Archives West Finding Aid

Established in 1892, the Monday Club is the oldest literary club in the Bellingham region. It was founded by Mrs. J.A. Kerr and Mrs. B.B. Seymour, two prominent members of Whatcom County society, in the city of Fairhaven. It was their intention to provide an intellectual and cultural forum for the local female elite to study classic literary works. The establishment of the Monday Club reflected a broader national trend as the decade witnessed the rise of the women's club movement throughout the United States. Though primarily a literary club, the women of the Monday Club also discussed the arts, current events, and philosophy, as well as giving each other support in their home and family lives. The members held a picnic every summer, a Christmas party every December, and several musical evenings throughout the year. The early members maintained a simple organizational structure for the club. Initially, the club was led by only a president, and as time went on a secretary/treasurer and a vice president were added to the leadership. In April of 1899 the president, Mrs. Gillette, encouraged the membership to formalize the organization so they could join the General Federation of clubs in the state. The suggestion was rejected by the club members. The club occasionally met with other groups, such as the Aftermath Club, to exchange ideas and conversation with women in the community. The membership of the club traces its roots to some of the first families to settle in the area. It has included such prominent members as Mrs. Lottie Roeder Roth, Mrs. C.X. Larrabee, Mrs. F.K. Gillette, Mrs. Blodel, and Miss Mabel Zoe Wilson - among many others. The club took for its motto a quote from Robert Browning’s Fra Lippo Lippi: “This world’s no blot for us, Nor blank – it means intensely, and means good: To find its meaning is my meat and drink.” The descendents of the original members still meet the first Monday of each month, ensuring that the Monday Club continues as an active and vibrant part of the Bellingham cultural landscape.