What clubs did your ancestors belong to?

Growing up, my parents were involved in many different clubs. They developed life-long friendships with members of these social and professional groups. Joining these associations, both formal and informal, I suspect was a habit and lifestyle they brought to the city from their rural roots, where neighbours often gathered for community events.

Joining groups of people for social relationships or occupational connections is part of being a member of a community. Often such associations started as a student and progressed in adulthood as interests developed or changed. Volunteering was a driver of memberships in service clubs of business-people or meaningful charities.

Among the groups my parents were involved with were the Kiwanis Club (for business people and service to the community), the Movie Club (for people interested in taking home movies) and the square dance club (for fun and social connections).

In my own experience, as a student I was part of the Boy Scouts, bands and orchestras (with and outside of schools), the Rundle Group (a university club for geology students)

As an adult I participated with: the Canadian Society of Petroleum Geologists (a professional society) and family history societies (pursuing genealogical research).

Farm life in the early 1900s meant people were physically separated during their workdays so community activities centred around churches and schools dominated their social life: after work, on weekends, and for special holidays. Volunteering was a way of life. People came together to organize events to raise funds to help neighbours in distress, provide capital for recreational and other facilities, or just for fun.

Regular community parties and dances were the best way for young people to meet, outside of school. Because of their different ages, my parents would not have met at school but at community events. In fact, they were introduced by my father’s cousin who was staying with my mother’s family and got to know each other at local dances and parties.

KIK Country is a collection of histories of families and events for the Kathryn, Irricana and Keoma areas northeast of Calgary, Alberta. This is where my parents were raised and where my father was born. It contains hundreds of short summaries of local families who lived in the region.

Besides the hundreds of summaries of individual families, the book contains historical information about: the indigenous population of the time; the irrigation system; the railroads; local villages and municipal histories; agriculture history, methods, livestock and general industry; local churches; schools, school clubs and professional groups; social, professional and volunteer organizations; sporting groups; military service; and many plain articles of interest.

I actually found a bunch of new stuff, including copies of photos I had not seen before, while writing this piece.

By the way, the book can be browsed online in the digital collections of the University of Calgary. https://digitalcollections.ucalgary.ca/archive/K-I-K--country-2R3BF1OVWXP_W.html Their “Local Histories collection features books describing the history of Canadian small towns, rural areas, and large cities.” It’s a wonderful resource. I have found a great deal of information about my ancestors, including photos not in our family albums in this one publication.

The important part in the book concerning what this blog post is about are the descriptions of the many organizations in which people participated and that brought them together to form a vibrant community: home and school associations, community associations, Odd Fellows Lodge, Masonic Lodge, Order of the Eastern Star, Camp for the Modern Woodmen of America, Lions Club, farm workers locals, and several ladies aid groups.

For the young people there were: the Sunshine Girls Club, Cadet Corps, Junior Grain Club, 4-H beef Club, 4-H Field Crops Club, 4-H Engine Club, 4-H Clothing Club, and Cubs Scouts. There were organized teams for softball, baseball, curling and hockey for both children and adults.

In addition to the family histories, it is very interesting to read about the various clubs and events with which my ancestors participated, particularly those that raised funds for local projects. These demonstrate the closeness of the community and its members.

It’s easy to see how people growing up in such places took with them the idea of belonging to other groups where there were friends to be made, new experiences to enjoy and with a spirit of volunteerism where other people could be helped.

Clubs and societies have been around for a long time, of course. Here are some interesting books from which you can learn about them:

Clark, Peter. (2000). British Clubs and Societies 1580-1800. Oxford University Press.

Thompson, F. M. L. (Editor). (1990). The Cambridge Social History of Britain, 1750-1950. Three volumes. Cambridge University Press.

A Complete and Humorous Account of all the Remarkable Clubs and Societies in the Cities of London and Westminster. (1756). https://archive.org/details/b30510466/page/n3/mode/2up