We Are A Part of Calgary’s History

The Calgary Women’s Literary Club convened its first meeting on February 9, 1906, and has met continuously since then. The objectives of the club are to pursue the study of literature and to preserve the club’s history. 

Read more about the history of our club and the role the club had in bringing a library to Calgary in the Our History section.

What Makes Us a Book Club With a Difference?

Our Format:

We meet on Tuesday afternoons from 1:30 to 3:00 in October and November, and again in March and April.    After a brief social gathering and information meeting, one of our members gives a 30–35-minute presentation, followed by questions and discussion.    Each year we choose a theme, and members choose an author for their presentation.  Members are asked to present every two years.   Themes over the years have included Calgary writers, Nobel Prize winners, mystery writers, the role of humour, irony and satire.   The presenter emphasizes the literary aspects of an author’s work, the author’s life and times, and some readings from the body of work. Occasionally we have guest speakers, many of whom are authors themselves.

Our Heritage:

Records of the club are on permanent loan to the Glenbow Archives, from the minutes of the first meeting to the present day minutes. Club records are maintained by our club Historian, who is an active member of the Executive.

Our Members:

The most important thing about the club is the people. Our members are a diverse group who love books, who enjoy researching a topic, and presenting it to a group. If that’s you, check us out. We welcome guests and new members.   If you are interested in learning more, go to the Contact Us page.