Our History

Collect for Club Women

 

Keep us, O God, from pettiness; let us be large in thought, in word, in deed.
Let us be done with fault-finding and leave off self-seeking.
May we put away all pretense and meet each other face-to-face without
self-pity and without prejudice.
May we never be hasty in judgement and always generous.
Let us make time for all things, make us grow calm, serene, gentle.
Teach us to put into action our better impulses, straightforward and unafraid.
Grant that we may realize that it is the little things that create differences;
that in the big things of life we are at one.
And may we strive to touch and to know the great common woman’s
heart of us all;
and O Lord God, let us not forget to be kind.

— Mary Stewart, 1904

Timeline of Club History

December 15, 1894
The Beginning

Anna C. Post (Mrs. Henry) called together a small reading circle of eight women at her home, located at 85 W. 11th Street, Holland MI.  Mrs. Post was a prominent businesswoman, as well as a founder of Hope Church.  

1894-1895
Education for Women

The reading circle enrolled in the “Bay View Reading Course,” correspondence course, a 4-year curriculum “for the study of literature, history, and science.”  Enrolled in the Class of ’98, the members adopted their parent organization’s name, “Bay View Reading Circle,” and motto, “Mehr Licht” (More Light.) The club color was yellow, and the flower was a rose.

1898
Founding

Upon the completion of the Bay View Reading Couse, the women, led by Anna C. Post, founded the Woman’s Literary Club.  With 27 members, they elected officers and adopted a constitution modeled after the Ladies Library Association of Kalamazoo.  

They chose the name Woman’s Literary Club, so emphasize the individual and not women collectively.  This name has been confusing ever since.

Dues was $2.00

1898
Club Mission Statement

“Believing that our happiness as individuals and usefulness as citizens depends upon our intelligence, we women of Holland unite our efforts to further intellectual improvement and to diffuse useful knowledge.”

The women met in members’ homes, and started a lending library for continuous education, buying books and borrowing books from the State of Michigan library.  They decided on a theme to study each year.  They met twice a week, studied and presented to each other, hosted presenters, and became active in projects for public health, city beautification, and community welfare.

1905
The General Federation of Women’s Clubs

The Woman’s Literary Club joined the General Federation of Women’s Clubs, (Michigan Federation.)  This changed the Woman’s Literary Club’s future direction. No longer just an educational and social organization, joining the Federation raised the Club’s awareness of larger social and community problems.  Their attention soon encompassed child labor laws, orphanages, schools and health care.  Members increased their community presence – for instance, Martha Killen was elected to the Board of Education.  Civic Health and Civic Improvement committees were formed and were active for many years forward.

February 1914
The Clubhouse

The Woman’s Literary Club building, located at 235 Central Ave, Holland, MI 49423, opened after a few real estate transactions and 2 years of construction.  The building became a community hub, and source of income for the Club.  As well as holding Club meetings, the Clubhouse served banquets and lunches, and was rented to church groups, the Chamber of Commerce, for high school dances, wedding receptions and other public and private events.  

1915
Education Fund

An Education Fund was originated, with the plan of collecting funds from members for four year – when the funds could be “loaned to worthy young women to assist in securing an education.”  However, deciding not to wait, in 1916, the first student loan of $125 was awarded to a young woman to attend Hope College.  

June 14, 1919
Kate Garrod Post Education Fund

The Club voted to name the educational fund, the Kate Garrod Post Education Fund, as it was largely due to her leadership the fund became a reality.  Kate Garrod Post, (Mrs. John C.) was a founding member of the Woman’s Literary Club and the daughter-in-law of Anna C. Post. 

After enduring for more than a hundred years, in 2018, the Kate Garrod Post Education Fund was changed from a loan to a scholarship, administered by the Community Foundation of Holland/Zeeland.

June 21, 1990
Michigan Historic Site

The Woman’s Literary Club Clubhouse was registered as a Michigan Historic Site.  The plaque was dedicated on April 16, 1991 and can still be seen on the building.

1997-1998
The Historic Clubhouse is Sold

The Woman’s Literary Club Clubhouse was sold.  The money from the sale of the Clubhouse is now administered by the Community Foundation of Holland/Zeeland.  The Woman’s Literary Club uses the money generated yearly by this fund for community outreach, donating to many local charities for the benefit of education, and to women and children’s welfare causes.

1999
Community Beautification

A bronze statue by Netherland’s sculptor Bert Kiewiet, was commissioned.  Named “The Reading Girl,” the statue was donated to Herrick District Library. 

December 2000
Restoration of the Cappon House

The Club gave $3000 to the Holland Museum to restore “Lavina’s Room” in the Cappon House, home of Holland businessman Issac Cappon.  The Woman’s Literary Club became the first organization to commit to an entire project for the Holland Museum.  The Cappon House celebrated its 150th anniversary in 2024. 

February 24, 2024
125th Anniversary of the Woman’s Literary Club

The Woman’s Literary Club celebrates its 125th year, hosting an Open House in the historic Woman’s Literary Club Building, celebrating 125 years of the Club, and also the 110th anniversary of the Club Building itself.  The Club continues to be a group of creative, dedicated, and resilient women who, now as in the past, strive to learn, grow, and contribute to our present and future community.  

  1. Zingle, M. (1989). 1898-1989 The Story of the Woman’s Literary Club (1st ed.) [Printed Book]. Self-Published Zeeland MI.

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