November 2025 - History Corner

#194 in an ongoing series about the history of the Hillside Club

Once Upon a Hillside: 25, 50, 75, 100, and 125 years ago

November 1900

The Hillside Club was founded on 5 October 1898. No newspaper articles about the young Hillside Club could be found for this month.

November 1925

Business Meeting, November 2

Who makes our best citizens? Nordics? Latins? Slavs? Who can decide? A discussion of our citizens of Latin ancestry in their influences and effects on the social and economic development of California will be presented by Mr. Sam Green, who has worked with them for a quarter century. [Despite the obvious fact that everyone in North America—excepting the Native Americans—is an immigrant, Americans have never shied away from debate over immigration. For much of its history, the Hillside Club was a very white and politically conservative organization.]

Assembly Dance, November 14

The first Hillside Assembly was most delightful. The Virginia Reel served to rejuvenate several of the “elders,” while the old-fashioned waltzes captured even the ultra-moderns. Please join us at our second Assembly!

Fall Play: “Isle of Calico, Land of Dreams,” November 16

His Highness commands all his loyal Calicoian subjects to assemble at the Imperial House on Monday, November the 16^th, at eight hours and thirty minutes past meridian, to witness the coronation of his Queen. The ceremonies will be in accord with the ancient rites of Calico and becoming the spirit of the festival of Amoloto. The Imperial Bay entreats his loyal subjects to apparel with the national garments and for which he will appropriately express royal pleasure.

Club Notes

Theater Party: Don’t forget the first Thursday of the new play at the Fulton Theatre is still our party. All receipts go to the Stage Equipment Fund.

Work Days: Have you noticed the improvements by the Grounds Committee? Or the new dressing rooms built by the Stage Committee? Heed the call on “Labor Days”!

November 1950

The Hillside Club has a nearly complete archive of monthly newsletters. Unfortunately, there is a gap from October 1949 through January 1951.

November 1975

Fireside Meeting, November 3

The “balance of power” relationship between the three branches of our federal government is generally acknowledged as the safeguard of our “free” society. The practical dividing line of authority is not and has not always been clear cut. Even as we approach our bicentennial celebration, we are watching exciting confrontations between the Executive and the Legislature. Have you been wishing that you had more background on the constitutional and historical development of “The Powers of the President?” The Fireside Program Committee has been most fortunate in having Professor Diane S. Clemens, History Department, UCB, agree to speak to us on this very subject. [Diane Shaver Clemens (1936-2016) was just the third female professor to join Cal’s History Department, in 1972.

November 2000

The Club’s archive of printed monthly newsletters ended with the May 1994 issue. If you know of a source for any newsletters between 1994 and the Club’s renaissance in the early 2000s, your historian would love to hear about it!