Kosmos Club (1892-1929) (Chattanooga, Tenn.)
Biography
Six women founded the Kosmos Club, a literary society in Chattanooga, Tennessee, in 1892. The women, who referred to themselves as the Kosmos, grew their informal book exchange into a membership recognized by the Tennessee Federation of Women's Clubs, which was established in 1894. The members were philanthropically and politically active, regularly donating funds and issuing statements in support of legislation. They typically supported women's and children's causes through charitable giving and scholarships. An 1894 article in the Chattanooga Daily Times newspaper indicated that the women discussed issues including social reform, women's suffrage, banking, and the "relation of state laws to woman."
The Kosmos joined the General Federation of Women's Clubs and the Tennessee Federation of Women's Clubs in 1894 and 1896 respectively.
As membership grew, the women of the Kosmos Club organized themselves into departments, including the following: American Citizenship, American Home, Applied Education, Fine Arts, International Relations, Legislation, Press and Publicity, Public Welfare, and Junior Clubs. The group governed themslves by means of a Constitution abd Bylaws.
The Kosmos Club owned property located at 900 Oak Street in the Fort Wood neighborhood of Chattanooga, Tennessee.
In 1929, the Chattanooga Woman's Club and the Kosmos Club merged forming the Kosmos-Woman's Club. Following the merger, the combined membership retained many of the Kosmos' traditions, including adopting "A Collect for Club Women," authored by Mary Stewart in 1904 as prayer for the organization.