Chatham Book Club Records
1937-2018
Manuscript Collection #409
- Creator(s)
- Chatham Book Club
- Physical description
- 3.10 Cubic Feet, 8 document cases
- Preferred Citation
- Chatham Book Club Records (#409), East Carolina Manuscript Collection, J. Y. Joyner Library, East Carolina University, Greenville, North Carolina, USA.
- Repository
- ECU Manuscript Collection
- Access
- Access to original audiovisual and digital media is restricted. Please contact Special Collections for more information.
Records of Greenville, NC book club (1937-2018), including minutes, correspondence, newsletter clippings, constitution and by-laws, treasurer books, yearbooks, and eight scrapbooks.
Biographical/historical information
The Chatham Book Club was born on 16 April 1937 in Greenville, North Carolina. The founders - 13 young Greenville matrons -- met in the home of their sponsor, Mrs. J. B. Kittrell. Their stated aim was to promote the "Civil, social and intellectual improvement" of the members. The Chatham Book Club joined a number of already existing books clubs including the End of the Century Book Club and the Sans Souci Book Club.
The founders then elected Mrs. N. S. Beard as their first president. In addition, they elected a vice president, treasurer, secretary and librarian. In later years, the same person usually served as secretary and librarian. They also selected a Program Committee, Book Committee, and Emergency Committees. They also arranged a list of hostesses -- members who volunteered to have meetings in their homes and to provide refreshments. The Club met between once and three times per month usually from early October to late May.
They selected the Chatham Book Club name to honor William Pitt the elder, the first Earl of Chatham (15 November 1708 - 11 May 1778), the British Whig statesman who achieved his greatest fame leading Britain during the French and Indian War, 1755-1766. He later served as prime minister of from 30 July 1766 to 14 October 1768. Pitt County, North Carolina, like Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania is named for him. Chatham's second son, William Pitt the younger (28 May 1759 - 23 January 1806) also became a political leader of note becoming the youngest prime minister in British history and leading the nation during the Napoleonic Wars, 19 December 1783 - 14 March 1801and 10 May 1804 - 23 January 1806.
The members also selected a club motto: "While We Live Let Us Live to Some Purpose."
The 13 original members were Mrs. C. L. Adams, Mrs. N. S. Beard, Mrs. F. A. Bendall, Mrs. H. G. Clayton, Mrs. J. C. Lanier, Mrs. E. Lee Moore, Mrs. R. S. Neal, Mrs. E. D. Robinson, Mrs. A. C. Ruffin, Mrs. R. W. Stark, Mrs. W. S. Tyson, and Mrs. W. D. Tucker. Source: #409.3.a.
The collection consists of minutes of club meetings, including lists of members, officers, committee members & hostesses, books read, officers reports, elections & accounts of discussions.
In addition, the collection contains three scrapbooks, 1937-1985, containing club correspondence, constitutions & by-laws, photographic prints, yearbooks, clippings, information about the Greenville Arts Festivals, the End of the Century Book Club, the Woman's Club of Greenville, Sheppard Memorial Library, and other Greenville literary, arts, & social organizations. The compiler glued or stapled these items into the scrapbooks. The repository has filed additional loose correspondence and other documents separately.
Among the notable items in the scrapbooks are:
List of Officers:
YEARPRESIDENTVICE-PRESSECRETARYTREASURER / LIBRARIAN
1937-38Mrs. N. S. BeardMrs. H. G. ClaytonMrs. W. D. TuckerMrs. F. A. Bendall / Mrs. J. C. Lanier
1938-39Mrs. R. I. NealMrs. L. H. BowlingMrs. A. C. RuffinMrs. Carl Adams
1939-40Mrs. J. C. LanierMrs. W. S. TysonMrs. Lee HannahMrs. R. W. Stark
1940-41Mrs. Rufus StarkMrs. F. A. BendallMrs. L. E. BabcockMrs. E. D. Robertson
1941-42Mrs. L. H. BowlingMrs. A. C. RuffinMrs. R. S. BealMrs. J. C. Lanier
1942-43Mrs. F. A. BendallMrs. L. T. ShotwellMrs. E.R. ConwayMrs. W. P. Moore
1943-44Mrs. E. E. ForbesMrs. W. P. MooreMrs. F. A. BendallMrs. H. G. Clayton
1944-45Mrs. W. P. MooreMrs. C. L. AdamsMrs. C. E. BlairMrs. W. D. Tucker
1945-46Mrs. C. L. AdamsMrs. C. A. BowenMrs. R. W. StarkMrs. L. T. Shotwell
1946-47Mrs. S. H. WilliamsMrs. W. D. TuckerMrs. E. R. ConwayMrs. Bryant Brown
1947-48Mrs. E. C. BlairMrs. L. T. ShotwellMrs. A. C. RuffinMrs. L. H. Bowling
1948-49Mrs. A. C. RuffinMrs. J. Bryan BrownMrs. C. L. AdamsMrs. R. W. Stark
1949-50Mrs. Bryan BrownMrs. W. P. MooreMrs. N. S. BeardMrs. J. C. Lanier
1950-51Mrs. Carl AdamsMrs. J. C. LanierMrs. C. A. BowenMrs. L. T. Shotwell
1951-52Mrs. L. W. ToppingMrs. F. A. BendallMrs. J. Bryan BrownMrs. W. D. Tucker
1952-53Mrs. L. H. BowlingMrs. N. S. BeardMrs. C. E. BlairMrs. E. R. Conway
1953-54Mrs. W. P. MooreMrs. T. M. WatsonMrs. L. W. ToppingMrs. J. K. Long
1954-55Mrs. C. A. BowenMrs. C. E. BlairMrs. A. C. RuffinMrs. L. T. Shotwell
1955-56Mrs. Carl AdamsMrs. N. S. BeardMrs. J. Bryan BrownMrs. T. M. Watson
1956-57Mrs. F. A. BendallMrs. A. C. RuffinMrs. N. S. BeardMrs. J. C. Lanier
1957-58Mrs. E. C. BlairMrs. L. W. ToppingMrs. W. P. MooreMrs. C. a. Bowen
1958-59Mrs. L. H. BowlingMrs. W. D. TuckerMrs. C. A. BowenMrs. E. R. Conway
1959-60Mrs. W. P. MooreMrs. P. B. UpchurchMrs. J. Bryan BrownMrs. T. M. Watson
1960-61Mrs. A. C. RuffinMrs. W. D. TuckerMrs. F. A. BendallMrs. L. H. Bowling
1961-62Mrs. A. C. RuffinMrs. P. K. AndresenMrs. P. B. UpchurchMrs. C. E. Blair
1962-63Mrs. P. B. UpchurchMrs. F. A. BendallMrs. R. H. EvansMrs. E. Lee Moore
1963-64Dr. Elizabeth UtterbackMrs. C. A. BowenMrs. P. K. AndresenMrs. L. T. Shotwell
1964-65Mrs. R. H. EvansMrs. W. P. MooreMrs. E. B. FisherMrs. C. C. Studdert
1965-66Mrs. P. K. AndresenMrs. P. B. UpchurchMrs. A. M. MumfordMrs. E. R. Conway
1966-67Mrs. A. M. MumfordMrs. E. B. FisherMrs. A. C. RuffinMrs. R. H. Evans
1967-68Mrs. R. W. StarkMrs. C. C. StuddertMrs. R. L. PowellMrs. J. A. Taylor
1969-70Mrs. Robert L. PowellMrs. Arthur S. AlfordMrs. W. P. MooreMrs. P. K. Andresen
1970-71Mrs. A. S. AlfordMrs. P. K. AndresenMrs. Joe PaulkMrs. E. Lee Moore'
1971-72Mrs. A. C. RuffinMrs. R. H. EvansMrs. R. W. StarkMrs. C.W. Snell
1972-73Mrs. P. B. UpchurchMrs. F. A. BendallMrs. A. M. MumfordMrs. C. C. Studdert
1973-74Mrs. A. H. WhiteMrs. A. M. MumfordMrs. F. A. BendallMrs. W. P. Moore
1974-75Mrs. C. W. SnellMrs. P. K. AndresenMrs. R. W. StarkMrs. James Graham
1975-76Mrs. R. L. PowellMrs. P. B. UpchurchMrs. A. C. RuffinMrs. E. Lee Moore
1976-77Mrs. R. H. EvansMrs. Carl AdamsMrs. A. S. JohnsonMrs. W. P. Moore
1977-78Mrs. W. P. MooreMrs. A. C. RuffinMrs. A. S. JohnsonMrs. C. A. Bowen
1978-79Mrs. James GrahamMrs. Carl AdamsMrs. H. A. WhiteMrs. Carter Studdert
1979-80Mrs. A. S. JohnsonMrs. R. L. PowellMrs. H. G. DawkinsMrs. R. W. Stark
1980-81Mrs. A. M. MumfordMrs. C. W. SnellMrs. R. H. EvansMrs. R. L. Powell
1981-82Mrs. E. T. VinsonMrs. A. C. RuffinMrs. H. A. WhiteMrs. C. W. Snell
1982-83Mrs. H. g. DawkinsMrs. H. A. WhiteMrs. C. W. SnellMrs. A. M. Mumford
1983-84Mrs. A. C. RuffinMrs. R. L. PowellMrs. A. S. JohnsonMrs. Carter Studdert
1984-85Mrs. R. L. PowellMrs. C. W. SnellMrs. E. T. VinsonMrs. James Graham
Scope and arrangement
The Chatham Book Club Records, 1937-1985, undated, comprise the records of a Greenville, North Carolina women's club. The collections consists of 6 manuscript boxes amounting to 135 items and 3 scrapbooks, containing 1,706 pages and including approximately 2.20 cubic feet of manuscript materials. The collection includes correspondence, clippings, constitutions and by-laws, financial records, club histories, biographical sketches of members, photographic prints, printed materials, & scrapbooks relating to the members, activities, and organization of the Chatham Book Club. The club officers donated the collection to the repository in three separate loans between 29 April 1980 and 26 June 1987. The repository has maintained the collection in its original order, arranged in series by date of the loan.
Series I includes the minutes, correspondence, newspaper clippings, constitution and by-laws, and two scrapbooks & other records 1937-1977 (Gift of 28 April 1980)
Series II includes the minutes 1977-1983 (Gift of 12 March 1987)
Series III includes three scrapbooks, 1969-1985 (Gift of 26 June 1987)
Administrative information
Custodial History
April 29, 1980, 118 items; Records of Greenville, N. C. book club (1937-1977), including minutes, correspondence, newspaper clippings, constitution and by-laws, and two scrapbooks. Donor: Officers, Chatham Book Club.
March 12, 1987, (addition 1) 1 box, 25 items, 196 pages, 0.25 cubic feet; Minutes (1977-1983) of Greenville, North Carolina women's book club. See preliminary inventory. Loaned. Donor: Officers, Chatham Book Club.
June 26, 1987, (addition 2) 1 box, 1 vol., 33 pages, ca. 0.35 cubic feet; Scrapbook (1969-1985) of Greenville, North Carolina women's book club, including clippings, correspondence, Easter Seals bonds, ephemera, pamphlets, photographic prints, yearbooks, etc. See preliminary inventory. Donor: Officers, Chatham Book Club.
March 27, 2020, (unprocessed addition 3), 2.5 cubic feet; This addition includes treasurer books (1988-2003, 2010-2014), yearbooks (1943-1944, 1952-2008; missing 1961-1962, 1967-1968, 1977-1978, 1990-1991, 1997-1998, 1999-2000), and 5 scrapbooks covering the years 1991 through 2018 documenting the activities of the Chatham Book Club of Greenville, North Carolina. Donor: Judy Perry.
Source of acquisition
Gift of Officers, Chatham Book Club
Loaned by Officers, Chatham Book Club
Gift of Judy Perry
Processing information
Encoded by Apex Data Services
Preliminary inventory by Jonathan Dembo, 5/18/2010, additional inventory by Faith Harris, 2019
Copyright notice
Literary rights to specific documents are retained by the authors or their descendants in accordance with U.S. copyright law.
Key terms
Corporate Names
Chatham Book Club
Topical
Book clubs (Discussion groups)--North Carolina--Greenville
Women--North Carolina--Greenville--Societies and clubs
Places
Greenville (N.C.)--Social life and customs--20th century
Container list
Box 1 Folder a
Contains loose-leaf minutes recorded by secretary Elise L. Moore, Clarice Tucker and A.C. Ruffin (1937-1940)
Box 1 Folder b
Contains loose-leaf minutes recorded by secretaries Lyda May Adams, Elise L. Moore and Mrs. N.S. Beard (1940-1943)
Box 1 Folder c
Contains loose-leaf minutes recorded by secretaries Mrs. C.E. Blair and Mrs. Ruffin (1943-1947)
Box 1 Folder d
Contains loose-leaf minutes recorded by A.C. Ruffin (1947-1948)
Box 1 Folder e
Contains loose-leaf minutes from the Chatham Book Club (1948-1949)
Box 1 Folder f
Contains loose-leaf minutes recorded by secretaries Mrs. C.A. Bower, A. Beard (1949-1950)
Box 1 Folder g
Contains clippings and loose-leaf minutes recorded by secretary Maude B. Bowen (1950-1951)
Box 1 Folder h
Contains `loose-leaf minutes recorded by secretaries Jean Brown and Elise Beard (1951-1952)
Box 1 Folder i
Contains loose-leaf minutes recorded by secretaries Jean Brown and Lucy Blair (1952-1953)
Box 1 Folder j
Contains loose-leaf minutes recorded by secretary Ruth W. Topping (1953-1954)
Box 1 Folder k
Contains loose-leaf minutes recorded by secretary Eleanor Ruffin (1954-1955)
Box 1 Folder l
Contains loose-leaf minutes recorded by secretary Mrs. J. Bryan Brown and Mrs. F.A. Bendall (1955-1956)
Box 1 Folder m
Contains loose-leaf minutes recorded by secretary Mrs. N.S. Beard (1953-1954)
Box 1 Folder n
Contains clippings and loose-leaf minutes recorded by secretary Elise L. Moore (1957-1958)
Box 1 Folder o
Contains loose-leaf minutes recorded by secretaries Maude Bowers, Jean Brown (1958-1960)
Box 1 Folder p
Contains loose-leaf minutes recorded by secretary Maude Bower, Sarah Stark and Lila Bendall (1960-1962)
Box 1 Folder q
Contains loose-leaf minutes recorded by secretaries Mrs. J. Bryan, Mildred Evans and Christine Anderson (1962-1964)
Box 1 Folder r
Contains loose-leaf minutes recorded by secretary Ruth Fisher and Christine Anderson
Box 1 Folder s
Contains loose-leaf minutes recorded by secretary Bedie Mumford
Box 2 Folder a
Contain loose-leaf minutes recorded by Eleanor Ruffin and Mary Meade Powell (1966-1967)
Box 2 Folder b
Contains loose-leaf minutes recorded by Mary Meade Powell (1967-1968)
Box 2 Folder c
Contains loose-leaf minutes recorded by Ruby Studdert (1968-1969)
Box 2 Folder d
Contains loose-leaf minutes recorded by Elana Moore and Bedie Mumford (1969-1970)
Box 2 Folder e
Contains loose-leaf minutes recorded by Ruth Paulk, Sarah Stark and Lila Bendall (1970-1971)
Box 2 Folder f
Contains loose-leaf minutes recorded by Sarah Stark, Lila Bendall and Bet Alford (1971-1972)
Box 2 Folder g
Contains loose-leaf minutes recorded by Sarah Stark and Bedie Mumford (1972-1973)
Box 2 Folder h
Contains loose-leaf minutes recorded by Lila Bendall Bedie Mumford and Sarah Stark (1973-1974)
Box 2 Folder i
Contains loose-leaf minutes recorded by Ruby Studdert, Lila Bendall, A.C. Ruffin (1974-1975)
Box 2 Folder j
Contains loose-leaf minutes recorded by Eleanor Ruffin, Sarah Stark, Bedie Mumford and June Johnson (1975-1976)
Box 2 Folder k
Contains loose-leaf minutes recorded by June Johnson (1976-1977)
Box 2 Folder l
Contains the Chatham Book Club constitution as amended (1960)
Box 2 Folder m
Contains the Chatham Book Club by-laws as amended (1969)
Box 2 Folder n
Contains Newspaper Clippings (1940-1953)
Box 2 Folder o
Contains Christmas Seal Bond (1942-1945)
Box 2 Folder p
Contains the Chatham Book Club notes (undated)
Box 2 Folder q
Correspondence (1938-1951) contains letter from the Greenville Public Schools supporting a vote for the school tax' 2, May 1947
Box 2 Folder r
Contains the Twenty-Fifth Anniversity Program: History of the Chatham Book Club (1937-1962)
Box 3
Contains the Chatham Book Club scrapbook (1940)
Box 4
Contains the Chatham Book Club scrapbook (1955)
Box 5 Folder a
Contains the Chatham Book Club constitution as amended (1983)
Box 5 Folder b
Contains the Chatham Book Club by-laws as amended (1978)
Box 5 Folder c
Contains letters received by the Chatham Book Club (1982-1986)
Box 5 Folder d
Contains loose-leaf minutes recorded by June Johnson (1977-1978)
Box 5 Folder e
Contains loose-leaf minutes recorded by June Johnson, Helen White, and Mildred Evans (1978-1979)
Box 5 Folder f
Contains loose-leaf minutes recorded by Carmen Dawkins and Rose Graham (1979-1980)
Box 5 Folder g
Contains loose-leaf minutes recorded by Mrs. A.S. Johnson and Meldred Evans (1980-1981)
Box 5 Folder h
Contains loose-leaf minutes recorded by June Johnson and Helen White (1981-1982)
Box 5 Folder i
Contains loose-leaf minutes recorded by Roberta Snell and Mrs. Albert Johnson (1982-1983)
Box 6
Contains the Chatham Book Club scrapbook (1969-1985)
Box 7 Folder a
Treasurer Books, 1988-2014
Box 7 Folder b
Yearbooks, 1943-1966
Box 7 Folder c
Yearbooks, 1966-1980
Box 7 Folder d
Yearbooks, 1980-1994
Box 7 Folder e
Yearbooks, 1994-2008, 2022
Box 8
Scrapbook, 1991-2018
Box 9
Scrapbook, 1984-1998
Box 10
Scrapbook, 2002-2008
Box 11
Scrapbook, 2008-2015