Imperial County CA Archives History - Books .....The Imperial County Federation Of Women's Clubs 1918 ************************************************ Copyright. All rights reserved. http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm http://www.usgwarchives.net/ca/cafiles.htm ************************************************ File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by: Joy Fisher sdgenweb@yahoo.com February 15, 2006, 9:23 pm Book Title: History Of Imperial County California CHAPTER XVIII THE IMPERIAL COUNTY FEDERATION OF WOMEN'S CLUBS BY MRS. ERNEST POSTON THE PIONEERS of the country leave a lasting imprint upon a locality, for they have laid the foundation stones, and the building that follows must in a measure conform to the foundation. Imperial County was doubly blessed in its pioneer women, for in addition to the courage, endurance and perseverance which are the common characteristics of all peoples who build new empires, these first-comers possessed culture and vision that gave them sight beyond material necessities. It was owing to their determination that the lives of their families should not be bare of the culture that united effort gives that these women bravely banded themselves together to look after the mental and social welfare of their community. As soon as possible each town had its women's club, alive to the many civic and social needs of the people, and working tirelessly, sometimes against almost overwhelming odds, that the needed reforms should be accomplished. Much of the beauty of the Valley is the direct result of the efforts of the women's clubs in planting trees, grass, shrubbery and flowers. On February 22, 1910, the Imperial Valley Federation of Women's Clubs was organized in El Centro, thereby widening the scope of work. The social feature of this occasion was carried out in a luncheon that was much more elaborate than anything before attempted in this new country, and was indeed an occasion long to be remembered. Mrs. Violette S. Campbell, of the El Centro Women's Ten Thousand Club, was elected the first president. She ably filled the position and was re-elected, having the distinction of being the only woman who has held the office for two years. At the close of Mrs. Campbell's administration the term was limited to one year, the presidency to be given in rotation to each club in the federation. Committees to handle the different phases of club work were added as the need presented itself. Today there are six chairmen of the following departments: Birds and Wild Life, Civics and Forestry, Club Extension, History and Landmarks, Child Welfare, Home Economics. The standing committees are: Entertainment, Press and Parliamentarian. The most important event in the life of the federation was the 14th convention of the Southern California District Federation of Women's Clubs, which convened in El Centro on November 9, 1915. Perhaps no other community in the world could boast of so much accomplished in so short a time as could Imperial Valley, and the visiting club women enjoyed it to the full—from the new Barbara Worth Hotel with its pictured story of reclamation, to the wonderful afternoon at Calexico, when the Women's Progress Club entertained the visitors. A feature of this entertainment was exhibits of a variety of things that could be raised here, and a visit to the cotton and oil mills; nor were the other clubs outdone by Calexico, each club gave that which was uniquely appropriate to the locality. A luncheon at Brawley was furnished by the Northend clubs. Holtville served tea at the Harold Bell Wright home, and Heber served home-grown dates at the Fawcett ranch. The convention brought much to Imperial Valley, and Imperial Valley also gave much to its visitors; as one delegate expressed it, "I am sure we all had Imperial Valley in our souls, and all we need to do is to develop it." The most notable guest at the convention was Mrs. E. D. Knight, State President of the Federation of Women's Clubs. During the present year the federation has specialized in patriotic work. The president, Mrs. Joseph F. Seymour, Jr., of El Centro, has urged upon the club women the necessity for keeping up all helpful organizations. The federation has purchased thrift stamps with their surplus funds. The following are the names of the federation presidents, their terms and the clubs they represent: Mrs. Violette S. Campbell El Centro 1910-1911 Mrs. Will Best, Brawley 1912 Mrs. J. E. Peck, Calexico 1913 Mrs. J. R. Stevenson, Imperial 1914 Mrs. A. M. Williams, Holtville (resigned) Mrs. C. F. Turner, Calexico (unexpired term) 1915 Mrs. W. S. Cummings, Heber 1916 Mrs. J. F. Seymour, Jr., El Centro 1917 Mrs. H. L. Fulton, Brawley (elect) 1918 From a small beginning the federation has grown until there are eleven clubs in the organization, the Bard Women's Club and the Mothers' Club of El Centro federating this year. The remainder of the chapter is given over to the histories of the clubs which compose the federation. WOMAN'S TEN THOUSAND CLUB OF EL CENTRO In the spring of 1908, after many of the women had gone out of the Valley for their vacations, the men who "stayed behind" gathered from day to day (for their luncheon and dinner) at the Palm Roof Garden, and at these gatherings pledged each other to work for a "City Beautiful," with a population of ten thousand. Thus the club got its name. In October of that year, at the instance of the opening of the new Oregon Hotel, a banquet was served, the Men's Club having charge of the program. At this meeting (to quote from an article in the Morning Star of October 23rd) Mrs. A. W. Swanson read a paper on "Woman's Civic Influence," in which she urged the women of El Centro to cooperate with the Men's Club in their efforts for the upbuilding of "Our City Beautiful." Before the close of this auspicious gathering President Allen Kelly of the Ten Thousand Club appointed a committee of five women "to take such steps as were necessary to form a woman's section, auxiliary to the Men's Club." In pursuance of this call, such a meeting was held on October 30th and the following were chosen to serve as officers: President, Mrs. A. W. Swanson; vice-president, Mrs. J. M. Eshleman; recording secretary, Mrs. Genevieve Williams; corresponding secretary, Mrs. C. E. Paris; treasurer, Mrs. C. F. Hayden. Mesdames C. F. Buttress, J. R. Garren, D. V. Noland, and Louis Havermale were elected as directors. This nucleus of a woman's club began its existence with a charter membership of thirty-five. On November 17-18 of that year the Woman's Section co-operated with the Men's Club in the entertainment and reception given the Southern California Editorial Association, which assembled in convention in El Centro. Committees were appointed on "Parks," the promotion of gardens and tree planting, also on the elimination of dust from our streets, and in December, 1908, the Woman's Section took charge of the domestic booth at the Imperial County Fair. Mrs. A. W. Swanson's term of office extended over a period of three years, laying the foundation for what is destined to be the largest women's organization in the great Imperial Valley. During her presidency the Men's Ten Thousand Club formed themselves into a chamber of commerce, and the Woman's Section became the Woman's Ten Thousand Club of El Centro, federating with the state organization in January, 1909. In February, 1910, a County Club Day was held in El Centro, to which women from all parts of the Valley were welcomed. At this time was formed the Imperial County Federation of Women's Clubs, the second county in California to so organize, and Mrs. Violette Campbell of El Centro was elected as president. This now thriving club, looking well to the future, invested in a choice piece of property on State Street, laying the foundation for a city park and club house. Mrs. R. B. Vaile was the second president of the Woman's Ten Thousand Club, holding office for two terms, from 1911 to 1913. The club, during this period, was passing through the kindergarten stage, seeking self-expression, finding, from week to week, new ways to be helpful to the community, and gaining in strength and members. The Philanthropic section, under the leadership of Mrs. Flora McKusick, did splendid work. Also the club, looking toward the moral and social uplift of the community, was sponsor to a course of Lyceum entertainments. Mrs. W. S. Fawcett was elected as the third president of the W. T. T. Club. Her reign of two terms, from 1913 to 1915, was characterized for its brilliant social life, an important factor in a rapidly-growing community. And, it having been determined that the site first purchased for a club home was valuable as a business location, a new club house site on the corner of Seventh and Olive was purchased. Numerous benefit days were given by the merchants, strengthening the bond between the women's organization and the business interests of the city. Mrs. A. H. Griswold was elected to succeed Mrs. W. S. Fawcett as president, serving the club in that capacity from 1915 to 1917. Her administration was characterized by the establishment of a Lyceum course, which was, after the second year, merged into a week's Chautauqua. Better babies contests, extending over a week of activities, were held each year, and the work of the Social Service committee was enlarged in scope, the young ladies of the city on two occasions giving a most successful charity ball, thereby raising the funds with which the club carried on its humane work. In November of 1915 the Woman's Ten Thousand Club had the great privilege of being hostess for the Imperial County Federation to the Southern District Convention, C. F. W. C. This convention was described by the state president, Mrs. Edward Dexter Knight of San Francisco, as "unique in its setting, unique in the hospitality which it offered, unique in the pioneer spirit which characterized its deliberations. The women of Imperial Valley met at the cross roads and organized that they might contribute more forcefully and fully to the work of the brave pioneers who had transformed a great desert of interminable sand into a productive and picturesque dwelling place. Their influence is recognized in their wonderful Imperial Valley. It will be felt and appreciated by the federation/' Also, on February 22, 1917, the Woman's Ten Thousand Club had the distinctive honor of entertaining the general federation president of women's clubs, Mrs. Josiah Evans Cowles, at the largest gathering of club women ever held in the Valley. Mrs. W. S. Fawcett was again elected to the presidency of the club, serving in that position one term, from 1917 to 1918. During her administration, the club has gained largely in membership, the gain being more than double that of any other year. Also the club debt has been materially reduced. This is all the more noteworthy as the club has given no "money raising" entertainments during the year. Its membership being intensely patriotic, and wishing in every way possible to stand behind the government, it has given way to the Red Cross and other money-making activities incidental to our country being at war. The social service work of the club has been merged into Red Cross work, about three hundred and fifty dollars having been raised through the efforts of the club women for carrying on this splendid work. The present administration will end in May of this year. At the last meeting in March the following were elected to serve as officers of the Woman's Ten Thousand Club for the year 1918-1919: President, Mrs. F. B. Fuller; vice-president, Mrs. M. F. Kepley; recording secretary, Mrs. Wm. Fleming; corresponding secretary, Mrs. Ernest Poston; treasurer, Mrs. Chas. J. Ritz. Directors: Mrs. J. F. Seymour, Jr., Mrs. E. E. Clements, Mrs. Robert Campbell, Mrs. Warren Currier. THE BRAWLEY WOMAN'S CLUB This club was organized one afternoon in July, 1904, under the name of the Brawley Woman's Literary Club. The first meeting was held in a little adobe school-house. Later the club branched out into other lines of work and dropped the "literary" from the name, leaving it as it is at present. The club was the first women's club in Imperial Valley, was federated with the district in 1906, and is also federated with the National Federation of Woman's Clubs. At present the club is much interested in Red Cross and war work of all kinds and is strongly agitating a club house. HOLTVILLE WOMEN'S STUDY CLUB was organized October 31, 1908, with Mrs. Lee Sargent as president. The presidents following 1908 are as follows: Mrs. G. M. Vermilya, 1909-1910; Mrs. M. A. Kendall, 1910-1911; Mrs. G. M. Vermilya, 1911-1912; Mrs. W. B. Richards and Mrs. Vaughn Francis, 1912-1914; Mrs. Karl Fahring, 1914-1916; Mrs. W. L. Huebner, 1915-1916; Mrs. O. C. Harris, 1916-1917; Mrs. R. W. Hoover, 1917-1918. The activities of the club have been devoted to civics and literature, such as study of American writers, Shakespeare's "Cymbeline" and "Taming of the Shrew," George Eliot's "Adam Bede," Meredith's "Diana of the Crossways," Barry's "Little Minister," and Hawthorne's "Scarlet Letter." Money and time have been devoted to civic betterment, and in 1918 a War Savings society has been organized. IMPERIAL WOMEN'S CLUB Was organized in February, 1909, with forty members. Mrs. Mott H. Arnold was the first president and Mrs. W. A. Edgar recording secretary. The following have served as president since: Mrs. Edgar Nance, Mrs. S. E. De Rackin, Mrs. Otto Storm and Mrs. J. A. Bishop. When the Imperial Valley Federation was organized in El Centro, February 22, 1910, the Imperial Club was the largest club in the Valley, having a membership of over 70. The first reciprocity day was observed in Imperial, the club having as guests 125 women from the four clubs then just beginning club life—Brawley, Calexico, El Centro and Holtville. Among the first efforts of the club was the Ellen Beach Yaw concert, given February, 1910, at which $400 was realized from sale of tickets. The activities of the club were directed along civic lines, and many uplifting and beneficial undertakings were espoused in those early pioneer days. THE IMPERIAL VALLEY COLLEGE WOMEN'S CLUB The Imperial Valley College Women's Club owes its existence to Mrs. E. D. Stuart of Imperial, who, when she first came to the Valley, missed the pleasant associations of the Riverside branch of the Association of Collegiate Alumnae. In October, 1914, Mrs. Stuart invited the women whom she knew to be college graduates to meet at her home, and the organization was formed by the thirteen women who accepted the invitation. It was decided to become affiliated with the national organization as the Imperial Valley Branch of the Association of Collegiate Alumnae. At first the membership of the club was largely composed of teachers, but now less than half the members are teachers; a few are office workers, the rest are married women, many of whom live on ranches. There are now fifty-one members, representing thirty-three colleges and universities. Membership is of two kinds, regular and associate. The regular members are graduates of the colleges which belong to the Association of Collegiate Alumnae; the associate members are women who have had at least one year of academic work in an institution which has a four-year course leading to an A. B. degree. The club meets eight times a year, at least once in each of the six towns from which its members come. The programs, besides being literary and musical, deal with such topics as parent-teachers associations, child welfare, household economics, woman suffrage, vocational guidance, peace and war. Members have been very active in the work of the Red Cross and food conservation organizations in their various towns. The president, Mrs. C. F. Turner, is chairman of the Junior Red Cross committee in Calexico, and is one of the four-minute speakers on food conservation. In 1915 the College Women's Club became affiliated with the Imperial County Federation of Women's Clubs, and the next year it cooperated with other clubs in the national Baby Week movement, preparing an exhibit of models, charts and maps, which was displayed in some of the Valley towns. The club has enjoyed visits from several distinguished people from outside the Valley. Miss Mary Wilson and Miss Ethel Moore came as vice-presidents of the Pacific section of the Association of Collegiate Alumnae. Miss Moore brought with her Dr. Aurelia Reinhart, president of Mills College, who gave an inspiring talk on the college woman and the commonwealth. At one meeting Reverend Omsted gave a lecture and showed an exhibit relating to the Indians of Alaska, among whom he had lived and worked. At the fourth meeting held after the entrance of the United States into the war, Prof. Frederick Monsen gave a lecture on Germany, giving personal observations made during a visit there just before the war. Naturally this club is interested in the educational matters of the county. This interest has manifested itself in two very tangible ways, a petition which resulted in the appointment of a college club member to the position of truant officer for the county, and the establishment of an annual scholarship of one hundred dollars to be given to help an Imperial Valley girl through her first year at college. One such scholarship has been awarded already and another will be given this year. The College Women's Club labors under difficulties involved in the fact that the members live in so many different towns, and at such distances from each other, but by many this is felt to be an attraction. The members derive much benefit and pleasure from the opportunity to know women from every part of the county. As the club grows older and its policies more settled it will increase in influence in the community. HEBER PROGRESS CLUB On January 14, 1914, a few ladies of Heber and vicinity met and organized the Heber Progress Club. The constitution of the Federation of Women's Clubs was adopted and Mrs. J. E. Brock was elected president. The first business transacted by the new club following the election of officers, was to instruct the corresponding secretary to apply for membership in the Imperial County Federation of Women's Clubs, thus at once taking a part in the club life in the Valley. The club also belongs to the district and state organizations. During the fall of 1915 this small club had two red letter days. First, on October 16th, the annual conference meeting of the Imperial Valley Federation was held at Heber; in November of the same year the club had the pleasure and honor of entertaining the members of the district convention at luncheon, served in the beautiful rose garden of the Fawcett ranch home near Heber. This was an occasion long to be remembered. In the year 1916 the Heber Progress Club had the honor of furnishing the president and recording secretary for the I. C. F. W. C, Mrs. L. A. Barnum having been elected to the office of president upon her removal from the Valley. Mrs. W. S. Cummings was elected to serve out the term, with Mrs. A. G. Young corresponding secretary. Probably one of the best things done by the club was the exhibit, The Model Dairy, furnished for the "Better Babies" week, and an open meeting for all the mothers of the locality for a better babies program has been made an annual feature of the club program. A bird day program for the last week in March has also been made a permanent feature. During the current year the activities of the club (in common with all similar organizations) have been directed toward war work, and the programs have been upon patriotic subjects, noteworthy among which have been days devoted to an outline of the map of the fighting line, showing the position of the trenches and troops, and a day devoted to a study of our flag, its origin, meaning, and the proper manner and regulations for its display. The Heber Progress Club has responded nobly to all calls upon organized service for war work, and the Red Cross membership drive, the Liberty Bond sale on woman's day, the Hoover food pledge campaign and the Y. W. C. A. work were all undertaken and accomplished under charge of the club. Altogether it is worthy of record that the banding together of this small number of women under the federation charter has done much both for themselves and the community. CALIPATRIA WOMEN'S CLUB In February, 1915, Mrs. C. W. Brown and several other women, believing that the needs of the women of Calipatria for social life and culture could be filled in a measure by organizing a women's club, brought the matter before other women, with the result that a club having thirty-five members was found. It was named the Calipatria Women's Club. Mrs. C. W. Brown was the first president, and besides the social affairs given that year, which were the most elaborate in the history of the club, the club was largely instrumental in passing the $40,000 bond issue for the Calipatria Grammar School, which carried unanimously. In 1916 Mrs. W. J. West was elected president. A series of social dances brought to the club a substantial bank balance, to be turned over next year to be administered by Mrs. Brown, who was again elected president. A Liberty bond was bought, garbage cans—paid for by the women's clubs—were placed on the main streets. A donation was made to the Y. W. C. A., and every Thursday has been set aside by club members to assist at the Red Cross work-room. The club actively assisted in organizing the Red Cross and have donated largely to its support. The first year it was organized the club joined the County District and State Federation, and has always followed more or less closely the work outlined by the federation for its programs. Calipatria is a new town and has all its civic and social problems to work out, and the Calipatria Women's Club is doing its share. It has not always been able to accomplish all it planned, but its members are unselfish workers, always giving generously service for the betterment of their club, their town and their country. THE EL CENTRO MOTHERS' STUDY CLUB Organized as a local unit of the National Congress of Mothers in March, 1917, with a charter membership of thirty-five, the El Centro Mothers' Study Club has for its primary object the study of the greatest of all professions, that of parenthood. The science of child training is making wonderful progress, and the intelligent, progressive mother realizes this and wants to avail herself of the full benefits of all that is being discovered on the subject. The members of this club are all mothers of young children and are earnest and enthusiastic in their systematic study of the child along prescribed lines, using as their course of study text matter prepared by the National Congress of Mothers. The club became affiliated with the Imperial County Federation of Women's Clubs two months after its organization, and being the youngest club in the federation it has hardly had time to finds its bearings in the club world, yet the members feel that under the able leadership of its first president, Mrs. B. C. Leich, and Mrs. Jack Spencer, the present leader, they have all gained mutual help and inspiration. WOMEN'S IMPROVEMENT CLUB OF CALEXICO The Woman's Improvement Club of Calexico was formed on June 3, 1908, with twelve members. The club was federated in January, 1910, and now has a membership of sixty. The work of the club has always been along civic lines, for the betterment of the town. A reading and rest room has been maintained for a number of years, with park adjoining. A new Carnegie library has just been completed, which was a project fostered by the Woman's Club. In 1916 a park site and civic center was planned and a number of the members were active in seeing these things carried to a successful finish. Some literary work has also been accomplished each year, so that members who are not interested in civic work find scope for work along other lines. Additional Comments: Extracted from: THE HISTORY OF IMPERIAL COUNTY CALIFORNIA EDITED BY F. C. FARR IN ONE VOLUME ILLUSTRATED Published by ELMS AND FRANKS BERKELEY, CALIFORNIA 1918 Printed by Taylor & Taylor, San Francisco File at: http://files.usgwarchives.net/ca/imperial/history/1918/historyo/imperial251nms.txt This file has been created by a form at http://www.genrecords.net/cafiles/ File size: 24.7 Kb