• Chevy Chase Reads

    Chevy Chase Reads

    Overview

    This exhibition discusses the history of three early Chevy Chase groups associated with a love of books and literature. Drawing on historic photographs, documents, and memoirs from the CCHS archive, the exhibition features illustrated narratives about each group, including biographical sketches for many of the most active members. The groups provide a glimpse of the first days of the new suburb of Chevy Chase, and demonstrate that a love of reading helped create friendship networks, build a sense of community, and ultimately helped form the first public building in the suburb, the Chevy Chase Library.

     

    Image credit:     The Chevy Chase Reading Class, c. 1905.

     

  • Chevy Chase Reads

    Female in a rocking chair reading c. 1900-1910

    In this exhibit we learn about a remarkable group of Chevy Chase residents who created the first community associations and public institution for readers between 1896 and the early 1900s.

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  • Free Library Association

    Chevy Chase Library and Post Office c 1905

    In this section, we describe the Free Library Association and its efforts to raise money for the first library in Chevy Chase.

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  • The Reading Class

    Group image of women members of The Chevy Chase Reading Class c. 1905

    Read about Chevy Chase's first literary club that operated from 1899 to 1962.

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  • Reading Class Members

    3 members of The Chevy Chase Reading Class

    Learn about the extraordinary women who founded the Chevy Chase Reading Class.

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  • Reading Class Book List

    The Chevy Chase Reading Class Program - booklet featuring a list of books for the year

    Explore digitized and transcribed annual programs and reading lists from the Chevy Chase Reading Class.

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  • The Literary Club

    Group image of men who were members of the Honorary Economic Epicureans group

    This section features short biographies of members of the co-ed Chevy Chase Association Literary Club, founded in 1907.

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  • Book Groups Today

    Group shot of the Primrose Street Book Club 2013

    In this section, we discuss reading groups in Chevy Chase today.

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  • About the Exhibit

    A Chevy Chase Reading Class Program

    Read about the sources for the exhibition and additional resources to learn more.

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