Members then, Members now

The Rotary Club of Chicago ‑ Club No. 1 ‑ was organized on February 23, 1905, by Paul P. Harris and three Chicago businessmen. To Paul Harris belongs the credit for originating the "Rotary idea”. The first meetings were held alternately at different members' places of business. For the first few months, the growth in membership was slow. In the autumn of 1905, a great event took place in the history of the struggling club. The first roster was printed! It contained the names of nineteen active and two honorary members. Of the nineteen members in this roster, the nine Rotarians shown above are today active members of Chicago Rotary. As the membership increased, other rosters were printed, and finally the illustrated roster was suggested ‑ the idea of Silvester Schiele.

Later, Harry Ruggles introduced "song" into Rotary and he is today still one of the official song leaders of the club. From a small nucleus of nineteen loyal members in…