THE DAWSON STUDY CLUB

Organized 1924

Historical reflections by

Mrs. John Lee McCulloch

1947

It was in the year of 1924 that a group of ladies of the Town of Dawson, Texas felt that the time had come for them to pull away from the drudgery of house work and do a bit of intensive study if they were to keep abreast of the times. Each one could read and improve her mind at home, she knew, but collective study could be fun as well as work and the blending and exchanging of ideas could truly be beneficial.

Thus, following the above thoughts into action, fifteen ladies met as what is now Grahams Park and organized the 1924 Study Club.

Miss Freddie Sims was Speaker of the House that afternoon and, under her guidance, plans were made for the club.

By-laws: Drawn from Roberts Rules of Order

Colors: Pink and Green

Motto: “Not for self, but for All”

Song: America, the Beautiful

Officers for the year were elected:

President Mrs. W W Wolfe was unanimously elected

Vice President Mrs. J R Dickson

Recording Secty Mrs. J F Smith

Corresponding Secty Mrs. W E Anderson ??

Treasurer Mrs. C J Loveless

Parlimentarian Miss Freddie Sims

Reporter Mrs. F H Butler

Twenty members were to compose the club and the following ladies went down in history as….Charter Members of The 1924 Study Club…….Mesdames:

1 W E Anderson

2 Winfred Berry

3 F H Butler

4 Edd Bounds

5 Oliver Bounds

6 E B Dawson

7 J R Dickson

8 G G Herrin

9 C J Loveless

10 B F\ Matthews

11 J L McCulloch

12 D E McKinney

13 W C Roberts

14 J F Smith

15 C C Turner

16 W W Wolfe

17 A B Worsham

18 Miss Freddie Sims

Mesdames Anderson, Dawson, Smith, Wolfe, and Miss Freddie Sims composed the first Program Committee and a miscellaneous program was chosen for study….subjects as politics in Texas, home, hygiene, table service, patriotism, music, child welfare, science….were included into that first year.

A wonderful party was held on the evening of June 1^st in the home of Mr & Mrs D E McKinney, husbands were guests and the game of “42” was the chief source of entertainment, each person donned her best bib and tucker for this occasion, and the McKinney home was gay with cut flowers and festive decorations.

The year of study, work, and play was considered a profitable one and closed on May 21, 1925 with a picnic which was a most enjoyable affair with lots of fried chicken and the children of club members as guests.

October 28, 1925 the Club again assembled for work in the home of Mrs. J R Dickson with Mrs. J L McCulloch , Acting President. Mesdames

S H Akers

J M Beasley

W T Boulware

N G Clark

Miss Winnie Matthews

joined our forces, and a few resignations were accepted due to illness, mourning, etc.

Painters, sculptors, poetry, forestry, immigration were a few subjects listed for study. At the close of the year we began to feel like an institution….. we were two years old and had come from babyhood into childhood. Mrs G G Herrin, President, and our membership consisted of nineteen members…New members for the year 1926-1927 were….Mesdames:

E L Connor

J E Evans

M D Hatley

Carl Matthews

W M Nelson

Wilson Pullin

Jim Berry

We, evidently, sensed the coming of The Depression that year for the opening program was on “The Tragedy of Waste.” It might be well to repeat that study in this advanced age of 1947 for in spite of the ravages of two wars, American people are still wasteful.

Very ably and seriously Mesdames Boulware, Smith, Pullins, Nelson discussed such subjects as:

Waste of production

Waste of consumption

Waster of advertising

Waste of natural resources

We, also, had a program on “”Modernism.” Quite a treatise was given on the Modern Woman. One could, perhaps, do a bit of expanding in this year of 1947.

The Christmas Party was held in the home of Mr. & Mrs. W W Wolfe with Mrs Herrin assisting.

The year 1927-1928 Mrs. E B Dawson served as President with such capable help as, Mesdames:

C W Matthews

W W Wolfe

S H Akers

J G Garner Miss Winnie Matthews has married J G Jim Garner

E L Connor

C J Loveless

There was no change in membership that year. However, Mesdames J F Smith, W M Nelson, and J R Dickson were absent for many meetings due to the tact that Betty Ruth Smith, Margerey Ann Nelson, and Betty Jane Dickson came to join their respective families and thereby increase the population of Dawson.

Mrs. J F Smith was President for the year 1928-1929. Mrs. F H Simpson, who had recently moved to Dawson from Blooming Grove, accepted membership in our club, as was Mrs. Clyde Sims and Mrs. Onle Griffin.

Mesdames W C Roberts and F H Simpson were hostesses to the Xmas Party which was held January 1^st 1929.

The club disbanded for one year. It was reorganized in 1931 and at that time the name was changed from…The 1924 Study Club….to……The Womans Study Club.

Mrs. J E Davis was Presiding officer.

Mrs. G L Turner

Mrs. Roy Ponder

Mrs. Aura Garner

Mrs. Robert Hill

were added to the Club Membership.

Later, came

Mrs. H C Filgo

Mrs. W E Walkup

Mrs. A W Hearne

Mrs A W Farmer ??????

Mrs G T Gooch.

The years passed, our club grew and prospered, became more interesting. Looking over the rolls of 36-37 years we find Mesdames

M E Allen

Douglas Dickson

Oliver Harrison

Paul Potts

Glen Commander

Miss Stella Berry

were capable members of The Study Club.

More lives were being touched, a greater feeling of oneness, and brotherhood…or should I say “Sisterhood” was being established in Dawson.

The year 1937-1938 brought us

Mrs. Velma Champion,

Mrs M A Royal.

Later came

Mrs. Carlos Berry

Mrs. Wayne Davis

Mrs R L Waller

Mrs. L J Grimell

Mrs. Woychuck

Mrs. Virgil Davis

Mrs J P Magee

Miss Mildred Davis.l

September 8, 1941, a called meeting was held in the home of the President, Mrs. W M Nelson to fill two vacancies.

Mrs. Henry Price

Miss Valley Roberts

were elected at that time.

Then we find appearing on our roll

Mrs. Ross Smith

Mrs C A Willis

Mrs Clarence Holt

Mrs. C M Newton Jr

Mrs Edwin Davis

Mrs L A Hamilton

Mrs. G A Burnam

Mrs. Frank Comer,

Mrs. Joe Pitts,

and our newest member

Mrs. (Bryant) Merrill.

A check of our membership from year to year shows there have been seventy-four (74) different ladies in our club.

We can say with gratefulness and thankfulness that each one is still living. Some have withdrawn from the club and are still living in Dawson.

Many other have moved away. We can find old members in almost every section of the state, only one charter member remains with the club.,

Almost the period of time that is called a generation has passed since the club was organized, naturally many changes have come about, there has been sadness and disappointment of course, but as a whole the work has been pleasant and useful, butThe Womens Study Club has had throughout the years a lofty ambition and has worked unselfishly for the betterment of Dawson.

Our Club has been a chain that has drawn us very close together, each Club Member being a link and each link a means of love, loyalty, and fellowship. The object of our Club has been to stimulate intellectual growth and strength by individual effort by organization.

I want to close by giving the beautiful collect that we have read so many times…

Keep us O God, from pettiness

Let us be large in Thought, in Word, in Deed

Let us be done with Fault Finding and leave off Self Seeking

May we put away all Pretense

And meet each other Face to Face

Without Self Pity and without Prejudice

May we never be Hasty in Judgment

And…always generous.

Teach us to put into action our better impulses.

Straight forward and unafraid

Let us take time for all things.

Make us grow calm, serene, and gentle.

Grant that we may realize that it is the little things

That create differences

That in the big things of life we are as one.

And…may we strive to touch and to know

The great woman heart of us all, and…

Oh Lord, Let us not forget to be kind.

The above was written in 1947 by Mrs. John Lee McCulloch Sr., nee Letha Sims. Letha Sims was born in Dawson in 1891 to Frank Thad and Belle Sims. Her brothers were William Gray Sims and Frank Thad Sims Jr. Her paternal Grandfather was William Franklin Sims, born 1831, a half brother of Margaret Adney Sims Matthews, Lucy Lou Sims, Gant Rufus Sims, Thomas J Sims, A H Dugan Sims, and James Frederick Sims.

The handwritten history was recently discovered in old family papers by Becky Davis, Grand daughter of Letha Sims McCulloch, and daughter of John L McCulloch Jr. Becky Davis resides in Houston, Texas.

IDENTIFICATION OF MEMBERS….Mesdames

Akers, S H Taught Mary Hardin Baylor, husband farmer

Allen, M E Husband managed Dawson Oil Mill late 1930s

Anderson, W E

Beasley, J M Beasley’s Dry Goods, sister of ????

Berry, Carlos Husband was Post Master, Old Dawson family

Berry, Jim She taught at Spring Hill, moved to Corsicana

Berry, Miss Stella Sister of Winfred Berry, teacher, moved to Denton

Berry, Winfred Husband was farmer and rural mail carrier

Boulware, W T Husband was Methodist minister

Bounds, Edd Family may have owned Bounds Chevrolet

Bounds, Oliver Same

Burnam, G A

Butler, F H Husband was Editor of Dawson Herald, son Glenn

Champion, Velma nee Marguerite Allard, daughter of C D Allard

Clark, N G Husband managed Spencer Lumber Co

Comer, Frank Husband was farmer

Commander, Glen Husband was Pastor, Baptist Curch

Connor, E L Store in Dawson…moved to Waco, had shoe store

Davis, Edwin Nee Mary Nell Sanders

J E Davis Early Dawson teacher, husband worked at bank

Davis, Virgil ????

Davis, Wayne Daughter-in-law of Major Davis

Dawson, E B Early school teacher, husband worked at bank, son E B Jr

Dickson, Douglas ???

Dickson, J R ???

Evans, J E ????

Farmer, A W ????

Filgo, H C Husband School Superintendent

Garner, Aura nee McCulloch, dau. Jane, son James Henry

Gooch, G T wife of Gaston T Gooch, both school teachers

Griffin, Onie ????

Grinnel, L J School teacher

Hamilton, L A Physician????

Harrison, Oliver Husband was a farmer

Hatley, M D Husband owned “Tailor Shop” next to Sig Powell Barber Shop

Hearne, A W ???? Owned Tailor shop???

Herrin, G H Husband was School Supt., son

Hill, Robert Daughter-in-Law of Dr. B W D Hill

Holt, Clarence Husband was farmer

Loveless, C J Husband owned Loveless Drug, died late 1920s

Magee, J P School teacher

Matthews, B F Husband owned Matthews Drug

Matthews, Carl Husband owned Matthews Market

Matthews, Winnie later shown as Mrs. J G Garner, Husband was grocer

McKinney, D E Husband owned automobile dealership…Edroy & Frances

McCulloch, J L Husband had interest in McCulloch Gin

Merrill, Bryant Husband was School Superintendent

Nelson, W M Daughter of W P Johnson, husband owned garage

Newton, C M Jr. Husband was 2^nd Generation Dawson banker

Pitts, Joe

Ponder, Roy With husband, owned The Green Hut

Potts, Paul Husband owned grocery store

Price, Henry Husband was Methodist minister

Pullin, Wilson

Roberts, W C nee Avis Wright, husband worked for W W Wolfe

Royal, M A Mother of Mrs. Paul Potts

Sims, Clyde Husband was grocer, partnership with Jim Garner

Simpson, F H Husband was a banker from Blooming Grove

Smith, J F Husband worked at Bank, old Dawson family

Smith, Ross Husband was Methodist minister

Turner, C C Husband was cotton buyer, real estate investor

Turner, G L Husband was farmer

Walkup, W E Husband died in 1920s, owned “Tin Shop”

Waller, R L Miss Noble who married Ray Waller, both teachers

Willis, C A Husband was farmer

Wolfe, WW Husband was owner Wolfe Hdwe & Funeral Home

Woychuck, N A Teacher,…Husband was Presbyterian minister, Bible scholar

Worsham, A B Husband was Dawson physician for many years

……and….

Davis, Miss Mildred Daughter of Guy Davis, sister of Edwin Davis

Roberts, Miss Valley Lived with her Father. Mose Roberts

Sims, Miss Freddie Teacher, Married Robert E Robinson 1954

Notes:

Submitted by Carl W. Matthews