For 124 Years, a Book Club Has United Fort Dodge Women
For more than a century, the Ingleside Study Club has brought together the women of Fort Dodge through their shared passion for one of humanity’s oldest arts — reading. Established in October 1901 by eleven women, this circle has continued to thrive for 124 years.
The word "Ingleside" means “fireside,” a fitting image for the warmth and fellowship that have defined the club since its beginning, when books were often read aloud beside the hearth.
Today, twenty-seven women gather twice a month to discuss literature and sustain friendships that have lasted decades. From its founding, the group served as a space for women to learn and grow at a time when they were still barred from voting — two decades before the 19th Amendment granted that right nationwide.
“The original founders of Ingleside Club were women who invested themselves and their families in constructing the foundations on which Fort Dodge is built — physically, culturally, spiritually,” said Joyce Garton-Natte, current president, retired dentist, and Presbyterian lay minister.
“Members today are, likewise, invested in this city and influential in keeping that foundation firm. Women like Sarah Kelly, our longest-term member with 67 years of membership, personify the commitment and enthusiasm, supportiveness and gentility on which Ingleside was and is formed.”
Enduring Legacy
The club’s spirit of self-education and female fellowship continues to inspire, preserving its founders’ vision of intellectual and personal growth within the Fort Dodge community.
Author’s summary: For 124 years, the Ingleside Study Club has fostered learning, friendship, and civic spirit among Fort Dodge women, embodying continuity and commitment across generations.