Monroe City Century Club

The Monroe City Century Club was organized in 1898. The purpose of the club as outlined in the constitution was for the pursuit of literary subjects, intellectual development and social pleasure. The membership was limited to thirty. The early members included among their number: Mrs. Aaron Boulware Miss Anna Boulware Mrs. Bert Bull Mrs. D. R. Campbell Miss Mary Carson Mrs. John W. Cox Mrs. W. L. Ely Mrs. A. H. Green Mrs. Alfred Jaeger, Jr. Miss Ber­tha Jaeger Mrs. J. H. McClintic Mrs. R. S. McClintic Mrs. W. B. A. McNutt Mrs. R. S. Nichols Miss Bertha Nichols Mrs. Thomas Proctor Mrs. Anna Powers Mrs. Cyrus Poage Mrs. E. L. Rees Mrs. W. L. Reid Mrs. J. J. Rogers Miss Caro­lyn Rogers Miss Clara Stevens Mrs. Hugh Stevens Miss Ellen Walker Mrs. M. B. Woods.  The literary studies of this club have included some notable subjects, a com­prehensive course in Shakespeare and the Bay View Reading Course, which covered the history, art, music and literature of all the countries of the world being the most pretentious. During World War I, the war and its problems and home economics were the subjects of study. The Century Club at all times has occupied a prominent place in community activities. It has sponsored exhibitions of fine paintings, has brought interesting speakers and entertainers to the town and in 1928 inaugurated a series of annual musicales, importing high class musical talent for each of the events. For a number of years it placed a group of the very best magazines in the public library. It has been active in the crippled children’s work and sophomore pilgrimage to Jefferson City fostered by the Missouri Federation of Women’s Clubs. The club also has been a strong supporter of the scholarship loan fund and the endowment fund of the State Federation. It is a literary club federated with the State and National Federations of Women’s Clubs. Present officers are: Mrs. Harry Smith, president; Mrs. Raymond Noel, first vice president; Mrs. Bertha Brown, second vice president; Mrs. Lester Johns, recording secretary; Mrs. Marvin J. Pitney, treasurer; Mrs. R. F. Lightbody, corresponding secretary. Other members include: Mrs. C. A. McClintic, a member for more than 50 years, Miss Laura Bell, Mrs. E. D. Crandall, Mrs. John Hardy, Mrs. D. T. Johnson, Mrs. R. M. Noel, Mrs. Frederick Popp, Mrs. J. D. Robey Jr., Mrs. Paul VanMarter, Mrs. 0. F. Orton and Miss Lulu Wilson.