Mind Rules All*

The Woman’s Club of DeValls Bluff, Arkansas was organized in June of 1907. According to the organization’s constitution, “the object of this organization shall be the mutual improvement of its members, to encourage the habit of reading and study to promote social intercourse.”


Membership was limited to twenty-five women with annual dues of fifty cents each. At each meeting of the Women’s Club—every other Saturday at 3:00 with simple and light refreshments only--each member was required to respond during roll call with a quotation/current event or face a hefty ten cent fine. Missing a meeting would cost you another twenty-five cents, unless you had the excuse of an illness or vacation lasting at least two weeks.

Below are some examples of the types of papers presented at club meetings taken from the 1907-1908 program dealing with American literature.



*Note: “Mind Rules All” is listed as the motto of the Woman’s Club.

This item can be found in the Arkansas Small Manuscript Collection. Box 11, Item 106.
Contributed by Stephanie Bayless, Manuscripts Department