THE FORTNIGHTLY CLUB OF DURANT

During the progressive era, American women endeavored to reform society’s problems. Consequently, women formed volunteer clubs for self-improvement and community service. Fortnightly Clubs were founded in the 19th century as a place for women to have an intellectual life during a time when women were denied access to universities. Mary Elizabeth O’Toole Parker was a model citizen and a very important part of Durant in the early 20th century. Originally founded as “Durant Station” in 1872 when Union Pacific Railroad was built through Choctaw Indian Territory, Durant’s first census was recorded in 1900 showing the population to be 2,969.

Mary was the oldest of her siblings in an affluent, progressive home. Her father was an attorney, and Mary was extremely well-educated and was a devout Catholic woman of Irish descent, ahead of her time, graduating from the Sacred Heart Academy in St. Joseph, Missouri, the town of her birth. As a young lawyer in St. Joseph, Missouri and a colleague of Mary’s father, Isaac met Mary at a dinner party hosted by Mary’s parents. Mary married Isaac Parker in 1861. In 1875, when Isaac was appointed as judge for the Western District of Arkansas by President Ulysses S. Grant, they made their home in Fort Smith, both a driving force in establishing public schools and establishing a library in Fort Smith.

They had two living children, Charles and James. One child died in infancy.  In 1896, Mary became the widow of the famous Fort Smith, Arkansas “Hanging Judge” Isaac Charles Parker, attorney, politician, and federal judge. Mary stayed in Fort Smith until a tornado demolished her home in 1898. She then moved to Durant, I.T., in 1902 to live with her eldest son, Federal Judge Charles Parker, who was known as the best title lawyer in Oklahoma.

Mary Parker was very active in the Durant community, organizing the first woman club in Durant. In August 1902, she organized The Fortnightly Club of Durant.  After a fall visit with Mrs. Mike Conlan (Czarina), President of the Indian Territory Federation Clubs, the club federated in early 1903. Mary Parker served as the first club president.

Durant’s ten club charter members were: Mrs. J.J. Diess (Fannie), Mrs. G.B. Hall (Nannie), Mrs. John Hunter (Rhoda), Mrs. S.H. Kyle (Annie), Mrs. M.E. Mackey (Emma), Mrs. I.C. Parker (Mary), Mrs. Lewis Paulin (Liela), Mrs. May Guillot Potter, Mrs. D. R. Ray (?), and Mrs. Edward Rines (Lillian). Current Fortnightly Club member Charlene Ridgway researched history on the charter members in 2015. Fannie, age 24 at the forming of Durant’s Fortnightly Club, was born in 1878 and died in 1906. Her husband was a brick manufacturer. She died an untimely death of Pulmonary TB. Nannie (age 33) was born in 1869 and died in 1958. She was the only charter woman who remained in Durant since organizing in 1902. Her husband was a Singer Sewing Machine Company traveling salesman, later employed by an oil company. He had extensive land holdings and an active farming operation in his later years. Nannie never had children of her own. She and her husband reared and educated 14 children, all orphans from five different families. She is a charter member of First Christian Church, Durant. Rhoda Margaret Hunter (age 32) was born in 1870 and died in 1954. She was very active in several social clubs and her church. She was a newspaper editor. Her husband was a statesman. She is a descendant of Mrs. Grover Cleveland. Annie (age 28) was born in 1874 and died in 1968. She was a sister to charter member Emma Mackey. Emma (age 35) was born in 1867 and died in 1954. Emma’s husband served on the school board and was co-owner of Mackey & Harris Notions & Milliners (sewing supplies business).  Leila Hawkins Paullin (age 36) was born in 1866 and died in 1966. Leila’s husband was a lawyer, later a judge, by profession, served on the school board, and owned and operated the first weekly newspaper in Durant. He was also co-owner of the Durant Daily Times. Leila was an active clubwoman in the early days and was instrumental in raising funds to build the Confederate Home at Ardmore. She was a state president of the Daughters of the Confederacy. She was a member of the First Baptist Church at Durant. May (age 38) was born in 1864 and died in 1915. She was the daughter of one of the first French settlers of Dallas. Her family opened a carriage shop, thought to be the first manufacturing plant in Dallas. The original location of the respected carriage maker and repairer business is now famous as the former Texas School Book Depository at Dealey Plaza where President John F. Kennedy was assassinated. However, some say that the business was located a block away. She was an excellent writer of both English and French and served as a society editor of the Dallas News and was editor and publisher for the Dixieland Magazine. She brought the first art exhibit to Durant. May’s brother lived in Durant. He had a brokerage business handling future contracts for cotton, grain, etc.;   Lillian McGillicuddy Rines (age 30) was born in 1872 and died in 1937. Lillian’s husband served as V.P. of First National Bank and then President after his father’s death. He served on the Durant Chamber of Commerce Board and served as treasurer of Durant Nursery Company and director of the canning factory. Currently, we have nothing on Mrs. D. R. Ray. Our charter members are listed in our yearbook each year.

Durant’s first club yearbook was printed for the 1904-1905 club year and stated that “the membership shall not exceed twenty-five members.” With limited membership, the club had many names on its membership waiting list. Names of proposed candidates were presented to the executive committee and if approved the chairperson presented the names to the club for a vote. Three dissenting votes rejected a candidate.  Today, members are admitted to the club upon the recommendation of two sponsoring members and a vote of the entire membership. Two negative votes exclude from membership. As a literary club, Fortnightly’s club motto is “Agitation of Thought is the Beginning of Wisdom.” Fortnightly’s printed objective was “to agitate the minds of the members and to establish a public library for the city of Durant.” The first constitution specified that the object of the club was to establish a library for the city of Durant and foster a literary and social spirit among members of the club.  The club’s colors are red and white, and the club flower is the red carnation.

These club women were dedicated to buying and circulating books which eventually led to the establishment of the Durant library system. At the end of each club year, each member selected a book for the proposed library. Fortnightly Club first began purchasing books to circulate among its members. Contributions of .50 or .75 cents would buy books for the library. As its holdings grew through purchase and donations, the club found a corner for a library downtown. The club created a corner library in the downtown Norwood’s Café and opened it to the public two days a week. Club women took daily turns working in the library. It was extremely popular with rural women. In 1906, the café advertised a lending library of 150 volumes. A sign read, “Read as many books as you like at the cost of .50 cents for one month, $1.00 for three months and $1.50 for six months. Norwood’s Café gave out “library tickets” with every .10 cent purchase of food to help with the cost. They supported the library and volunteered their time as librarians.

Each year a study topic was chosen—first studying U.S. Government and History followed by nine years of Shakespeare, then a series of study on the culture of countries such as France, Germany, England, Russia, early America, etc. They chose England as their first country to study—English culture, including English authors, artists, home living, religion, and government. During the nine years of Shakespeare study, members answered roll calls with a quote from Shakespeare. At the close of each year, a Shakespeare quote contest was held. The women were encouraged to give special study to their programs, to stand and address the Chairman, and to give their paper from memory.  A critic was appointed who paid special attention to her duty. The Critic reported at the next meeting her criticism of the paper presented by the member. If a member was unable to attend to present her paper for some reason, she was instructed to send her paper in order that it might be read and criticized by the Critic. Of the “Queen Victoria” style, Mary lent dignity to the organization which has lasted through the years. Members were fined .50 cents for failure to give their programs (equivalent to $18.59 in 2025), .05 cents tardy fee ($1.86) and .25 cents for being absent ($9.30). Annual dues were $1.00 ($37.19).

Fortnightly Club of Durant also has a rich history in civic development carried out by women of outstanding character and ability.  Before WWI, farmers and their families came into town on horses, mules, or in their wagons and buggies. The wagon yard was the focal meeting place. While husbands tended to business, women and children waited in the established library located in Mrs. W. B. Stone’s private home called the “Ladies Rest Room.” Both the Mothers Club and Fortnightly Club placed all their books here.

In 1917, amidst WWI, the new county courthouse was completed and the “Ladies Rest Room” was closed. Select books were moved to the courthouse library room while others were donated to soldiers, and some were donated to public schools. Club members volunteered to keep regular opening hours of the library. It was during this time that club women voted to have only one literary meeting and one meeting devoted to Red Cross work each month. Each club woman was assessed $1.14 as her part of the cost of yarn purchased from the Red Cross. They agreed to knit 12 sweaters and 13 pairs of wristlets. Eventually, the courthouse library was abandoned, and the club books were divided among the Oklahoma Presbyterian College, Southeastern Normal College and the south ward public school. After the war, the women secured the help of an Andrew Carnegie grant for the purpose of building a new public library, but the city of Durant could not then shoulder its part of the financial burden. Judge Robert L. Williams later made possible the first Durant public library.

Mary Parker lived with her son Charles until his death in 1925. One year later, Mary died at the age of 90. It is mentioned that Mary’s home was regarded as an open court of counsel to the poor and unfortunate people. After her death, by order of Congress, she was shipped to Fort Smith, Arkansas, St. Catherine’s Church held a Requiem High Mass in her honor, and her body was laid to rest next to her husband in the Fort Smith National Cemetery.

President’s Day Luncheons were popular at the end of each club year.  On May 5, 1927, 12 members and their husbands enjoyed a picnic in the park. After having a bountiful picnic supper, they played games and toasted marshmallows. Earlier luncheons were held in the home of the president, but when membership increased and homes were built with less room, the President’s Luncheon event moved to a public place.

On March 1, 1921, the Durant City Council voted to establish a free public library in Durant. In 1935, Judge Robert Lee Williams purchased property for the library on Fourth Avenue and the WPA built the stately $30,000 stone building. Civic organizations donated books. On July 11, 1937, Judge Williams officially presented the library to the city of Durant. In recognition of Fortnightly Club’s encouragement and support, he invited Fortnightly Club women to take a leading role in the library reception and dedication ceremonies. A lifelong bachelor, Judge Williams had played a role in the drafting of the Oklahoma Constitution, served as Oklahoma’s third Governor as well as the first chief justice of Oklahoma’s Supreme Court. Fortnightly book drives were held for the new library; they helped with a landscape project, and they have continued to donate books, magazines, and other literature through the years.

At the Seventh District Meeting the Fall of 1939, Fortnightly Club member and District President Mrs. W. H. Ritchey ended her Call to Convention letter with the following statement: “At this crucial moment of the European crises, may I join with the clubwomen, not only as alert American citizens but as citizens of the world, in prayer that disaster may be averted, that justice may prevail, and that the lives of people everywhere may have the opportunity to progress onward and upward in love.” During WW2, club ladies aided in community, civic, public welfare and war service activities. They helped in the establishment of the Service Center serving as hostesses, providing refreshments. Shrubs, bulbs, pot plants and flowers were sent to Camp Maxey hospital project. The ladies provided gifts of radios, furniture, magazines and more. They participated in securing WACs and Waves and participated in the Infantile Paralysis campaign (March of Dimes), all community salvage drives, and in the 4^th & 5^th War Bond drives. A $25 War Bond was purchased and donated to the Robert L. Williams Library building fund. Fortnightly received a citation from the U.S. Treasury Department for their effort in selling $500 or more war bonds during the 6^th War Bond Drive. The members voted 100% in all elections.

For many years the three federated clubs in Durant—Fortnightly, Delphian and Ohoyahoma—enjoyed a tri-club luncheon. These were elaborate functions and were usually held at the Southeastern Oklahoma State University ballroom or the Texoma Lodge dining room.

Fortnightly Club ladies have always served on the library board. In 1988, “Friends of the Library” was formed. Computers were added to the library in 1991. In 1993, a circulation computer and an automated circulation card code system were added. In 1995, two new patron computers allowed searching for books in the library collection, thus removing card catalogues from the library. A 1997 internet grant provided internet service to the library. Fifty years after the establishment of the Robert Lee Williams Library, the library had outgrown its location.

In 2002, the city of Durant purchased land on Main Street, where today’s public library is located. A library grant application committee was spearheaded by Senator Billy Mickle and his wife club member Fran. Durant received a $8M grant from modern-day Andrew Carnegie, the Donald W. Reynolds Foundation. On May 25, 2011, the new impressive “state of the art” Donald W. Reynolds Community Center and Library was officially dedicated. The Fortnightly Club ladies provided refreshments at a reception which preceded the dedication program.

Some of the most memorable occasions for the Fortnightly Club were the 50^th anniversary of the club. Oklahoma’s First Lady Mrs. Johnston Murray was invited and flew into Durant’s Eaker Field Airport on September 25, 1952, to be our guest speaker.  A reception was held at Hallie McKinney Hall on the campus of Southeastern State College and an open meeting was held so that citizens of Durant could hear Mrs. Murray’s speech. She, in turn, invited the entire club to serve as hostesses for an open house at the Governor’s Mansion in Oklahoma City. On our 75^th anniversary in 1977, a Colonial Guest Tea was held in the home of Mrs. Edwin Boynton. An old-fashioned menu featuring cucumber sandwiches, cinnamon toast, and bountiful cakes was served with Mrs. George Pendleton pouring hot chocolate from her antique hot chocolate set. Another memorable occasion was when Oklahoma First Lady Cathy Keating was our special guest speaker at our May 1999 President’s Day Luncheon. Ladies wore hats, keeping with the club president’s theme “Hats Off to Women.” Mrs. Keating spoke on the two books she had written entitled, “Our Governors’ Mansions” and “In Their Name.” The second book had raised more than $1M for the 1995 Oklahoma City Murrah Building bombing relief fund. “Our Governors’ Mansions is a book of photo and written tour of executive residences in each state. Mrs. Keating spoke of the joy she had in refurbishing the Oklahoma Governor’s Mansion. In 2002, the Fortnightly Club celebrated their 100^th Anniversary Celebration. Dressed in vintage style clothing, a group photo was taken for the newspaper and to be displayed in our downtown museum.  In 2004, Mrs. Scott Stidham, Miss Oklahoma 2004, attended our President’s Day Luncheon to share her personal experiences backstage at the Miss America Pageant. Our May 2013 President’s Day Luncheon table décor was of framed original artwork painted by members used for a silent auction with proceeds supporting the launch of GFWC’s Signature Program’s “Success for Survivors Scholarship” program.

Mrs. John A. MacDonald became a member of Durant’s Fortnightly Club on March 22, 1928. She served as the Historian and prepared the club’s history for the book entitled, “History of Oklahoma: General Federation of Women’s Clubs, 1898-1969, published in 1969. Mrs. Macdonald held honorary membership status and was the oldest club member when she died at the age of 97 in August 1993.

For more than a century, GFWC has encouraged women to improve their skills, expand their rights, and apply their abilities and special sensitivity to society’s problems. Members of GFWC have been addressing the diverse needs of their communities through times of social change and technological revolution, and of war and peace in an increasingly interdependent world. Under the motto, “Unity in Diversity,” GFWC has built an outstanding record of accomplishments. ting for issues of concern to women, children and families, and supporting participation in the arts. Today, the five community Service Programs are Arts & Culture, Civic Engagement & Outreach, Education & Libraries, Environment, and Health & Wellness. Fortnightly’s study programs are based on these areas. Fortnightly Club works in their own community to support the arts, preserve natural resources, advance education, promote healthy lifestyles, advocate for issues of concern to women, children and families, encourage civic involvement, and support issues related to domestic and sexual violence awareness/prevention. We fully support GFWC’s efforts and are challenged to become champions by advocating for survivors of domestic and sexual violence and educating the public on the prevalence of this topic in our local communities and how informing members can improve outcomes for survivors. The Signature Program has eight areas of focus: Campus Sexual Assault, Child Abuse, Elder Abuse, Human Trafficking for Sexual Purposes, Intimate Partner Violence, Military Sexual Assault, Teen Dating Violence, and Violence Against Native American Women. We participate in GFWC’s National Day of Service Projects held in September each fall.

Fortnightly Club women look back with pride on their accomplishments through the years, especially the library founding. Members are interested in studying to improve their minds, always keeping in mind that this is a study club, not a civic club. Members agree to perform the duties assigned to them and to support all club projects. The only means of financing has been the annual dues, which are now $35. The club does not engage in any fund-raising projects; however, members are encouraged to contribute as individuals to worthy causes. Together, we do make a difference in the lives of others in our community. Together everyone achieves more.

As early as 1963, club ladies participated in the Oklahoma Seat Belt Campaign conducted by the Department of Public Safety.

Around 2010, club member Janie Umsted was instrumental in the Charles & Miriam Hogan Native American Art Collection & Restoration Project being donated to Southeastern Oklahoma State University. This artwork is of great importance to Oklahomans and to the history of Native American Art. The collection consists of 93 original paintings, sketches and prints by numerous Native American artists.

Fortnightly Club members include professional educators, business owners, administrators, realtors, social workers, medical professionals, and retirees. Honorary members are those who had fully participated in all club activities for at least twenty years and served as an officer or have served as club president regardless of how many years participated in club activities. Although there is diversity in age, interests and experience, we are united by a dedication to community improvement. Members are given opportunities to develop leadership and social skills, exchange ideas and form lifelong friendships.

The current 2024-2026 club theme is “Women Empowering Women and the club motto is “We Are All in This Together.” Meetings are held from 3:30 to 5:00 p.m. on the second and fourth Thursday each month in member homes or chosen public place September to mid-May. The last meeting held in May, by tradition, is the President’s Day Luncheon. In May 2025, our President chose Shakesperean theme with a program performance by members of the Oklahoma Shakespearean Festival Theatre on the upcoming summer 2025 season.

Since organizing in August 1902 and federating in January 1903, The Fortnightly Club continues the rich tradition of being a study book club with tea plate today. They continue to support their public library, Shakespearean Children’s Theatre on the campus of Southeastern Oklahoma State University, Three-Valley Historical Museum, Crises Control Center, Southeast District Art and Nursing Scholarships, and serve on various committees and boards in Durant. They are active in their churches and other organizations, the majority supporting a women’s college and several scholarships for women. They support GFWC and GFWC-OK programs and projects.

We are honored to have Mrs. R. Michael Ridgway (Charlene) serve as GFWC-OK State President during the 2024-2026 administration. She is Fortnightly Club’s first member to serve as president at the local, district, and state levels. We look forward to celebrating our 125^th anniversary, realizing that it is an honor to be a member of the General Federation of Women’s Clubs.