[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 160 (2014), Part 11]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages 16242-16243]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                 TRIBUTE TO THE OWLS' WHIST CLUB, INC.

                                 ______
                                 

                         HON. JAMES E. CLYBURN

                           of south carolina

                    in the house of representatives

                      Thursday, November 20, 2014

  Mr. CLYBURN. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to pay tribute to the Owls 
Whist Club, Inc., a historic organization founded 100 years ago in 
Charleston, SC. The club was founded on February 14, 1914 as something 
that was--in the words of their founding charter ``strictly social and 
for the entertainment of our friends.'' It was founded by a group of 
African American men and is one of the oldest social clubs of its kind 
in the United States.
  On November 26, 2014, they will be hosting their Annual Thanksgiving 
Eve event to continue their 100th anniversary celebration, and I plan 
to be in attendance.
  The earliest available records of the organization are the official 
minutes of their meetings and their constitution that was written in 
1924. The original members numbered sixteen, and when Arthur Clement, 
Jr. wrote ``A Brief History--Owls' Whist Club'' in 1950, he stated that 
Frank W. Dawson, the first host, was a barber.
  Each year the members hold a black tie affair. Many of these events 
were held at Dart Hall, which back then was the ``Negro Branch'' of the 
Charleston County Library. The members decided in 1939 that they would 
buy land and build their own place to hold events, and in 1945 they did 
just that. They purchased two lots in Maryville, SC directly across the 
Ashley river from the Citadel, South Carolina's Military College.
  During this time in Charleston's history, banks did not lend money to 
African Americans to construct buildings, consequently the

[[Page 16243]]

membership created a building fund. Each member was assessed a 
proportionate share of the cost of constructing the building now known 
as the Owls' Roost.
  The historical impact of this organization was proven throughout the 
20th century as this group of African American men overcame the racial 
nature of South Carolina. During its founding and throughout its 
development, the Owls' Whist Club members experienced numerous 
indignities and adversities, including numerous lynchings by vigilantes 
and several legislative actions by the SC House of Representatives that 
relegated African American citizens to a second-class existence.
  This club has given African American men of Charleston a place to 
socialize and strategize for 100 years. Its membership has always 
included a variety of occupations and when they meet on November 26 to 
celebrate this milestone they will do so with members and guests from 
every background and sets of experiences that is possible to gather 
under one roof, and holding fast to history and tradition, among their 
membership will be one barber.
  Mr. Speaker, I ask that you and my colleagues join me in 
congratulating the Owls' Whist Club on the celebration of their 100th 
Anniversary. I commend its members for continuing a much-needed 
tradition. Their perseverance and tenacity are appreciated by a 
grateful community.

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