Friends in Council was founded in 1871 by Elizabeth Perkins Leonard, the first full-time female faculty member at Kansas University, and the study club is still going strong today.

It marked its 130th anniversary in January with a dinner celebration at Brandon Woods Retirement Community’s Smith Center. More than 60 people enjoyed a cocktail hour, dinner and presentations by various members.

The club, which has about 40 members, gathers three times a month during the academic year. During the meetings, a member presents a paper based on a subject relative to the topic of the year. This year’s topic is “Transitions.” The programs have ranged from topics on motherhood to improving with age.

Louise Hanson, who has been with the club for about 20 years, said she enjoys the experience of hearing and giving the papers. She said a lot of thought goes into each presentation. She starts working on her paper as soon as she knows what the topic is.

Joanne Feist, who has been a member for almost 10 years, agrees with Hanson.

“It gives me an excuse to spend a lot of time on research,” she said.

Feist said she also enjoys the camaraderie that the club offers.

Like many clubs, it has officers. This year’s officers are Frankie Kern, president; Barbara Backus McCorkle, vice president; Georgiana Torres and Linda Tuttle, secretaries; Beth Stella, treasurer; and Feist, historian.

Mary Allen has been a member since 1945, when someone asked her to join the club.

“I thought it was a great compliment to be asked to join,” she said.

Allen said it has been wonderful being associated with such an “intellectually, stimulating group.”