"Sisterhood and Sociability": The Utah Women's Press Club, 1891-1928

Utah Historical Quarterly

Vol. 53, 1985, No. 2

"Sisterhood and Sociability": The Utah Women's Press Club, 1891-1928

BY LINDA THATCHER AND JOHN R. SILLITO

ON THE EVENING OF OCTOBER 31, 1891, eight of Utah's most prominent women met in the offices of the Woman's Exponent to organize the Utah Women's Press Club. These women — Emmeline B. Wells, Lula Greene Richards, Susa Young Gates, Ellis R. Shipp, Romania B. Pratt, Ruth May Fox, Julia I. MacDonald, and Lucy A. Clark — were active in a wide range of social, civic, political, and religious endeavors. On that October evening, however, they met to further another of their interests — writing.

The club they formed, as the records explain, was organized for the benefit of "women engaged in active journalistic or newspaper work in Utah Territory." The organization of the Utah Women's Press Club occurred at a time when other similar groups were being created throughout the country. Just two years before a woman's press club had been organized in New York by Jane Cunningham Croly, one of the first women to be employed by a large metropolitan newspaper — the New York Herald?

Over the next thirty years, the Utah Women's Press Club played an important role in Utah's literary and journalistic history. An understanding of that role begins by examining the life of its founder and guiding spirit, Emmeline B. Wells.

Emmeline Blanche Woodward Harris Whitney Wells was born on February 29, 1828, in Petersham, Massachusetts. She joined the Mormon church in 1842, at the age of fourteen, despite the opposition of friends. Following her conversion, Emmeline returned to the boarding school she had been attending and graduated with a teaching certificate. In 1843 she married James Harris and a year later traveled with him and his parents to Nauvoo, Illinois. Soon after arriving in the city tragedy struck the Harris family: an infant son died and Emmeline suffered a serious illness. Shortly thereafter, James Harris left both Emmeline and the Mormon church.

In February 1845 the seventeen-year-old divorcee became the plural wife of Newell K. Whitney, a fifty-year-old bishop in the Mormon church. Whitney died six years later, leaving Emmeline with two small children. In 1853, at the age of twenty-four, Emmeline became a plural wife of another older man, Daniel H. Wells, a prominent Utah leader and counselor to Brigham Young. Emmeline's third marriage was not as successful as she had hoped. But, despite her personal problems and disappointments, she contributed greatly to the social and civic life of late nineteenth-century Utah.

Emmeline Wells considered herself a person of destiny, which may be one reason she accomplished so much in her lifetime. In addition to organizing the Press Club and the Reapers Club, Wells served as the editor of the Woman's Exponent from 1877 until its demise in 1914, was active in politics as president of the Utah Woman's Suffrage Association, served in various capacities in the Republican party, and was a prolific writer whose literary efforts included a volume of poetry, Musings and Memories, as well as numerous articles in magazines and newspapers.

Throughout her life, Emmeline B. Wells was an outspoken champion of the rights and status of women. The organization of the Utah Women's Press Club is one of many examples of her commitment to improving the place of women in society.

Under Wells's direction the first regularly scheduled meeting of the club was held on November 30, 1891. In her journal she recorded:

Letter from Susa [Young Gates] that she could not come to the press club — made ready for twenty or so. Only three came, but we held the meeting. Had papers & letters read and had refreshments daintly served. I am astonished that so few take an interest in these things. Sister Fox, Dr. Shipp, and Sister McDonald each did well. Chocolate cakes, apples, bananas, grapes etc. Very dainty repast.

Despite this small turnout, the group was undaunted and continued with their efforts to make the club viable. Prior to the end of the year they selected their officers for 1892: Wells, president; Susa Young Gates, first vice-president; Lula Greene Richards, second vice-president; Martha A. Y. Greenhalgh, vice-president at large; Annie Wells Cannon, corresponding secretary; Dr. Ellis R. Shipp, recording secretary; Ruth May Fox, treasurer; and Dr. Romania B. Pratt, auditor. One cannot help but wonder, looking at this long list of officers, if Wells might not have intended this as a strategy not only to spread the work load but to increase attendance at meetings.

Three women — Gates, Pratt, and Lucy A. Clark (who was not an officer) — were appointed as a committee to write by-laws. Over the years these by-laws were periodically changed, but the main points remained intact. Regular meetings of the club were held either once or twice a month. It was stipulated that the meetings would be held in the parlor of the Woman's Exponent office, "unless the date or the place of the meeting be changed by a two-thirds vote of the members present at a regular meeting." After 1914, the year the Woman's Exponent ended publication, the club met in the Salt Lake City Public Library.

The by-laws also provided that the election of officers would take place at the club's October meeting, which would also serve as the annual business meeting. Applications for membership were presented in writing and approved by the credentials committee. An applicant then had to be voted on by the entire membership. The club dues were one dollar per year, but club members were allowed to bring guests so long as they paid ten cents for the guests' refreshments. No guest, however, could attend more than three times in one year.

As stated in the by-laws, the Utah Women's Press Club's main purpose was to encourage women's literary efforts. Membership was open to any woman "who wrote for a creditable journal, newspaper or other publication. . . ." As the years passed, however, this definition was considerably broadened. As Romania B. Pratt, the club's newly elected president, explained at the meeting held November 30, 1897: "In a strict sense, the name of Press Club in our case is a misnomer, so few of us are regular or special correspondents or contributors to newspaper and periodicals, and only three of our number are bona fide editors." Pratt went on to say that the goal of the club had been expanded so that those "less skilled in journalism" could still participate in the discussion and activities of the organization.

In examining the lives of those women who over the years affiliated with the Utah Women's Press Club, it is clear that almost all were Mormons. However, those members who were not Mormons were apparently as readily and cordially accepted as the other members. Most club members, regardless of religious affiliation, were active in civic and community work as well as interested in writing and literature.

In reconstructing the membership of the club, it appears that the women who affiliated with the organization fell into three categories: a handful of professional writers who later worked for major newspapers outside of the state or whose works were published in national journals; a larger group consisting of women who were active in the local publishing scene as editors of newspapers or journals and as published authors of books, poems, short stories, and nonfiction; and, the largest number, women who had published something in order to join the club but were not primarily writers or editors.

In the first category, three women stand out: Nevada V. Davis, who lived in Salt Lake in 1893 while teaching at the city high school and later went to work for the New York Herald', Ada Patterson, a reporter for the Salt Lake Herald in the 1890s who later worked for newspapers in St. Louis and San Francisco and eventually became the drama critic for the New York American and the author of short stories and a biography of Maude Adams, the noted Utahn who became a famous Broadway actress; 14 and Josephine Spencer, author oiThe Senatorfrom Utah, a novel published in 1895, and several articles in national magazines including Pearsons, who ended her career on the staff of the Los Angeles Examiner.

In addition to Emmeline B. Wells, the second category of members included several of Utah's most prominent early twentiethcentury women writers. One of these is Susa Young Gates, a daughter of Brigham Young, who was an important force in fostering "literary appreciation and literary art" in Utah. Gates founded and edited the Young Woman's Journal from 1889 until 1901. Moreover, she authored many articles, short stories, and books, including John Steven's Courtship, History of Lydia Knight, The Surname Book and Racial History, and The Prince' of Ur, published posthumously in 1945.

Another important writer and leader in the Press Club was Ellis Reynolds Shipp. In addition to her service as club president, Shipp was an important civic and literary figure in the community. She completed medical school in the East in 1878, despite many obstacles, and returned to Salt Lake City to set up her practice. Along with her husband and one of his other polygamous wives, Shipp founded the Salt Lake Sanitarian, 3. medical publication, in 1888, with all three serving aseditors. She contributed many articles on health and medicine during the journal's two-year existence. Today she is best known for her much-read autobiography, The Journal of Ellis Reynolds Shipp.

Ruth May Fox was a third significant contributor to the Utah literary community. Born in Westbury, England, in 1853, she and her family converted to Mormonism and immigrated to Utah in 1867. Fox served in every office of the Press Club, including president. During those years she was also active as a member of the Reapers Club (basically an organization for women with literary aspirations who could not qualify for the Press Club) and politically involved in the Utah Woman's Suffrage Association, the Salt Lake County Republican party, and the Ladies' Republican Club. Fox is best known, however, for her service as president of the Young Ladies Mutual Improvement Association. Although her formal education ended at an early age, she was a strong advocate of education and lifelong learning. Additionally, she was a prolific writer, composing hundreds of poems, which she often read at Press Club meetings. Many of her poems were collected in a book entitled May Blossoms, published in 1923.

A number of other substantial local writers affiliated with the Press Club, including Augusta Joyce Crocheron, the author of Representative Women of Deseret: A Book of Biographical Sketches, which even today is an important source for biographies of many of the significant women of that time. Another was Lucy A. Clark, a newspaper writer and editor of the Farmington Flash Light. In 1918 she turned her attention to patriotic endeavors and wrote the lyrics for "The American Army Song of Freedom," which was adopted as the official song of the Fort Douglas Training Corps. Ellen Lee Jakeman, also a member of this group, worked as a typesetter and publisher. She wrote for local newspapers and magazines and served as a correspondent for national newspapers.

Women such as Harriet Badger, Amanda Done, Rebecca H. Doolan, Emma Jenson, and others are examples of women in the third category. They left little record of their literary efforts. Most published a small number of poems or stories, which allowed them to belong to the club as a participating member. For them the club functioned primarily as a place where they could meet socially with other more professional writers and receive advice on improving their literary skills.

During the first year of the club's existence a pattern was set for future meetings "characterized by the reading of original poems, short stories, and [articles] from national magazines." The latter usually dealt with some aspect of women's clubs, literature, or current events. A typical meeting consisted of opening remarks by the chair, an opening prayer, the reading of minutes from the previous meeting, and a roll call that club members frequently responded to with poetic sentiments. After discussion of current club business, original poems, stories, and papers were presented. The gamut of papers presented ran from such topics as "Prophecy Fulfilled" by Ruth May Fox to "A Trip to Alaska" by Nevada V. Davis. After the readings were completed, the evening ended with refreshments and a social chat.

A main purpose of the meetings, however, was the opportunity afforded the writers to have their works critiqued by fellow club members. In a report to the Utah State Federation of Women's Clubs in 1918, the president of the Press Club noted that items read at "meetings [were]. . . commented upon and criticized in a spirit of friendliness and helpfulness." This spirit had characterized the club since its earliest days. In January 1892 Susa Young Gates suggested that "all original articles [presented at the club] be put in the hands of a good reader, without signatures, with the object of improvement." During the meeting of July 31, 1896, the membership decided that the club should have an official critic. The minutes note:

In accordance with our president's oft repeated wish that our club should have a critic, Mrs. E. J. McVicker was proposed by Miss S. L. Monroe as critic. The motion was carried unanimously. The nominee very modestly expressed thanks for the honor, and said she would try to excercise discretion in the duty, and desired all to feel free to criticize the critic.

As the system evolved, the responsibility of the critic was to evaluate original works the week following their presentation. Ultimately, a different critic was assigned each week.

Not all of the club's activities were as formal and serious as the reading and critiquing of papers. At the November 20, 1892, meeting of the club Emmeline B. Wells "called attention to the fact that the UWPC had been organized on Halloween" and hoped that the club members might celebrate anniversary meetings in an "original way" in years ahead. In this spirit club members decided that at the anniversary meeting they would come dressed in costumes representing a literary or historical figure or a famous story or poem.

Probably the most memorable of these meetings occurred on October 30, 1894. When called by name, the costumed member rose from her seat to give the others a chance to guess who she was representing. Given the descriptions in the minutes, some of the costumes must have produced applause and perhaps laughter.

The characters were as follows — Dr. E. R. Shipp, Portia injudicial robes, where she makes her speech before the judge beginning the "quality of mercy is not strained," etc. Mrs. Ruth M. Fox, dressed in various gaudy colors, which is said to be characteristic of Dickens, her author, represented Sergeant Buzfuz. Miss Gladys Woodmansee, Hypatia, in Roman costume. Mrs. Ella W. Hyde adorned with fern leaves and a fern covered fan, represented Fanny Fern. Dr. R. B. Pratt, dressed as a nun, read from Longfellow's magazine; and by coincidence Mrs. Pheobe C. Young and Lizzie S. Wilcox chose to represent Lucile as a nun, even hitting upon the same selection for reading. But the matter was remedied by one of the ladies choosing another selection. . . . Mrs. Lucy A. Clark, with powdered hair, lace cap, and imitation snowflakes represented Mrs. Eliza R. Snow, with appropriate selections. . . . Mrs. E. J. Stevenson, with full blown roses, represented "Rose in Bloom" . . . Miss Ellis Shipp looked picturesque in her creamcolored gown bedecked with birds and feathers of brilliant hue, as she recited Longfellow's "Birds of Ellingsworth." Miss Pearl Russell was very sweet as Little Red Riding Hood and she gave a charming little solo from that opera.

In addition to these activities the club often entertained famous guests traveling through the area. One of these was a Countess Wachmeister who visited in 1894 and discussed theosophy. The countess's lecture may have been a factor leading one club member, Dr. Ellen Brooke Ferguson, eventually to renounce Mormonism and become associated with theosophy. Another visitor, Phoebe Couzins, the first woman law graduate from Washington University in St. Louis, lectured on women's rights and the "late silver trouble in Colorado." Other prominent people of the time entertained by the club included the Countess of Aberdeen and Elizabeth Upton Yates, both active in the suffrage movement.

Indeed, the issue of suffrage and the role of women in politics was clearly of great significance to the members of the UWPC. At the meeting of July 30, 1900, for example, Emmeline B. Wells "by permission made a few remarks regarding women having suitable representation in political matters" and on state political tickets, especially as candidates for offices dealing with education. At an earlier meeting in 1895, Wells had "made a motion that the meeting be resolved into a meeting for the consideration of woman's suffrage" which was seconded and accepted unanimously. At this meeting, which several men attended, the subject of the article then before the state constitutional convention to give women equal civil and political rights was discussed. Those present, including the men, accepted the suggestion of Wells that "we should do all we can individually by writing articles on the subject to the newspaper, signed by full name," and by circulating petitions.

As these and other examples demonstrate, Emmeline B. Wells was the dominant influence in the growth of the Utah Women's Press Club. As she began to age and was less able to involve herself actively in the organization, the club began to decline. After a spurt of activity during World War I, when club members became involved with a number of patriotic projects, the club lapsed into dormancy. Wells's death in 1921 was an important factor contributing to this situation. The last regular meeting of the club was held that year, and Amanda Done was chosen as president. When Done was unable to fulfill her commitment because of ill health, Lucy A. Clark, another long-time club stalwart, was asked to visit her to see what might be arranged. Clark failed to do so and the club remained inactive for several years.

In October 1928 Lily T. Freese, one of the charter members of the club, suggested that it was not in keeping with the spirit of the club or its founders that the organization simply wither away and recommended that a formal meeting should be held to dissolve the club. Susa Young Gates, the first woman to serve as vice-president of the club, was asked to officiate and act as hostess at a meeting in the Lion House on December 6, 1928. That meeting, labeled in the press as an "abandonment party," ended the club's thirty-seven-year involvement in literary, civic, and community affairs.

In retrospect, the organization of the club came at a time when large numbers of literary clubs were being organized by women throughout America. While the UWPC was initially organized for women engaged in writing for "creditable" journals, newspapers, or other publications, it quickly became, in reality, a literary club as opposed to a professional organization. Indeed, in terms of general format, program, composition of membership, and goals, the Utah Women's Press Club closely resembles the women's literary clubs examined by Karen Blair in The Clubwoman as Feminist. As Blair notes, although these literary clubs "did not often produce scholars, career women, social critics or avant-garde aesthetes," they often served as a "first step" for women "determined to improve their status." Moreover, these literary clubs, Blair asserts, gave their members "confidence, and skills in speaking, researching and writing, which gave all a new sense of worth. . . "

The Utah Women's Press Club provided members with additional tangible benefits. It served as a forum for the study of both literature and current events and gave many aspiring writers an opportunity to have their works read and critiqued. In addition, because of Emmeline B. Wells's close association with the Woman's Exponent, club members not only had a friendly editor but an accessible vehicle for the publication of their works. Indeed, many of the writings of club members found their way into print in the columns of the Woman's Exponent. At the same time, the club helped members identify other markets for their works and, as in the case of Wells's Musings and Memories, provided funding for publication.

In her introduction to The Clubwoman as Feminist, Annette Baxter offers an observation about the importance of nineteenthcentury American women's clubs:

If the club served the cause of cultural enlightenment for masses of women, it clearly served another purpose as well; it taught women the value of their own autonomy. Like today's women's clubs, whether as diffuse in character as the National Council of Women, or as concentrated as the women's caucuses of professional societies, clubs strengthened collective confidence and afforded their members a more complete sense of individual identity. And they inevitably had the effect of cultivating in women an appreciation of each other. Sisterhood was the predictable outgrowth of such regular collaboration in sociability.

Baxter's observation about American women's clubs generally seems equally pertinent to the Utah Women's Press Club. For more than thirty years, the women of the Press Club met not only to promote their literary efforts and discuss the important issues of the day but also to promote sisterhood in an atmosphere of sociability.

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