A century ago, a small group of forward-thinking women came together to organize Angelina County's first women's organization — a club to promote the study of history and literature. That club, which was hailed in the July 15, 1909 edition of The Lufkin Tribune as "the very best thing that has been done by the women of Lufkin for their intellectual up-building," would eventually take on projects for the betterment of the entire community. Today, the Historical and Literary Club stays true to its original purpose of furthering education and pursuing cultural enrichment through its studies and projects.
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HLC members, dressed as they would have in 1909, perform a skit commemorating the 50th anniversary of the club. Seated, from left: Ann Allen, Sarah Jane Thames. Standing, from left: Evelyn Bradshaw, Josephine Temple and Dee Clay.
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The early years
The Lufkin Historical Club, whose first president was Mrs. Martin Feagin, was organized on May 29, 1909, at the home of Mrs. Norman Belk, according to an April 23, 1932 article written by Mrs. Charles A. Pate, a past president of the club. The club held its first meeting at the home of Mrs. D. Fairchild to full attendance; however, not every member made it to the next meeting. "The second meeting was with Mrs. W.A. Abney, but only a few were in attendance on account of the excessive heat, yet the program was carried through in detail and much enjoyed," states the article.
In its second year, the club began providing yearbooks that detailed the course of study for the upcoming year as well as listed the names of current members and officers. President for that year was Mrs. J.H. Kurth. That same year, the club added "Literary" to its name, officially becoming the Historical and Literary Club, as it is still known today.
Sarah Jane Thames, a second-generation member, remembers when her mother, Mrs. C.E. Brazil, belonged to the club in the early 1920s. "It was an important thing to be a member of the History Club," she recalls. "There were only two reasons you could be absent — illness or being out of town. You were fined if you just wanted to stay at home that day."
Club studies
With the purpose of promoting history and literature, club members began choosing a course of study each year to discuss during meetings. While the course of study for the first year is unknown, others in the first decade included American History, Texas History, the Romantic Poets and Modern Drama, among others.
For this year's theme, the club chose to honor its past.
"We've selected a book from each decade that we're going to review," says Julia McKelvy, Historic and Literary Club president.
The Scarlet Letter by Nathaniel Hawthorne was first reviewed in 1921 by Mrs. Roy Satterfield. The book will be presented at the club's October meeting by Ellie Mooty, with Tony Brown acting as hostess and Gloria Arnold as co-hostess.
In the early years, club members would wear their Sunday best, including hats and gloves, to the meetings, which were held twice a month. Today, the club's 26 members meet monthly, and though they forgo the gloves and hats, they still make an effort to dress for the occasion.
Club projects
While the club was founded as a study group, it soon began adopting projects as needs arose, with the first project in 1913.
"The first thing they did was establish a room where ladies visiting Lufkin for the day could come in and have refreshments and rest," says current member Jeanetta Stewart. The visiting women often accompanied their husbands, who came to town to stock up on needed supplies. "It really promoted people to come to Lufkin," Stewart says.
During World War I, club members volunteered with the Red Cross, sold Liberty bonds and helped with food conservation.
After the war, the club's 25 members turned their focus to education, raising money to build Lufkin's first "modern" kindergarten.
"It was about 1918 when they bought a building to start the kindergarten," says McKelvy. "We have a book of minutes where they were planning that project."
When the building was no longer needed, it was donated to the Women's Auxiliary of the Chamber of Commerce and moved across the street from the then high school building to serve as Lufkin's first library. The modest building still stands, now a family home.
Today, the club combines literature, history and civic duty by supporting five area libraries: Kurth Memorial Library, The Ora McMullen Room at Kurth Memorial Library, McMullen Memorial Library in Huntington, Rube Sessions Memorial Library in Wells and T.L.L. Temple Memorial Library in Diboll.
Celebrating a century
To commemorate a hundred years of history, the HLC yearbook for this year includes past courses of study, past presidents and pictures from each decade. Also included is a poem written for the club by Margie Kirkland, Poet Laureate of Lufkin, 1979.
To kick off the year, on Sept. 17, the club will host a reassembly luncheon, with descendents of charter members and former members invited as guests. Fran Vick, past president of the Texas Historical Society, will be the guest speaker.
In May 2010, the club will end its year with a centennial celebration, with member-recommended local authors invited to bring their books and participate.
As they enter the next century, club members look to continue club traditions and uphold the club motto, "Still we are learning," a quote from Michaelangelo.
"It's still so true today," McKelvy says.
