Woman's clubs or women's clubs are examples of the woman's club movement. Many local clubs and national or regional federations were influential in history. The importance of some local clubs is demonstrated by their women's club buildings being listed on historic registries.
In the United States, the General Federation of Women's Clubs (GFWC) became the primary umbrella organization of women's clubs in the United States. "For the later part of the nineteenth century and
much of the twentieth century, the women's clubs were an essential vehicle for women's activity outside of the home."[1]: 8 In New Mexico alone, a state federation grew to include 59 clubs.[2]
Most historical women's clubs served social and charitable purposes, most of which may seem relatively uncontroversial today. These purposes have included voluntary civic service purposes such as:
opening lending libraries and seeking funding to create permanent public libraries
pursuing historic preservation
advocating for women's suffrage, other rights for women
hosting lectures and otherwise engaging in education
addressing employment and labor conditions
Some women's groups with a more activist political orientation which used "club" in their name, such as perhaps the Alpha Suffrage Club which fought for black female suffrage in Chicago, are included here, too.
International Association of Lyceum Clubs, founded in 1904 in London, England, asserted to have clubs in 17 countries. Was formed as a place for women involved with literature, journalism, art, science and medicine to meet in an atmosphere that was similar to the men's professional clubs of that era.
List of Cosmopolitan Clubs. England, Australia, New Zealand, Canada, China, India, U.S. (Are/were these all women's clubs? The ones in Philadelphia and NYC were, and have articles, and are separate items below.)
Junior League, founded in 1901 in New York City, went international in 1926. A charitable women's empowerment organization. Over 295 Leagues around the world.
P.E.O. Sisterhood, founded as a sorority in Iowa in 1869, went national in 1883. A charitable organization.
Woman's Christian Temperance Union, organized in Ohio in 1873, has affiliates in Australia, Canada, Germany, Finland, India, Japan, New Zealand, Norway, South Korea, United Kingdom, and the United States
Women for Sobriety, founded in 1976, for women only, an alternative to the Twelve Steps program of Alcoholics Anonymous.
Women in the Wind (motorcycle club), founded in 1979, has had 100 chapters in the United States, Canada, Great Britain and Portugal, also purports to be the largest women's motorcycle organization
Lyceum and Lawn Tennis Club (1929–39), Havana. A women's cultural, social, and physical fitness organization; it established Cuba's first free public library, first children's library, and first course of instruction for librarians.
Ladies Dining Society (1890-World War I), Cambridge, a private women's dining and discussion club at Cambridge University. Primarily wives of male professors and college fellows. Members campaigned for Cambridge to grant degrees to women, and most were strong supporters of female suffrage.
In the United States a number of clubs were established, and corresponding buildings were built, in the early 1900s as part of a scheme by publisher Edward Gardner Lewis to promote sales of Woman's Magazine,[4] but many more were independent organizations.
Numerous women's club buildings have been evaluated for listing on the U.S. National Register of Historic Places (NRHP) individually or as part of wider collections. Historic preservation studies have been conducted for women's clubhouses in Florida,[5] in Illinois,[4] in New Jersey,[6] in New Mexico,[2] and in Olympia, Washington[7]
Women's clubs in the United States were indexed by the GFWC, and also by Helen M. Winslow who published an annual "register and directory" of the GFWC ones and some more, which was in its 24th annual edition in 1922.[8] The GWFC did not admit clubs for African-American women, and Winslow's directory seems to omit them too.
American News Women's Club, established in 1932 as a newspaper club for female reporters. The club's records[9] are held at the University of Maryland Archives.
Association of Southern Women for the Prevention of Lynching, founded in 1930 in Atlanta, Georgia, grew throughout the south to have a claimed presence in nearly every county throughout the south. Fought against lynchings of black persons. Was restricted to white women only to better be able to affect white women opinions generally, and to address purported motivation of lynching to "protect" white women.
Daughters of the American Revolution (DAR), organized in 1890 after the Sons of the American Revolution would not admit women and expand to become "Sons and Daughters". Promotes historic preservation, education, and patriotism. Membership limited to direct lineal descendants of soldiers or others of the American Revolution. Eclipsed the "Sons" in membership? with 195,000 members?
Embroiderers' Guild of America, established in 1958 as a branch of 1906-founded Embroiderers' Guild headquartered in London, England, and split off later. Is this a women's club? Seems was not exclusively for women, but probably was effectively a women's club.
Executive Women's Golf Association, founded in 1991, headquartered in Palm Beach Gardens, Florida; in 2014 had 114 chapters throughout the United States, and 1 chapter each in Canada, Bermuda, South Africa, Ireland and Italy.
Ladies of the Grand Army of the Republic (Ladies of the G.A.R.), founded 1881 as "Loyal Ladies League", went national and assumed current name in 1886. It claims to be the oldest women's hereditary organization in the United States.
Northeastern Federation of Colored Women's Clubs, founded 1896, first umbrella organization for black women's clubs in the United States, went back and forth in affiliating with NACWC, had 55 clubs in northeastern U.S. in early 1900s, was incorporated in 1927
Phillis Wheatley Club, African Americans' women's clubs, started in 1895 in Nashville, TN, also in Florida, Illinois, Louisiana, New York, Ohio, Texas, Wisconsin and elsewhere
Pulpwood Queens, founded in 2000 in Jefferson, Texas; reportedly has 400 chapters, including 10 in foreign countries and one in a women's prison
United Order of Tents, founded in Virginia, a secret society for African American churchwomen
Women's Health Protective Association, founded as the "Ladies' Health Protective Association" in 1884 in New York City, had 40 clubs from various cities at its 1897 convention in Philadelphia.
In 1922, the Alabama Federation of Women’s Clubs had 219 clubs with about 6,000 members,[8]: 62 not counting "Colored" / African-American women's clubs.
In 1922 the Arizona State Federation of Women's Clubs had 53 clubs with about 3,515 members.[8]: 64 In 1932, the Arizona Republic listed 66 federated clubs throughout the state.[10]
Ebell Society, founded in 1876 in Oakland as the International Academy for the Advancement of Women. The club's purpose was the advancement of women in cultural, industrial and intellectual pursuits.
San Rafael Improvement Club, founded 1902, a civic improvement organization whose clubhouse is listed on the NRHP. It may or may not have defined itself as a club for women, but photos show it was.
Woman's Building (Los Angeles), a "feminist mecca" during 1973 to 1991, a non-profit arts and education center (is this fairly categorized as a women's club?)
In 1922 the Colorado Federation of Women's Clubs, organized in 1895, total membership was not reported, but 28 clubs were listed in Winslow's directory.[8]: 75
Portia Club, in Payette, Idaho, was organized in 1895, joined Idaho Federation in 1904, built clubhouse 1927, NRHP-listed
Illinois
In 1922 the Illinois Federation of Women's Clubs, organized in 1892, had 584 clubs with about 66,963 members,[8]: 84 not including any African-American women's clubs.
Clubs in the state have included:
Alpha Suffrage Club, black female suffrage club founded in 1913, based in Chicago
Alton Chapter House (built 1909), 509 Beacon St. Alton, IL (associated with Edward Gardner Lewis's scheme), NRHP-listed
Frederick Douglass Woman's Club, Chicago, founded in 1906, one of the first women's clubs in Chicago to promote suffrage, and one of few interracial women's clubs in Chicago. Mostly middle-class. Pressured the Chicago Political League, another local woman's club to extend their membership to African-American women.
Queen Isabella Association, organized in Chicago in 1889 with purpose to create a statue of Spanish queen Isabella in the 1893 World's Columbian Exposition, it expanded to chapters in New York, St. Louis, and Washington D.C. as well, attempting to become a national organization
Zion Chapter House, 2715 Emmaus Ave. Zion, IL (associated with Edward Gardner Lewis's scheme), NRHP-listed
Indiana
In 1922 the Federation of Women's Clubs, organized in 1890-1900, had 517 clubs with about 23,269 members,[8]: 88 not including any African-American women's clubs.
In 1922 the Iowa Federation of Women's Clubs, organized in 1893, had 806 clubs with about 40,485 members,[8]: 91 not including any African-American women's clubs.
In 1922 the Kansas Federation of Women's Clubs, organized in 1895-1904, had 397 clubs with about 10,034 members,[8]: 94 not including any African-American women's clubs.
In 1922 the Kentucky State Federation of Women's Clubs, organized in 1894, had 154 clubs with about 10,000 members,[8]: 95 not including any African-American women's clubs.
The Louisiana Federation of Women's Clubs was organized in 1899. The 1922 directory listed 25 clubs,[8]: 96 not including any African-American women's clubs.
In 1922 the Maine Federation of Women's Clubs had 147 clubs with about 6,500 members.[8]: 24
Maryland
In 1922 the Maryland Federation of Women's Clubs, organized in 1900, had 84 clubs with about 12,000 members,[8]: 98 not including any African-American women's clubs.
Woman's Era Club, Boston, founded c.1892-94, first black women's club in Boston, attempted to desegregate GFWC in 1900.
Michigan
In 1922 the Michigan State Federation of Women's Clubs, organized in 1895, had 423 clubs with about 50,567 members,[8]: 99 not including any African-American women's clubs.
In 1922 the Minnesota State Federation of Women's Clubs, organized in 1895, had 601 clubs with about 48,153 members,[8]: 103 not including any African-American women's clubs.
In 1922 the Mississippi State Federation of Women's Clubs, organized in 1898, had 147 clubs with about 5,000 members,[8]: 107 not including any African-American women's clubs.
In 1922 the Missouri Federation of Women's Clubs, organized in 1896, had 306 clubs with about 20,000 members,[8]: 108 not including any African-American women's clubs.
Montana
In 1922 the Montana Federation of Women's Clubs, organized in 1904, had 103 clubs with about 5,000 members,[8]: 110 not including any African-American women's clubs.
In 1922 the Nebraska Federation of Women's Clubs, organized in 1895, had 275 clubs with about 14,000 members,[8]: 112 not including any African-American women's clubs.
Nevada
In 1922 the Nevada State Federation of Women's Clubs, organized in 1908, had 32 clubs with about 10,000 members,[8]: 113 not including any African-American women's clubs.
In 1922 the New Mexico Federation of Women's Clubs, organized in 1911, had 50 clubs with about 2,000 members,[8]: 114 not including any African-American women's clubs.
In 1922 the North Carolina State Federation of Women's Clubs, organized in 1902, had 196 clubs with about 10,000 members,[8]: 115 not including any African-American women's clubs.
Woman's Club of Fayetteville, Fayetteville, NC, founded in 1906 as a Civic Improvement Association to fight for preservation of historic Market House, not named a Women's Club until 1920. Established first public library in Fayetteville, continues to work for historic preservation.
North Dakota
In 1922 the North Dakota Federation of Women's Clubs, organized in 1897, had 188 clubs with about 4,500 members,[8]: 117 not including any African-American women's clubs.
Ohio
In 1922 the Ohio State Federation of Women's Clubs, organized in 1894, had 603 clubs with about 85,000 members,[8]: 118 not including any African-American women's clubs.
In 1922 the Oklahoma State Federation of Women's Clubs, organized in 1898, had 225 clubs with about 10,000 members,[8]: 122 not including any African-American women's clubs.
In 1922 the Oregon State Federation of Women's Clubs, organized in 1889, had 119 clubs with about 8,000 members,[8]: 123 not including any African-American women's clubs.
In 1922 the Pennsylvania State Federation of Women's Clubs, organized in 1895, had 233 clubs with about 57,180 members,[8]: 125 not including any African-American women's clubs.
In 1922 the Rhode Island Federation of Women's Clubs had 42 clubs with about 2,220 members.[8]: 44
South Carolina
In 1922 the South Carolina State Federation of Women's Clubs, organized in 1898, had 182 clubs with about 6,509 members,[8]: 131 not including any African-American women's clubs.
In 1922 the South Dakota State Federation of Women's Clubs, organized in 1900, had 132 clubs with about 4,181 members,[8]: 132 not including any African-American women's clubs.
Tennessee
In 1922 the Tennessee Federation of Women's Clubs, organized in 1899, had 120 clubs with about 8,000 members,[8]: 133 not including any African-American women's clubs.
Ladies Rest Room, Lewisburg, NRHP-listed. Built by the Marshall County court in 1924 as a place for rural women to relax, rest, and eat during their visits to Lewisburg, the county seat. During the 1910s and 1920s, there was widespread encouragement in the United States for the establishment of ladies' lounges and rest rooms to accommodate rural women.
Ossoli Circle, Knoxville, founded in 1885 as a literary society; the Ossoli Circle Clubhouse]] (1933) is NRHP-listed
In 1922 the Texas Federation of Women's Clubs, organized in 1897, had 450 clubs with about 25,000 members,[8]: 135 not including any African-American women's clubs.
See also: Pulpwood Queens, founded in Texas, with multiple locations elsewhere in U.S. and internationally.
Utah
In 1922 the Utah Federation of Women's Clubs, organized in 1893, had 72 clubs with about 3,500 members,[8]: 137 not including any African-American women's clubs.
In 1922 the Vermont Federation of Women's Clubs had 67 clubs with about 6,383 members.[8]: 30
Virginia
In 1922 the Virginia State Federation of Women's Clubs, organized in 1907, had 80 clubs with about 1,600 members,[8]: 138 not including any African-American women's clubs.
In 1922 the Federation of Women's Clubs, organized in 1896, had 241 clubs with about 27,000 members,[8]: 139 not including any African-American women's clubs.
In 1922 the West Virginia State Federation of Women's Clubs, organized in 1904, had 78 clubs with about 5,000 members,[8]: 140 not including any African-American women's clubs.
Woman's Club of Fairmont, Fairmont, clubhouse in historic Thomas and Annie Fleming mansion, NRHP-listed
Wisconsin
In 1922 the Federation of Women's Clubs, organized in 1896, had 312 clubs with about 20,000 members,[8]: 142 not including any African-American women's clubs.
In 1922 the Wyoming Federation of Women's Clubs, organized in 1904, had 62 clubs with about 2,000 members,[8]: 144 not including any African-American women's clubs.
^"WIA 'Country Store' Makes Hit". Las Cruces Sun-News. 1967-11-03. p. 7. Retrieved 2021-02-13 – via Newspapers.com. and "WIA". Las Cruces Sun-News. 1967-11-03. p. 8. Retrieved 2021-02-13 – via Newspapers.com.
^Silverman, Willa Z. (2008). The New Bibliopolis: French Book Collectors and the Culture of Print, 1880-1914. University of Toronto Press. p. 261. ISBN9780802092113.
