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La Puente Valley Woman's Club
Women's Club of Coconut Grove, founded in 1891
Andover Chapter House, in 2011
General Federation of Women's Clubs Headquarters

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]

In Australia, the Country Women's Association had numerous clubs.

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
  • campaigning against lynching and Jim Crow laws
  • serving as professional women's clubs, comparable to historic men's clubs of London
  • serving as athletic clubs or otherwise supporting sports, physical activity
  • addressing sanitation and health issues
  • hosting social activities, including card games
  • 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.

Notable examples

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International

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  • Red Hat Society, international social organization
  • 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's International Motorcycle Association, founded in 1950, in 25 countries, purports to be the largest women's motorcycle organization
  • 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
  • Young Women's Christian Association (YWCA), founded as an international organization in 1894, had roots from 1855. In 120 countries.

Australia

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Azerbaijan

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Cuba

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  • 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.

England

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Greece

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United States

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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,[3] 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,[4] in Illinois,[3] in New Jersey,[5] in New Mexico,[2] and in Olympia, Washington[6]

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.[7] The GWFC did not admit clubs for African-American women, and Winslow's directory seems to omit them too.

Various clubs for black women / African American women are included by state below, but see also Category:National Association of Colored Women's Clubs which includes a number of them.

Multiple locations nationwide, primarily in United States

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Alabama

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In 1922, the Alabama Federation of Women’s Clubs had 219 clubs with about 6,000 members,[7]: 62  not counting "Colored" / African-American women's clubs.

Clubs in the state have included:

Alaska

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In 1922 the Alaska Federation of Women's Clubs had 9 clubs with about 427 members.[7]: 64 

Arizona

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In 1922 the Arizona State Federation of Women's Clubs had 53 clubs with about 3,515 members.[7]: 64  In 1932, the Arizona Republic listed 66 federated clubs throughout the state.[9]

Arkansas

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In 1922 the Arkansas Federation of Women's Clubs, organized in 1897, had 250 clubs with about 8,000 members.[7]: 65 

California

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In 1922 the California State Federation of Women's Clubs, organized in 1900, had 531 clubs with about 55,624 members.[7]: 68 

Clubs in the state have included:

Colorado

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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.[7]: 75 

Connecticut

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In 1922 the Connecticut Federation of Women's Clubs had 80 clubs with about 7,000 members.[7]: 47 

Delaware

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In 1922 the Delaware Federation of Women's Clubs had 38 clubs with more than 3,000 members.[7]: 66 

Florida

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See also List of Woman's Clubhouses in Florida on the National Register of Historic Places

In 1922 the Florida Federation of Women's Clubs, organized in 1895, had 180 clubs with about 10,500 members.[7]: 76 

Georgia

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In 1922 the Georgia State Federation of Women's Clubs, organized in 1896, had 350 clubs with about 33,000 members.[7]: 78 

Hawaii

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Idaho

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In 1922 the Idaho Federation of Women's Clubs, organized in 1905, had 109 clubs with about 5,000 members.[7]: 81 

Illinois

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In 1922 the Illinois Federation of Women's Clubs, organized in 1892, had 584 clubs with about 66,963 members,[7]: 84  not including any African-American women's clubs.

Clubs in the state have included:

Indiana

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In 1922 the Federation of Women's Clubs, organized in 1890-1900, had 517 clubs with about 23,269 members,[7]: 88  not including any African-American women's clubs.

Iowa

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In 1922 the Iowa Federation of Women's Clubs, organized in 1893, had 806 clubs with about 40,485 members,[7]: 91  not including any African-American women's clubs.

Kansas

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In 1922 the Kansas Federation of Women's Clubs, organized in 1895-1904, had 397 clubs with about 10,034 members,[7]: 94  not including any African-American women's clubs.

Clubs in the state have included:

Kentucky

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In 1922 the Kentucky State Federation of Women's Clubs, organized in 1894, had 154 clubs with about 10,000 members,[7]: 95  not including any African-American women's clubs.

Clubs in the state have included:

Louisiana

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The Louisiana Federation of Women's Clubs was organized in 1899. The 1922 directory listed 25 clubs,[7]: 96  not including any African-American women's clubs.

Clubs in the state have included:

Maine

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In 1922 the Maine Federation of Women's Clubs had 147 clubs with about 6,500 members.[7]: 24 

Maryland

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In 1922 the Maryland Federation of Women's Clubs, organized in 1900, had 84 clubs with about 12,000 members,[7]: 98  not including any African-American women's clubs.

Clubs in the state have included:

Massachusetts

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In 1922 the Massachusetts Federation of Women's Clubs had 324 clubs with about 126,128 members.[7]: 35 

Michigan

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In 1922 the Michigan State Federation of Women's Clubs, organized in 1895, had 423 clubs with about 50,567 members,[7]: 99  not including any African-American women's clubs.

Minnesota

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In 1922 the Minnesota State Federation of Women's Clubs, organized in 1895, had 601 clubs with about 48,153 members,[7]: 103  not including any African-American women's clubs.

Mississippi

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In 1922 the Mississippi State Federation of Women's Clubs, organized in 1898, had 147 clubs with about 5,000 members,[7]: 107  not including any African-American women's clubs.

Missouri

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In 1922 the Missouri Federation of Women's Clubs, organized in 1896, had 306 clubs with about 20,000 members,[7]: 108  not including any African-American women's clubs.

Montana

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In 1922 the Montana Federation of Women's Clubs, organized in 1904, had 103 clubs with about 5,000 members,[7]: 110  not including any African-American women's clubs.

Clubs in Montana have included:

Nebraska

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In 1922 the Nebraska Federation of Women's Clubs, organized in 1895, had 275 clubs with about 14,000 members,[7]: 112  not including any African-American women's clubs.

Nevada

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In 1922 the Nevada State Federation of Women's Clubs, organized in 1908, had 32 clubs with about 10,000 members,[7]: 113  not including any African-American women's clubs.

Clubs in Nevada have included:

New Hampshire

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In 1922 the New Hampshire Federation of Women's Clubs had 126 clubs with about 11,730 members.[7]: 27 

New Jersey

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In 1922 the New Jersey State Federation of Women's Clubs had 232 clubs with about 35,000 members.[7]: 60 

See also NJ clubhouses MRA/MPS doc.[5]

New Mexico

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In 1922 the New Mexico Federation of Women's Clubs, organized in 1911, had 50 clubs with about 2,000 members,[7]: 114  not including any African-American women's clubs.

Clubs in New Mexico have included:

New York

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In 1922 the New York State Federation of Women's Clubs, organized in 1894, had about 500 clubs with about 300,000 members.[7]: 49 

North Carolina

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In 1922 the North Carolina State Federation of Women's Clubs, organized in 1902, had 196 clubs with about 10,000 members,[7]: 115  not including any African-American women's clubs.

Clubs in North Carolina have included"

North Dakota

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In 1922 the North Dakota Federation of Women's Clubs, organized in 1897, had 188 clubs with about 4,500 members,[7]: 117  not including any African-American women's clubs.

Ohio

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In 1922 the Ohio State Federation of Women's Clubs, organized in 1894, had 603 clubs with about 85,000 members,[7]: 118  not including any African-American women's clubs.

Ohio clubs have included:

Oklahoma

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In 1922 the Oklahoma State Federation of Women's Clubs, organized in 1898, had 225 clubs with about 10,000 members,[7]: 122  not including any African-American women's clubs.

Oregon

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In 1922 the Oregon State Federation of Women's Clubs, organized in 1889, had 119 clubs with about 8,000 members,[7]: 123  not including any African-American women's clubs.

Oregon clubs have included:

Pennsylvania

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In 1922 the Pennsylvania State Federation of Women's Clubs, organized in 1895, had 233 clubs with about 57,180 members,[7]: 125  not including any African-American women's clubs.

Pennsylvania clubs have included:

Rhode Island

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In 1922 the Rhode Island Federation of Women's Clubs had 42 clubs with about 2,220 members.[7]: 44 

South Carolina

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In 1922 the South Carolina State Federation of Women's Clubs, organized in 1898, had 182 clubs with about 6,509 members,[7]: 131  not including any African-American women's clubs.

South Carolina clubs have included:

South Dakota

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In 1922 the South Dakota State Federation of Women's Clubs, organized in 1900, had 132 clubs with about 4,181 members,[7]: 132  not including any African-American women's clubs.

Tennessee

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In 1922 the Tennessee Federation of Women's Clubs, organized in 1899, had 120 clubs with about 8,000 members,[7]: 133  not including any African-American women's clubs.

Tennessee clubs included:

  • Country Woman's Club, Clarksville, TN, NRHP-listed
  • 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
  • The Nineteenth Century Club, Memphis

Texas

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In 1922 the Texas Federation of Women's Clubs, organized in 1897, had 450 clubs with about 25,000 members,[7]: 135  not including any African-American women's clubs.

Texas clubs have included:

See also: Pulpwood Queens, founded in Texas, with multiple locations elsewhere in U.S. and internationally.

Utah

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In 1922 the Utah Federation of Women's Clubs, organized in 1893, had 72 clubs with about 3,500 members,[7]: 137  not including any African-American women's clubs.

Utah clubs have included:

Vermont

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In 1922 the Vermont Federation of Women's Clubs had 67 clubs with about 6,383 members.[7]: 30 

Virginia

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In 1922 the Virginia State Federation of Women's Clubs, organized in 1907, had 80 clubs with about 1,600 members,[7]: 138  not including any African-American women's clubs.

Washington

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In 1922 the Federation of Women's Clubs, organized in 1896, had 241 clubs with about 27,000 members,[7]: 139  not including any African-American women's clubs.

Washington, D.C.

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In 1922 the District of Columbia Federation of Women's Clubs, organized in 1894, had 30 clubs with about 8,000 members.[7]: 67 

West Virginia

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In 1922 the West Virginia State Federation of Women's Clubs, organized in 1904, had 78 clubs with about 5,000 members,[7]: 140  not including any African-American women's clubs.

West Virginia clubs have included:

Wisconsin

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In 1922 the Federation of Women's Clubs, organized in 1896, had 312 clubs with about 20,000 members,[7]: 142  not including any African-American women's clubs.

Wisconsin clubs have included:

Wyoming

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In 1922 the Wyoming Federation of Women's Clubs, organized in 1904, had 62 clubs with about 2,000 members,[7]: 144  not including any African-American women's clubs.

U.S. Territories

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Guam

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Puerto Rico

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See National Conference of Puerto Rican Women (founded in 1972 in Washington, D.C.)[26]

See also

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References

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  1. ^ Page Putnam Miller and Jill S. Topolski (June 6, 1991). National Register of Historic Places Registration: General Federation of Women's Clubs Headquarters (pdf) (Report). National Park Service. and Accompanying photos, exterior, from 1989 (32 KB)
  2. ^ a b David Kammer (May 2003). "National Register of Historic Places Multiple Property Documentation: New Mexico Federation of Women's Club Buildings in New Mexico".
  3. ^ a b Meyer, Pauline (July 18, 1980). "American Woman's League Chapter Houses Thematic Resources". National Park Service.
  4. ^ Sidney Johnston (June 1998). "National Register of Historic Places Multiple Property Documentation: Clubhouses of Florida's Woman's Clubs". National Park Service.
  5. ^ a b National Register of Historic Places: Clubhouses of New Jersey Women's Clubs, NJ, 2010-09-29
  6. ^ "National Register of Historic Places Multiple Property Documentation Form. Women's History In Olympla: First Settlement (1846) to 1948" – via National Park Service.
  7. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u v w x y z aa ab ac ad ae af ag ah ai aj ak al am an ao ap aq ar as at au av aw ax ay Official Register and Directory of Women's Clubs in America. Vol. XXIV. Helen M. Winslow. 1922. Retrieved August 22, 2019.
  8. ^ "Collection: American News Women's Club records | Archival Collections". archives.lib.umd.edu. Retrieved 2020-05-27.
  9. ^ "Federated Clubs In Arizona Lead In State's Social Life". Arizona Republic. Vol. 43, no. 186 (Arizona Resource ed.). November 20, 1932. p. 2-2. Retrieved December 2, 2020 – via Newspapers.com.
  10. ^ Taylor, Paula Kyzer (8 July 2022). "Aesthetic Club". Encyclopedia of Arkansas. Retrieved 2023-01-08.
  11. ^ Evins, Janie Synatzske (1985). "Arkansas Women: Their Contribution to Society, Politics, and Business, 1865-1900". The Arkansas Historical Quarterly. 44 (2): 118–133. doi:10.2307/40023269. JSTOR 40023269.
  12. ^ a b c Paula Thomas (2018). "Three Iconic Women's Organizations: Hilo Woman's Club, Zonta International, Soroptimist International of Kona". Keola (magazine). Retrieved August 23, 2019.
  13. ^ "Women's Campus Club, University of Hawaii".
  14. ^ "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.
  15. ^ Silverman, Willa Z. (2008). The New Bibliopolis: French Book Collectors and the Culture of Print, 1880-1914. University of Toronto Press. p. 261. ISBN 9780802092113.
  16. ^ Grasberger, George J. C. (May 8, 1949). "What is so Rare". The Philadelphia Inquirer. p. 210. Retrieved March 19, 2019 – via newspapers.com.
  17. ^ Ardizzone, Heidi (2007). An Illuminated Life: Belle Da Costa Greene's Journey from Prejudice to Privilege. W.W. Norton & Company. ISBN 9780393051049.
  18. ^ "Guide to the Frances Hooper Papers 1928-1976". University of Chicago Library. Retrieved 19 March 2019.
  19. ^ a b "Charlotte Woman's Club Records". J. Murrey Atkins Library. UNC Charlotte. September 1992. Retrieved 2017-07-20.
  20. ^ "Charlotte Woman's Club". www.charlottewomansclub.org. Retrieved 2016-11-29.
  21. ^ Town Club (Portland, Oregon) (official site)
  22. ^ "National Register of Historic Places Listing: The Town Club," U.S. Department of the Interior National Park Service (Feb. 5, 1987)
  23. ^ Jillette Leon-Guerrero (October 2009). "Guam Women's Club: Guam's first civic women's organization". Guampedia. Retrieved August 23, 2019.
  24. ^ "About Int'l Women's Club of Guam". 15 June 2014.
  25. ^ "International Women's Club of Guam Takes the Hafa Adai Pledge". 2018.
  26. ^ https://www.nacoprw.org/about.html [dead link‍]
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