Founded in 1984, the GFWC Women’s History and Resource Center (WHRC) collects, preserves, interprets, and promotes the history of GFWC. The WHRC documents the social and political contributions of GFWC clubwomen from 1890 to the present through the GFWC archives and related special collections. Our holdings are available for research by clubwomen, academics, and the general public.

The WHRC collections encompass GFWC’s institutional archives, including convention records, files related to our programs and leadership, and “Clubwoman” magazine (and its predecessors). We hold a robust photograph and audio-visual collection, as well as GFWC ephemera, memorabilia, and the art and artifacts that furnish our historic Headquarters building. We also maintain a reference library collection focused on women’s history, the woman’s club movement, and the history of volunteerism.

Please note: While we do have many state- and club-level archival and photographic materials, we do not maintain official records for State Federations or local clubs, or for outside organizations.

Four of the Overseas Unit members, 1920

WHRC: From the Archives

Freddie Hilp and the GFWC Overseas Unit Welcome back to our new monthly blog series, direct from the…

WHRC Archives room filled with records

WHRC: From the Archives

Welcome! Welcome, readers, to our new monthly blog series, direct from the GFWC Women’s History and …

Research at the WHRC

Learn more about the collections, request research assistance, or make an appointment to visit in person. To inquire about a potential donation, please email us with details: whrc@gfwc.org

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The Latest WHRC News
Today, the WHRC is thinking of the many, many people affected in ways both large and small by Hurricane Helene. We know that club members are busy working on relief efforts, just as we have done during past disasters. I did a little searching in the archives for prior instances; here, for example, is some information related to GFWC and the deadly Galveston, Texas hurricane in 1900.  In a 1999 history of the Wednesday Club of Galveston, member Marilla W. Peters recounted that her great-grandmother Annie Dallam Masterson, also a member of the club, died in the 1900 storm; despite losses such as this, the Wednesday Club worked hard to help their community. As word got out about the disaster, Texas Federation clubs quickly came to the aid of their fellow Texans, demonstrating "the strength and value of this organization." Dimies T.S. Denison of New York, First Vice President of GFWC, encouraged clubs across the country to contribute 25 cents per member to help with recovery. And national fundraising efforts were reported in the General Federation of Women's Clubs journal "The Club Woman," where our editor noted with pride that "American generosity is something for which to be glad."  💌From "The Wednesday Club - Beginning our 109th Year," 1999 (CH TX 070): "The club engaged exclusively in literary study except for a period of a few months following the disaster of the 1900 Hurricane that almost destroyed the city and killed 6000 of its citizens. It is now listed as the worst natural disaster of the 20th century. However, it did not destroy the determination of the women of the club who began to sew clothing for the victims within a few months of the storm."  💌From "The Club Woman," January 1901 (MAG 1901.01): "Everyone will be glad to know that up to December tenth, the relief fund for Galveston had reached $1,174,508.53. The disaster was awful, but American generosity is something for which to be glad."  #clubwomeninaction

Today, the WHRC is thinking of the many, many people affected in ways both large and small by Hurricane Helene. We know that club members are busy working on relief efforts, just as we have done during past disasters. I did a little searching in the archives for prior instances; here, for example, is some information related to GFWC and the deadly Galveston, Texas hurricane in 1900.

In a 1999 history of the Wednesday Club of Galveston, member Marilla W. Peters recounted that her great-grandmother Annie Dallam Masterson, also a member of the club, died in the 1900 storm; despite losses such as this, the Wednesday Club worked hard to help their community. As word got out about the disaster, Texas Federation clubs quickly came to the aid of their fellow Texans, demonstrating "the strength and value of this organization." Dimies T.S. Denison of New York, First Vice President of GFWC, encouraged clubs across the country to contribute 25 cents per member to help with recovery. And national fundraising efforts were reported in the General Federation of Women`s Clubs journal "The Club Woman," where our editor noted with pride that "American generosity is something for which to be glad."

💌From "The Wednesday Club – Beginning our 109th Year," 1999 (CH TX 070): "The club engaged exclusively in literary study except for a period of a few months following the disaster of the 1900 Hurricane that almost destroyed the city and killed 6000 of its citizens. It is now listed as the worst natural disaster of the 20th century. However, it did not destroy the determination of the women of the club who began to sew clothing for the victims within a few months of the storm."

💌From "The Club Woman," January 1901 (MAG 1901.01): "Everyone will be glad to know that up to December tenth, the relief fund for Galveston had reached $1,174,508.53. The disaster was awful, but American generosity is something for which to be glad."

#clubwomeninaction

Today is National Voter Registration Day! This "nonpartisan civic holiday dedicated to celebrating our democracy"* has been held each September since 2012. Did GFWC anticipate that by a few years (decades)? Absolutely we did!  Check out this delightful 1950 voter registration brochure, for example. "The responsibility is ours," we said, because "we fought for suffrage; now we should exercise our right to vote." We urged our members to "vote in every election.... See that others also vote, and vote with awareness of the importance of what they are doing." (Please note that all of that was in ALL CAPS in the original. We meant business.)  Check your voter registration today at vote.gov!  📃"Women Should Register and Vote," 1947-1950 administration of GFWC President Dorothea Dutcher Buck; Mrs. T.C. Carroll, Chairman, Citizenship Department.  *Quotation from nationalvoterregistrationday.org/about

Today is National Voter Registration Day! This "nonpartisan civic holiday dedicated to celebrating our democracy"* has been held each September since 2012. Did GFWC anticipate that by a few years (decades)? Absolutely we did!

Check out this delightful 1950 voter registration brochure, for example. "The responsibility is ours," we said, because "we fought for suffrage; now we should exercise our right to vote." We urged our members to "vote in every election…. See that others also vote, and vote with awareness of the importance of what they are doing." (Please note that all of that was in ALL CAPS in the original. We meant business.)

Check your voter registration today at vote.gov!

📃"Women Should Register and Vote," 1947-1950 administration of GFWC President Dorothea Dutcher Buck; Mrs. T.C. Carroll, Chairman, Citizenship Department.

*Quotation from nationalvoterregistrationday.org/about

This Labor Day weekend, don't forget the holiday's history! Labor Day is older than you might think; it was recognized by several states by the 1880s, and named a national holiday by Congress in 1894. Countless women and men contributed to labor reform during that era, including - no surprise! - many General Federation of Women's Clubs leaders such as the woman shown here, Ellen Martin Henrotin of Chicago.  Labor issues, particularly those facing women, were a major concern for Henrotin throughout her life. She was GFWC's second President, serving from 1894 to 1898, but that was only one of her many leadership roles, and she went on to serve as President of the Women's Trade Union League 1903-1907. In 1907 she worked with Jane Addams - another GFWC clubwoman - on the Chicago Industrial Exhibit, intended to showcase the progress of women's labor (which, thanks to a strike by women working in the exhibit itself who objected to the way their work was portrayed, became its own artifact of labor history).  #Clubwomeninhistory #laborday

This Labor Day weekend, don`t forget the holiday`s history! Labor Day is older than you might think; it was recognized by several states by the 1880s, and named a national holiday by Congress in 1894. Countless women and men contributed to labor reform during that era, including – no surprise! – many General Federation of Women`s Clubs leaders such as the woman shown here, Ellen Martin Henrotin of Chicago.

Labor issues, particularly those facing women, were a major concern for Henrotin throughout her life. She was GFWC`s second President, serving from 1894 to 1898, but that was only one of her many leadership roles, and she went on to serve as President of the Women`s Trade Union League 1903-1907. In 1907 she worked with Jane Addams – another GFWC clubwoman – on the Chicago Industrial Exhibit, intended to showcase the progress of women`s labor (which, thanks to a strike by women working in the exhibit itself who objected to the way their work was portrayed, became its own artifact of labor history).

#Clubwomeninhistory #laborday

Happy #womensequalityday! In the early 1970s, August 26th was designated in the United States as Women's Equality Day, commemorating both the 1920 passage of the 19th Amendment and the Women's Strike for Equality, which took place on this day in 1970. It's a great day to learn more about the history of American women and their fight for equal rights.  We'll get you started with this fun (?) fact: the General Federation of Women's Clubs did not officially endorse women's suffrage until 1914, after decades of often heated debate and discussion. Still, many members were actively working in favor of suffrage long before GFWC made it official, as this news item from our "General Federation Bulletin" of October 1911 makes clear.  For our readers in historic clubs, did your members largely work in favor of suffrage, or did it take time to come around to the idea? Did you or any of your foremothers participate in the 1970 protest? Let us know in the comments, or drop a line to us at whrc@gfwc.org!  📖 "A Suffrage Convention" held in Valley Falls, New York, September 1911. Many New York State Federation members participated, including State President Mary Garrett Hay.  #clubwomeninhistory

Happy #womensequalityday! In the early 1970s, August 26th was designated in the United States as Women`s Equality Day, commemorating both the 1920 passage of the 19th Amendment and the Women`s Strike for Equality, which took place on this day in 1970. It`s a great day to learn more about the history of American women and their fight for equal rights.

We`ll get you started with this fun (?) fact: the General Federation of Women`s Clubs did not officially endorse women`s suffrage until 1914, after decades of often heated debate and discussion. Still, many members were actively working in favor of suffrage long before GFWC made it official, as this news item from our "General Federation Bulletin" of October 1911 makes clear.

For our readers in historic clubs, did your members largely work in favor of suffrage, or did it take time to come around to the idea? Did you or any of your foremothers participate in the 1970 protest? Let us know in the comments, or drop a line to us at whrc@gfwc.org!

📖 "A Suffrage Convention" held in Valley Falls, New York, September 1911. Many New York State Federation members participated, including State President Mary Garrett Hay.

#clubwomeninhistory

Our reference library contains many guidebooks from the early days of club work - delightful historic artifacts to us today, but of course these were originally up-to-date books filled with helpful info from the days before "just google it" was possible. We have several volumes dedicated specifically to program topics, designed for the women who might find themselves out of ideas for next month's meeting and Gladys said she'll quit the club if we have to talk about Ethel's favorite Shakespeare play again, so come up with something new, Belinda! Better write to GFWC HQ for suggestions!  📙"Woman's Club Work and Programs, or, First Aid to Club Women," Caroline French Benton, 1913. Program ideas here include everything from studies of history and other nations to "Forestry," "Ten American Women Writers," "The Employment of Women," and "Important Movements of Our Times."  #clubwomeninhistory #havegavelwillpreside

Our reference library contains many guidebooks from the early days of club work – delightful historic artifacts to us today, but of course these were originally up-to-date books filled with helpful info from the days before "just google it" was possible. We have several volumes dedicated specifically to program topics, designed for the women who might find themselves out of ideas for next month`s meeting and Gladys said she`ll quit the club if we have to talk about Ethel`s favorite Shakespeare play again, so come up with something new, Belinda! Better write to GFWC HQ for suggestions!

📙"Woman`s Club Work and Programs, or, First Aid to Club Women," Caroline French Benton, 1913. Program ideas here include everything from studies of history and other nations to "Forestry," "Ten American Women Writers," "The Employment of Women," and "Important Movements of Our Times."

#clubwomeninhistory #havegavelwillpreside