tell me about the Oglethorpe Club (Savannah: house, closing, clubs)

[harveythelawyer]

I'm fairly new to the area, and have been invited to join the Oglethorpe Club, and it appears that a lot of prestigious business people meet there. I have been there for lunch once, and the food is excellent. However, I have heard various insinuations that it still practices racial and religious discrimination (i.e., only white, non-Jewish members allowed). I have no doubt that this was true historically, though I haven't been able to confirm directly whether this is still accurate. If this is true, I will not join. Does anyone here have any knowledge of this?

[doerunner]

tell them that your wife is black and just watch their reaction!!

[Padgett2]

If you want to really make a statement, then, if you find out that it is true, resign and tell them why.

A lot of things used to be true like this. However, there have been a lot of changes too. The Oglethorpe Club could be one of those that understand that times have changed.

Do you know any of the members well enough to ask?

[DanielAvery]

I thought I read a while back that they had to close down, or were closing. Maybe I'm thinking of the First City Club. [/confused]

Whatever the case, I would think they would send some literature with the paperwork you might receive when invited to join. You might have to "read between the lines" a bit, of course. I would think they would at the very least have lists of current members you could use to research a bit, see if the surnames are closer to a cross section of the population of Savannah.

[gentlearts]

The First City Club closed down. I have not heard of the Oglethorpe Club, but can check on it. It seems to me that the struggle for survival has caused most of these clubs to see the light.
I did a little checking, and Jim Williams, of "the book" was apparently a member, so gays are OK, and I know they accept women, so surely they are open in their membership?

[DanielAvery]

Jim Williams, of "the book" was apparently a member, so gays are OK

Ehhh, I think JW was "in demand" because he had those famous parties at the house and everybody wanted to be seen hob-nobbing with the supposedly "high society" types. They likely turned a blind eye to his personal life and did everything they could to avoid that pink elephant in the room--at least when dealing with him socially. Granted, it was a bit before my time, but I doubt Savannah's upper-crusty types embraced JW's homosexuality; I'd think it was just a taboo subject only whispered about behind his back.

Today, however, I think a vast majority of the public would just overlook such things as sexual orientation or religious background, and since the club is mainly to make business contacts, you'd have to be stupid to allow your prejudices to handicap your chances at making potentially lucrative contacts.

[Sunny_Isles]

Originally Posted by harveythelawyer

I'm fairly new to the area, and have been invited to join the Oglethorpe Club, and it appears that a lot of prestigious business people meet there. I have been there for lunch once, and the food is excellent. However, I have heard various insinuations that it still practices racial and religious discrimination (i.e., only white, non-Jewish members allowed). I have no doubt that this was true historically, though I haven't been able to confirm directly whether this is still accurate. If this is true, I will not join. Does anyone here have any knowledge of this?

Non-white members?! When my parents were members you couldn't even have a non-white person as a guest, which the club took very seriously. I'd be surprised if they actually had non-white members by now. Also, there was a male-only room upstairs. Do they still have that room? Keep us posted.

[Sunny_Isles]

I hope it's obvious that my reply above is very sarcastic in tone, which upon rereading it I'm not so sure that it is.

The Oglethorpe Club is probably one of the least egalitarian clubs in Savannah. The side entrance is/was the "gentlemen's club/room," which you can see here: Oglethorpe Club

It's doubtful that they've changed much, but I'm interested to know if they have. The fact that someone who just moved to Savannah and was asked to join immediately without knowing much about it might indicate that they have changed. That would be nice to know.

[savannahmama]

although not a lot of Jewish members or African Americans at the Club...there are a few...it has changed for the better

[pink caddy]

Originally Posted by savannahmama

although not a lot of Jewish members or African Americans at the Club...there are a few...it has changed for the better

Is that like "she's just a little pregnant"?