The Write Stuff
As enduring as the classic works of literature it studies, the Butler Literary Club recently celebrated its 100-year anniversary.
The group marked the occasion by meeting May 13 in the home of retired President Judge Martin O'Brien at 505 N. McKean St., a site chosen because the judge's mother, Pauline Larkin O'Brien, was a charter member of the group and served as its president in 1916-1917.
“It is very nice for him to let us have the meeting here,” said Jean Purvis, 91, of Butler, a club member since 1958. “She was one of the original members.”
“This is the first time the literary club asked me because it is the 100th anniversary” said Judge O'Brien. “At first I thought they were inviting me because I was close to 100.”
Peggy Hutchinson of Butler, a club member since 1982, said the group meets monthly October through December and again February through May.
Purvis said the meetings rotate to a different member's home each month. The club picks one member to host the meeting and provide tea, two more members to prepare the tea sandwiches and another to read a book and prepare a program — or report — to share with the others.
“The program committee picks out the theme of the year and the books follow the theme,” said Purvis.
The meetings last around two hours or so. The business period is usually brief, and it's followed by the book program and tea.
The work under discussion on this May day was “Pygmalion” by George Bernard Shaw.
Hutchinson said at present there are 24 active members and 10 associates.
“When they get older, some of the people that live in Florida, they're gone for six months, but they still want to belong,” Hutchinson said.
The chance to discuss great writers and their works leads some to join the club.
Pat Dombart of Butler has only been a member for a month.
“A friend of mine was in it,”said Dombart. “I'm a former English teacher and interested in literature, and she suggested that I might be interested in it.”
“People are asked to belong,” said Hutchinson. “Some of them show an interest, they're invited to come to a meeting or two to see what goes on and if they would like to be here.”
Others could be attracted by more tangible benefits.
“We used to meet once every two weeks, and they said you had to pass the sandwich test,” said Purvis, “It's more important than the book, maybe,” referring to the tea sandwiches that are served at the end of the program portion of each meeting.
There has never been a male member of the club, said Hutchinson, but nothing in the club rules prevent it.
Louise Tanner of Butler said she joined in 1998 and may not have read every book discussed, “but someone is responsible for putting together a program on the book of the meeting.”
When asked why she was such a longtime member, Purvis said, “I would say it is for the fellowship. I think that's most of it, really.”“It is interesting and fun to discuss books that you've read, not that they always read them,” she added.“Women started the Butler library and women started the hospital,” Purvis said. “Give a woman a little free time and she does something.”In addition, said Purvis, in keeping with the organization's literary theme, the club has an annual Christmas party where members bring donations that are turned over to the Butler Public Library.'One of our main purposes is to support the library,” said Hutchinson.“For the most part, it has been monetary donations during the Christmas season,” confirmed Lori Hinderliter, system administrator for the Butler County Federated Library System.“We've used it to buy children's books. The last few years we've been using it for material geared for adults, such as the book club kits.”Hinderliter said the kits contain 12 copies of a novel, some basic directions on forming a book club and a discussion guide.“I write a letter to them each month, giving them an update on library activities,” said Hinderliter. “They have a liaison with the library that they appoint every year.”That's in keeping with a long association between literary-minded women and the library.A group of about 12 women in Butler got together in 1893 and started the library, said Luanne Eisler, the Butler library genealogist.Eisler, quoting “A Brief History of the Butler Library,” published in 1966, said the women “met informally for afternoon readings, became interested in providing books for local residents under the conviction that Butler needed a public library. They determined wholesome, entertaining and profitable reading for such children and grown people as needed would be welcome.”Eisler said the library opened on Feb. 23, 1894, in a room at the Duffy Building on West Jefferson Street.That tradition of women and literature has continued through the Butler Literary Club.“I guess it's because of an interest in reading,” said Hutchinson when asked about the club's longevity.
