shelter. In 1949, the club organized a picture rental gallery out of the Crocker Art Museum. The operation continued out of the museum until the 1980s. The club regularly added different sections for the interest of their members. Members joined sections for golf, art, Spanish, sewing, bridge, travel, historical and antiques, photography, and home and garden. The club founded a monthly newsletter to increase communication with their large membership. The Tuesday Club moved away from civic affairs and developed into a purely social organization for women. Members hosted doll exhibits, place setting competitions, musical productions, and fashion shows. Furthermore, the club assisted with city celebrations such as the golden spike. The Tuesday Club remains active in Sacramento; however, the clubhouse did not survive. In September 1950, a fire destroyed the 1912 clubhouse. During reconstruction members held meetings at the Alhambra Theatre and the Scottish Rite Center. Shortly after the fire, President Mildred Christian moved to dissolve the T.C.H.A and once again combine the business and social affairs of the club. The new clubhouse reflected modern 1950's architecture. Unfortunately, due to the women's movement membership declined and the club lost revenue. As a result, in 2002 the Tuesday Club building was torn down to make room for Sutter Medical Center. As of 2009, the club moved to the Arden area.

The first series contains various administrative records from the organization. Members kept detailed minutes at both board of directors meetings and regular club meetings (1897-1994). The minutes, both in book and loose-leaf form, include treasurer reports, job assignments, correspondence, budgets, and section updates. Financial record books portray individuals who purchased stock in the organization, dues collected, and the expenses for events and daily activities. Unfortunately, these records suffered water damage. The records encompass transactions from 1901-1987, but the data is not inclusive. The Property Distribution Committee reports and a partial inventory of the club's assets (1998) contain information of particular interest to the researcher. The series also includes histories of the organization. Handwritten historical reports and scripts from club productions provide information about club activities as well as the values of the club.

The second series encompasses the administrative records for the Tuesday Club House Association. Meeting minutes from the board of directors (1910-1920 and 1951-1953) and financial documents (1930-1938) detail the mission and activities of this separate organization underneath the Tuesday Club of Sacramento umbrella.

The third series contains records related to the T.C. News, the club newsletter mailed out to the membership each month. The newsletters communicated details of upcoming events, club missions, and the activities of other club members. The club printed proofs of upcoming issues and maintained a T.C. News committee binder. The committee binder details the printing and editing process as well as local vendors available in Sacramento. This series ranges from 1958-1999, with a large gap between 1960 and 1974.

The fourth series focuses on various ephemera related to the activities of the organization. Records regarding tourism in Old Sacramento and the Old Schoolhouse Museum make up the bulk of this series. A majority of the materials are not dated. Tour guidebooks, docent materials, and articles on one room schoolhouses are included. Programs and news clippings, predominately focused in the 1950's and 1960's, center on club sponsored events. Correspondence involving long-time club member Mrs. Oren (Frances) Burt is also found in this series.

The fifth series consists of scrapbooks compiled by members of the organization. The books display articles, photographs, cards, programs, corsages, and correspondence. The series includes three scrapbooks created by past presidents of the Tuesday Club: Mrs. Verne Gleason (1980-1981), Mrs. John Stroh (1962-1963), and Mrs. Meredith Jones. Scrapbooks dedicated to various sections or hobby groups may also be found in this series. This series also includes a collection of photographs, both in B/W and color, from the Arts and Crafts section (1976-1977) and various other club activities.

The sixth series contains oversized tabloids concerning tourism in Sacramento. The tabloids are not dated but focus on historical landmarks and dining.

The seventh and final series contains a multitude of artifacts created by or concerning the organization. A wide array of multicultural clothespins dolls, a woven basket, a handheld chalkboard, a Tuesday Club 100th anniversary commemorative bulb, and the pin of a former member make up this series.

• Series 1. Administrative records
• Series 2. Tuesday Club House Association
• Series 3. T.C. News
• Series 4. Scrapbooks
• Series 5. Ephemera
• Series 6. Artifacts