Oak Park in Cook County, Illinois — The American Midwest (Great Lakes)

The Nineteenth Century Club

A Legacy of Learning and Giving

Photographed by Sean Flynn

1. The Nineteenth Century Club Marker

Inscription.

The Nineteenth Century Club, established in 1891 by bold visionary women, built this space in 1928 to promote their mission as an educational, charitable and civic center. Today this Landmark building serves as a nonprofit community center and a venue for private celebrations and business events. A vibrant, diverse membership of men and women maintain the commitment of the founders by offering scholarships and space-use grants to nonprofits as well as a wide range of daytime and evening programs. Activities are open to all in our fully accessible building. , , [Top left caption, below picture of Ella Jenkins:] , Lifetime Grammy-award winner, Ella Jenkins, represents the hundreds of notable speakers and artists who have appeared on the two stages of this building, among them Robert Frost, Amelia Earhart, Grant Wood, Jane Addams, Langston Hughes, Elizabeth Berg and Alex Kotlowitz. , , [Bottom left caption, below photo of musicians:] , This music program, in our renovated ballroom space, represents the many high-quality arts and humanities programs, sponsored by the Club and open to all. Through its space-sharing grants, the Club enables other local nonprofits to share the building for their meetings, benefits, performances and community outreach. , , [Bottom center caption, below photo of Grace Wilbur Trout:] , Grace Wilbur Trout, shown here in a suffrage parade, represents early Club members like Anna Lloyd Wright, Grace Hall Hemingway, Dr. Anna Blount, and others who campaigned not only for women's rights but also for many other social causes and improvements in our local community., [Bottom right caption, below photo of students:] , Awarding college scholarships to deserving local students is a cherished tradition. Since 1951, hundreds of students have used their Nineteenth Century scholarships to help them attend the colleges of their choice. Currently, these grants are renewable for up to four years., [Top left caption, below photo of James Fyfe:] , James L. Fyfe (1869-1949) designed this Neo-classical style building with traces of Georgia Revival influence. A Chicago architect and a graduate of MIT, Fyfe lived in Oak Park with his wife, Hannah Beye, a prominent Oak Parker and active member of the Club. James Fyfe served as an Oak Park Village Trustee and President. His name is inscribed on the War Memorial in Scoville Park for his service in world war one.

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Wilbur Trout, shown here in a suffrage parade, represents early Club members like Anna Lloyd Wright, Grace Hall Hemingway, Dr. Anna Blount, and others who campaigned not only for women's rights but also for many other social causes and improvements in our local community.

[Bottom right caption, below photo of students:]
Awarding college scholarships to deserving local students is a cherished tradition. Since 1951, hundreds of students have used their Nineteenth Century scholarships to help them attend the colleges of their choice. Currently, these grants are renewable for up to four years.

[Top left caption, below photo of James Fyfe:]
James L. Fyfe (1869-1949) designed this Neo-classical style building with traces of Georgia Revival influence. A Chicago architect and a graduate of MIT, Fyfe lived in Oak Park with his wife, Hannah Beye, a prominent Oak Parker and active member of the Club. James Fyfe served as an Oak Park Village Trustee and President. His name is inscribed on the War Memorial in Scoville Park for his service in WWI.

Erected 2022 by The Nineteenth Century Charitable Association.

Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Architecture • Charity & Public Work

The Nineteenth Century Club and Marker image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Sean Flynn, November 4, 2023

2. The Nineteenth Century Club and Marker

• Fraternal or Sororal Organizations • Women. In addition, it is included in the Grammy Award Winners series list. A significant historical year for this entry is 1891.

Location. 41° 53.397′ N, 87° 48.004′ W. Marker is in Oak Park, Illinois, in Cook County. It is on Forest Avenue near Ontario Street, on the right when traveling north. The marker is next to the sidewalk in front of the Nineteenth Century Club building. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 178 Forest Avenue, Oak Park IL 60301, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in Greater Chicago.

It is also in the American Midwest

and on the Great Lakes.

Globally, it is in North America,

the Western Hemisphere,

the Western World,

and the Anglosphere.

Historically, it finds itself in what was once the Viceroyalty of New France,

the territory of the Mississippian Culture,

and the Northwest Territory.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: The History of Austin Gardens (within shouting distance of this marker); Austin Gardens Woodland Habitat (about 300 feet away, measured in a direct line); Austin Gardens Environmental Center (about 300 feet away); Continental Divide (about 500 feet away); James Russell Lowell School (about 500 feet away); a different marker also named Austin Gardens Woodland Habitat (about 500 feet away); Henry W. Austin Memorial Plaza (about 700 feet away); Unity Temple (approx. 0.2 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Oak Park.

Regarding The Nineteenth Century Club. Grace W. Trout, the leading suffragist

Plaques at front entrance of Nineteenth Century Club image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Sean Flynn, November 4, 2023

3. Plaques at front entrance of Nineteenth Century Club

The bottom plaque denotes the 1928 building as an Oak Park Landmark, designated by the village on September 20, 2010.

mentioned on this marker, is honored with a plaque about ¼ of a mile north of here at 400 Forest Avenue, the site of her former home. The Peace Triumphant memorial to World War I in Scoville Park, also referenced on the marker, is ¼ of a mile east.

Also see . . .
1. Nineteenth Century Club: "Our Building". (Submitted on November 4, 2023, by Sean P. Flynn of Oak Park, Illinois.)
2. The Nineteenth Century Club Organizes: October 19, 1891. By the Oak Park River Forest Museum, in honor of the club's 125th anniversary in 2016. (Submitted on November 4, 2023, by Sean P. Flynn of Oak Park, Illinois.)

The Nineteenth Century Club image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Sean Flynn, November 4, 2023

4. The Nineteenth Century Club

The marker is just off camera to the left.

Fyfe-designed home on S. Euclid Ave., Oak Park, Illinois image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Sean Flynn, November 22, 2023

5. Fyfe-designed home on S. Euclid Ave., Oak Park, Illinois

James Fyfe, an MIT-educated structural engineer in his day job, was also the architect for the Nineteenth Century Club as well as a handful of homes in Oak Park, including this 1902 structure in central Oak Park. The brick corner home features Victorian elements (most prominently the round turret) along with arts-and-crafts features such as stained-glass windows.

Credits. This page was last revised on November 28, 2023. It was originally submitted on November 4, 2023, by Sean P. Flynn of Oak Park, Illinois. This page has been viewed 336 times since then and 34 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4. submitted on November 4, 2023, by Sean P. Flynn of Oak Park, Illinois. 5. submitted on November 22, 2023, by Sean P. Flynn of Oak Park, Illinois. • Andrew Ruppenstein was the editor who published this page.