ELWYN B. ROBINSON DEPARTMENT OF SPECIAL COLLECTIONS
CHESTER FRITZ LIBRARY
UNIVERSITY OF NORTH DAKOTA
GRAND FORKS, NORTH DAKOTA 58202
COLLECTION: OGL #1318
DATES: 1911-1976
SIZE: 2.75 linear feet
ACQUISITION: The records of the Bathgate Study Club were deposited in the Orin G. Libby Manuscript Collection by Adeline Morrison, Bathgate, ND on November 14, 1995. (Acc #95-2044)
ACCESS: Open for inspection under the rules and regulations of the Department of Special Collections.
The Bathgate Study Club was organized on October 30, 1911 by Miss Ella M. Robertson. The Club's colors were purple and white, and a white carnation was chosen as the club flower. The Bathgate Study Club was Federated with the state in 1912 and with the General Federation of Women's Clubs in 1914.
The Bathgate Study Club initiated the "Free" Public Library June 11, 1915 when the study club received the Pictorial Review Prize of $250.00 for the best definition of "Home". This remained the club's primary project for many years. The library opened January 6, 1916, and for nine years the Club maintained the Free Public Library without benefit of funds from city or county. In 1937, the Club purchased a new library building just south of City Hall, the former office of Central Lumber Company, with the assistance of O.M. Shanks. The Club remodeled the building and opened it to the public in the fall of 1937. The Club's continuous goal was to purchase new books for the library. The library stayed opened until the Bathgate School District closed in 1964.
The Bathgate Study Club conducted formal studies of various subjects such as, the Constitution of the United States, Folk Music, Socialized Medicine, and many other topics. The Club held social events and fundraisers, picnics, teas, food sales, parties, concerts, rummage sales, and minstrel shows. These helped pay for library building repairs and books. In its quest for building a better community, the Club also purchased empty city lots upon which members built a community playground.
The Study Club supported a few causes, such as, a girls 4-H Club, Camp Grassick, North Dakota's Children's Home, Crippled Children's Home, Veterans Hospital, Polio Fund, Cancer Drive, Heart Fund, Red Cross, North Dakota Girls State, and local and county clinics. The Club was very supportive of World War II. The Study Club was registered as one hundred percent for National Defense, and went over the top on the Sale of Savings Bonds, and conducted book drives for men and women in the service.
The Bathgate Study Club records consists of By-Laws and Constitution,Minutes of the Club meetings from 1933-1937 and 1958- 1962, Financial Records for the Club and the Library from 1945- 1953 and 1948-1963, Convention material from the Women's Club Convention that was held in Bathgate on September 12, 1962, publications of the North Dakota Club Woman Newsletters from various years, miscellaneous items, including a play, a dedication brochure, and some yearbooks from various years. Also included are eleven scrapbooks dating from the late 1930's to the late 1950's which contain newspaper clippings that describe the Study Club's projects and activities. Since Bathgate did not have a newspaper, most of the publicity was published in the Grand Forks Herald. The scrapbooks also contain photographs of members , group photos , and activities the Club supported. In 1950, the Club's scrapbook took first place in a scrapbook contest for the North Dakota Federation of Women's Clubs.
Folder 1. By-Laws/Constitution
2. Minutes 1933-1937, 1958-1962
3. Financial Records 1945-1953
4. Financial Records, Library, 1949-1963
5. Convention Book September 12, 1962
6. Publications of the North Dakota Club Women's Newsletters
7. Miscellaneous
1. Scrapbook 1 1938-1939
2. Scrapbook 2 1939-1940
3. Scrapbook 3 1941-1942
4. Scrapbook 4 1042-1943
5. Scrapbook 5 1947-1948
1. Scrapbook 6 1950-1951
2. Scrapbook 7 1952-1953
3. Scrapbook 8 1953-1954
4. Scrapbook 9 1954-1955
5. Scrapbook 10 1957-1958
6. Scrapbook 11 1958-1959
Return to: Women's Organizational Records
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