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Serving Durham and the World Since 1916
In 2016, the Durham Rotary Club celebrated its centennial year. It received its charter in early 1916 about ten years after the birth of Rotary. From humble beginnings in 1905 Rotary grew into one of the world’s largest civic and service organizations. More than a million members belong to 36,000 clubs in more than 200 countries.
Rotary’s founder was Paul Harris, a Chicago attorney. He proposed forming a club to promote members’ professions and provide opportunities for fellowship. Meeting places rotated among its members—hence the name Rotary. A few years later, Rotary adopted the familiar spoked wheel as its official emblem.
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Soon after, Rotary’s goals of boosterism and fellowship began shifting to community service. Its initial slogan “He Profits Most Who Serves Best” evolved into the current motto “Service Above Self.” Rotary clubs undertake projects to benefit their communities and the world. The Duke-UNC Rotary Peace Center—one of only six in the world–studies ways to resolve international conflict. Rotary Foundation grants target health, hunger and literacy around the world. Rotary’s Global Scholarship program is the largest privately funded study abroad program. Rotary Youth Exchange students live with Rotary families in foreign countries. The short-term Vocational Training Teams is a program for young, non-Rotarian professionals. They meet their counterparts in other countries and live with Rotary families.
Rotary International launched its most ambitious program—Polio Plus—in the late 1980s. Aided by the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, Polio Plus has immunized 2 billion children in 122 countries. This crippling and once feared disease is on the brink of extinction. Until the second half of the 20th century, Rotary was a white male organization. The civil rights movement and pressure to admit women produced welcome change. In 1969 two prominent African Americans joined Durham Rotary. A 1987 Supreme Court ruling opened the door for women. Within months Durham Rotary had its first female member. Since 1997, five women have served as club presidents. These changes produced exciting new leadership, new energy, and new visions.
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Rotary’s “Four-Way Test” promotes ethical relationships in business and personal lives:
Of the things we think, say or do:
Is it the TRUTH?
Is it FAIR to all concerned?
Will it build GOODWILL and BETTER FRIENDSHIPS?
Will it be BENEFICIAL to all concerned?
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Rotary Arrives in Durham
The early years of the 20th century witnessed a quickening of civic spirit and commercial activity in Durham. It was in this heady atmosphere that 17 prominent businessmen formed the Durham Rotary Club. They gathered at the Malbourne Hotel on the evening of Tuesday, November 9, 1915 to set in motion the establishment of a Rotary club in Durham.
Waller Holladay, a local photographer took the initiative. The Rotary movement was making its way across the country in small cities as well as metropolises. Raleigh established the first club in North Carolina. Then Wilmington and Asheville. In January 1916 the Rotary Club of Durham received charter 196.
From its start, Durham Rotary set its sights on community service. The club’s first gift to the city was a granite bandstand erected in a new park behind City Hall. This gift began Rotary’s century of service to the city. It serves as inspiration for the centennial theme of “100 Acts of Service Above Self.” After the city sold the site for the construction of the deluxe Washington Duke Hotel, the bandstand moved to Bennett Place.
Regular attendance at weekly meetings was strictly enforced. A fine of 25 cents was levied on latecomers. One of the clubs’ first purchases was a Big Ben alarm clock ro ensure speakers didn’t drone on too long. Fellowship was not neglected. Members’ wives—”Rotary Anns” as they were then known—attended club picnics and “Ladies Nights” dinners.
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Background Image: Postcard of the Durham Rotary Club Bandstand in the original Rotary Park in 1916
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Great distinction came to the club in 1929 when Gene Newsom was elected President of Rotary International. He had been the club’s first president and, later, District Governor. His interest in promoting “understanding and goodwill among peoples” was mirrored at home by a proposal to establish ties with the Rotary Club of Durham, England. Delayed by the Depression and World War II, close relations eventually materialized. Regular exchange visits now occur and the two clubs often collaborate in sponsoring international health and literacy projects.
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Image Right: Rotary International former President Gene Newsom and 1st president of the Durham Rotary Club
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Durham Rotarians are active on many fronts supporting community needs and improvement. Volunteers enthusiastically staff Salvation Army kettles during the holiday season. For years, a woodcutting project provided firewood to needy households. Spelling bees raised money for the Literacy Council. Rotarians voiced concern as downtown Durham grew more dilapidated in the 1980s and 1990s. Several Rotarians provided key leadership in revitalizing the area. A Community Fund and the Brown Family Scholarship fund—currently about $150,000—support worthwhile projects. International projects in India and Uruguay among other countries provide safe drinking water, improved sanitation, and medical treatment for leprosy patients.
Rotarians have fun too! Regular fun events include annual Progressive dinners, group attendance at Broadway shows at DPAC, taking kids to Durham Bulls’ games, relaxing informally at Rotary After Hours, junkets to District Conferences, the Centennial Year, and end of year parties are just some of the ways Rotarians enjoy fellowship.
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Background Image: "Durham County Cottage at Jackson Training School, Concord, N.C., a Community Service Project of the Rotary Club of Durham. Undertaken in 1919 and finished in 1921, the building is still serving the purpose for which it was planned. Almost insurmountable difficulties were met and overcome by Rotarians in the true Rotary Spirit."
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DID YOU KNOW?
The Durham City Manager, four of five Durham County Commissioners, the Durham Superintendent of Schools, and the Durham Police Chief (former) are all currently members of the Durham Rotary Club.
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Background Image: Rotary emblem courtesy of the Rotary International website
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Rotary and Durham Youth
Many of Durham Rotary’s programs deal with education and literacy. Early on, the club took boys to Durham Bulls games played at Trinity College—now Duke University. This tradition continues today at the current ballpark. Over the years, Rotary fielded youth baseball games. Rotarians stepped up to find part-time jobs or make loans to boys and girls who were on the brink of dropping out of school. Durham Rotary even helped establish a YMCA camp. It passed a resolution encouraging adequate pay for teachers. When the club learned that an effort was afoot to remove Durham State Normal School (NCCU) from the city, a Rotary delegation lobbied successfully on behalf of the college.
The club enjoys close relations with Duke University. Its first president, William Few, became an Honorary member. Robert Flowers, Duke’s second president, served as club president. Other faculty and administrators have played prominent leadership roles in the club. Legendary football coaches Wallace Wade and Bill Murray and basketball coach Eddie Cameron joined. Club members have served as hosts and mentors for international Peace Scholars. Durham Rotary piloted “Million Meals,” a District project to combat hunger. Students from Durham Tech, NCCU and Duke take part along with Rotary volunteers to assemble meals.
Many projects promote literacy and develop leadership skills among K–12 students. Durham Rotary awards college scholarships to graduating seniors from Durham high schools. The club sponsors students to attend the annual Rotary Youth Leadership Awards retreat. Essay and speech contests encourage teens to make responsible choices in their everyday lives.
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Image Left: Rotary Cabin Camp Kanata
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In recent years businesses represented in Durham Rotary have played a major role in collecting school supplies for Durham Public Schools through the highly successful Fill That Bus (Crayons2Calculators) program. The value of donated supplies rose from $5,000 in its first year to over $183,000 in 2015. Several club members provided leadership in establishing the East Durham Children’s Initiative. EDCI seeks to address a literacy gap and to prepare students for a successful future. The club’s earliest recognition of this problem actually dates to the early 1990s.
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Image Right: Reading Rangers
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A special relationship developed between Durham Rotary and Y. E. Smith Elementary School. This relationship took a giant leap forward at the beginning of the 2012 school year with the creation of the “Reading Rangers” program. Rotary volunteers and others provide one-on-one tutoring. Another literacy program is “Books on Break.” Aided by Rotary volunteers, this non-profit gives a book bag and 10 books of their choosing to Y. E. Smith Elementary School students at the end of the school year. Its goal is to ensure that student reading skills will not regress over the summer break.
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Image Left: “Books on Break” Poster
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100 Acts of Service Above Self
From its founding in 1915 Durham Rotary has been committed to serving the community. Rather than a major club project to celebrate its centennial year, Durham Rotary decided to take advantage of the diverse talents and interests of its members. It adopted the theme of “100 Acts of Service Above Self” to the community and the world. By the end of 2015 the club and its individual members had performed more than 3000 acts of service.
To carry out its projects the club set a goal of $100,000. Instead, it raised over $265,000.
Among some of the many Acts of Service: the construction of a Habitat for Humanity House thanks to a major gift from Andy and Placide Barada. This marks the sixth Habitat house that Durham Rotary has sponsored over the years. Another major undertaking was Rotary Day at CenterFest. The club has been active in promoting health and combating hunger. Volunteers prepped or served meals at Urban Ministries, Durham Rescue Mission, and East Durham Children’s Initiative. Club volunteers helped assemble more than 80,000 food packages as part of a MLK “Million Meals” project. Durham Rotary promotes Education and Literacy through Reading Rangers, Books on Break and Crayons2Calucators, college scholarships, and the Rotary Youth Leadership Award retreat. In cooperation with Duke Corporate Education and YMCA, Rotarians built and decorated Little Free Libraries placed around the city.
The club engaged civic service in several ways. Club members staffed tables at the Farmer's Market to publicize community activities. Volunteers took up paint brushes to freshen up the Carolina Theater. The club has supported the establishment of this history museum. Rotarians ring bells in the holiday season for the Salvation Army’s “Kettle” fund-raising. Volunteers and grants supported Full Frame, American Dance Festival, Museum of Life and Science, Durham Symphony, the 150th anniversary of the surrender of Confederate forces at Bennett Place, and Science Olympiad in schools.
In the past few years, the club has placed increased emphasis on International Service. The club has hosted Rotary Vocational Training Teams, Rotary Global Scholars, and Rotary Peace Scholars from foreign countries. In the last decade leading up to the centennial, the club sponsored nine international Rotary projects to promote health, safe water, and literacy projects. The $318,000 invested by Durham Rotary is leveraged by Rotary to result in $1,000,000 in benefits. The Rotary Clubs of Durham, England and host country Rotary clubs have been co-sponsors. Several members also play prominent roles in Durham’s Sister Cities program.
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Background Image: Carolyn Aronson decorates Little Free Libraries
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DID YOU KNOW?
Impact During Our Centennial Year:
- 2,500 Meals Prepared & Served
- 200+ Youth: Individuals, Groups & Schools Helped
- International Projects
- 337 Durham Individuals
- Sister Cities
- Student Exchanges
- Seniors 200+ Individuals Assisted
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All images and information presented by courtesy of the Durham Rotary Club. This exhibit was on display at the Museum of Durham History in the spring of 2016. It was originally curated by Don Stanger and Allen Cronenberg.
This digital exhibit was developed by Blaire Gardner in 2025.
Credits:
Created with images by mangolovemom - "A group of people holding hands around a globe" • tonjung - "Solidarity unite people hands together community teamwork. Hands of spirit team working together outdoor. Unity strong handshake with people or agreement of feeling or happy diverse education action"