"Iuka Remembers"
In Boston at the 1950 National Convention of the General Federation of Women's Clubs.
Pictured left to right: Mrs. Hermes Gautier, President of the Mississippi Federation of Women's Clubs; Mrs. O. T. Gaines, Club Secretary; Mrs. P. L. Sweeney; Mrs. J. E. Thomas, Club Reporter; Mrs. E. E. Cutshall, Club President-Elect; Mrs. K. L. Rushing, Club Chairman of the Contest; Mrs. J. L. Blair Buck, National President of the General Federation of Women's Clubs; Joseph B. Hall, President of the Kroger Company; Mrs. Minor R. Nixon, Club President; Mrs. T. B. Collum.
Iuka Turns Out on Front Street to Hear the Winning News from Boston
May 31, 1950
Mrs. J. L. Blair Buck, retiring president of the General Federation of Women's Clubs — an organization representing over ten million members Internationally — saluted the 19 members of the winning Iuka Twentieth Century Club during the 1950 “Build a Better Community” contest awards presentation in Boston.
"We all take off our hats to the Twentieth Century Club," she said, “and 10,000,000 women taking off their hats to 19 is really something.”
Women of the Winning Iuka 20th Century Club
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This series marks the 75th anniversary of Iuka, Mississippi's 1950 triumph in the nationwide Build a Better Community contest. Led by the women of the Iuka Twentieth Century Club, the effort earned Iuka national recognition as America's Friendliest Town. We revisit the people, pride, and spirit behind that unlikely victory—and explore why it still matters today.
"This project includes a series of articles, images from the original winning scrapbook, and historical highlights curated for public and press access."
If you are new here:
Iuka
Pronounced: (eye-YOU-kuh)
The town’s namesake was a Chickasaw Indian Chief
Links Between Boston and Iuka
This AI generated sketch was created to represent a 1950 photograph by Christian Science Monitor staff photographer Gordon N. Converse. It captures seven members of Iuka’s 20th Century Club at the national convention of the General Federation of Women’s Clubs in Boston, playfully posing as if phoning home with exciting news.
Iuka Remembers
A Series of Articles
A Fascinating Valentine's Day Connection
DATELINE - THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 13, 2025, TISHOMINGO CO. NEWS VOL. 141, NO. 31
On February 14, 1950, Iuka's 20th Century Club submitted their entry to the "Build a Better Community" contest...
APRIL FOOLS' — OR WAS IT?
DATELINE - THURSDAY, APRIL 3, 2025, TISHOMINGO CO. NEWS VOL. 141: NO. 38
The front page of The Vidette on Thursday, April 6, 1950, screamed the headline IUKA TWENTIETH CENTURY CLUB NAMED FIRST PRIZE WINNER...
A Wave of Excitement: Iuka’s Final Push to Build a Better Nation
DATELINE - THURSDAY, APRIL 17, 2025, TISHOMINGO CO. NEWS VOL. 141: NO. 40
April 1950, a phone call electrified Iuka, Mississippi - and set off a movement that would make national history. As the town raced to shine for the final judging, neighbors painted, cleaned, and came together, proving that true community spirit could change everything.
Dreams Swept Clean -- Dateline - May 1950
DATELINE - THURSDAY, MAY 15, 2025, TISHOMINGO CO. NEWS VOL. 141: NO. 44
Iuka Glistened Like a Walt Disney Toy Town as its Twentieth Century Club nears their historic victory.
The Nineteen Who Moved Mountains
DATELINE - THURSDAY, MAY 22, 2025, TISHOMINGO CO. NEWS VOL. 141: NO. 45
The Hometown Twelve and The Seven Who Carried the Light to BOSTON on the Midnight Train.
Ten Million Women Tip Their Hats to luka
DATELINE - THURSDAY, JUNE 12, 2025, TISHOMINGO CO. NEWS VOL. 141: NO. 47
Iuka's 20th Century Club wins top prize in the yearlong national "Build a Better Community" contest.
On the Brink of Celebration - And War
DATELINE - THURSDAY, JUNE 26, 2025, TISHOMINGO CO. NEWS VOL. 141: NO. 49
As Iuka prepares for "Iuka Day" inviting the world to America's Friendly Town, shadows of war darken the horizon.
When Nineteen Women Won a Nation's Respect
DATELINE - THURSDAY, JULY 10, 2025, TISHOMINGO CO. NEWS VOL. 142: NO. 2
“Iuka Day” — Lest we forget… When the Iuka Twentieth Century Club received a $10,000 check, both town and nation gained a deeper understanding of their strength and purpose.
Coming Soon
A Timeline of Events
We will follow the arc of events as they played out 75 years ago — the rise of 19 women and their town to national acclaim, and the quieter ebb as the crashing wave stroked the shore before slipping back into the sea. (research ongoing)
February 14, 1950 - Valentine's Day, Mrs. Minor Nixon, the Iuka 20th Century Club president, ships off entry into the "Build a Better Community" contest
April 1, 1950 - April Fool's Day Iuka's 20th Century Club wins contest at State Level
April 11, 1950 - Mrs. Bob Lambert, Mississippi's contest chairman, calls Iuka's club reporter, Mrs. J.E. Thomas, with the message that Iuka is in serious contention to win the National Award and Honor. That call sparks Iuka's Mayor Storment to proclaim April 17 - April 21 as "Clean-up, Paint-up, Fix-up" Week.
May 7, 1950 - The effects of the club's 52 projects begin playing themselves out as Cosby Clinic opens its doors in Iuka. The 20th Century Club of Iuka played a primary role in getting the doctors and clinic for the town.
May 16, 1950 - Mississippi's governor set July 6th as "Iuka Day"
May 18, 1950 - Mrs. Minor Nixon, club president, proclaimed Iuka's 'Woman of the Year'
May 21-25, 1950 - The 7 Iuka Women of the Twentieth Century Club take the trip to attend the Annual Convention of the General Federation of Women's Clubs in Boston, Mass., and make visits to Washingon, D. C. and New York City along the way"
May 26-31, 1950 - "The Iuka 7" stay at Hotel Statler, Boston from Friday through Wednesday while they attend The General Federation of Women's Clubs Annual Convention in Boston, Mass.
May 29-June 3, 1950 - General Federation of Women's Clubs Annual Convention held at the Mechanics Building in Boston, Mass.
May 31, 1950 - The Iuka Twentieth Century Club wins the national award in Boston
June 1, 1950 - "The Iuka 7" take the overnight train back to New York City where they stay at the Waldorf Astoria
June 1, 1950 - National Press coverage begins
June 9, 1950 - Preperations for "Iuka Day"
July 5, 1950 - Iuka Day events begin
July 6, 1950- "Iuka Day" and the Awarding of the Check
July to Year's End and Beyond - Praise rolls in
December 7, 1950- Open House for Iuka folks to the see Club's Book, "Chief Iuka"
July 1951 - 'Good Housekeeping Magazine' article names, Iuka as "Town of the Month"
July 17, 1951- U.S. Representative John E. Rankin of Mississippi enters the Good Housekeeping article into the Appendix of the Congressional Record
See the Historic Scrapbook
View Award-Winning Entry
The entire scrapbook entry submitted by the 19 women of the Iuka 20th Century Club in 1950 is here. The book was on public display for a time at the local library, but after several photographs were removed or lost, the club took it back into their possession and eventually...
