“Memories of the Country Club” is a humorous take on women’s history.

Throughout United States history, women have been excluded from memberships and entrance into country clubs, an unequal tradition dating to the invention of country clubs with some modern institutions continuing to bar entrance. A newspaper article from The New York Times dated to April 30, 1962, titled “The Country Club Yields To Women,” outlines the changing dynamics of Country Clubs as more clubs begin to allow women and families into the clubhouse. “Once a Haven for Men Only, It Has Become a Social Center for the Family.” Protests around women gaining entrance to clubs do not end in the 60s. A Newspaper article from 1993 from The New York times expresses the frustration single women have with country clubs, as clubs would only allow married women to become club members.

Mrs. Alice makes a pointed attack on the men who imposed these rules of gender exclusion, depicting them as school children playing in a shack labeled with the sign “no grils aloud.” Not only are the children protecting a poorly built wooden shack, but they are also unable to write a coherent sign baring women’s entry. This work along with her work “What’s So New with Women’s Lib” illustrates Moseley’s humorous and rebellious spirit.

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There are many layers of humor and wit to this painting. Alice painted a group of boys trying to keep girls out of their clubhouse, with the one girl raising her fists in fury. The humor comes from not only the juvenile attitude of the boys, but all the gross misspellings all over the clubhouse. This is made even funnier by the fact that Alice was an English teacher for decades; purposefully misspelling those words was probably rather difficult for her!

The title could have multiple meanings. It could be completely in jest; for the boys, their little clubhouse is like a grand country club. The title could also be Alice’s way of making a social comment on how several country clubs would not allow women membership. Considering the ample misspellings, Alice didn’t have high opinions of those men’s intelligence.

According to Tim Moseley, Alice’s son:

Country clubs have great faith in their ability to keep at arm’s length life’s undesirables (most of us). These young scholars, in their wisdom (just look at their spelling), have decided NO GRILS ALOUD. I am sure that young ladies for miles around felt very happy about their decision. Groucho Marx, the comedian from long ago said, “Any country club that would allow me in is a country club that I would not want to be a member of, not exclusive enough.”

Sources:

By CLARENCE DEAN The New,York Times. THE COUNTRY CLUB YIELDS TO WOMEN: ONCE A HAVEN FOR MEN ONLY, IT HAS BECOME A SOCIAL CENTER FOR THE FAMILY MEMBERSHIP EXPANDING SOCIAL STATUS AND BUSINESS POTENTIAL SPUR GROWTH --TAX WRITE-OFFS USED EXPANDING ACTIVITIES A FEW HOLD OUT DIVERSIFICATION IS THE NEW THEME FOR COUNTRY CLUBS THE COUNTRY CLUB YIELDS TO WOMEN WOMEN'S LOCKER ROOMS MANSION REMODELED SOME CORPORATIONS PAY. New York Times (1923-). Apr 30 1962:28.

1. By LYNETTE HOLLOWAYSpecial to The New,York Times. What? no husband?: Single women join the fight to breach barriers at exclusive country clubs REGION single women join the fight to breach barriers at exclusive country clubs. New York Times (1923-). Aug 16 1993:2.