Riverside County CA Archives History - Books .....The Women's Clubs 1912 ************************************************ Copyright. All rights reserved. http://www.rootsweb.com/~usgenweb/copyright.htm http://www.rootsweb.com/~usgenweb/ca/cafiles.htm ************************************************ File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by: Joy Fisher sdgenweb@yahoo.com March 3, 2006, 11:57 am Book Title: History Of Riverside County California CHAPTER XV. THE WOMEN'S CLUBS By E. W. Holmes In every effort made to build up and beautify the city the women of Riverside have ever given a most generous and loyal support. As always in school and church affairs their influence for good has been conspicuous. But when, with the growth of the city, there came the inevitable segregation which multiplied the church organizations, and there was a tendency because of .this for them to lose touch with each other in the broader field needing unity of effort, they came together in organizations which have strengthened them in aiding the educational, social and material improvement of the community. Out of this need grew a sentiment which led to the formation of the Riverside Woman's Club, which it was designed to make an organization " where character, not social position or wealth, should be the basis of club aristocracy." Started with such a spirit it is no wonder that the club has grown in numbers and influence, until it is one of the permanent and most valued institutions of the city. Mrs. Martha E. Hewitt, Dr. Sarah E. Maloy, and others, after consultation regarding the forming of a club, sent out invitations for a meeting to be held in Dr. Maloy's office, and on January 7, 1896, the ladies who responded joined with them in organizing the Woman's Club of Riverside. The following sixteen were the charter members: Mrs. Martha E. Hewitt, Dr. Sarah E. Maloy, Mrs. Ella J. Collier, Mrs. Mary E. Boggs, Mrs. Laura T. Reynolds, Mrs. Mary E. Darling, Mrs. Martha E. Ames, Mrs. Cora Van Aernam Peters, Mrs. Alice E. Holmes, Mrs. Sarah J. Ford, Mrs. Josephine Wheeler, Mrs. Mary L. Trowbridge, Mrs. N. P. J. Button, Mrs. Jean Koethen, Mrs. Ella Filkins, Mrs. Hulda Van Aernam. Dr. Sarah E. Maloy was elected first president; Mrs. Ella J. Collier, vice-president; Mrs. Mary E. Boggs, corresponding secretary, and Mrs. Laura T. Reynolds, treasurer. The general assembly of the club, and each of the classes, have monthly meetings. These were held at first in the homes of the members, later in leased public halls, but finally in the splendid Women's Club house erected for their use. The club has some 200 members, who assign themselves as taste dictates, in classes devoted to Art, Home and Philanthropy, Review, Music and Shakespeare. While the educational and social features have been its leading characteristics the club has given its influence and material assistance in behalf of other organizations and for the beautifying of the city. The following is a list of those who have filled the president's chair: Dr. Sarah E. Maloy (president emeritus)), Mrs. N. P. J. Button, Mrs. L. F. Darling, Mrs. Fanny G. Kishler, Mrs. E. W. Holmes, Mrs. John Meharg, Mrs. Henrietta Grout, Mrs. J. S. Noyes, Mrs. O. E. Rickard, Mrs. Carrie Taylor, Mrs. G. D. Cunningham, Mrs. G. W. Dennis, Mrs. J. H. Holland, Mrs. Ida Spooner Smith and Mrs. J. H. D. Cox. Having accumulated quite a fund with the building of a club house in view, the matter took definite shape in 1901, when an auxiliary organization was incorporated as the Woman's Club House Association, with a board of directors consisting of Mrs. Lizzie A. Low, Mrs. Fannie Noyes, Isabella Gill, Mary E. Darling, Alice E. Holmes, Mary E. Boggs, Mrs. Helena Leighton, Sarah J. Ford, Louise Harvey Clarke, Susan B. Cunningham. Mrs. Button was chosen president of the board, and Mrs. Cunningham, secretary. Stock was generously subscribed by the club members and citizens generally, and a lot finally purchased at the corner of Main and Eleventh streets. Plans were made for the new building by F. P. Burnham of Los Angeles, a contract let for its construction to Durfey Brothers, and in 1908 the club took possession of the beautiful building which is its permanent home. The property as it stands represents an investment of about $25,000. Another prominent organization of Riverside women is the Wednesday Morning Club. It was originally known as the Extemporaneous Drill Club, under which name it effected its organization in the Universalist church parlors in February, 1902. It had a charter membership of sixty-five, and has an average membership of 100. Its object was primarily to study parliamentary usage and train its members in presenting orally their views on important current events, and also to stimulate a public spirit which should induce improved sanitary conditions and the further beautifying of the city. This club was formed through the efforts of Mrs. Lorenzo Franklin Darling, at the time a member of the executive board of the State Federation of Clubs. Among its other valued members were its two honorary vice-presidents, the late Mrs. George H. Deere, and Mrs. Mary Sammet, the latter still useful in spite of her seventy-nine years. Like the older woman's club it has given generously in aid of many beneficent objects. Its presidents have been Mrs. L. F. Darling, Mrs. C. R. Stibbens, Mrs. I. W. Gleason, Mrs. P. T. Carter, Mrs. Frank E. Densmore and Mrs. M. Estudillo. The Tuesday Musical Club is the name of a woman's organization whose efforts have stimulated and helped to maintain a love of all that is best in music. It had a modest beginning in 1890, when the club held its sessions in the homes of its members, but its growth soon compelled the use of the Y. M. C. A. Hall, where it met until the completion of the Woman's Club house provided it with superior accommodations. Its concerts, given from time to time, have not only afforded the people of the city opportunity to enjoy the work of our local musicians, but have also been the means of giving to Riverside audiences opportunity to hear at home many of the best of the world's artists and musical organizations. Its presidents have been Mrs. Dudley Duyckinck, Mrs. Edgar R. Skelley, Mrs. Hubert Hamilton, Mrs. John Macrae, Miss Margaret Gage, Mrs. G. E. Tucker, Mrs. James Orrick and Mrs. Arthur Brown. Additional Comments: Extracted from: HISTORY OF Riverside County CALIFORNIA WITH BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES OF The Leading Men and Women of the County Who Have Been Identified With Its Growth and Development From the Early Days to the Present HISTORY BY ELMER WALLACE HOLMES AND OTHER WELL KNOWN WRITERS ILLUSTRATED COMPLETE IN ONE VOLUME HISTORIC RECORD COMPANY LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA 1912 File at: http://ftp.rootsweb.com/pub/usgenweb/ca/riverside/history/1912/historyo/womenscl156gms.txt This file has been created by a form at http://www.genrecords.org/cafiles/ File size: 6.9 Kb