PRESS CLUB

BEING RESEARCHED

PRESS CLUB. The Dubuque Daily Herald announced that the "press fraternity" of the city would meet on the evening of October 16, 1894 with the intent of forming a press club similar to that of "every other city of any size in the west except Dubuque." It was stated that such an organization could be made both "pleasant and profitable." (1)

Pleasantry prevailed June 21, 1900 at a banquet of the press club at the Hotel Julien. In a column recounting the evening, a string of analogies broke forth worthy of repetition. The consumption of food was described as disappearing "as rapidly as free lunch in an all night saloon." The drinking of champagne was described as being done "with the easy grace that characterizes the tippler at a saloon opening on Saturday." (2)

In 1908 the Club furnished the decorations for the Union Park Midweek Dance. (3) Articles for the newspaper carried the by-line "Press Club" in 1919. By March, 1950 the idea of a "press club" had been carried to CLARKE COLLEGE where a press club hosted Mrs. Anthony Eberhardt speaking on the topic of "The Practical Side of Hobby Writing."

In 1959 the year-old Dubuque Press and Radio Club with male and female members "in the news and communications professions and associates in other fields, met at LEISER'S GARDEN and elected officers. L. Vaughn GAYMAN was elected president; Roland White, editor of DUBUQUE LEADER (THE) , vice president; and Maud Grimm, society editor of the Telegraph-Herald, secretary-treasurer. (4)

In 1961 the Telegraph-Herald reported that the press club had an embarrassing moment when a troop of Cub Scouts asked to come to the next meeting to see how the club operated. While a fine idea, the next meeting wasn't open to the public or the Scouts--it was a stag party. (5)

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Source:

1. "Municipal Molecules," Dubuque Daily Herald, October 16, 1894, p. 4

2. "Enjoyed the Banquet," The Dubuque Herald, June 23, 1900, p. 3

3. "Union Park Midweek Dance," The Telegraph-Herald, September 23, 1908, p. 10

4. "Gayman Elected by Press Club," Telegraph-Herald, March 4, 1959, p. 10

5. "Not Invited," Telegraph-Herald, January 17, 1961, p. 3