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Craddock Study Club Papers

Dates

1922 - 2001

Creator

Craddock Study Club

Summary/Abstract

The Craddock Study Club Papers include organizational records, scrapbooks, and yearbooks pertaining to the Murfreesboro literary society formed in honor of Mary Noailles Murfree, pseudonym Charles Egbert Craddock. These papers are a valuable research source for topics such as Murfreesboro clubs, female societies, literary societies, and Middle Tennessee State University history.

Quantity/Physical Description

3 linear feet

Language(s)

English

Repository

Albert Gore Research Center, Middle Tennessee State University, Murfreesboro, TN 37132, (615) 898-2632

Restrictions on Access

None

Copyright

It is presumed that corporate and individual copyrights in manuscripts, photographs, and other materials have been retained by the copyright owners. Copyright restrictions apply. Users of materials should seek necessary permissions from the copyright hol

Preferred Citation

(Box Number, Folder Number), Collection Name, Albert Gore Research Center, Middle Tennessee State University, Murfreesboro, Tennessee

Acquisition

Marie Miller, April 5, 2001

Processed By

Original processor undetermined

Arrangement

These papers are arranged by series according to the creator’s original order. These series include Minutes, Miscellaneous, Yearbooks, and Scrapbooks.

Biographical Note

A group of women interested in literary culture started the Craddock Study Club in 1921. The club is named for a renowned Murfreesboro author, Mary Noailles Murfree, who published her Tennessee folk short stories under the pen name of Charles Egbert Craddock. The concept of the literary group is attributed to Mary B. Fox Hughes, author of Hearthstones: the Story of Rutherford County Homes. The idea had been discussed many times at the home of Mrs. J. Baird Jones and the first meeting was held in the home of Mrs. William Tompkins. It was, according to Lillie Mae James, the first such study group in Murfreesboro.

The club limited its membership to twenty, and its stated object was “the mutual improvement and pleasure of its members.” A candidate, presented by a member, may have been elected, provided she was endorsed by two-thirds of the membership.

As far as is known, there was no yearbook the first year, but the 1922-1923 yearbook lists the following members: Mrs. Homer Bean, Mrs. Cliff Bell, Mrs. Roy Byrn, Mrs. Neal Elrod, Mrs. Jack Fox, Mrs. David Goldstein, Mrs. Henry Huddleston, Jr., Mrs. Jesse Huggins, Mrs. J. Baird Jones, Mrs. Harry Kerr, Jr., Mrs. J.G. McCoy, Mrs. John Nelson, Jr., Mrs. Deery Riggs, Mrs. Edwin Rion, Mrs. W.T. Robinson, Mrs. Foster Spain, Jr., Mrs. Richard Stickney, and Mrs. William Tompkins.

Suggested topics for study, planned to satisfy the varied interests of members, were presented by the program committee a year in advance, with the final selection made by a vote of the membership. During the infancy of the club, meetings were held every two weeks with three or four persons presenting the program. Later, two members gave the afternoon’s program and beginning in 1943, only one person presented the program.

Subjects of study, both large and varied, have included the following: Our South, A Critical Study of the Far East, Famous Women of Yesterday and Today, the Impact of Socialism and Communism in the Post-War World, Contemporary Writers, This Believing World, All the World’s A Stage, the Story of China, Wonderful World of Furniture, Great Families of Europe, Historic Restorations and Men of Destiny, Women Chief Executives, the Victorian Era, Russia.

During the early years of Craddock, twenty books were bought each year. These books were awarded as attendance prizes at the end of the year, the person with the best attendance having first choice. Later, books were presented to the Central High School Library, to the Rutherford Hospital nurses’ library and, still later, to Linebaugh Library. A collection of period books was a gift to the library at Oaklands Historic House Museum.

Craddock’s student loan fund was established in 1930 and, in September of 1943, the fund was changed to the Cuma Bell scholarship fund. Mrs. Bessie Lee McCord served as chairperson for the Memorial Scholarship Fund for several years.

The Craddock Study Club continues its activities to the current day.

Scope and Content

The Craddock Study Club Papers consist largely of organizational minutes, yearbooks, and scrapbooks relating to the activities, history, membership, and objectives of the literary group. The collection’s materials cover a large span of time, dating from 1922 to 2001.