In September of 1928, six La Crosse women, who wanted to do something more useful with their time than playing cards, formed the Thursday Study Club of La Crosse. The first meeting was on October 18, 1928. They each invited one friend to join the club, one member babysitting all the members’ children. In 1934, they adopted the motto “Why Stop Learning”. At biweekly meetings, club members took turns presenting programs of intellectual interest or inviting guest speakers to lecture. They also devoted their time and money to certain projects, such as charitable Christmas donations, Indian Welfare donations, and a local nursing scholarship. They lobbied Congress about specific issues, including pollution control, conservation, and Civil Defense preparedness.
In September 1929, the group voted to join the Wisconsin Federation of Women’s Clubs with affiliation with the national organization, the General Federation of Women’s Clubs. The name of the club was changed to Study Club of La Crosse in 1950. In 1974, the club voted to have monthly meetings only. In 1983, the club was disbanded due to the advanced age of the members and lack of interest.
