Dates

• Existence: 1877-

Administrative History

The Ladies' Literary Club (est. 1877) is a club dedicated to the education of women and children in Provo, Utah.

The Ladies' Literary Club was organized in February 1877 in the home of Mrs. Tina R. Jones. The original club was one of twelve chapters founded in America and was the first west of the Mississippi River. The club was open to all women. Its purpose was to provide an environment where ladies could educate themselves and each other in many different aspects of culture and knowledge. Thus, the club was divided into sections including art, drama, music, literature, history, and others. The club as a whole met monthly, but the sections met separately on a regular basis. In December 1882, the club was officially incorporated under the laws of the Territory of Utah, and on January 7, 1898, the formal opening of their first clubhouse took place. The club brought about the first free public library in the area, in support of the Masonic Library. They also established the first free kindergartens, placement of art in local schools, traveling libraries, and a scholarship fund at the University of Utah. In 1977, the club building was listed in the National Register of Historic Places. In 2013, the club gifted the building to the Utah Heritage Foundation. The club is still in operation.

Citation:

Ladies Literary Club, via WWW, March 10, 2011 (The Ladies’ Literary Club was organized in February 1877 in the home of Mrs. Tina R. Jones; original club was one of twelve chapters founded in America and was the first west of the Mississippi River; club was open to all women; its purpose was to provide an environment where ladies could educate themselves and each other in many different aspects of culture and knowledge; the club was divided into sections including art, drama, music, literature, history, and others; in December 1882, the club was officially incorporated under the laws of the Territory of Utah, and on January 7, 1898, the formal opening of their first clubhouse took place; brought about the first free public library in the area, in support of the Masonic Library; established the first free kindergartens, placement of art in local schools, traveling libraries, and a scholarship fund at the University of Utah; Club building was listed in the National Register of Historic Places; Club gifted the building to the Utah Heritage Foundation; the club is still in operation)

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