Guide to the Pembroke Afternoon Reading Group records, 1927-1991

John Hay Library , Special Collections
Box A
Brown University
Providence, RI 02912
Tel: 401-863-2146
email: hay@brown.edu

Published in 2012

Collection Overview

Title:	Pembroke Afternoon Reading Group records
Date range:	1927-1991
Creator:	Pembroke Afternoon Reading Group.
Extent:	0.5 Linear feet
Abstract:	The Pembroke Afternoon Reading Group records comprise materials related to the history and administration of the social group. Materials date from 1927 to 1991.
Language of materials:	English
Repository:	John Hay Library , Special Collections
Collection number:	OF.1S.8zp

Scope & content

The Pembroke Afternoon Reading Group records consist of a history, history notes, membership rosters, clippings, reports, accounts, photographs, and notebooks. The notebooks contain programs, notices, and reports and include such information as the names of the hostess and reader, the subject to be discussed at the meeting, and the number of members present.

Access Points

Subject Organizations

• Brown University--Societies, etc.
• Pembroke College (Brown University)--Alumni and alumnae.

Subject Topics

• Universities and colleges--Societies, etc.

Document Types

• Announcements
• Annual reports
• Clippings (Information artifacts)
• Notebooks
• Photographs
• Programs
• Reports
• Rosters

Subject Topics

• Education

Arrangement

The collection is organized in one series: I. General files, 1927-1991.

Historical note

In 1927, Mary Florence (Rafter) McCusker and Isabel (McMurty) Voigt founded a small group for fellow members of the Brown Alumnae Club of Providence. The group's name became the Pembroke Afternoon Reading Group (PARG) when the Brown Alumnae Club's name was changed to the Pembroke College Club of Providence. Although loosely affiliated with the Alumnae Club, PARG led an independent existence.

PARG's by-laws state that its aims were "sociability, sewing, reading, and handiwork." In her 1967 history (see folder #1), Helen (Thayer) Paxton reported that early meetings consisted of a book review followed by an elaborate tea. In 1928, play reading and drama reviewing were added. The group occasionally raised funds for Pembroke College. The organization dissolved in 1991 after its once large membership had dropped to eleven.

Access & Use

Access to the collection:	There are no restrictions on access, except that the collection can only be seen by prior appointment. Some materials may be stored off-site and cannot be produced on the same day on which they are requested.
Use of the materials:	Although Brown University has physical ownership of the collection and the materials contained therein, it does not claim literary rights. Researchers should note that compliance with copyright law is their responsibility. Researchers must determine the owners of the literary rights and obtain any necessary permissions from them.
Preferred citation:	Pembroke Afternoon Reading Group records, OF.1S.8ZP, Brown University Archives.
Contact information:	John Hay Library , Special Collections Box A Brown University Providence, RI 02912 Tel: 401-863-2146 email: hay@brown.edu

Administrative Information

ABOUT THE COLLECTION
Acquisition:	Most of the pre-1984 records were donated to the John Hay Library by the Pembroke Afternoon Reading Group (PARG) in January 1985. The treasurer's accounts, some membership rosters, and a file of correspondence were donated in 1991 by Jessie Barker, PARG's treasurer since 1982. Eleanor McElroy donated the final record book in 1992.
ABOUT THE FINDING AID
Author:	Finding aid prepared by Brown University Library Staff.
Encoding:	This finding aid was produced using the Archivists' Toolkit 2012 December 3
Descriptive rules:	Finding aid based on Describing Archives: A Content Standard (DACS)
Sponsor:	Processing funded by a grant from the National Historical Publications and Records Commission.

Additional Information

Related material:

Related artifacts may be found in the University Archives Museum Objects collection, object numbers M912 and M929.

Inventory

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