The Whitechapel Club was started in 1889 by a small group of newspapermen in Chicago, Illinois.
" ''Chicago Unbelievable''. Awesome Inc., 10,6,2008. Web. 28 May 2011. The club was named after the
area in London where
Jack the Ripper murdered his victims.
[The Whitechapel Club: Defining Chicago]
" ''The Whitechapel Club''. Loyola University of New Orleans, 1998. Web. 23 May 2011. .
" Casebook: Jack the Ripper. ''Chicago Times'', 4/12/1890. Web. 28 May 2011. It only lasted five years, ending in 1894.
[
While the core of the club members were newspapermen, the club members included artists, musicians, physicians and lawyers. Some of the well known members of the club included ]Brand Whitlock
Brand Whitlock (March 4, 1869 – May 24, 1934) was an American journalist, attorney, politician, Georgist, four-time mayor of Toledo, Ohio elected on the Independent ticket; ambassador to Belgium, and author of numerous articles and books, both ...
, George Ade
George Ade (February 9, 1866 – May 16, 1944) was an American writer, syndicated newspaper columnist, and playwright who gained national notoriety at the turn of the 20th century with his "Stories of the Streets and of the Town", a column that ...
, and Finley Peter Dunne
Finley Peter Dunne (born Peter Dunne; July 10, 1867 – April 24, 1936) was an American humorist, journalist and writer from Chicago. In 1898 Dunne published ''Mr. Dooley in Peace and in War'', a collection of his nationally syndicated Mr. Dooley ...
.
Inside, the Whitechapel Club looked more like a trophy room for murderers rather than club house.[ Walls were decorated with Indian blankets soaked with blood, nooses, knives that had been used to kill, and pictures of pirates who had been beheaded.][ Skulls, used to drink red fruit juice, lay everywhere,][ and a full-size model of their "President," Jack the Ripper, was placed in a corner.][ Pipes, cigars, and alcohol would be easily found in any room as well.
Meetings at the Whitechapel Club would usually start around midnight.][ Because Jack the Ripper was never in attendance, meetings would be chaired by the Vice-President.][ Club meetings were very private, although guests very occasionally were brought. During meetings, people would tell stories, jokes, poems, or monologues.][ It was customary to yell insults at whoever rose to speak to the club.][ Throughout the meetings, members would drink heavily.][
In later years of the club's existence, membership became very coveted. In order to become a member a candidate had to go through an initiation.][ First, only two members of any profession could belong to the club at any time.][ The new member, known as a probationary member, would go to club meetings for one month. At any time during that month, another member could reject him from becoming a member. If the first month was survived a club-wide vote would be made whether to keep or reject the man. If one vote was a “No” he would not get membership to the club.][ Brand Whitlock, at the time the political correspondent for the ''Chicago Herald'', remembered that a candidate was required to come to meetings five nights a week for a month while his name was pinned to a bulletin board; any member who disagreed with the potential membership could just take the name down.][
]
References
American newspaper people
Clubs and societies in the United States
Organizations based in Chicago
1889 establishments in Illinois
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