Guide to the Wednesday Club Collection
MS 80
Finding aid prepared by Samantha Mills
San Diego History Center Document Collection
1649 El Prado, Suite 3
San Diego, CA, 92101
619-232-6203
January 11, 2017
Title: Wednesday Club Collection
Identifier/Call Number: MS 80
Contributing Institution:
San Diego History Center Document Collection
Language of Material:
English
Physical Description:
0.75 Linear feet
(2 boxes)
Date (inclusive): 1898-2009
Abstract: This collection contains papers of the Wednesday Club, a women’s club operating in San Diego, from the late 1890s to the early
2000s.
creator:
Wednesday Club of San Diego .
Biographical / Historical Notes
The Wednesday Club is a women’s club formed in San Diego in 1893 to discuss literature and art. On June 4, 1895 ladies Arndt,
Hamilton, Horton, Ingle, Luce, McDonald and Woodward reformed it as a literary club and on June 11 Mrs. A.E. Horton was elected
president. The first literary discussion was about Oliver Wendell Holmes. His works were presented and discussed. Several
days later a constitution and by-laws were adopted. The goal of the club was artistic and literary culture, but in 1913 the
members added, “and the study of the problems of our time.” Initially the membership was limited to 50 and the initiation
fee was $3.00 with the yearly dues costing $2.00. In 1899 when Andrew Carnegie was donating money to build public libraries,
Mrs. Horton obtained money for a public library for San Diego and she became the first honorary member. In December of 1899,
a lot on 6th St. was purchased for the Wednesday Club House and in June of 1900 the Club House was built. Among other projects,
$500.00 was raised for the Park Improvement Fund.
Scope and Content
This collection contains papers of the Wednesday Club, a women’s club operating in San Diego, from the late 1890s to the early
2000s. The papers include yearbooks, historical sketches, programs and resumes of potential speakers dating from 1898 to 2009.
Of special interest is “The Wednesday Club, San Diego, California: An Historical Sketch” from 1895-1970. This booklet gives
an interesting history of the founding of the club and the activities that they participated in which were primarily artistic
and literary discussions. There are also resumes of people that may have been considered as speakers at the Wednesday Club
functions.
Arrangement
The papers are arranged chronologically and by material type.
Preferred Citation
Wednesday Club Collection, MS 80, San Diego History Center Document Archives, San Diego, CA.
Conditions Governing Access
This collection is open for research.
Conditions Governing Use
The San Diego History Center (SDHC) holds the copyright to any unpublished materials. SDHC Library regulations do apply.
Processing Information
Collection processed by Sally Weegar on June 29, 2006.
Subjects and Indexing Terms
Carnegie, Andrew, 1835-1919
Gill, Irving, 1870-1936
Hamilton, Mrs. Charles S.
Horton, Lydia Knapp
Porterfield, Lottie G.
Sweet, Elaine, 1895-1985
Women -- Societies and clubs
Box-folder 2:3
Programs,
1939-1958
Includes:
Wednesday Club Cultural College for Women Graduate School Commencement; Creative Arts Day; Ivy Lane Playhouse: The Smell of
Power/Another Trial; Alice May Sharp and Melbourne Elliot; Feliz Navidad, Christmas Eve with the Moreno Family.
Box-folder 2:4
Pamphlets,
1895-1970
Includes:
“An Historical Sketch” booklets covering history from 1895 to 1970; five bulletins from the 1930s and 1940s; and a list of
luncheon speakers in 1971 and 1972.
Box-folder 2:5
Memos and Notes,
1865-1939 and 1993-1997
Includes:
Transcript of notes from Hazel Wood Waterman memo notebooks, typed by Phyllis Kincaid; and explanatory note from Sally Spiess
and copy of letter from Phyllis Kincaid.
Box-folder 2:6
Papers,
1979 and 2001
Includes:
“Richard S. Requa: Architect of the California Style” by Marilen Sedlock; and “Hazel Waterman: the Wednesday Club’s Architect”
by Sally Speiss.
Box-folder 2:7
Papers,
2000
Includes:
“Recollections of George White and Anna Gunn Marston” by various relatives; and “The Wednesday Club and the San Diego Museum
of Art” by May Guthrie Barker.
Box-folder 2:8
Paper,
2009
Includes:
“Records of a California Family” by Peg and Anne Marston.
Box-folder 2:9
Resumes,
1982-1983
Includes:
Nine resumes - Fitch, Blair, Ollman, Whitcomb, Cornelius, Welsh, Jones, Atkinson, Bauder.