Guide to the Rosa Thomas Collection
Record Group 238
Date Span: 1961-2012
Extent: 9 File Folders
Biographical Sketch: Ms. Rosa Thomas is a long time Dothan resident and a member of both the Sorosis Club and the New Century Club.
Organizational Sketch: The Sorosis Club was the first professional women's club in the United States. It was organized in New York City, NY, in March 1868, by Jane Cunningham Croly. Among its founding members were Fanny Fern Parton, a popular columnist who had been angered at newspaper women being excluded from the all-male New York Press Club when it had an honorary dinner for the author Charles Dickens the month before. The clubs object was to further the educational and social activities of women, and to bring together for mutual helpfulness, representative women in art, literature, science, and kindred pursuits. Sorosis was incorporated in January 1869. [Sources: "Sorosis," Wikipedia, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sorosis; Front of club yearbook/program].
The Dothan [AL] chapter was founded by Mrs. Scottie McKenzie (Dr. Alfred S.) Frasier in September 1928. [Sources: Editor & Publisher, September 4, 1920, p 30; "Death Claims Dr. Frasier…," Dothan Eagle, 15 June 1934, 1; "Mrs. Frasier Dies at Home," Dothan Eagle, 24 November 1964, 1-2]
Many communities formed "New Century Clubs" after 1900. Dothan's New Century Club began as the informal Embroidery Club. When card-playing and other entertainments were added to the sewing and conversation, the women began calling the group the "As You Like It Club." Mrs. Ellison had been a part of the "Nineteenth Century Club" in Troy, Alabama, and upon moving to Dothan proposed to form a similar group. In 1907, the women adopted their "New Century Club" constitution and by-laws.
Twelve women of the "As You Like It Club" formed a small library that later became George Houston Memorial Library. Several of these women later joined the New Century Club. The New Century Club made the library a project. [Source: New Century Club, RG 168].
Scope / Content: Contains New Century Club yearbooks for years 1961-1982, constitution and bylaws and an address the New Century Club. Contains Sorosis Club yearbooks for years 1985-2010. Yearbook includes membership roster, current officers and dates for monthly meetings.
Provenance: Presented to the WA by Mrs. Rosa Thomas.
Preferred Citation: Rosa Thomas Collection, RG 238, The Wiregrass Archives, Troy University-Dothan Campus, Dothan, AL.
Access: Open
Date processed: July 15, 2019
Processed By: DS
INVENTORY
File I.D. File Label
238-17-0922-001-001 New Century Club – Yearbooks, 1961-70
238-17-0922-001-002 New Century Club – Yearbooks, 1970-80
238-17-0922-001-003 New Century Club – Yearbooks, 1980-82
238-17-0922-001-004 New Century Club – Constitution & Bylaws
238-17-0922-001-005 New Century Club – Address to the Club, unknown speaker, n.d.
238-17-0922-001-006 Sorosis Club – Yearbooks, 1985-90
238-17-0922-001-007 Sorosis Club – Yearbooks, 1990-2000
238-17-0922-001-008 Sorosis Club – Yearbooks, 2000-10
238-17-0922-001-009 Sorosis Club – Yearbooks, 2010-12
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Email: wiregrassarchives@troy.edu