The BookLovers Club
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"The Woman’s Book Club of Davidson held its first meeting January 20th, at four o’clock, at the home of Mrs. Dr. Martin. Eight congenial spirits were present, and the discussion of some of the newest books of the season rose to a high pitch of interest. The Magazine warns the learned Ph.D’s. to be on their guard and look to their colors, since the women in their midst intend to be intellectual! As to the Boys!–they simply are not in it."
– The Davidson College Magazine. January, 1899.

"Davidson has every reason to be proud of a club which easily rivals those of a ciity [sic] in aggressiveness and effective work."
– The Davidson College Magazine. December, 1899.

By the early 1890s, the women’s study movement had reached Davidson. The first documented group was the Chautauqua Literary and Scientific Circle, but others followed, including The Booklovers Club.

In 1899, Jennie Martin, wife of the Davidson College president, William J. Martin, Jr., organized the Woman’s Book Club of Davidson, the first of many book clubs in the town. In fact, members of this group helped organize two other book discussion groups, the Thursday Club in 1909 and the Thelemites in 1921.

In 1911 the Woman's Book Club of Davidson changed its name to The Booklovers Club, a name it has continuously borne into the twenty-first century.

Since the club’s founding over a century ago, there have been many changes. The club is no longer made up primarily of faculty wives; instead, many of the women are faculty or professionals themselves. The club now also brings together different generations of Davidson women.

Still, the name is not the only tradition honored by The Booklovers Club. The club still has regular monthly meetings, yearly themes, and few outside speakers (instead, members are expected to research and present materials and ideas).

A tradition handed from one generation of women to the next, The Booklovers Club of Davidson, NC is one of the town’s brightest legacies.

"Davidson is a place where powerful women get together and discuss bloody poetry."
-Visiting Tai poet.

Bibliography

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