Woman's National Democratic Club

Woman's National Democratic Club

Formation	1922
Founder	Emily Newell Blair Florence Jaffray Harriman
Headquarters	Washington, D.C.
President	Rosalyn L. Coates
Website	democraticwoman.org

The Woman's National Democratic Club (WNDC) is a membership organization based in Washington, DC, that offers programs, events, and activities that encourage political action and civic engagement.

The WNDC was founded in 1922 with the goal of providing a meeting place where Democratic women could engage in political dialogue and activities. The club was the first dedicated meeting space for women of the Democratic party.[1]

Notable members have included Eleanor Roosevelt and suffragist Minnie Fisher Cunningham.

History

Emily Newell Blair, founder of the WNDC (right), with Mrs. D.A. McDougal

The WNDC was founded in 1922 by Emily Newell Blair and Daisy Harriman with the goal of garnering support for the Democratic party.[2] One of the club's major goals was to keep the party active between campaigns.[3]

Blair had previously been active in the Democratic National Convention's Women's Division. After John W. Davis lost the presidential election to Calvin Coolidge, the DNC closed its headquarters due to financial hardship. The WNDC provided support for the DNC by continuing to organize party activities, providing desk space, and storing DNC records.[3][4]

The WNDC began hosting twice-weekly programs and events in 1924.[5]

The WNDC's first meetings were held in Harriman's Georgetown home.[2] The club's first dedicated space was located near The White House at 820 Connecticut Avenue, NW.[6][5] In 1927, the WNDC moved into a home located at 1526 New Hampshire Avenue, NW in Washington's Dupont Circle neighborhood.[5][7] The home was previously owned by Sarah Adams Whittemore, a descendant of John Adams, and is still known as the Whittemore House. The WNDC held a dedication ceremony at the property on May 10, 1927.[8]

The WNDC offered membership for both Washington, DC residents and nonresidents. Eleanor Roosevelt was a nonresident member prior to becoming First Lady of the United States and remained an active member during her time in The White House and beyond. In the 1960s, Roosevelt delivered radio addresses for the club's library.[8] The WNDC library and a club award are named in her honor.[9]

Prior to the 1955–56 season, WNDC only accepted white members. Gladys Duncan, a community leader, teacher, and wife of singer Todd Duncan was the club's first black member.[5] WMDC's first voting male member, Wynn Newman, joined in 1988. Men were only allowed to join as associate members up until that time.[10]

The Whittemore House was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1973.[10]

Present day

The WNDC continues to host programs or events twice each week when circumstances permit. Their headquarters is used for exhibitions and made available for community events.

The WNDC gives awards each year including the Eleanor Award and the Woman of the Year Award. Notable recipients of the Eleanor Award include Ruth Bader Ginsburg, Harry Belafonte, and Hillary Rodham Clinton.[9][11] Clinton also received the Woman of the Year Award in 2017.[12]

WNDC Educational Foundation

The WNDC Educational Foundation, a nonprofit organization that hosts on-site events, encourages scholarly efforts, and manages outreach programs was founded in 1991.[13]

Notable members

• Kay Shouse, first woman to chair the Federal Prison for Women Board[2]
• Rose Frances Hull[2]
• Eleanor Roosevelt[2]
• Bess Truman[14]
• Minnie Fisher Cunningham, suffragist[7]
• Esther Peterson, American consumer and women's advocate[15]
• Dorothy Vredenburgh Bush, American political activist, secretary of the Democratic National Committee[5]
• Lindy Boggs, first woman elected to Congress from Louisiana[10]
• India Edwards[10]
• Edith Bolling[10]
• Nellie Ross, 14th governor of Wyoming[10]
• Eleanor Roosevelt Seagraves, American librarian, educator, historian, and editor[10]
• Francis Perkins[10]
• Muriel Humphrey[10]
• Marjorie Merriweather Post[10]
• Katie Louchheim[10]
• Joan Mondale[10]

References

1. Solomon, Burt (2004). The Washington century : three families and the shaping of the Nation's Capital. New York: William Morrow. ISBN 0-06-621372-X. OCLC 55700265.
2. Conroy, Sarah Booth (1997-11-10). "75 YEARS OF SISTERHOOD". Washington Post. ISSN 0190-8286. Retrieved 2021-09-28.
3. Freeman, Jo (2002). A room at a time : how women entered party politics. Lanham, Md.: Rowman & Littlefield. ISBN 0-8476-9805-X. OCLC 51255175.
4. "The History of Women in the Democratic Party". National Women's History Museum. July 25, 2016. Retrieved 2021-09-29.
5. Conroy, Sarah Booth (January 12, 1992). "Fighting for Cause and Effect". The Washington Post.
6. Blair, Emily Newell (1999). Bridging two eras : the autobiography of Emily Newell Blair, 1877-1951. Virginia Jeans Laas. Columbia: University of Missouri Press. ISBN 0-8262-6092-6. OCLC 179102087.
7. McArthur, Judith N. (2003). Minnie Fisher Cunningham : a suffragist's life in politics. Harold L. Smith. New York: Oxford University Press. ISBN 978-0-19-802850-5. OCLC 53956445.
8. "Sarah Adams Whittemore House (Woman's National Democratic Club) - Since 1927, this restrained, simple Dupont Circle mansion has been used to promote women's engagement in politics". DC Historic Sites. Retrieved 2021-09-29.
9. "Harry Belafonte receives social justice award named for Eleanor Roosevelt". Washington Post. April 25, 2013. ISSN 0190-8286. Retrieved 2021-09-29.
10. Department of the Interior. National Park Service. (3/2/1934 - ) (July 16, 1973). Washington, DC SP Whittemore House. File Unit: National Register of Historic Places and National Historic Landmarks Program Records: Washington, DC, 1/1/1964 - 12/31/2013.
11. Conroy, Sarah Booth (1998-06-15). "ONE FIRST LADY TO ANOTHER". Washington Post. ISSN 0190-8286. Retrieved 2021-09-29.
12. "WATCH: Hillary Clinton receives 2017 Democratic Woman of the Year Award". PBS NewsHour. 2017-11-02. Retrieved 2021-09-29.
13. "WNDC Educational Foundation - Nonprofit Explorer". ProPublica. Retrieved 2021-09-29.
14. "Biographical Sketch of Mrs. Harry S. Truman | Harry S. Truman". www.trumanlibrary.gov. Retrieved 2021-09-29.
15. "Interview with Frances McStay Adams: The Association for Diplomatic Studies and Training Foreign Affairs Oral History Project Foreign Service Spouse Series" (PDF). Library of Congress. April 17, 1991.

External links

• Video: Hillary Clinton receives 2017 WNDC Democratic Woman of the Year Award, Nov 2, 2017