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The Complete Chautauquan

Community Chautauqua Listing by State and Town

By Jeffrey Scott Maxwell


Alphabetical Directory of Chautauquas by Country, State and City:

Canada

Canada


South Africa 


United States

Arkansas

California Colorado Connecticut Florida Illinois Indiana Iowa Kansas Kentucky Maine Maryland Massachusetts Michigan Minnesota Mississippi Missouri Nebraska New Hampshire New Jersey New York North Dakota Ohio Oregon Pennsylvania Tennesee Texas Washington [Territory] West Virginia Wisconsin Wyoming (Wyoming Territory)
SEE ALSO: The Complete Chautauquan: Independent Chautauquas for a listing of Independent Community Chautauquas by name. 

A Heavenly Chautauqua

OF THE MANY Chautauquas he manages, Dr. W. L. Davidson's favorite is at Mountain Lake Park, Maryland, of which Assembly he is justly proud. He has managed this Assembly for fifteen years.  Invariably he greets all newcomers on the program with, "Well, well: I'm glad you're here. You've got to heaven at last."  ~From The Lyceumite & Talent, October 1907

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Camp Assemblies

Protestant Christian church groups were responsible for starting many camp meetings at popular resort locations to encourage Bible teachings and church growth in American communities. The Methodists were very much into this sort of "summer assembly" and were quick to use this type of encampment to train Sunday school teachers for church work. One such assembly was the one at Fair Point, New York, on Chautauqua Lake started by John Hyel Vincent, a important leader in the development of Sunday school, which is used by many protestant churches today. Out of the Chautauqua Assembly came the popular adult education vacation place that spawned many other "chautauquas" across North America. Many of these also developed out of the Methodist and other Church Camp meetings. However, it is important to note that not all of the summer church camp assemblies became chautauquas. Below is a list of some of the Methodist camp grounds that retained their original mission and religous purpose and most of which did not become part of the Chautauqua Movement: 

Illinois, Chicago. Camp Berger [German Speaking] . 

Illinois, Des Plaines. The Des Plaines Summer Assembly is one of the oldest and most important of the summer camp grounds in America, and it is still in business today. Having been founded in 1860, prior to the Civil War, it now celebrates 140 years of consecutive summer assemblies at the same location. 

Illinois, Dixon. Franklin Grove Camp Ground

Illinois, Freeport. Lena Camp Ground

Illinois, Jolliet. New Lenox Camp Ground

Illinois, Lake Bluff. Althought the Lake Bluff Assembly did become an active part of the Chautauqua Movement and very active in the CLSC, it was a long time camp ground before the chautauqua idea ever came about, and would no doubt have been an important camp meeting even if the Chautauqua Movement hadn't taken place.

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Page Created 12/26/00
Copyright © 2000
By Jeffrey Scott Maxwell 
Last Updated 03/06/02