Inventory of the North Hill Literary Club Records, 1916-1960

History of Biography or History

The North Hill Literary Club was a social organization for prominent women of the Akron community. It takes its name from the North Hill area of Akron, Ohio, a section of the city north of downtown that was predominately inhabited by Italian immigrants. The club was organized in 1916 to further the social and intellectual development of its members. It was the inspiration of Susannah "Susie" Chamberlain Cole (1849-1929), the first graduate of Buchtel College (now The University of Akron) and a very prominent student, alumnus, and Akronite.

The first meeting of the North Hill Literary Club was held on October 3, 1916. The following officers were elected at that meeting: Mrs. M.S. Rudgers, President; Mrs. McRoberts, Vice President; Miss Mary Swanke, Secretary; and Mrs. William Lawson, Treasurer. The club colors were red, white, and blue and the club flower was the carnation.

Meetings were held at members' homes on the first and third Tuesdays of the month from October through May with a summer outing. After 1918 meeting times were changed to evenings. Each meeting consisted of one to three presentations by members with discussion about the selected topics. Time also was set aside at each meeting to discuss current events. The first year's topics included the Constitution; the American Indian; the greatest men of our first decade; Puritans, Pilgrims, Quakers and Huguenots; and the United States.

In 1917 a vote was passed to join the Federation of Women's Clubs. During the great depression they collected money and food for the needy at several meetings and sent toys to the children at the Springfield Sanitarium for Christmas. Several members who passed away were memorialized by the purchase of books for local libraries or schools. The club continued to meet regularly once a month from October 1943 through May 1958 when it disbanded.

Scope and Content

This collection primarily consists of annual booklets and the records of the club secretary. The booklets cover from 1916 to 1958 and list activities, social events, and the names of members. The records of the secretary mainly include meeting minutes from 1916 to 1935. The collection also contains a scrapbook featuring newspaper clippings from 1928 to 1958 and a handwritten club history that chronicles the club's development from 1916 to 1956. The records, which also include a few miscellaneous items such as club stamps, will be of value to researchers interested in women's clubs and literary societies in the early to mid-twentieth century.

Statement of Arrangement

Restrictions on Use

Copyright restrictions may apply. Permission to reproduce or publish materials in this collection must be secured in writing from Archival Services, University Libraries, The University of Akron.

Restrictions on Access

No restrictions on access; except not available through interlibrary loan. Copyright restrictions may apply. Permission to reproduce or publish materials in this collection must be secured in writing from Archival Services, University Libraries, The University of Akron.

Akron and Summit County Federation of Women's Clubs

Indexing Terms

The following terms have been used to index the description of this collection in the library's online public access catalog.

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Preferred Citation

[Identification of Item], North Hill Literary Club Records, Archival Services, University Libraries, The University of Akron, Akron, Ohio.

Detailed Description of The Collection