Founded in 1886 by Joshua Williams Caldwell (1856-1909), the Irving Club is a private literary group in Knoxville, Tennessee, named after the writer and historian Washington Irving (1783-1859). The club comprises 24 members, with an equal number of “town” and “gown” affiliates, and meets weekly during the academic year for book reviews of approximately 30-40 minutes followed by lively discussions. For the final meeting of the academic year, The Club selects a common book (often, but not always, by a local author) to read and discuss.
Caldwell wrote in 1896 “The Club continues to be a free body held together by the bonds of friendship and of a desire for improvement. It has no constitution, almost no rules, and no formalities….Its aim is the culture of its members and thereby the good of the community. It avoids publicity, believing that its true policy is to confine its direct work to its own members.” These values continue to inform the Irving Club’s activities.
The Club has included some of Knoxville’s most notable citizens, and the University of Tennessee Libraries maintains an archive (MS 3649) of the Club’s papers. Today’s members include current or former chancellor’s professors (Amy Elias, Beauvais Lyons, Hap McSween, Susan Reichert); and campus leaders, Todd Freeberg and Chris Craig. Among community members are retired Episcopal priest (and former attorney) Charles Fels; retired US Attorney John Gill; actor Steve Dupree; Knox County librarian Nelda Hill; and Knoxville historian Jack Neely.