Guide to the Records of the Aurora Reading Club, 1900-2002 (bulk 1943-1995)

Repository
Heinz History Center
Title
Records of The Aurora Reading Club
Creator
Aurora Reading Club
Collection Number
MSS#379
Extent
3.5 cubic feet (7 boxes)
Date
1900-2002
Date
1943-1995
Abstract
The Aurora Reading Club was founded in November 1894 by Rachel Jones to engage in mutual improvement for African American women. Meetings were hosted by a different member on the first Wednesday of the month and were organized around a theme or topic such as literature, music, current events, or nature. The club has grown in size continually since its inception, and has expanded its focus to include community service and outreach efforts. These records include yearbooks, meeting minutes, topical folders, correpondence, financial records, and recognitions.
Language
The material in this collection is in English.
Author
This guide to the collection was originally prepared by Emily White on January 22, 2003. Revisions occurred to the finding aid as a part of the encoding process in Summer, 2003.
Sponsor
This finding aid has been encoded as a part of the Historic Pittsburgh project a joint effort of the University of Pittsburgh and the Historical Society of Western Pennsylvania. Funding for this portion of the project has been donated by the Hillman Foundation.
Publisher
Heinz History Center
Address
1212 Smallman St.
Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania 15222
library@heinzhistorycenter.org
URL: https://www.heinzhistorycenter.org

History of The Aurora Reading Club

The Aurora Reading Club was founded in November 1894 by Rachel Jones to engage in mutual improvement for African-American women. The six charter members were Rachel Jones, Frances Golden, Hannah Lovett, Virginia Proctor, Anna Posey, and Cora Washington. The purpose of the club was to improve its members in a variety of fields and its motto was "lifting as we climb". The club met in member's houses and discussed authors, books, music, current events, poetry and nature. The club would later expand its interests to include history, women's organizations, health issues, race relations, and religion.

The Aurora Reading Club continued to grow. In 1897 it expanded to 17 members and in 1944 to its current 25 members. Candidates for membership were nominated by existing members and voted on by the club. Its members have always included local businesswomen and community leaders. Several members were descendents of current and past members. The club remains predominantely African-American although Caucasian women were admitted during the Civil Rights Movement.

The meetings were hosted by a different member on the first Wednesday of the month and were organized around a theme. Guest speakers frequently addressed the group and a designated member led the discussion. In 1908 the club published its first yearbook that listed all the meetings and the topics discussed. The club has also engaged in outreach efforts and in its first half century became involved in supporting charities including the Red Cross and the Home for the Aged and Infirm Colored Women (later the Lemington Home). In 1945 the members decided to return their focus to self-improvement rather than charity work although they still continued their outreach programs. Their recent focus has been on community literacy.

Scope and Content Notes

The Aurora Reading Club records are housed in seven archival boxes. These records include yearbooks, meeting minutes, topical folders, correspondence, financial records, and recognitions. There are some gaps in the collection consistent with the lack of a permanent home and the variety of members that held office. The yearbooks provide information on all the locations of all the meetings during the year, the themes of the meetings, and a complete member list. The information in the yearbooks is complimented by the meeting minutes that are complete from 1943 to 1972.

The club did keep some information on its members mostly in the form of newspaper clippings recognizing their achievements. The collection also contains information on the anniversary celebrations of the club. The information on the general meetings and the correspondence is less complete. The individual files consist of information gathered by these individuals rather than information about them.

Arrangement

The Aurora Reading Club records are housed in seven archival boxes.

Conditions Governing Access

This collection is open for research.

Immediate Source of Acquisition

These items came in one accession in 2002.

Acc# 2002.0101 Gift of The Aurora Reading Club, (Records).

Preferred Citation

Records of The Aurora Reading Club, 1900-2002, bulk 1943-1995, MSS#379, Historical Society of Western Pennsylvania.

Processing Information

This collection was processed by Emily White on January 22, 2003.

Revision and rearrangement for the encoded version of the finding aid provided by Heather Lucas on August 22, 2003.

Conditions Governing Use

Property rights reside with the Historical Society of Western Pennsylvania. Literary rights are retained by the creators of the records and their heirs. For permissions to reproduce or publish, please contact the curator of the Archives.

Subjects

    Corporate Names

    • Aurora Reading Club

    Personal Names

    • Rachel Jones
    • Francis Golden
    • Hannah Lovett
    • Virginia Proctor
    • Anna Posey
    • Cara Washington

    Other Subjects

    • Afro-Americans -- Education
    • Afro-Americans -- Leadership
    • Afro-American women
    • Clubs
    • Community Development
    • Community Leadership
    • Community Organization
    • Education -- Pennsylvania -- Polk
    • Education -- Aims and Objectives
    • Education of Women
    • Educational Equalization
    • Meetings
    • Pittsburgh -- Clubs
    • Women
    • Women, Black
    • Women -- Education
    • Women -- Societies and Clubs
    • Yearbooks

Container List

Constitutions, n.d.
Containers
Box 1, Folder 1