On January 12, 1894, 23 ladies met at the home of Mrs. Cogswell on East Street to discuss the possible formation of a ladies literary society. After studying the organization of the Bay View Reading Circle and the South End Literary Society, the ladies began the action by holding officer elections, writing a constitution and planning future meetings. Cogswell was elected the first President of the newly formed East Side Ladies Literary Club (ESLLC) and the constitution was approved on January 23, 1894.

In 1896 the ESLLC became federated under the Grand Rapids Federation of Women's Clubs as one of that organization's twelve original member clubs. The ESLLC gained state federation in 1899 and again in 1934 after a brief hiatus.

The ESLLC's original purpose was for the development of literary and social culture among its members. They undertook mental improvement, study of the vital interests of the day and benevolent work within their sphere. Throughout its existence the club held a membership level of twenty to just over fifty ladies. In later years, the club functioned primarily as a social society, limiting its charitable work to only a few projects per year.

Also found in this collection are documents for the Kent County Women’s Club. Little is known about this club, or how the documents of that organization came to be included with those of ESLLC. It appears that the Kent County Women’s Club disbanded sometime in the 1980’s, while the ESLLC continued to meet until around the year 2000.