The 1881 Club was organized in Jefferson, Texas in October 1881 at the
home of Mrs. W. B. Ward, where a room full of enthusiastic members
organized a chautauqua circle. Among the charter members were: Mrs. J.
H. Bemis, Mrs. J. P. Russell, Mrs. Sallie Dickson and Miss Sarah
Terhune. The circle was composed of both men and women and met at night.
Captain J. P. Russell was the first president with Ben Epperson as
Secretary. At the end of four years diplomas and credits were given.
Without a break in the meetings the chautauqua circle was merged into a
woman’s club, called the Review Club lessons being taken from current
magazines, then known as the Shakespearean Club for several years.
Finally in 1882 when it became a member of the State and Third District
Federation the name was changed to “The 1881 Club” in honor of the year
of its organization. Many have been the courses of study by the
enthusiastic members. In fifty-five years of its existence the club
meetings have continued each week, only disbanding from second Saturday
in May to the first Saturday in October. One of the charter members,
Mrs. Sarah Terhune Taylor, is now an honorary member. One of the active
members, Mrs. D. C. Wise dates her membership to 1896. This club has the
distinction of being the oldest club in the State of Texas.