The Club of Odd Volumes facts for kids

Quick facts for kids The Club of Odd Volumes
77 Mt. Vernon Street
General information
Location	Beacon Hill
Address	77 Mt. Vernon Street
Town or city	Boston
Country	United States
Coordinates	42°21′30″N 71°04′01″W / 42.358458°N 71.067054°W / 42.358458; -71.067054

The Club of Odd Volumes is a special private club in Boston, Massachusetts, USA. It was started in 1887. This club is for people who love books, especially rare and old ones. It's a place where book lovers can meet, share ideas, and learn more about literature.

Discovering the Club's Beginnings

The Club of Odd Volumes was founded on January 29, 1887. The people who started it had a clear goal. They wanted to make literature exciting, especially through printed books with cool pictures. They also wanted to help each other find rare and first-edition books. Plus, they aimed to create beautiful "Odd Volumes."

The word odd here doesn't mean strange. Back in the 1700s, it meant "various" or "unmatched." So, each member of the club is like a unique "odd volume" in a collection.

The idea for this club came from an English group called the Sette of Odd Volumes. That group was a book-loving dinner club started in 1878. George Clulow, who led the English club, even suggested the name "The Club of Odd Volumes" for the Boston group.

What the Club Does

At first, the club was mainly a dinner club. It was similar to other social clubs in Boston, like the Somerset Club and the Harvard Club. Over time, it grew to do much more.

Today, the club holds talks and meetings for dinners and lunches. Members also collect and publish books. They even put on special exhibits about literature and printing.

The club invites many interesting people to visit. These guests include authors, book designers, artists, and even politicians.

Famous Visitors

Many famous people have visited the Club of Odd Volumes:

• In 1906, the famous writer H. G. Wells (who wrote The War of the Worlds) visited after a dinner.
• In January 1921, the amazing magician Harry Houdini gave a talk about books on magic and theater.
• In 1923, the poet Amy Lowell and actress Ada Dwyer Russell were guests. Amy Lowell gave a talk about another poet, John Keats.
• In April 1949, Winston Churchill, who was a very important leader in England, had a private lunch at the club.

The Club's Home Building

Since 1936, the Club of Odd Volumes has been located at 77 Mt. Vernon Street in the Beacon Hill area of Boston. This building used to be the home of an artist named Sarah Wyman Whitman. Before buying this building, the club rented other buildings across the street.

Books and Collections

After it started, the club quickly grew. By 1900, it was holding many exhibits and publishing its own books. It also started building a library.

The club has a maximum of 87 members, and it's only for men. Many members are connected to Boston's universities, museums, and libraries. They are often people who collect rare books, work as curators, or are experts in printing and typography. The club continues to host exhibits on many topics, including printing, how letters are designed, and old books.

The Club of Odd Volumes has a large library filled with old and rare books. It also keeps a collection of items related to letterpress printing, which is an old way of printing. This special collection of about 2,200 books is only for club members to use.

Notable Members

Many important people have been members of the Club of Odd Volumes. Here are some of them:

Gallery

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  An exhibit by the Club of Odd Volumes at the Boston Art Club in 1889.

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  A special bookplate from the club, made in 1904.

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  A picture of the Club of Odd Volumes building on Mt. Vernon Street in 1911.

See also

• List of American gentlemen's clubs
• Books in the United States