The Mesquite Club was established in 1911 by a group of women interested in educating themselves and in improving the community. This was just six years after the railroad auctioned off building lots to start the town of Las Vegas, and the same year that the town was officially incorporated. The club took its name from the mesquite tree, a type of local vegetation that provided nourishment and basic necessities to native peoples and early settlers. The club affiliated with the General Federation of Women's Clubs (GFWC) in 1912, and was incorporated as a non-profit organization under Nevada law in 1927, renewing this status in 1977. Two of the Mesquite Club's charter members were Las Vegas pioneers Helen J. Stewart and Delphine Squires (Mrs. C.P.), and through the years, many of the town's most prominent women have been members of the Mesquite Club. One of their first educational activities involved studying aspects of the state of Nevada -- its principal cities, native Indian populations, topography, and resources. The club also held many social events, but their primary activity was community service. Their first project was addressing the need for shade trees in the desert town. In addition to raising money for cottonwood trees, the members of the Mesquite Club saw that the trees were planted on every lot, and continued to watch over them until they were full-grown. Another community improvement project undertaken by the Mesquite Club in its early years was the establishment of a public library, and the club has continued to support public libraries as well as the University of Nevada, Las Vegas Libraries throughout the years.
From the description of Mesquite Club records. 1911-1999. (University of Nevada, Las Vegas Libraries). WorldCat record id: 300496443
