The Monday Club was founded in 1892 for the wives of faculty, wives of resident trustees, wives of administrative officers, the associate librarian when a woman, and other female relatives living with faculty members. It was intended as an inclusive gathering in which each woman had an opportunity to serve as president. Members sought social and intellectual enjoyment through a variety of activities: reading of papers by members and guests, teas, musical programs, annual theme parties, and original skits. A topic was chosen each year as the intellectual theme for weekly programs during the academic year. The Monday Club served as one of the primary social gatherings for women in the Wesleyan community.

By the late 1960s, eligibility requirements and functions began to change, and membership included a broader group of women, including local professional women. The group stopped meeting in the mid-1990s.