The Timpanogos Club began on a winter day early in 1913. Samuel Russell Jr. and Preston Nibley sat in a McCormick Building office discussing the need for closer friendship with some of the men in the community, men whom they considered were accomplishing things in the city and state. They jotted down a tentative list of those to invite and Preston Nibley went up and down the street delivering those invitations.
Their first meeting was held at the “Wilson European Hotel.” The Wilson Hotel was located on the south side of Second South, between Main and State Streets, about where the Gallivan Center is located today.
At that first meeting, held in a small room in the hotel dining area, there were ten to twelve men present. Levi Edgar Young gave the first speech. The question of what this newly-founded club should be called was discussed for over a year. Many names were discussed until one of the club members, probably Levi Edgar Young, suggested the name “Timpanogos,” referring to the oldest geographical name connected with this region.
The constitution of the club evolved from year to year and in December 1916, at the annual meeting, the Articles of Association were adopted. In January 1924 the bylaws were formulated and in 1928 the articles and bylaws were revised. At each meeting members of the club were given copies of talks and letters pertaining to ongoing historical interests of the club. This practice continued until 1928 when it slowly disappeared. In 1957 certain policies were redefined and again members were distributed bulletins that defined such things as program assignments, suggestions regarding discussions, and general information regarding the club.
In a talk given in 1979, Harlan Y. Hammon said about the progress of the club, “Well, we have been operating continuously for sixty-six years or two-thirds of a century. Two hundred eighty men have been admitted to membership during this time…From the old Wilson Hotel we have moved to the posh Hotel Utah Presidents Room. The quality of our membership is still surprisingly high…What amazes me is that [after] sixty-six years we are as strong and active and vital as we are.”
When the Hotel Utah was closed in 1987, the Timpanogos Club moved the meeting place from there to the Alta Club, on the corner of State Street and South Temple, where it continues to meet monthly, except during the summer months and December.
The purposes of this club as stated in the First Quadrennial are that, “We propose to give the name Timpanogos a significance of its own. It is our purpose that it shall denote a high quality of intellect and moral strength and become a name of distinction and honor in this region.”
For those with further interest in the history of the Timpanogos Club, there are some very interesting documents available in the Archives of the University of Utah, “Timpanogos Club records, 1913-1979.” You can see the summary of these records by clicking here. You may also be able to go the the Marriott Library on the University of Utah campus and see the records in person.