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JMineteenth Lentury livesClub preserves traditionsBy MAUREEN O'BRIENBefore Helen Gurley Brown and Su san B Anthony, May Estelle Cook. Anna Lloyd Wright and Nellie Beye. along with 12 other Oak Park women, were trying to change the image of women as early as 1891 The Oak Park pioneers decided they would change their image by creating a new one and set out, as a group, to study 19th century politics and culture They balked at what they saw as the image of women as demeaning objects in their day and set out to establish themselves as socially-aware women.They set aside one afternoon to conquer the political and economic structures of France, England, Spain, Italy, Austria, Germany, Russia and, if they had time, planned to take a look at the effect of the Napoleonic WarsHad the women grasped the political and economic make-up of Western Europe in a single afternoon, many disillusioned scholars now would be burning their history beoks in protest and despair Instead, the well meaning women discovered they were going to need a few more afternoons to conquer 19th century politics and decided, that af temoon, to form what is now known as the Nineteenth Century Club of Oak Park, 178 N. Forest AveToday, they continue the established practice of meeting weekly io learn about current events from prominent figures and to socialize among themselves One of their biggest weekly events is their tea Each tea is distinguished by a theme and the tea table is me ticulously decorated to display that themeThe political focus of the group gradually evolved into a community focus with the founding women work ing to elect women to the school board.The women also sponsored a lee ture series in cooperation with the University of Chicago which would become the Oak Park Community Lecture Series.The lecture series continued to grow Jane Adams spoke to the worn en about women’s suffrage Grant Wood, Will Durant, Alfred Noyes. Robert Frost and Carl Sandburg all were speakers in the lecture series And Frank Lloyd Wright addressed the women, asking them, while refer ring to the building at 178 N Forest Ave . why they had “built a montrosi-ty” to house their club.Today, Kathryn Fogelin, president of the club, and Marion Herzog, club historian, say, in premise, the club's goals are similar to that of the found ers, but add that the club has expand ed in many ways.The modem day Nineteenth Centu ry Club women now sponsor the Founders Memorial Scholarship Trust Fund for Oak Park River Forest High School girls who want to go to col iege contribute to non profit agencies through the Benevolence Trust Fund, operate a swimming pool, run an ex ercise class and hold lecturesOh, Gov. James Thompson spoke here, before he was governor and when he was U.S. district attorney. Mrs Fogelin said, trying to recall some of the more memorable speak ers at the club.We also had a 6-foot. 5-inch pyg mie. Jean Pierre Hallett. talk to us, Mrs. Herzog saidMrs Fogelin said the club alwav welcomes new members, but that they are looking for women whose characters and sympathies coincide with that of the club New members must be recommended by a club memberHave the women ever thought of changing their club’s name to the Twenty First Century Club0“You know a lot of people have said we should Some people say we might get more members,” Mrs Fogelin said“1 doubt very much it will be changed, she addedNineteenth Century Club, 17S N. Forest Ave., Oak Park.Staff photos by Dan Sjostrom
Newspaper Details
Forest Park World
Forest Park, Illinois, US
Wed, Feb 01, 1978
Page 4
Full Page
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NY, USA 05 Oct 2023
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