Processing Information: Collection processing completed 2013/10/16 by Edythe Huffman. EAD finding aid created 2013/10/16 by Edythe Huffman.

This collection is open for research.

Parlor Club collection, Rare Books and Manuscripts, Indiana State Library

Legal title, copyright, and literary rights reside with Rare Books and Manuscripts, Indiana State Library, Indianapolis, IN. All requests to publish or quote from manuscripts must be submitted to Rare Books and Manuscripts.

The Parlor Club of Lafayette, Indiana was founded in 1877 with Mrs. Helen M. Gougar being one of the founders. According to its bylaws, "The usual literary exercises of each evening shall be an essay and a discussion." The constitution allowed for no more than 30 active members, and there was a desire the membership be balanced between the University and town members. After one discussion of an essay which led to the throwing of furniture, it was decided that there would no longer be discussions of essays. A separate group, led by someone in the Parlor Club, instituted the discussion of essays, with the essay to be written and read.Harvey W. Wiley, a member, became famous as Chief Chemist of the Bureau of Chemistry in Washington, D.C. He is know as the father of the Pure Foods and Drug Act.

This collection was received by Rare Books and Manuscripts as a donation from Irene M. Shreve in 1981.

No further additions are expected.