information@fentonhistorycenter.org--------- (716) 664-6256

Fenton History Center
Where Chautauqua History Comes Alive
  • About
    • General Information
    • About Governor Reuben Fenton
    • Contact Us
  • Visit
    • Visitor Info
    • Tour the Museum
    • Group Tours
    • Museum From Home
  • Education
    • What We Do
    • Kid’s Corner
    • Museum From Home
    • Programs
    • Support Children’s Programming
  • Exhibits
    • Made in Jamestown: How Furniture Built a City
    • Civil War Museum
    • Lucille Ball: Not the Girl Next Door
    • Intersections: The Underground Railroad in Chautauqua County Exhibit
    • Of Special Interest
      • Grace Galloway
        • The Sweet Sound of Music: Grace Galloway
      • Manufacturers List
      • Free Images
    • Museum From Home
  • Events
    • Upcoming Events
    • Past Events
    • Event Calender
  • Research
    • Research Center
    • Research Request
    • Genealogy Request
    • Genealogy Support Group
    • Fenton Travelers
    • Hometown History Articles
    • Online Catalog
    • Resources
    • Articles
    • Links to Other Regional Resources
    • Collections Policy
  • Veterans
    • Vets Finding Vets
      • From Fenton Legacy to Vets Finding Vets
      • Fenton Canteen
      • Vets Finding Vets
      • Honor Flight
      • Trips and Outings
      • Past Guest Speakers and Events
      • Project 22
      • Veterans in the News
  • Support
    • Membership
    • Business Membership
    • Education/Exhibit Fund
    • Planned Giving
    • 2019 Holiday Letter
    • Annual Reports
    • Newsletter
  • Shop
    • Shop
    • Cart
    • Checkout
    • My account
0
Your cart is empty. Go to Shop.

October 29 2016

Jamestown’s Music Study Club Anniversary By Victoria Parker, Fenton History Center Collections Assistant

Honoring Our Local History

.
.

October 30th marks the anniversary of the creation of the Music Study Club here in Jamestown. Founded in 1908, this club was created for, according to their bylaws, “the study of music in all it’s branches and for the mutual improvement of its members.”

Pictured is an assortment of Annual Booklets from the Music Study Club of Jamestown. These booklets hold the meeting schedule for the year, annual membership list for the organization, and the bylaws of the club. At the time of their dissolution at the end of their 97th season in 2005, records were brought here to the Fenton History Center. Along with the yearly booklets we also received a wooden gavel, used at meetings, a ballot box and white and black voting balls used in the selection of new members, and an audio recording of a performance done for the Music Study Club.

Founders Mrs. John M. Cushman and Miss Adelia G. Underwood created this all female group. Meetings were held monthly at various locations. In the mid 1950’s meetings were held at either in homes of members, or in the YWCA auditorium. By 2005, when the group disbanded, meetings were being held at the Marvin Community House. The Music Study Club took membership very seriously. According to the bylaws existing members could nominate new members for consideration. Voting was then held to select the new members. No one was invited to join until all members of the club approved. The earlier version of the bylaws also limited membership to 200 total members.

The second Wednesday, and later the second Tuesday, of each month members of the Music Study Club came together to learn about a different composer or musical style. A paper was written on each topic and presented at the meeting, followed by a discussion. Records indicate concerts were held frequently to experience more types of music.

The Music Study Club was also active in the community. Each year they awarded scholarships to students who were planning to study music from any south or central county school. Students were nominated for consideration for these funds by their music teachers. A committee formed by members of the club awarded scholarships, including the funds for the Mollie McKee Scholarship, named for a former club member. This scholarship lives on past the life of the Music Study Club and is now awarded yearly to a Jamestown High School graduate by the Chautauqua Region Community Foundation.

JHS History By Karen E. Livsey, Fenton History Center Archivist When Smokers Ruled By Norman P. Carlson, Fenton History Center Collections Manager

Related Posts

Women's Suffrage

Women’s History Tour of the Fenton Mansion

BH826-445Fenton_large-senator-brady-cropped

Honoring Our Local History, Honoring Our Servicemen

A Soldier’s Friend

fb169026ccc07869bff395bd3c9c8e89

Honoring Our Local History

The Golden Age of Space: Sputnik to Apollo 11 By Melissa Kay Mee, Fenton History Center Marketing Assistant Volunteer

Search

Article Categories

  • Ancestry (8)
  • Brown Bag Lunchtime Talks (8)
  • Cemetery Tours (14)
  • Events (19)
  • Exhibit (2)
  • Fenton Genealogy Support Group (7)
  • Fund Raising (7)
  • Halloween (5)
  • Honoring Our Local History (67)
  • Honoring Our Servicemen (7)
  • Local News (5)
  • Past Event Highlights (4)
  • Research (3)
  • Uncategorized (3)
  • Veterans (1)
  • Walking Tours (1)
  • Walking Tours of Jamestown (2)
  • Winter Events (7)

Archives

Share to Social Media on Right

Or:

Like Us on Facebook

Fenton History Center
  • Privacy Notice
  • Shipping & Returns
  • Contact Us
© Fenton History Center 2021

Website Hosted & Designed by: ... MCA Graphic Solutions, Inc.