The Century Chest Collection

Greetings from The Ladies Music Club of 1913

(Transcribed from the original)

Greetings from
The Ladies Music Club of 1913
to The Largest Music Club of 2013.
of Oklahoma City.

Greetings –
This greeting is not alone for the present delight, but a something which my hope will be of interest to our descendants, and be held sacred because it comes to you in this "Terrestrial Capsule" which has been designated the Century Chest.
I should call this chest a chrysalis, which upon being unfolded will display many hued wings; looking into it you may behold the images of past sensations and incidents.

It is the gates of the portal which marks the entrance to the "silent-laud" partially ajar.
My pen is the voice that speaks to you across the mystic abyss or shoreless ocean of time.
Henry Ward Beecher has said, "We sleep, but the loom of life never stops; and the pattern which was weaving when the sun went down is weaving when it comes up tomorrow."

"History is a cyclic poem written by "Time" upon the memories of man,
The past like an inspired rhapsodist fills the theatre of everlasting generations with her harmony".
What wonderful changes may have come about? "Nature shuts the door after everything that passes and pushes life onward in more perfected forms".

Who knows the possibilities of the future?
An era of disenchantment and rebuilding will soon begin, and the future pages of history may say that "if ancestry can be aught believed, descending spirits have conversed with man and told him stories of the past.
So, this, we greet you, but our story is limited to the narrow area of our experiences, as we are young, being not yet quite five years old.

Your historian has just escaped the brink of the precipice of life, and in convalescent from an illness of over a year, which makes "life seem a rich strain of music suggesting a realm too fair to be".
I am greeting you from the Hotel Skirvin, a modern ten story structure at the corner of Broadway and First Street.
The manager of this hotel only yesterday met a tragic end by his own hand, which has cast a gloom over the entire city. Considering the two forgoing statements and realizing that I am greeting a generation yet unborn, and also the mode through which you receive it, makes it for the moment seem rather uncanny.

We hope that this may reach the hand of some of our own direct descendents (sic) of the third or fourth generation hence, for "a man who has ancestors is like a representation of the past."
"The curtains of yesterday drop down, and the curtains of Tomorrow roll up; but Yesterday and Tomorrow both are".

But to our story: -
In relating how the seed for this club was planted, I must tell you that your present historian had a short time before, been a delegate to a National Convention in St Louis Missouri during a centennial celebration of that city.
In one of the evening entertainments of this occasion, were several delightful numbers given by a very large chorus composed entirely of ladies.

This was one of the happiest memories of the convention, which she carried home with her to our young wonder-city of the middle-west, then only nineteen years old, which was developing in every way.
Being president of the City Federation of Woman's Clubs, it was her privilege to organize the new clubs. So she conceived the idea of organizing a ladies music club of our own, which should also have a Ladies Chorus as a part of it, hoping thereby to develop an atmosphere for the best music, and be able to procure the very best talent of the world for the pleasure and edification of our own dear people.

Subservient to this, in October 1908 she invited to her home, (which was at the head of Broadway but numbered 109 West Park Place, near Broadway circle) Mrs. R. Parks Bennet and Mrs. Harry C. Davis, both of them having very beautiful voices.

They heartily approved the plan, and the following week five other ladies were invited to confer with them and help to formulate plans for a music club whose standard should be high.

These ladies were Mrs. J. A. Reck[,] Mrs. W. Frank Wilson, Mrs. W. C. Newland all good pianists and Mrs. A. C. Scott, and Miss Betty Lou Sims (since Mrs. L. M. Westfall).

One week later the following ladies met at the home of Mrs. W. Frank Wilson 117 West 13 St to complete the organization:

Mrs. Harry C. Davis, Mrs. J. A. Reck, Mrs. W. C. Newland, Mrs. R. Parks Bennet, Mrs. Oscar G. Lee, Mrs. A. C. Scott, Mrs. Henry Scales, Mrs. James Chenoweth -, Mrs. E. S. Ferguson, and the Misses: -
Hallie Cooke, Betty Lou Sims[,] A. E. Reef, Amanda O'Connor, Nancy Longnecker, Belzora Phillips, and M. McMahon, and Mrs Edwin L Dunn and Mrs C. B. Ames, who became charter members and also composed the active membership.
This was limited to twenty five members, who should be educated musicians.

Invitations were extended to one hundred other ladies for associate membership, who were unable to do active work, but might have the pleasures of the monthly programs presented by the active members of the club, along with many other courtesies.

The first officers elected were:
President Miss C. B. Ames, Vice president Mrs. Harry C Davis, Secretary and Treasurer Mrs. J. A. Reck.
We are known as the Ladies Music Club.
The first program was presented in Fredrickson and Kroh music hall on Main Street Dec. 12 – 1908.
Our influence was recognized at once as we were asked to assist in making a success of our entertainment to be given at the Overholser Opera House by a talented young pianist of our time, whose name was Myrtle Elvyn who was presented by the above named music firm of Fredrickson and Kroh.

Our own first public entertainment was given in St Luke's church corner of Eighth Street and Robinson Avenue, when we presented Miss Lapham pianist and Mr. Holmquist baritone in recital.

The second year we had grown and strengthened until we had greater confidence in ourselves, so we secured Schuman Heink for one evening. She was utterly amazed at our wonderful city of about sixty thousand population, as well as of our appreciation of music and the advancement of our chorus. She said when we got ready for an artist she would come back and do solo work for us.

This same year we also presented the Czar's Imperial Russian Danceres, whose style of entertainment was especially new on our continent.

The third year we had Maud Powel l violinist, The Kneisel Quartette of stringed instruments and Harold Bauer one of the most finished pianists of our time.
Thomas Whitney Surette of London England and of international renown, gave two musical lectures, interpreting them upon the piano. One was "The Meister – Singers" by Wagner, the other "Music in the relation to life".
These lectures were given in the auditorium of the new High School building on Robinson Avenue, a building which is a pride to our city.

This year The Chicago Grand Opera Co., presented for us the one act opera "The Secret of Susanne" in which every participation was an artist.

At one of our regular meetings we had the honor of having Charles Wakefield Gadman as a guest of the club.
By a happy coincident it was a program by American Composers, and his compositions were a part of it.
He gave us double pleasure by relating some of his experiences among some of our own indians of Oklahoma, besides New Mexico and Arizona where he has made a very interesting study of the various phases of their lives in connection with his interpretation of their music.

One of his songs having been dedicated to Miss Olive Wheat, on our active list, was sung by her on this occasion while he accompanied her upon the piano.

Mrs. Ames has been our president from the beginning and with her leadership and tactful manner the club and all of its affairs have been a wonderful success; the membership now numbering nearly five hundred.
We have had many pleasant meetings in her palatial home at the corner of Hudson Avenue and Fourteenth Street. She has so endeared herself to us all, that we presented her with a beautiful marble pedestal surmounted with a fine bronze bust of Richard Wagner.

Somewhere in this "Terrestrial Capsule" we are sending you a record of her beautiful voice, which we pray may be well preserved for you.
We also have many talented musicians in our number, among them some composers that may be better known and perhaps famed in your time. They are:
Mrs John W Shartel,
Mrs R. Parks Bennet
Mrs Frederick B Owen
Also: -
Mr Roland D. Williams
Mr Edward Vail McIntyre
Mr Alfred Price Quinn
} Honorary Members and their compositions will also be found in this Century Chest.
Our ladies chorus is composted about forty members at present and still growing.
It is through the unceasing efforts of our president and the able leadership of Mr Roland D. Williams, chorus director, also the promptness and efficiency of Mrs Frederick B. Owen accompanist that the success of the chorus is due.
We are to have a chorus program at our last meeting this year. I am inclosing our last year-book to you with this.
In concluding I must say that my vaguest dreams have been realized and I can only wonder at the possibilities of the future, and of the great changes that may come about.
Great strides have been made in wonderful inventions during the present generations. Already we have machines which reproduces the human voice or any sound, and we have self- playing pianos and pipe organs which makes us feel that "music is a thing of the soul; a rose lipped shell that murmured of the eternal sea; a strange bird singing the songs of another shore".
Signed
Ms. Edwin L Dunn
Historian

Oklahoma City, Okla
April 17" 1913.

Club organized by Mrs Edwin L Dunn
October 1908

Ladies Music Club Constitution, By-Laws, and Members

(Transcribed from the original)

Greetings from
The Ladies Music Club of 1913
-to-
The Largest Music Club of 2013

THE LADIES' MUSIC CLUB

The Ladies' Music Club of Oklahoma City

FIFTH YEAR
NINETEEN HUNDRED TWELVE
NINETEEN HUNDRED THIRTEEN

No. 298 Oklahoma City, Feb. 22 1913
The Bearer Mrs. Ed Dunn
Is a member in Good Standing in the
LADIES MUSIC CLUB
And is Entitled to all Privileges of the club

Belzora Phillips
Secretary

Mrs. C. B. Ames
President

NOV. DEC. JAN. FEB. MAR. APR. MAY

OFFICERS
President, MRS. C. B. AMES
Vice-President, MRS. FREDERICK B. OWEN
Secretary, MISS BELZORA PHILLIPS
Treasurer, MRS. A. L. WELSH
Historian, MRS. E. L. DUNN

Active Members
Mrs. C. B. Ames
Mrs. A. C. Bennett
Mrs. R. P. Bennett
Mrs. Jules Bloch
Miss Louisa Brooke
Mrs. James Chenoweth
Miss Hallie Cooke
Mrs. Walker M. Coombs
Mrs. Harry C. Davis
Mrs. E. S. Ferguson
Mrs. David Frederickson
Miss Martha Gilmer
Mrs. Robert Holtzschue
Mrs. A. R. Lingafelt
Mrs. L. D. Mitchell
Mrs. W. B. Moore
Miss Helen Norfleet
Miss Katherine Norfleet
Miss Amanda O'Connor
Mrs. F. B. Owen
Miss Belzora Phillips
Mrs. J. A. Reck
Mrs. A. C. Robertson
Mrs. H. M. Scales
Miss Norma Schoolar
Mrs. Allen Street
Mrs. Jessie D. Valbracht
Miss Vere Van Winkle
Miss Clara Waldron
Mrs. A. L. Welsh
Mrs. L. M. Westfall
Miss Olive A. Wheat
Mrs. W. F. Wilson

Honorary Active Members
Miss Nancy Longnecker
Mrs. W. C. Newland

Honorary Members
Mrs. Phil Baird
Mrs. W. N. Colton
Mrs. R. E. Goodrich
Mrs. H. H. Hulten
Mrs. C. E. Mogg
Mrs. McIntryre
Mrs. N. H. Royer
Mrs. J. H. O. Smith
Mr. Ernest Calhoun
Mr. Charles F. Giard
Mr. E. V. McIntrye
Mr. J. J. Merrill
Mr. J. G. Mraz
Mr. H. A. Quinn
Fr. Victor Van Durme
Mr. Rowland D. Williams

Chorus Members
Mrs. C. B. Ames
Mrs. J. M. Alford
Mrs. A. C. Bennett
Mrs. R. N. Bennett
Mrs. E. E. Blake
Mrs. F. K. Brooke
Mrs. W. R. Clement
Mrs. Ben F. Davis
Mrs. H. C. Davis
Mrs. F. G. Dennis
Mrs. W. I. Gilbert
Mrs. John L. Graham
Miss Mabel Graham
Mrs. B. W. Haggerty
Chorus Member - Continued
Mrs. D. W. Hogan
Mrs. C. T. Ingalls
Mr. F. P. Johnson
Mrs. O. B. Kee
Mrs. A. M. Lehr
Mrs. Frank Mulkey
Mrs. C. A. Peyton
Miss Florence Phelps
Mrs. Horace Reed
Mrs. A. C. Robertson
Mrs. F. W. Scherubel
Mrs. Earl H. Shelley
Miss Clara Sims
Mrs. C. F. Smith
Miss Meta Steglemann
Mrs. Coulter Todd
Mrs. A. L. Welsh
Mrs. L. M. Westfall
Mrs. Maude L. Wilcox
Mrs. Boston Wilson
Mrs. W. F. Wilson
Director – Mr. Rowland D. Williams
Accompanist – Mrs. Fredrick B. Owen
Associate Member
Mrs. Orin Ashton
Mrs. J. M. Aydelotte
Mrs. George Ayers
Mrs. F. M. Bailey
Mrs. Sol Barth
Mrs. L. M. Beadles
Mrs. A. J. Beatty
Mrs. Webster Benham
Mrs. W. W. Bierce
Mrs. E. F. Bisbee
Mrs. A. Bissell
Mrs. S. T. Bledsoe
Mrs. Rex G. Bolend
Mrs. A. F. Bond
Mrs. P. W. Bonfoey
Mrs. W. M. Bonner
Mrs. E. L. Boyce
Mrs. Sidney L. Brock
Mrs. J. P. Brough
Miss Elizabeth Brownlee
Mrs. W. S. Bulkey
Mrs. Chas. W. Campbell
Mrs. R. P. Carpenter
Mrs. G. W. Carrico
Mrs. A. Carroll
Miss Mary Caylor
Mrs. T. G. Chamber
Mrs. J. C. Clark
Mrs. A. H. Classen
Mrs. C. F. Colcord
Mrs. R. D. Conklin
Mrs. George Cooke
Mrs. E. H. Cooke
Mrs. Norton Cooke
Mrs. M. S. Cooter
Mrs. R. M. Conway
Mrs. J. R. Cottingham
Mrs. W. H. Crane
Mrs. H. A. Craycroft
Mrs. A. P. Crockett
Mrs. W. H. Crump
Miss Mildred Marion Dalzell
Mrs. Elizabeth Darrell
Mrs. U. Daughdrill
Mrs. E. F. Davis
Mrs. Albert Scripps Deacon
Mrs. Warren Dutcher
Mrs. Frank Dingee
Mrs. H. P. Doughty
Mrs. McGregor Douglas
Mrs. J. M. Draper
Mrs. John DuMars
Mrs. E. L. Dunn
Mrs. Chas. Dunning
Mrs. W. D. Eastland
Mrs. H. H. Ebright
Mrs. R. T. Edwards
Mrs. John Fields
Mrs. I. Fleig
Mrs. George Frederickson
Associate Members – Continued
Mrs. E. L. Fulton
Mrs. Henry Furman
Mrs. Maude Fletcher Gallagher
Mrs. Robt. Gardner
Mrs. Harry Gerson
Mrs. W. M. Gillespie
Mrs. M. N. Gish
Mrs. Gardner Given
Mrs. S. M. Gloyd
Miss Marguerite Grant
Mrs. J. N. Graves
Mrs. J. W. Graves
Mrs. J. H. Grigsby
Mrs. Fred Gumm
Mrs. Lester Gumm
Mrs. Mary Gunther
Mrs. Gore Hagar
Mrs. John Hale
Mrs. C. J. Hall
Mrs. John W. Hall
Mrs. O. D. Halsell
Mrs. J. F. Harbour
Mrs. Thos. Harper
Mrs. R. T. Harriss
Mrs. Gus Hart
Mrs. E. T. Hathaway
Mrs. W. F. Haven
Mrs. J. W. Hawk
Miss Helene Hirschland
Mrs. W. E. Hodges
Mrs. C. A. Hoffer
Mrs. D. W. Hogan
Mrs. W. P. Homan
Mrs. R. M. Howard
Mrs. L. L. Hubbard
Mrs. Joseph Huckins, Jr.
Mrs. C. T. Ingalls
Mrs. C. C. Ingram
Mrs. J. P. Johns
Mrs. F. P. Johnson
Mrs. C. E. Johnson
Mrs. Orville Johnson
Mrs. C. G. Jones
Mrs. W. G. A. Jonte
Mrs. Bernard Kaufman
Mrs. Harry Kelley
Mrs. George Kerr
Mrs. L. D. Kight
Mrs. Zoe Klein
Mrs. H. S. Lamb
Mrs. F. S. Lamb
Mrs. Milas Lasiter
Mrs. Frank Laux
Mrs. W. A. Ledbetter
Mrs. Leon Levy
Miss Josephine B. Lincoln
Miss Hyla Florence Long
Mrs. Ross D. Long
Mrs. J. S. Lyon
Mrs. Richard H. Malone
Mrs. J. H. Marshall
Mrs. E. G. McAdams
Miss Merle McCarty
Mrs. J. C. McClelland
Mrs. J. L. McClelland
Miss Helen McClelland
Miss Ruth McCornack
Miss Ruth McCredie
Mrs. D. B. McDonald
Mrs. C. L. McGaughey
Mrs. E. V. McIntyre
Mrs. Kee R. McKee
Mrs. David McKinstry
Mrs. A. J. McMahan
Mrs. Wm. Mee
Mrs. T. P. Mellon
Mrs. J. J. Merrill
Mrs. Joseph Myer
Mrs. F. B. Miller
Mrs. R. E. Moist
Mrs. C. L. Moore
Mrs. John M. Noble
Mrs. F. C. O'Neil
Mrs. Henry Overholser
Mrs. Ed Overholser
Mrs. Will Overholser
Mrs. R. F. Parry
Mrs. F. E. Patterson
Mrs. J. H. Payne
Mrs. W. J. Pettee
Miss Edith Allen Phelps
Mrs. Emma E. Pierce
Mrs. C. B. Pope
Miss Hazel Post
Mrs. C. S. Powell
Associate Members – Continued
Miss Marguerite Powells
Mrs. C. W. Rathbun
Mrs. Wm. Raymond
Mrs. Horace Reed
Mrs. T. M. Richardson
Mrs. L. A. Riely
Mrs. W. J. Rodman
Mrs. C. D. Rushmore
Mrs. U. L. Russell
Mrs. R. F. Schaefer
Mrs. J. F. Sharp
Mrs. J. W. Shartel
Miss Lena Smith
Mrs. George G. Sohlberg
Mrs. E. F. Sarrow
Mrs. H. J. Spaulding
Mrs. Milton Speer
Mrs. Chas. Stiles
Mrs. G. B. Stone
Mrs. F. A. Stone
Mrs. J. G. Street
Mrs. C. W. Stringer
Mrs. B. A. Talbott
Mrs. H. R. Teasdale
Mrs. Ross Thomas
Mrs. J. H. Townsend
Mrs. E. C. Trueblood
Mrs. M. L. Turner
Mrs. Will Vance
Mrs. Lee Van Winkle
Mrs. R. R. Walker
Mrs. Sarah Walker
Mrs. F. W. Wardwell
Mrs. Warren B. Watkins
Mrs. C. J. Westfall
Mrs. A. W. White
Mrs. F. J. Wikoff
Mrs. A. L. Wilkin
Mrs. A. A. Will
Mrs. John J. Volz
Mrs. Alden Vose
Miss Grace Waite
Mrs. Rodney Wiley
Mrs. G. K. Williams
Mrs. Boston Wilson
Mrs. George Woodward
Mrs. H. H. Wynne

Program Committee
Mrs. W. F. Wilson
Miss Hyla F. Long
Miss Belzora Phillips
Miss Norma Schoolar
Miss Clara Waldron
Mrs. Henry M. Scales.
CONSTITUTION AND BY-LAWS
Constitution
ARTICLE 1.
NAME.
This organization shall be known as THE LADIES' MUSIC CLUB.
ARTICLE II.
OBJECT.
Its object is the advancement of musical culture.
ARTICLE III.
OFFICERS.
Section 1. There shall be a President, Vice President, Secretary and Treasurer.
Sec. 2. The officers and two other members shall constitute the Executive Board.

ARTICLE IV.
MEMBERSHIP.
Section 1. There shall be two classes of membership – active and associate.
Sec. 2. The requirements for active membership shall be thorough musicianship and ability to do creditable solo work.
Sec. 3. Associate membership shall consist of persons who are interested in promoting the object of the club. They shall be exempt from any musical or business responsibilities. Both active and associate members shall be privileged to bring guests on payment of twenty-five cents each, except in the case of out-of-town visitors, for whom no fee will be charged.
ARTICLE V.
AMENDMENTS
This Constitution may be amended at any regular meeting, when such proposed amendment has been on file in writing no less than two weeks, and has been read at such previous meeting and approved by two-thirds of the active members.
BY-LAWS
ARTICLE I.
DUTIES OF OFFICERS
Section 1. The President shall preside at all meetings, and shall conduct them by formal order of business. She shall sign all orders on the Treasurer for payment of money.
Sec. 2. The Vice President shall assume the duties of the President in her absence.
Sec. 3 The Secretary shall prepare minutes of meetings, all necessary notices, and have charge of the correspondence of the club.
Sec. 4 The Treasurer shall collect all dues and fines, keep account of all receipts and disbursements, pay all bills when properly signed by the President, and make an annual report.
Sec. 5. All officers shall report at the annual meeting.
Sec. 6. The Executive Board shall transact the business of the Club.
ARTICLE II.
MEMBERSHIP.
Section 1. Active membership shall be limited to forty, associate membership to three hundred.
Sec. 2. Any active member after one year's connection with the Club may propose each year one name for membership.
Sec. 3. A candidate for membership must have her application endorsed by two members of the Club besides the proposer, this application to be delivered under seal to the President.
Sec. 4. Applicants for membership shall appear before an Examining Committee consisting of five members appointed by the President.
Sec. 5. Names approved by this committee shall then be presented to the Club for balloting.
Sec. 6. Elections to the Club must be unanimous.
Sec. 7. If defeated, the name shall not be presented to the Committee again within one year.
ARTICLE III.
Section 1. Annual dues hall be, for active members, one dollar; chorus members one dollar; associate. two dollars.
Sec. 2. An initiation fee of two dollars shall be required of all other than charter members.
N. B. – Sec 3. Dues must be paid at or before the second meeting of the Club (November), and failure to do so will be considered withdrawal from the Club. The Treasurer shall issue membership cards on payment of dues, and only members holding such cards shall be entitled to the privileges of the Club.
Sec. 4. Pupils will be admitted to the Club recitals on payments of ten cents each.
ARTICLE IV.
MEETINGS.
Section 1. The Club shall meet for eight consecutive months, beginning in October with a business meeting.
Sec 2. The meetings shall be held at three o'clock the second Saturday in each month.
Sec. 3. Elections shall be held the first Saturday in March, three p. m., at the home of the President.
Sec. 4. Special meetings of the Club or Board may be called by the President.
ARTICLE V.
FINES AND PENALTIES
Section 1. Any active members not present at roll call shall be fined ten cents.
Sec. 2. Any member remaining from a meeting, for any cause except illness or absence from town, shall be fined twenty-five cents.
Sec. 3. Any active or associate member absenting herself from three consecutive meetings, unless from illness or absence from town, shall forfeit her membership and her place may be declared vacant by the club.
Sec. 4. A member unable to perform the part assigned her on the program, except in case of illness, shall pay a fine of one dollar.
ARTICLE VI.
PRIVILEGES
Section 1. Any member paying fifty cents and duly notifying the Secretary shall become a passive member and may remain from six consecutive meetings without being fined.
Sec. 2 Any member who is absent from the city at the time of a meeting for which she is prepared, shall upon giving her number subsequently by credited with preparation.
ARTICLE VII.
QUORUM
Section 1. Nine members hall constitute a quorum.
Sec. 2. Four members shall constitute a quorum of the Board.
ARTICLE VIII.
ELECTIONS
Section 1. All elections and nomination shall be by ballot.
Sec. 1. A majority vote shall elect.
ARTICLE IX.
These BY-LAWS may be amended by a two-thirds majority at any regular meeting of the Club.