The Monday Afternoon Club
Description
The Monday Afternoon Club was founded in 1890 by Miss Caroline Hills and Miss Augusta Childs, two Binghamton teachers who sought to create a literary club for women. Early meetings were small—just eight members gathered in Miss Hills’ home—and focused on reading and discussing magazine articles. Each member was assigned an article to summarize and present at the next meeting.
In 1892, the club hosted its first guest speaker, author Kate Douglas Wiggin. Proceeds from the event covered Wiggin’s $75 speaking fee, with the remaining funds donated to the Y.W.C.A., the City Employment Society, and the Home for Aged Women—marking the start of the club’s long tradition of philanthropy. By 1896, the club joined the New York State Federation of Women’s Clubs, a membership that lasted more than 66 years.
As membership grew, it became impractical to meet in private homes. Members began renting meeting rooms and funded these expenses by selling Kalendars—annual booklets featuring literary quotes and artwork. The Kalendars were a great success and were published until 1921. The club met in various locations, including the Y.W.C.A. and Johnson Block, and organized departments of study in Literature, History, Economics, Philosophy, and Education. Over time, formal paper presentations gave way to lectures by invited speakers. The club also introduced refreshments, concerts, teas, and dances.
By 1905, membership had grown to 327, and members began discussing the idea of owning a permanent clubhouse. That year, Mrs. Robert Rose proposed purchasing the Phelps Mansion on Court Street. Despite initial hesitation, members voted to proceed. With a $10,000 gift from then-owner J.S. Wells, the club purchased the mansion for $15,000 and incorporated on April 15, 1905. They quickly added an auditorium to host large gatherings, including the 1905 New York State Federation of Women’s Clubs convention.
The Monday Afternoon Club went on to host an impressive roster of speakers, including Jane Addams, Ida Tarbell, Jacob Riis, Grant Wood, Jack London, and pianist Ignacy Jan Paderewski. As costs rose in later decades, the club focused more on local speakers, continuing its commitment to education and culture well into the 1970s.
Philanthropy remained central to the club’s mission. Members raised funds for the Susquehanna Valley Orphanage, the Boys and Girls Club, and the Red Cross; sold war bonds; and advocated for women property owners’ voting rights on taxation matters.
During the women’s suffrage movement, the club hosted both pro- and anti-suffrage speakers—including Carrie Chapman Catt, the Reverend Anna Howard Shaw, and Alva Belmont—to maintain balance among its members. Between 1910 and 1916, many suffrage meetings took place in the club’s own auditorium.
Beyond its social and civic work, the club played a vital role in preserving the historic Sherman D. Phelps Mansion, built in 1870. Thanks to their stewardship, it remains one of the last great mansions on Court Street. When the Monday Afternoon Club disbanded in 2005, members voted to transform the home into a museum, ensuring it would remain a part of Binghamton’s history.
Founded with a vision of intellectual and social growth for women, the Monday Afternoon Club left a lasting legacy of education, philanthropy, and preservation in the Binghamton community.
Type of Resource
ShortStory
Personal story shared by Joe Schuerch
Date Created
2025-10-23
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Submitted By
Joe Schuerch
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