A group of Houston women residing in the Woodland Heights neighborhood founded a club in 1909, initially calling it “The 26 Club,” so named (according to tradition) because their modest homes could accommodate up to 26 guests. To their chagrin, they later discovered that this was also the name of a saloon on Houston Avenue, and promptly changed their name to “The 26 Literary Club” (which for archival purposes has been re-phrased as “The Twenty-Six Literary Club”). The daughters of a number of the original members became students at Rice Institute (later University) after it opened in 1912 and continued the Club, which over time was expanded and, along with its social activities, assumed various philanthropic projects, including providing scholarships for young women entering Rice.
From the guide to the Twenty-Six Literary Club records MS 66., c. 1910-1994, (Woodson Research Center, Fondren Library, Rice University, Houston, TX)
