On a hot humid evening in August 1904, in the humble hamlet of Farmville, Mrs. John Stanley Smith sat at her kitchen table reading her latest copy of Ladies Home Journal. She had read it so many times that she practically had it memorized since she could only afford one magazine subscription. As she sat rereading the well-worn words of wisdom, she wondered what her friends might be perusing. Then, her boredom led to the birth of an idea, and she knew what she had to do. And so began a plan of action that continues today, 121 years later.
In her book Big Magic, Writer Elizabeth Gilbert asks the question, “What is creativity?” and answers it with “The relationship between a human being and the mysteries of inspiration.” On that long ago night, an idea met with inspiration, when Mrs. John Stanley Smith, came up with the novel notion of forming a group of women who could share their magazines. She could not have imagined that her inspiration, born out of boredom due to a lack of reading material, would lead to the formation of the longest continually running club in Farmville.
As she closed the well-read Ladies Home Journal, she decided that she would run her idea by her good friend Mrs. W. C. Askew the next time she saw her. In the early 1900’s, many small towns still did not have telephone service. The old-fashioned method of communication known as “word of mouth” would be Mrs. Smith’s way of sharing her idea. So when she saw Mrs. W. C. Askew she shared her inspiring notion and the two of them immediately decided to form a group of women who could exchange magazines on a regular basis.
Both of them felt the need for self-improvement and continued learning. These were lofty goals but challenging to pursue in a time when electricity, radio and television did not exist nor did Farmville have a library. Outside of church activities, the club would provide the only chance for women to be involved in the community. Both Mrs. Askew and Mrs. Smith thought being in closer contact with the women in town would be good for everyone. They worked together to spread the word about the new club. They knocked on doors, which led to the opening of opportunity.
W.C. Askew House
On Friday afternoon August 12, 1904 a group of twelve Farmville ladies gathered at the home of Mrs. W.C. Askew for their first meeting. Their purpose was to organize a club that would promote literary endeavors and they would meet on a regular basis in the homes of the women. Mrs. Smith’s interesting idea had come to life. Looking around the room, Mrs. Smith observed that the parlor where they were meeting was almost full. Most homes of that era had a nice parlor but she knew that putting that many women in a room and serving a refreshment would be challenging. She made the decision at that time to limit the membership to 15, which explains the mystique of the closed membership then and in the future. The magic number now is twenty.
At that first meeting, the women discussed their expectations and the goals they had for themselves and the club. Their focus would be magazine reading and study and because of that,
they named their new club the Magazine Club, a moniker that remained until 1925, when it was
changed to the Literary Club. They also would offer a program and serve refreshments. The women elected Mrs. John Stanley Smith as President and Mrs. Agnes Moore secretary/treasurer. The need for someone to take care of financial matters became apparent when they decided upon yearly dues of $1.00. The proceeds would allow them to purchase more magazine subscriptions that could be distributed and exchanged at their meetings, which would take place on the first and third Wednesday afternoons of the month. Today, the group meets on the first Wednesday of the month only.
Miss Agnes Moore
The second meeting took place on September 2, 1904 in the home of Mrs. John Stanley
Smith. A violent storm blew through Farmville that day and only half of the members showed up for the meeting. As the winds of time swirl down through the years, history often repeats itself and the past becomes prologue. In 2024 another sudden storm struck Farmville and prevented many modern-day women from making it to the monthly Literary Club meeting. Again, only about half the members were in attendance that day.
But the greater similarity between the past and the present is the Club’s commitment to the original mission statement written in 1904: 1) a broader outlook along literary lines; 2) a deeper interest in educational advantages for the youth of Farmville; and 3) the cultural development in all aspects of the community at large. While the mission has remained the same, the way in which the three goals are pursued has been different over the years.
In the early 1900’s, lack of reading material for the women in town led to the beginning
of the Magazine Club through the energetic efforts of Mrs. Smith. In 1930, members of the club started collecting books in their homes for a future library dreaming of a repository of books,
magazines and journals that would be easily attainable to them. That dream became a reality 24 years later when Farmville dedicated its library on Church Street. Today, a new facility – a state-
of-the-art library – stands in its place and on many of its shelves are books donated by the Literary Club in memory of beloved members who have passed away. Also in this modern age, several members of the Club are authors themselves – an interesting subject to be covered in a future blog.
Just like the old days, programs of interest were presented at the Magazine Club and in the early days of the Literary Club as authors, historians, scholars and hobbyists often spoke at the meetings. Modern day programs have included interactive presentations where the members join the speaker in doing yoga or creating crafts. In addition, short book reports are presented by various members throughout the year. As members line up to present programs or recruit speakers it is obvious that a broader outlook along literary lines continues today.
During the twenty-four years that members of the Literary Club collected books for their long dreamed of library, their focus was not only on books for adults but reading material for the
children and youth of Farmville too. Today that emphasis on children continues as members of
the Club volunteer in H. B. Sugg’s kindergarten classes and read books to the beginning readers.
The group also donates books at Christmas time each year to youth who otherwise might not
receive them and who often live in homes with little reading material.
Finally, the last goal of cultural development within the community takes place naturally as some members of the Literary Club serve on the boards of the Friends of the Library, Friends of the May Museum and the Farmville Community Arts Council. At each monthly meeting, a list of upcoming cultural events is presented so that members can make plans to attend and share the information with others.
Perhaps one of the biggest projects the Literary Club participated in recently could not have been even remotely imagined by Mrs. Smith or Mrs. Askew, especially since it involved a golf cart. At Farmville’s Sesquicentennial (150 th ) Anniversary Parade the members promoted books and the art of reading in a most interesting way. At a Literary Club meeting, the members designed and created “sandwich boards” depicting a favorite book and then wore them as they marched in the parade. Those who could not walk, rode in a decorated golf club.
The Literary Club members won second place in the parade competition and they represented the oldest continuously running club in Farmville. Talk about Big Magic! Kids and adults alike were entertained and inspired to read by the Club’s active participation in the Sesquicentennial Parade and their energetic promotion of reading. “Creativity is the relationship between a human being and the mysteries of inspiration,” says writer Elizabeth Gilbert. In that parade and in their work today, the Literary Club carries on the purpose and mission of the original Magazine Club turned Literary Club. Mrs. John Stanley Smith and Mrs. W. C. Askew would be proud and Mrs. Smith would have plenty of reading material!
