IOWA WOMEN’S ARCHIVES

UNIVERSITY OF IOWA LIBRARIES

IOWA CITY, IOWA

CARY CLUB OF MARION, IOWA

RECORDS, 1883-1980

1.5 linear feet

ACQUISITION: The records (donor no. 360) were donated by the Marion Public Library in 1996.

ACCESS: The records are open for research.

COPYRIGHT: Copyright has been transferred to the University of Iowa.

PHOTOGRAPHS: In box 4.

PROCESSED BY: Randel W. Lackore, 1997.

History

         The Cary Club of Marion, Iowa was founded in 1878 with six charter members. The club was named in honor of two sisters, Alice and Phoebe Cary; nineteenth century poets. The sister’s motto, “Thank God for the work he lets me do. I’m glad to live in the world with you,” the club adopted as their own. for a short time after its founding the club was disbanded but reorganized in 1889. The objective of the club was the intellectual improvement of its members. Discussions and programs were given at the twice monthly meetings on varied topics including book reviews, historical subjects and current events. During 1898 ans 1899 as part of its program the group wrote a story titled “Wrecked Where We Least Expect,”. Several of the members contributed on or more chapters to the final manuscript. The entire work was recopied in longhand by one of the members and it took up nine volumes.

Scope and Content Note

         The Cary Club of Marion, Iowa records date from 1883 to 1980 and measure 1.5 linear feet. The records are arranged alphabetically. The bulk of the collection consists of the record books of minutes that span form 1883 to 1980 and the nine volumes of “Wreck Where We Least Expect--A Story by the Cary Club.” The rest of the collection includes a written history of the club from 1878 to 1969, yearly program booklets from 1889 to 1976, a few newspaper clippings, one group photograph from 1959, and a bronze marker originally placed on a World War I memorial tree that later died.

Related Collections

Federated Women's Clubs of Marion, Iowa records

Box no. Description

Box 1
                       Constitution and by-laws [1952]
                       Correspondence, 1961-1964 and undated
                       History of Cary Club from 1878 to 1969, 1939, 1969
                       Minutes
                               1883-1886
                               1899-1918
                               1918-1923
                               1924-1934
                               1934-1939
                               1939-1941
Box 2
                               1942-1949
                               1949-1953 (removed from three-ring binder)
                               1953-1957 (removed from three-ring binder)
                               1957-1962 (removed from three-ring binder)
                               1962-1968
                               1971-1980
                       Newspaper clippings [1948-1953]
                       Programs
                               1889-1914\1915
Box 3
                               1915\1916-1949\1950
                               1950\1951-1975\1976 [missing: 1963\1964 and 1969\1970]
                       Roster of members and treasurer’s reports, 1890-1921
                       Verse, 1901 and undated
                       “Wrecked Where We Least Expect--A Story by the Cary Club,” [1898-1899]
                               Volumes
                                     I
                                     II
                                     III
                                     IV
Box 4
                                     V
                                     VI
                                     VII
                                     VIII
                                     IX
                       Photograph, 1959
                       Artifact: bronze marker from World War I memorial tree, 1920