Gulf Shores Woman's Club, Inc.

The General Federation of Women’s Clubs (GFWC) is the world’s oldest nonpartisan, nondenominational women’s volunteer service organization. Organized in 1890, GFWC’s roots can be traced back to 1868 when Jane Cunningham Croly, an accomplished New York City newspaperwoman, who wrote under the pen name of Jennie June, and other women were denied admittance to a dinner at an all-male press club honoring British novelist Charles Dickens. 

 

They were denied admittance based upon their gender, and in response, formed a woman’s club named Sorosis. The name was Greek meaning “an aggregation; a sweet flower of many fruits”. Although the founders believed they were starting a new movement, they soon became aware of the existence of other women’s clubs that had formed independently to meet the needs of women in our expanding country. 

 

In celebration of Sorosis’ 21st anniversary in 1889, Jane Croly brought together delegates from 61 women’s clubs throughout the United States. On the last day of the conference the women took action to form a permanent organization. A committee composed a constitution draft and plan of organization, which was ratified the following year. Sorosis President Ella Dietz Clymer headed the committee. On April 24, 1890, 63 clubs officially formed the General Federation of Women’s Clubs by ratifying the GFWC Constitution. The U.S. Congress chartered the General Federation of Women’s Clubs in 1901. 

 

Ella Dietz Clymer gained a place of honor as the author of the GFWC motto, “Unity in Diversity”. Speaking to the delegates at the first convention, she said, “We look for unity, but unity in diversity. We hope that you will enrich us by your varied experiences…” The relevance of the motto is evident in the diverse interest of GFWC members, who have implemented a broad range of programs and projects tailored to meet the needs of their communities. This flexibility has allowed GFWC to grow and adapt to the changing lifestyles of women.

 

Originally, clubs began as a means of self-education and development for women, but gradually the emphasis changed to community service. The Federation also has a distinguished record of legislative activity on issues of historical importance. GFWC was instrumental in the establishment of a national model for juvenile courts and was a forerunner in the early conservation movement. Members worked for passage of the Pure Food and Drug Act in 1913 and supported legislation for the eight-hour workday and the first child labor law. In addition, as early as 1944, GFWC endorsed a resolution supporting equal rights and responsibilities for women. The American Library Association credits women’s clubs with establishing 75% of America’s public libraries.

 

The small group of clubs that began in 1890 is now one of the largest volunteer organizations for women in the world. GFWC currently has 80,000+ members in every state, the District of Columbia, and more than a dozen countries. GFWC is dedicated to community improvement by enhancing the lives of others through volunteer service. GFWC clubs and clubwomen are the fabric that binds not only the Federation, but the communities in which they live and work.  Clubwomen transform lives each day, not simply with monetary donations, but with hands-on projects that provide immediate impact.  

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GFWC is distinguished from other service organizations by the breadth of our outreach. Our community service programs span all areas of the lives of our members, their families, and communities: arts,  civic engagement, education, environment, health and international outreach.

 

GFWC has earned a reputation as a powerful force in the fight against domestic violence. GFWC was recognized on the floor of the United States Senate as “a gem among our midst” for our work in bringing hope to victims and survivors of domestic violence and abuse, and our early support for the Violence Against Women Act.

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1898: GFWC unanimously passed a resolution against child labor. With the help of clubwoman Jane Addams (1860-1935), child labor became a major area of concern for the Federation. In 1901, Addams headed the Federation’s Child Labor Committee to work for the maintenance and improvement of child labor laws.

 

1899: GFWC’s Chicago Woman’s Club supported the juvenile court law, the first ever to be passed in the United States. This law became the model for all subsequent juvenile court laws, many of which were passed at the insistence of GFWC clubwomen. Julia Lathrop (1858-1932) led this club effort and was appointed by President William Howard Taft to head the Children’s Bureau in 1912.

 

1906: GFWC member Alice Lakey (1857-1935) spearheaded a letter and telegram writing campaign, which was essential to the passage of the Pure Food and Drug Act. Dr. Harvey Wiley, the first chief of the Pure Food Bureau, attributed the bill’s passing to GFWC and stated, “Trust them [GFWC] to put the ball over the goal line every time.”

 

1910s: GFWC supported legislation for the eight-hour workday, workplace safety and inspection, and workmen’s compensation. Members also supported prison reform legislation.

 

1919: Under the direction of the YMCA, GFWC created the Overseas Service Unit and sent 100 young women to Europe to assist wounded soldiers in the aftermath of World War I.

 

1930s: Having founded over 474 free public libraries and 4,655 traveling libraries, women’s clubs were credited by the American Library Association with establishing 75 percent of America’s public libraries. Supporting local libraries continues to be a Federation priority today.

 

1934: GFWC began a 10-year study to review the question of the Equal Rights Amendment (ERA). In 1944, GFWC adopted a resolution in support of the ERA, which the Federation continues to support today.

 

1944: Through the GFWC Buy a Bomber campaign during World War II, state federations sold war bonds worth  $154,459,132–enough money to purchase 431 planes.

 

1945: GFWC was one of the five women’s organizations chosen to participate in the conference to form the United Nations. At the conference, GFWC representatives supported the ratification of the United Nations Charter.

 

1960: Brighten the Night was a nationwide Federation campaign for street lighting to prevent crime and accidents. 

 

1984: GFWC founded the Women’s History and Resource Center (WHRC) to collect, preserve, interpret, and promote primary and secondary source materials and information on GFWC and women in volunteerism.

 

1990s: GFWC actively supported the passage of the Violence Against Women Act; the Americans With Disabilities Act; the Family and Medical Leave Act.

 

1990: GFWC celebrated its centennial anniversary in New York City.

 

1997: GFWC renewed its commitment to libraries with the Libraries 2000 project. Over a five year period, GFWC clubwomen raised and donated $13.5 million to public libraries and public school libraries across the nation.

 

2000s: GFWC members contributed $180,000 for a fully-equipped ambulance for use by the New York Fire Department in response to the loss of equipment suffered during the terrorist attacks on September 11, 2001.

 

2011: GFWC introduces the Success For Survivors Scholarship, created as part of our efforts to highlight the importance of rebuilding one’s life after experiencing intimate partner violence. Each year, GFWC awards $2,500 scholarships to help intimate partner survivors obtain a post-secondary education that will offer them the chance to reshape their future by securing employment and gaining personal independence.

 

2015: GFWC celebrated 125 years of Federation on April 24.

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2022: GFWC celebrated Headquarters 100 years anniversary.