The River Falls Tuesday Club, River Falls, Wis., was organized in 1890 by Mrs. J. 0. Emery, wife of the president of River Falls Normal School, for the purpose of studying history, literature, and art. Club members agreed to devote Tuesday afternoons to the consideration of a specific country or region.

The Club's raison d'etre was extended in 1906 by incorporating the promotion of causes which members decided were "wise and helpful." Thus a major campaign was initiated by the Club for the creation of a public library in River Falls. The campaign was successful and the growth and development of the River Falls Public Library has been an ongoing Tuesday Club project for the past half century. The Club also began to diversify its intellectual endeavors by including a study of current events.

The passing years saw the gradual transition of the Tuesday Club from a study group to a service-oriented organization. Accordingly, the purpose of the Club was amended in 1916 to include promotion of "intellectual and social culture and to advance whatever relates to public welfare." The specific interest of the Club at that time became public health and a program of support for the Wisconsin Anti-Tuberculosis Association was inaugurated.

Other Club projects included conducting annual Christmas Seal campaigns, collecting relief contributions, promoting Liberty Bonds, and adopting a French orphan. Among later projects were loans to college students, improvement of the city hospital facilities, establishing a Youth Center, sponsorship of the local UNICEF program, and directing a "save the elms" campaign. The Club also passed resolutions on such political and social issues as child labor, equal suffrage, and the League of Nations.

The Tuesday Club has been affiliated with the State Federation of Women's Clubs since 1898 and the General Federation of Women's Clubs since 1912.

The collection consists of 21 volumes and 2 folders of miscellany. There are 9 minutes books covering the years 1902-1968. However, minutes for the years 1890-1902, 1921-1930, and 1948-1953 are missing. The minutes books contain a list of members and dues paid, the laws and by-laws as adopted or amended by the Club, and the minutes of Club meetings.

The Treasurer's Record, covering the period 1906-1936, records the accounts of the Club for those years.

Volume 10 contains copies of the Club's yearbooks from 1890 to 1968. Each yearbook contains an outline of the study program for that year, the topics presented, and who presented them. Later yearbooks become progressively more elaborate, listing officers, all members, and special committees.

Volumes 11-14 are press books containing newspaper clippings of Club events, awards, and programs. Volumes 15-17, and 20-21 are scrapbooks; included is information concerning the Club's Community Achievement Projects in 1956-1958, 1961-1962, and 1964-1970. Volume 19 contains Club anniversary photographs.

Boxes 3 and 4 each contain a folder of miscellaneous items, including histories of the Club prepared by Club historians.