Orpheus Club Records

The collection is organized in five series, by subject area. The five series are: Yearbooks, Constitution, Finances, Minutes, and Miscellaneous Materials.

Series I, Orpheus Club Yearbooks, is divided according to material type into two subseries: Orpheus Club Yearbooks (1926-1947) and Orpheus Club Yearbooks (1948-1986). The Yearbooks from 1926-1947 are similar to each other in that they all share a book format comprised of multiple pages bound together in some fashion. However, there is great diversity among these resources in content and form. Some of the early yearbooks are handmade and bound with ribbon or cord through holes in the side or top of pages. Later yearbooks in this subseries are printed and stapled. Many of the yearbooks in Subseries One contain lists of officers, members, committees, and honorary members. All contain the calendar for the year that includes the date, place, hostess, presenter, and subject matter of each meeting, along with any titles given to presentations, or themes for the year. Some of these yearbooks also list discussion topics for each presentation, or have handwritten notes regarding the discussion that occurred. Some of the yearbooks from this subseries present selected quotes at the beginning of the book, and others list facts like the club flower, establishment date, and club colors. A few of the yearbooks in this subseries include a copy of the club constitution or a section for notes in the back of the book. A couple of the earliest yearbooks in this subseries include newspaper clippings from the society page of the "Hattiesburg American" that describe specific meetings or other club activities. Due to the delicate nature of the yearbooks, researchers are encouraged to use the photocopies at the end of the subseries, rather than the originals. The photocopies are duplicates of the originals on acid-free paper with notations that describe the appearance and binding of the original. Subseries Two, Orpheus Club Yearbooks (1948-1984), consists of one folder that contains horizontal, bi-fold programs for the Orpheus Club between the years of 1948 and 1984. These yearbooks are printed on both sides of one piece of card stock, or a thinner paper, and their color schemes vary. They list the club officers, members, and committees. Each yearbook also lists the meeting dates, hostesses, presenters, and titles of presentations.

Series II, Orpheus Club Constitution, contains two copies of the Orpheus Club Constitution (January 2, 1950 edition). The first folder in this series contains an original constitution from the Orpheus Club. The second folder is a photocopy of the original. The constitution details the club’s goals, rules, fines, and purpose. It also deals with membership selection procedures and provides a layout of the club’s structure (officers, committees, etc.).

Series III, Orpheus Club Finances, comprises four folders containing financial records of the club from 1947-1984. Included are two small financial ledgers that record dues and expenditures from 1947-1984; receipts for financial transactions from 1960 through the early 1980s; two receipt books (1959-1962 and 1962); and an undated financial report.

Series IV, Orpheus Club Minutes, includes the minutes of club meetings from 1918-1986. The series includes original minutes and photocopies. The originals appear first in chronological order, followed by the photocopies in chronological order. Of particular interest is a typed copy of the minutes for April 27, 1918, which reflect the culture of time. Due to the fragility of some of the original, researchers are asked to assist in preserving the originals by using the photocopies.

Series V, Miscellaneous Materials, is grouped by material type. It includes club correspondence, newspaper clippings, and miscellany. Correspondence includes party invitations, thank-you notes, and letters to the club from businesses or organizations that sought their support. Newspaper clippings from the "Hattiesburg American" give details on specific meetings, club activities, officer elections, and club members. Some of the clippings are articles about wedding or engagement announcements of Orpheus Club members, or bridal dinners and showers given to and by Orpheus Club members. Miscellany includes a variety of materials that did not fit into other series of the collection, such as officer and member lists, book marks, a photograph of an unidentified young woman, information pertaining to the 50th anniversary of the club, an application for membership in the Hattiesburg Little Theatre, a flyer for the 1960 Dance Concert at Mississippi Southern College, and two small envelopes containing ballots from secret ballot elections.