Last updated: December 3, 2019
Place
Ladies Literary Club Clubhouse, Salt Lake City, Utah
The Ladies Literary Club Clubhouse, by Tricia Simpson. CC BY SA 3.0
Quick Facts
Location:
850 E. South Temple St., Salt Lake City, Utah
Significance:
Home of the oldest women's club west of the Mississippi
Designation:
National Register of Historic Places
OPEN TO PUBLIC:
No
MANAGED BY:
The importance of the Ladies Literary Club lies in its history, as well as its architecture. Architecturally, the building is significant because it is a good example of the Prairie School influence in Utah. Its architects, Albert O. Treganza, and Walter E. Ware formed a well-known architectural firm in Salt Lake City in 1901, which lasted a quarter of a century. Historically, it is important because it is the home of the oldest women's club west of the Mississippi. The Ladies Literary Club had its beginnings in 1877 and was incorporated in 1882.
A small strictly cultural club called "The Blue Tea" was organized in 1875 at the home of its founder, Mrs. B. A. M. Froiseth. This little club did not develop into the Ladies Literary Club, but the Ladies Literary Club was an outgrowth of "The Blue Tea." The "Blue Tea" had a limited membership and was quite exclusive in character. Among its membership was a small group of women who felt there was a need for an unlimited club - a club for the literary elite and also for women who were learners.
In February, 1877, this small group of broad-minded, forward-looking women met and laid the foundations of the Ladies Literary Club. The club was incorporated in 1882, and meetings at first were held in homes of the members. Then rooms and space was rented in various places for meetings, including the Barratt Furniture Store on Main Street, Odd Fellows Hall, Continental Hotel on West Temple Street, Deseret Bank Building, rooms over a store on First South Street, a government building which became known as the Fifth East Hotel, the Knights of Pythias Hall on Main Street, and the First Congregational Church on East First South Street.
On January 7, 1898, the formal opening of their first clubhouse, situated on Third East between South Temple and First South took place. In this building the Club conducted its activities for the next 15 years until it outgrew the building, and moved into this building at 850 East South Temple Street in 1913.
The Ladies Literary Club has always been an important factor in the literary and civic life of the community. It has recognized and fostered creative talent, held art exhibits, placed pictures in schools, collected books for the use of others, helped to promote a clean city, and the planting of gardens, etc., for the beautification of the city. The members of the Ladies Literary Club have participated very actively in many civic, charitable, and service organizations through the years.
In 2016, the property was sold to Photo Collective Studios, an arts collective, as their headquarters. They continue the use of the building as a place of vision and artistic expression for the Salt Lake City community.
The Ladies Literary Club Clubhouse was added to the National Register of Historic Places on October 11, 1978. The full nomination is available online.
References:
Harris, Lois. National Register of Historic Places Nomination: Ladies Literary Club Clubhouse
Photo Collective Studios. History. https://www.photocollectivestudios.com/history-1