ELWYN B. ROBINSON DEPARTMENT OF SPECIAL COLLECTIONS
CHESTER FRITZ LIBRARY
UNIVERSITY OF NORTH DAKOTA
GRAND FORKS, NORTH DAKOTA 58202

FRANKLIN CLUB RECORDS

COLLECTION: OGL #322

DATES: 1907-1980

SIZE: 1.25 linear feet

INTRODUCTION

ACQUISITION: The Franklin Club Records were deposited in the Orin G. Libby Manuscript Collection. The acquisition records are unavailable.

ACCESS: Available for inspection under the rules and regulations of the Department of Special Collections.

HISTORICAL SKETCH

The Franklin Club was organized in December 1906. Dr. A. J. Ladd, professor of education at the University of North Dakota, served as first president. According to the Franklin Club Constitution, "Its purpose shall be to promote the social and intellectual lives of its members and the community. Recognizing that the interests of the State University and the people of the city of Grand Forks are interwoven and that the importance of fostering cordial relations and a mutual understanding of the problems and aims of each, all in the general public interest, the membership shall be divided as equally as practical between those directly connected with the University and those not so connected."

The first official meeting was held January 14, 1907, in the home of Dr. and Mrs. Ladd. From the first meeting, membership consisted solely of couples and was limited to 60. The maximum number was later increased to 75. The group met every third Thursday evening from October through April. Meeting often consisted of a lecture given by a member of the club, but plays and music were sometimes performed.

The name Franklin was chosen not only in honor of Benjamin Franklin, but also as a recognition that the members are "franklins" of freeman, neither slaves nor of noble birth.

SCOPE AND CONTENT NOTE

The Franklin Club Records consist of annual programs, meeting minutes, text of program speeches delivered before the Club, scrapbooks and correspondence. The material dates from 1907-1980.

BOX AND FOLDER INVENTORY

Box 1
Folder

1. Franklin Club Annual Programs: 1908-1980
2. Franklin Club Programs: 1907
3. Minutes: October 14, 1965-May 1, 1969
4. Minutes: October 14, 1954-April 22, 1965
5. Minutes: October 6, 1949-April. 22, 1954
6. Minutes: January 18, 1940- May 8, 1.949
7. Minutes: November 17, 1932-December 14, 1939
8. Minutes: October 14, 1926-October 27, 1932
9. Minutes: December 5, 1918-May 14, 1926
10. Minutes: October 23, 1913-May 2, 1918
11. Minutes: January 14, 1907-May 23, 1912
12. Program Speeches: Regional History
13. Program Speeches: Club History
14. Program Speeches: Miscellaneous
15. Miscellaneous
16. Scrapbook #1: 1913–1957
17. Correspondence: 1941-42, 1955

SEPARATIONS RECORD

Scrapbook #2 (1962-1974) was separated and placed on the shelves adjacent to the Franklin Club Records.

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