Hancock Home Study Club

The Hancock Home Study Club has the distinction of being the oldest organized women₂s club in Michigan₂s Upper Peninsula. An initial meeting was held May 16, 1883 for the formation of a club for the study of art in connection with the Society for the Encouragement of Study at Home, located in Boston. The first official meeting of the Hancock Home Study Club (HHSC) took place September 1883 with six members. The purpose of the Society for the Encouragement of Study at Home was to "induce ladies to form the habit of devoting some part of every day to study of a systematic and thorough kind." The work was carried on through a correspondent of the Society selected according to the topical area of study. There were no competitive examinations. Reading with the practice of making memory notes was the method followed, and the correspondent would send tests from time to time which members were expected to answer. They paid dues to the Society of three dollars a year. The Hancock Home Study Club federated with the State Federation in 1900, and the General Federation in 1915. When the Houghton County Federation of Women₂s Clubs was organized in 1919, the Home Study Club became a member. The club has studied the literature, art, economics, and history of many countries. The focus has changed from ancient and European to the New World, the United States, Michigan, and finally the Copper Country. Recently there has been more emphasis on people. Topics have usually been influenced by world events. Resources were scarce in the developing mining district, so members of the Club were forced to develop their own library. Photographs were purchased by the Club and an album to put them in. Art photographs were received from the Boston Loaning Library, and many books were procured from the Loaning Library in addition to others purchased from vendors in the U.S., Germany and Britain. After a few years a bookcase was purchased for the collection. Eventually the Club donated most of their titles to local public and school libraries.

Membership increased to fifteen in 1886 and was extended to thirty at a later date. Most early members lived in Hancock, though membership eventually opened to Ripley, Houghton and the surrounding area. In October 1886, Mrs. Patch was made the first honorary member of the Club. Dues changed from one to three dollars during the first year but were noted at five dollars in 1929 and remained under eight dollars during the 1980s. The Club met in homes until January 1898 when it rented a room in the Y.M.C.A. building for meetings. They moved their bookcase there and decorated the room. However, the room was poorly heated so they moved to City Hall. Here they found that meetings were often disturbed by the fire alarm and the movement of horse carts out of the building. In 1900 they rented a room from Mr. Wright in the Stockley Building and when the Elks offered a free room in 1911 they moved there. During the war a coal shortage obliged them to meet in various other places. The Club returned to the practice of meeting in members₂ homes in 1959. Meetings were held weekly until 1913 when the Club changed to a biweekly, two hour schedule. The club has been actively involved in many forms of social support. In December 1914, it was decided to take up work for Red Cross Relief and the response to the Home Study Club₂s appeal for cooperation was very generous. This was the beginning of Red Cross aid in Houghton County. The club has contributed to state scholarship funds, various wartime commissions, and local social agencies including the YMCA, Elks, Good Will, Salvation Army and the Houghton Club. Club members have held office in statewide federations; Estelle Seeber served as President of the Michigan State Federation of Womens₂ Clubs and Hallie F. Nichols was the first President to the Michigan State Federation of Music Clubs.

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