The Chautauqua Club of Huntsville, Texas grew out of the Chautauqua Club from Chautauqua Lake, New York. The Chautauqua Club of Huntsville was organized in 1890. Based on the Chautauqua Movement founded in 1874, its objective was to spread knowledge and information for the benefit of adults. The movement formulated institutions and lyceums for continuing education through lectures, concerts, and other artistic and educational activities.

In 1890, Sue Smither (later Mrs. Ed Allen) and Lillian Otey (later Mrs. McGary) visited the Chautauqua Club in New York. They deceided to bring the club to Huntsville to bring "new ideas, more sophistication, and more variety into the community's intellectural life" (Centennial Celebration The Outlook Club 1990-91).

In 1898, the Chautauqua Club of Huntsville became the Ladies Reading Club where they mostly studied Shakespeare. Often being called the Shakespeare Club. In 1902, the Ladies Reading Club became The Outlook Club after two members, Sue Smither and Lillian Otey went back to Chautauqua Lake, New York and heard the word outlook being definded as the search after knowledge.

The club consisted of 20 members, now 25 where they meet weekly (Thursdays at 4pm) from the months of October to May. New members are accepted only when there is a vacancy. A current member will need to propose a name to fill the vacancy which will then be sent to the chairman of the Membership Committee. If a member wishes to resign they will need to provide a written letter of resignation to the president. Members who resign and contiune to reside in the Huntsville area become Honorary Members and are welcome to attend any of the club's meeetings. Regular attendance is expected of the 25 active members. 3 consecutive absences from an active member without a reasonable excuse is considered a resignation.

Each meeting the members would review a book, calling them "reviews." One member for each meeting would lead the discussion and were called "leads" during the 1890-1910 period. Today, members are required to give a 45 to 60 minute review over her chosen book from a list that has been compiled for that year's theme. The point of the reviews aligns with the club's goal, to search for knowledge. Each year a theme is chosen in regards to the books that will be read. Some past themes were "A Reading Journey through Italy, Greece, and Switerland" (1902-103), "Tennyson" (1904-1905), "Shelley, Ruskin, and Browning" (1905-1906), and "The Short Story" (1915-1916).

The Outlook Club first held their meetings in the old public school but then moved to the First Presbyterian and First Methodist churches after the school burned down. Then later moved their meetings to the Huntsville Public Library and the Flag Room of the First National Bank. Now, the Outlook Club holds their meetings in a different member's house for each gathering.

The Outlook Club has kept scrapbooks throughout the years. The Historian of the club would be in charge of creating the scrapbooks. From 1919-1974 Adele Underwood was in charge, followed by Dr. Anna Powell, then Ms. Loyce Adams in 1990-1991. Many of the scrapbooks are housed in the Huntsville Public Library.

The Outlook Club's motto is "to be, rather than to seem." Their colors are gold and white.