Twentieth Century Club records, 1924-1978

Overview of the Collection

Creator
Twentieth Century Club
Title
Twentieth Century Club records
Dates
1924-1978 (inclusive)
1948-1975 (bulk)
Quantity
1 linear foot
Collection Number
XOE_CPNWS0249TwentyCent (collection)
Summary
The Twentieth Century Club was a "town and gown" organization designed to bring together educators with business and professional people for discussion and socializing. The collection consists of a history of the club, programs, minutes, correspondence and receipt books kept during the club's existence.
Repository
Western Washington University, Center for Pacific Northwest Studies
Goltz-Murray Archives Building
808 25th St.
Bellingham, WA
98225
Telephone: (360) 650-7534
cpnws@wwu.edu
Access Restrictions

The collection is open to the public.

Languages
English.

Historical NoteReturn to Top

The Twentieth Century Club was a social organization created in 1909 to facilitate better relationships between residents of Bellingham, Washington and faculty at Western Washington Normal School (now Western Washington University). This “town and gown” club met every September through May from 1909 to 1977 to discuss music, history, art, and politics. Membership was by invitation and, at its peak, the group had space for over one hundred members. The club first met at the Baker Hotel and various other locales throughout Bellingham until it settled permanently at the Leopold Hotel in 1941.

The group invited various speakers from Bellingham and the Seattle area to discuss local and international issues. One popular topic discussed during the 1950s and 1960s was that of the Cold War and its impact on the United States and world affairs. During the 1970s, membership among faculty started to decline, and club members began to discuss whether a reorganization of the group might be in order. The club disbanded in 1977, declaring its original objectives met.

Content DescriptionReturn to Top

The records of the Twentieth Century Club document the interests and activities of this “town and gown” organization in Bellingham, Washington. Records span the period 1924-1978, with bulk dates from 1948-1975. The collection comprises administrative and financial records, materials related to club activities and history, and press clippings.

Administrative records include copies of club resolutions and rules, as well as meeting minutes. Membership books and correspondence document changes in membership patterns and practices. Financial records consist entirely of club receipt books. Materials related to club activities include year books documenting the names of club members and those who held important leadership roles, as well as an official program from the group’s fiftieth anniversary celebration in 1959. These records also include a club scrapbook that dates from 1960-1965. The scrapbook contains newspaper articles and meeting notices which document various topics covered at meetings. Records related to club history include two official histories written by Miriam Snow Mathes and Arta F. Lawrence on the occasion of the club's fiftieth anniversary.

Use of the CollectionReturn to Top

Preferred Citation

Twentieth Century Club records, Center for Pacific Northwest Studies, Western Libraries Archives & Special Collections, Western Washington University, Bellingham WA 98225-9123.

Administrative InformationReturn to Top

Arrangement

Records of the Twentieth Century Club are organized in accordance with the following series arrangement:

  • Series I. Administrative Records, 1924-1978
  • Series II. Financial Records, 1948-1975
  • Series III. Club Activities, 1948-1965
  • Series IV. Club History, 1959-1974
  • Series V. Press Clippings, undated

Custodial History

Provenance unknown

Processing Note

Processed by Stephanie Brown for the Center for Pacific Northwest Studies, 2007

Processing Note

About Harmful Language and Content

To learn more about problematic content in our collections, collection description and teaching tools (including how to provide feedback or request dialogue on this topic), see the following Statement About Potentially Harmful Language and Content

Detailed Description of the CollectionReturn to Top

The following section contains a detailed listing of the materials in the collection.

Series I:  Adminstrative Records, 1924-1987 Return to Top

Container(s) Description Dates
Box/Folder
1/1
Resolutions and Rules
undated
1/2
Minutes
1924-1927
1/3
Minutes
1948-1959
1/4
Membership Books
1965-1967
1/5
1950-1970
1/6
Correspondence
1948-1978
1/7
Envelope and Letterhead Samples
Undated

Series II:  Financial Records, 1948-1975Return to Top

Container(s) Description Dates
Box/Folder
1/8
Receipt Book
1948-1952
1/9
Receipt Book
1952-1958
1/10
Receipt Book
1958-1959
1/11
Receipt Book
1959-1963
1/12
Receipt Book
1963-1967
1/13
Receipt Book
1970-1975
1/14
Loose Receipt Book
1951-1952; 1955-1959; 1970-1972

Series III:  Club Activities, 1948-1965Return to Top

Container(s) Description Dates
Box/Folder
1/15
Club Year Books (Incomplete Run)
1948-1975
1/16
Fiftieth Anniversary Dinner
1959 October 20
1/17
Scrapbook
1960-1965

Series IV:  Club History, 1959-1974Return to Top

Container(s) Description Dates
Box/Folder
1/18
Histories and Reports by Miriam Snow Mathes and Arta F. Lawrence
1959-1974

Series V:  Press Clippings, undatedReturn to Top

Container(s) Description Dates
Box/Folder
1/19
Press Clippings circa 1970s
undated

Names and SubjectsReturn to Top

Subject Terms

  • Community and college--Washington (State)--Bellingham--History--Sources.
  • Community life --Washington (State)--Bellingham--History--Sources.

Corporate Names

  • Twentieth Century Club

Geographical Names

  • Bellingham, WA