Our Mission:

  In August of 1895, the women of Prescott formed the "Literary Society" to achieve their goals of study, mutual counsel, and a united effort for education and civic betterment. The members met twice monthly. They were sophisticated and well educated, some were even college graduates. Several were wives of the town's leaders. Two years later, they decided to change their name to “The Monday Club.” They met for several years in private homes, most often in the rooming house of Francis Gould. 

  Also in 1897, the members formed a library board of directors, elected officers to the board, and began meeting to discuss a location for a public library. They rented a room at the mining exchange in the basement of the Bank of Arizona on Gurley Street and filled it with donated and purchased books from local fundraising events such as teas, dances and sales. They ran the free library there for several years. 

In 1899, Julia M. Goldwater wrote to Andrew Carnegie, the famous industrialist, appealing for financial help to build a library in Prescott. Carnegie agreed to fund $4,000 of the $8,000 required, with the understanding that the other $4,000 would be raised by the Prescott community. Club members enlisted their husbands to canvas the many establishments on the infamous “Whiskey Row,” and in three years, they raised $4,000 and an additional $2,000 for library expenses. 

Unfortunately, on July 13, 1900, a fire in downtown Prescott burned all the books that the club had acquired over the past three years. It took more than a year to get things rolling again for the planned library building. Book donations came in from the community. The insurance money from the fire loss ($1,800), the $4,000 collected locally, along with the Carnegie Foundation grant of $4,000 plus the extra $2,000 for expenses were safe in the bank awaiting the construction of the new library. 

November 23, 1903, was the date of completion and dedication of the Carnegie Library on Gurley Street. The shelves held about 1,300 books. This library was the “crown jewel” of the Monday Club and one of its first major projects. Club members managed the library until 1917 when the City of Prescott took it over. The Carnegie Library served Prescott from 1903 to 1975 when the current library was opened on Goodwin Street. The original building still stands and has been converted into office space for a succession of businesses.

In 1901, the club affiliated with the General Federation of Women's Clubs (GFWC), which was founded in 1890 during the Progressive Movement. GFWC is a federation of approximately 2,300 women's clubs in the United States which promote civic improvements through volunteer service. Monday Club members continue to support the community service programs of this highly respected national organization.

Frank Murphy sold a 50 x 125-foot piece of land for $3,200, to the Monday Club in June of 1902 for their clubhouse. In 1911, after extensive renovation, the property for the clubhouse on Marina Street was ready for use. Following successful fundraising events, they paid off the mortgage and the cost of renovation. The club used this building for almost 50 years and then sold the property to the Hassayampa Inn for $25,000. The hotel then turned it into a parking lot. 

The club assisted Sharlot Hall who was appointed Territorial Historian by Governor Richard Sloan [in 1909. She later established the museum which maintains the history of Prescott. The Sharlot Hall Museum opened to the public in 1928 and the club continues to support its educational efforts. The museum includes an impressive display about the history of The Monday Club.