The Secretaries’ Books, 1913-1995, include the Club’s meeting minutes, programs, and correspondence. In later years, some photographs are also attached inside the bound volumes. These books were bound by the Club.
The Treasurers’ Book, 1943-1968, a simple spiral bound notepad, includes the Club’s cash received and disbursements accounts.
The Christmas Books, 1931-1941 and 1961-1971, document various local, needy families that the Club helped at Christmas time. The 1931-1941 Book notes gifts given in 1929. The books list families who received Christmas gifts, food, clothing, and other household supplies from the Tourism Club and individual members of the Club. The names, ages, addresses of family members, income/employment information, if any, and gifts received, as well as their financial, medical, and other personal information are listed, such as what assistance, if any, that they received from government or other sources. Because of the personal information in these books and the fact that some of the people listed in them were infants in the 1970s, the Christmas Books are closed to researchers until 2040. To avoid inappropriate use of these books, they are housed separately from the other materials in the collection. The Christmas Books were also bound by the Club.
Organizational History:
The Tourism Club (Mount Pleasant, Michigan) was a ladies cultural club organized in 1913. Early members included the wives and daughters of prominent men in town as well as the wives and daughters of Central Michigan University professors and administrators. The Club’s motto was Mehr Leicht (“More Easily”), the Club’s flower was the carnation, and its colors were green and white.
The purpose of the Club was to expand the knowledge of its members about various topics and countries. Members formed subgroups to research various topics in-depth, and later reported their research to other Club members. A subgroup might study one aspect of a nation, for example, Swedish schools. In 1913, members studied Norway and Sweden. Specific presentations at the meetings that year educated members about: an ocean voyage, a glimpse of Scandinavia, Norse mythology and legend, Norway and Sweden in the nineteenth century, the religion of the Scandinavians, the royal families of Norway and Sweden, poetry of the Bible, the Bible’s fascination as literature, Norway and Sweden’s government and politics, army and navy, highways, railways and waterways, natural resources and industries, manners and customs of the people, health amusements, literature, famous women, women in politics, Scandinavian art and music, education in Norway, the National Theatre, and Sweden’s schools and universities. In later years, one member would report on a topic or experience or a group or non-member would visit to present a topic or performance. (This information is from the collection.)
The Tourism Club still exists.