Memories of a 50-Year Member

Marion Christoffersen Feb. 11, 1988 Remembrances of a 50 yr member

My memory isn’t too good. Sometimes I think I’ve forgotten more than I ever knew. So I asked Betty Denton to show me the minutes of my early years with Fortnightly. There seems to have been a transition in the early forties in our meetings. We began then to have luncheons instead of refreshments and social hour. From having two papers and always musical numbers to the paper. Not that the papers were less scholarly. I’ll never forget how hard I worked on my first paper. The theme for the year was Scandinavia and my subject was Swedish poetry. I was scared pink but after that first time it was always easy to speak before this group. After all we were all friends and the warmth and I guess empathy was evident even then. And speaking of papers Margretta Hillman started off the year 1940 with a paper” Fun is where you find it” and she hoped for a jolly year of fun. She said we might find it in anything from punching old hats into a modern one or singing rounds and we all sang “Three blind mice” in rounds until we all were in giggles. I remember another talk she gave once on learning to fly an airplane. Her husband didn’t know it but she learned to fly in case anything happened to him in mid-air and her description of coming into a big airport with signals made my hair stand on end. I remember other papers, too. Virginia Pifer talked on Indians and she explained that there is no such tribe as a Siwash. The Indian tribes around here are named for rivers or bays and Siwash comes from the French Canadians trying to say savage. Mrs. Gilbert, Betty Denton’s mother, was a charming hostess and gave wonderful papers on her travels especially on her visit to London where she went to the Coronation. You know we used to brag about being the oldest club in the Federation and as long as Mrs. Cunningham was there she kept us informed of the business of both the State and City Federated clubs we were active in but gradually it became more difficult to get people to go to the meetings. I only remember going to one. Finally, we got ourselves extricated although dues and other help for the Club House went on for some time. It seems to me we gave small amounts to everything – the Symphony, the Arboretum, the Orthopedic, the war chest, scholarships for Girl Scouts to go to Robbinswold. At Christmas we used to find a needy family and make up a basket. Then we decided to send packages and Christmas gifts to the Children’s Hospital on Queen Anne, and finally we came to sending oranges and money as of today. Our own Christmas giving was limited to 25 cents. We always had a roll call with responses like an original poem, what book are you reading, Indian names in the North West. Favorite flower even. Jokes, or when I came to Seattle. I remember lovely Mrs. Carlson who sometimes wore real flowers in her hat. She had a beautiful Swedish country home north of town where we were entertained many times. As our president she had for her platform “Simple living and High thinking” and she advocated simple luncheons and meaty papers. Then along came the war years when we gave up the guest day and the evening dinner party and some met to sew for the Red Cross at 10 A.M. Each of us was asked to make a list of what she was doing for the defense program. Someone said it sounded better than it really was. Another time the Federation asked us to write out a history of our accomplishments as a club and after due consideration we decided we weren’t that kind of club. What kind of club are we? I don’t know, maybe a Ladies Literary Society. One husband called us a Study Club. Any way we are unique and wonderful. And as long as we are wise and keep adding to our group the smart and lovely young women as they come on the Hill, we’ll go on for at least another hundred years. And speaking of wonderful ladies of the past, Frances and I figured out we’ve had 6 Women’s University Club presidents, namely Mesdames Bocker, Bayley, Carlson, Hillman, Simons and Morrill. Maybe someone can fill in the seventh. I remember going to Mrs. Fales’ tall brick home on the highest point of Laurelhurst when it was brand new and Mrs. Fales was as lovely and delicate as a piece of Dresden china. Now in closing I’d like to read you a letter I received just this year with a $50.00 check [from] Margaret Siegly, an associate member whom you probably only know by name. she writes:

“Thursday 10-29-87 Dear Marion Black, Forgive me- you will always be Marion Black in my mind and my heart. It was to your home that Mary Cunningham took me, as a guest, so many years ago. It was a delightful afternoon. I was so impressed by the warmth and, what seemed to me to be a depth of friendship among the women. Little did I know that I was being carefully ‘looked over’ and considered as a member. I thought the afternoon was just a pleasant gesture on Mary’s part. I was completely astonished when I received the invitation to become a member, dated May 9, 1947, and signed by Dawn Rabel! I have that precious letter in my hand now as I write. I also have with it my first membership folder for 1947-48. I cherish it because in it, of course, are the names of all those whom I came to know so well, and to love. Only seven of those are in this 87-88 book. (By the way, please give my compliments to whomever is responsible for this particular edition. It is beautiful!) The seven women whom I know are Dollie McLean Callow, you, Margretta Hillman, Virginia Lewis, Frances Morrill, Ruth Turner, and last but by no means least, Mabel Woodruff. My fondest wish is that I could be in Seattle on a meeting day and so attend one more meeting. Oh, well…one can dream. I enclose a check for my overdue dues. I’m sorry that they are late. I’m not even sure about last year’s. This check will cover whatever – and maybe leave a small gift for the treasury. My greetings to the Club, and especially to the lovingly remembered seven! God keep you safe, Marion. Fondly, Margaret Siegley” It is so that our attachment to Fortnightly lingers on. I’ve enjoyed these reminiscences. You know us old gals like to reminisce, and I just want to tell you that I’ve always loved going to Fortnightly, looked forward to it, and never been disappointed. We don’t have to go outside the club for our entertainment and scholarly talks with such a wealth of talent and the fine food, fun and fellowship that we all share is wonderful and so full of sweet memories. I am sincerely, Mrs. Christoffersen