Skip to main content

Full text of "The history of the Illinois Federation of Women's Clubs, 1894-1928"

See other formats 


If^p2\J 


THE  HISTORY 

of  the 

ILLINOIS  FEDERATION 

of 

WOMEN'S  CLUBS 


1894-1928 


"Not  luithout  thy  wondrQiis  story  can 
be  writ  the  nation  s  glory,  Illinois,  Illi- 
nois/' in  the  world  of  club  women,  be- 
cause the  club  movement  had  its  birth 
in  this  great  state. 


te 

^•^|«r^pr 

jy 

K^^r^ 

^  ^^Bfc^ifvi,  f  ^                 ,^ 

wtx^^ 

iniii^^^HiH'                 v| 

^ftiji^ 

^^9 

^^^^^^^^^^J^^f__ ---=ri:;^:^^ 

mM^ 

Hi 

HI 

^H 

^J^^^^JSI^    "^"'Sf '^^M 

wBm 

1 

^^^^^^^^HB^B^jP'  >«               ^^H 

i 

1 

THE  PIONEER  OF  WOMEN'S  CLUBHOUSES. 

The    Home    of    the    Friends    in    Council,    Quincy,    Illinois, 

Acquired    in     1878    and,     so    far    as     known,    the    Oldest 

Women's    Clubhouse   in  the   United    States. 


"A  body  of  organized  women  in  every 
community  who  can  be  depended  on  to 
promote  ivhatever  leads  toward  the  bet- 
terment of  life."  Alice  Ames  Wintee. 


Foreword, 

When  planning  this  work,  we  attempted  to  give  every  administra- 
tion the  same  amount  of  space  but  it  was  soon  found  impossible  to 
carry  out  such  a  plan  and  do  justice.  In  two  instances,  Presidents 
served  over  longer  periods  of  time  and  hence  had  greater  opportunities 
for  service  and  more  work  to  report.  Details  of  some  administrations 
must  of  necessity  take  more  time  in  the  telling  than  others;  advan- 
tages and  conclitions  made  achievements  more  possible  under  one 
President  than  under  another ;  some  initiated  plans  and  work  and 
others  carried  them  out;  in  certain  sessions  legislative  measures  could 
be  forwarded;  in  others,  little  could  be  accomplished.  Sometimes  the 
reports  are  of  things  accomplished;  sometimes  of  things  proposed. 

We  have  made  every  effort  to  give  each  administration  credit  for 
its  own  work.  Up  to  1905-06,  the  Year  Book  reports  were  written 
by  the  incoming  chairmen;  after  that  date,  by  the  retiring  chairmen 
and  this  change  may  have  led  to  some  confusion.  After  1914,  no 
reports  were  .published  in  the  Year  Books  which  accounts  for  the 
absence  of  some  data  in  the  later  administrations  which  might  have 
been  interesting. 

We  wish  to  express  our  appreciation  to  Mrs.  W.  J.  Burgess, 
Excutive  Secretary,  who  supplied  much  missing  material;  to  the 
Past  State  Presidents  who  supplied  the  material  for  the  Sketches  and 
such  details  of  their  administrations  as  they  could  recall;  to  the 
twenty-five  District  Presidents  for  the  data  concerning  the  organiza- 
tion of  their  districts  and  to  all  other  club  women  who  graciously 
responded  to  our  appeals  for  information. 

Eecognition  is  also  given  to  the  History  of  the  General  Federation 
of  Women's  Clubs  by  Mrs.  Mary  I.  Wood ;  to  the  Historical  Sketches 
of  the  Maine  Federation  by  Georgia  Pulsifer  Porter ;  to  the  Year  Books 
of  the  Illinois  Federation ;  to  the  History  of  the  Friends  in  Council  of 
Quincy  and  to  the  Eeports  of  the  Ladies'  Education  Society  of  Jack- 
sonville of  1839  and  1849,  which  latter  belong  to  Mrs.  Eugenia  M. 
Bacon  of  Decatur. 

To  Mrs.  Bacon  the  Editor  is  especially  indebted  for  the  use  of 
valuable  material,  for  unlimited  time  which  she  has  given  and  especi- 
ally for  her  generous  and  svmpathetic  advice  and  counsel. 

M.  G.  P. 


THE  HISTORY 

of  the 

ILLINOIS  FEDERATION 

of 

WOMEN'S  CLUBS 

1894-1928 

Ffe  22^929 
IIN/VERS/Ty  OF  lumoi 

Compiled  by 

MAUDE  G,  PALMER 


Published  By  Authority  of  The  Board  of  Directors  of 
The  IlUnois  Federation  of  Women's  Clubs 

192  8 


GENERAL  FEDERATION  OF  WOMEN'S  CLUBS 


PRESIDENTS 


189U-1894— Mrs.  Charlotte  Emerson  Bro^Ti.* 
1894-1898— Mrs.  Ellen  M.  Henrotin    (Mrs.   Charles).* 
1898-1902— Mrs.  Rebecca  Douglas  Lowe.* 
1902-1904^Dimies  T.  S.  Denison  (Mrs.  Charles  Halbert), 

15  West  Eleventh  Street,  New  York  Citv,  New  York. 
1904-1908— Mrs.  Sarah  S.  Piatt  Decker.* 
1908-1912— Eva  Perry   Moore    (Mrs.   Philip   North), 

3414  Ha^\'thorne  Boulevard,  St.  Louis,  Missouri. 
1912-1916— Mrs.  Percy  V.  Pennybacker, 

2606  Whitis  Avenue,  Austin,  Texas. 
1916-1920— Mrs.  Josiah  Evans  Cowles, 

1101  West  Adams  Street,  Los  Angeles,  California. 
1920-1924— Mrs.  Thomas  Gerald  Winter, 

2833  Lake  of  the  Isle  Boulevard,  Minneapolis,  Minn. 
1924-1928 — Mrs.  John  Dickinson   Sherman, 

Estes  Park,  Colorado. 

*Deceased. 


ILLINOIS  FEDERATION  OF  WOMEN'S  CLUBS 


PRESIDENTS 


1894-1896 
MRS.  H.  H.  CANDEE 620  Twentv-sixth  St.,  Cairo 

1896-1898 
MRS.  ROBERT  HALL  WILES Del  Prado  Hotel,  Chicago 

1898-1900 
MRS.  ROBERT  BRUCE  FARSOK St.  Charles 

1900-1902 
MRS.  THADDEUS  P.  STA?s^VOOD 721  Foster  St.,  Evanston 

1902-1904 
MRS.  GEORGE  ROBERT  BACON 156  Oakdale,  Decatur 

1904-1906 
*MRS.  JAMES   FRAKE Chicago 

1906-1908 
MRS.  GEORGE  WATKINS Woman's  Club,  Chicago 

1908-1910 

MRS.    FRANCIS    D.    EVERETT 

314  Linden  Park  Place,  Highland  Park 

1910-1913 

MRS.    CLARENCE    GILBERT    GOODWIN 

2629    E.    74th   St.,   Chicago 

1912-1914 
MRS.  FREDERICK  A.  DOW.  .  .  .143  S.  Washington  St.,  Hinsdale 

1914-1916 
MRS.  CHARLES  H.  ZIMMER!\rAN.  .715  N.  Central  Ave.,  Chicago 

1916-1919 
MISS  JESSIE  L  SPAFFORD 501  N.  Prospect  St.,  Rockford 

1919-1921 
MRS.  WILLIAM  H.  HART 803  S.  Main  St.,  Bent^on 

1921-1923 
MRS.  EDWARD  S.  BAILEY 2212  E.  70th   St.,  Chicago 

1923-1926 

MRS.    GEORGE    THOMAS    PALMER 

1525    Lowell    Ave.,    Springfield 

1936-1928 

MRS.  WALTER  WEBSTER  SEYMOUR 

7126    Euclid    Ave.,    Chicago 


♦Deceased,  April  38,  3  909. 


K 

'i  676977 


ANNUAL  MEETINGS 


Organized  at  Chicago 1894 

First  Annual  Meeting  at  Peoria 1895 

Second  Annual  Meeting  at  Springfield 1896 

Third  Annual  Meeting  at  Jacksonville 1897 

Fourth  Annual  Meeting  at  Chicago 1898 

Fifth  Annual  Meeting  at  Quincy 1899 

Sixth  Annual  Meeting  at  Eockford 1900 

Seventh  Annual  Meeting  at  Decatur 1901 

Eighth  Annual  Meeting  at  Champaign  and  IJrbana 1902 

Ninth  Annual  Meeting  at  Cairo 1903 

Tenth  Annual  Meeting  at  Danville 1904 

Eleventh  Annual  Meeting  at  Joliet 1905 

Twelfth  Annual  Meeting  at  Chicago 1906 

Thirteenth  Annual  ]\Ieeting  at  Bloomington 1907 

Fourteenth  Annual  Meeting  at  East  St.  Louis 1908 

Fifteenth  Annual  Meeting  ^at  Oak  Park 1909 

Sixteenth  Annual  Meeting  at  Peoria 1910 

Seventeenth  Annual  Meeting  at  Galesburg 1911 

Eighteenth  Annual  Meeting  at  Aurora 1913 

Nineteenth  Annual  Meeting  at  Evanston 1913 

Twentieth  Annual  Meeting  at  Springfield 1914 

Twenty-first  Annual  Meeting  at  Eockford 1915 

Twenty-second  Annual  Meeting  at  Champaign  and  Urbana ....  1916 

Twenty-third  Annual  Meeting  at  Chicago 1917 

Twenty-fourth  Annual  Meeting  at  Peoria 1919 

Twenty-fifth  Annual  Meeting  at  Chicago 1930 

Twenty-sixth  Annual  Meeting  at  Chicago 1931 

Twenty-seventh  Annual  Meeting  at   Springfield 1933 

Twenty-eighth  Annual  Meeting  at  Chicago 1933 

Twenty-ninth  Annual  Meeting  at  Moline 1934 

Thirtieth  Annual  Meeting  at  Decatur 1935 

Thirty-first  Annual  Meeting  at  Chicago 1926 

Thirty-second  Annual  Meeting  at  Danville 1937 

Thirty-third  Annual  Meeting  at  Chicago 1938 


THE  HISTORY 

of  the 

ILLINOIS   FEDERATION   OF  WOMEN^S   CLUBS 
Thirty-four  Years  of  Growth  and  Achievement 
1894-1928 

I 

THE  AWAKENING 

Organization,  as  we  now  conceive  it,  is  of  rather  recent  develop- 
ment. In  the  earlier  days,  when  the  American  population  was  largely 
rural;  when  the  means  of  transportation  was  undeveloped;  when  in- 
dustry was  in  its  infancy  and  manufacture  consisted  largely  of  the 
work  of  the  lone  artisan  with  the  aid  of  one  or  two  apprentices  who 
were  members  of  his  household,  the  uniting  of  individuals  for  a  com- 
mon end  was  unusual  except  for  religious  and  political  purposes  or 
to  perform  the  ritual  of  the  ancient  fraternal  lodges.  Unions  for 
cultural  purposes,  as  we  now  understand  them,  would  have  been  re- 
garded as  idealistic  if  not  unmanly  and  out  of  keeping  with  the  stem 
business  of  living.  The  appreciation  of  an  obligation  to  the  com- 
munity was  not  yet  born,  for  the  community  life  had  not  yet  developed 
its  latter  day  complexities.  The  words  "civic"  and  "social"  had  little 
use  in  the  language  of  the  people. 

Yet  in  these  days  of  isolated  living,  when  the  earlier  settlers 
were  engaged  from  the  rising  to  the  setting  of  the  sun  in  the  making 
of  a  place  and  a  home  in  the  forests  or  on  the  prairies,  the  man  of 
the  household  was  a  gadder  and  one  of  wide  social  contacts  compared 
with  the  women  of  the  day.  In  his  necessary  visits  to  the  grist-mill 
and  the  general  store ;  in  his  exchange  of  labor  in  harvesting,  thresh- 
ing and  barn  raising;  at  the  occasional  court  days  and  market  days 
and  at  political  gatherings,  he  had  contact  with  his  fellow  men  and 
an  opportunity  for  the  exchange  of  ideas  and  opinion.  He  was  the 
author  of  that  famous  phrase,  perpetuated  by  his  mid-Victorian 
grandsons,  that  the  "woman's  place  is  in  the  home"  and  the  demands 
upon  her,  in  the  ceaseless  domestic  struggle  of  the  pioneer,  were  so 
great  that  she  had  no  time  or  disposition  to  argue  the  question. 
Even  if  her  circumstances  were  more  fortunate  and  the  demands 
upon  her  less  exacting,  the  participation  of  women  in  "men's  affairs" 
was  unconventional  in  a  day  which  was  highly  conventional  and  the 
customs  of  her  time  convinced  her  of  the  truth  of  the  idea,  which 
she  had  acquired  from  Webster's  spelling  book  and  had  laboriously 
worked  upon  her  sampler:     "Homestaying  birds  are  happiest." 

Aside  from  the  purely  social  affairs  of  her  day,  the  only  things 
which  justified  a  woman  venturing  beyond  the  confines  of  her  home 
in  her  activities  were  those  which  appealed  to  her  emotions  rather 
than  to  her  intellect  or  her  public  spirit.     She  could  with  propriety 


8 

render  service  in  caring  for  the  sick,  in  religious  service  and  the  ex- 
tensions of  missions  and  she  could  engage  in  teaching  the  young 
and  her  activities  were  thus  confined.  She  might  be  a  leading  spirit 
in  the  establishment  of  hospitals  or  infirmaries,  of  orphanages  or 
schools,  but  even  in  these  she  rarely  acted  independently  of  the  su- 
perior experience  of  her  liege  lord.  There  seemed  to  be  a  prevailing 
notion  that  in  her  contact  with  the  sordid  affairs  of  every-day,  com- 
munity life  she  would  lose  something  of  that  intangible  charm  that 
was  known  as  "feminine."  Her  freedom  was  restricted  and  her 
intellectual  initiative  all  but  suffocated  in  an  affectionate  endeavor 
to  protect  and  shield  her  from  the  realities  of  life. 

Whatever  outlet  women  had  in  expressing  themselves  had  to  be 
along  these  rather  limited  lines;  but  even  so,  this  self-expression  was 
greatly  broadened  by  the  occurrence  of  the  Civil  War.  This  great, 
national  calamity,  which  came  closer  to  our  homes  than  any  other 
war  has  or  probably  ever  will,  justified  women  in  giving  themselves 
to  public  service,  in  preparing  bandages,  dressings  and  food  for  the 
sick  and  wounded  and  in  rendering  other  forms  of  wartime  service. 
This  common  aim  and  common  purpose  not  only  caused  the  minds  of 
women  to  pursue  the  same  trend,  but  it  brought  them  continuously 
in  actual  contact  and  developed  an  intimacy  of  relationship  and  un- 
derstanding which  is  one  of  those  benefits  which  frequently  remain 
to  partly  compensate  for  widespread  misfortune.  It  is  generally 
recognized  that  the  Civil  War  caused  American  women  to  know 
American  women  as  they  had  not  before.  It  caused  a  leveling  of 
the  class  distinctions  which  we  had  inherited  from  our  European  an- 
cestors and  which  were  perpetuated  by  our  early  American  forebears. 
It  gave  us  a  glimmering  of  the  fact  that  "the  Colonel's  lady  and  Mrs. 
O'Grady  are  sisters  under  the  skin.''  At  any  rate,  the  Civil  War  is 
recognized  as  having  given  the  impetus  to  united  service  on  the  part 
of  women,  and  women's  organizations  became  quite  the  common  thing 
during  the  period  of  reconstruction  and  from  then  on. 

If  the  War  of  the  Rebellion  exercised  this  stimulating  influence 
on  the  women  of  the  entire  nation,  it  is  natural  to  assume  that  it 
made  an  unusually  deep  impression  upon  the  women  of  Illinois  for 
in  many  ways  Illinois  held  a  conspicuous  place  in  the  great  national 
conflict.  It  was  the  State  of  Lincoln,  the  war  president,  of  Grant, 
the  great  commander  and  victorious  chief  and  of  many  statesmen  and 
soldiers  whose  activities  led  up  to  the  war  and  whose  leadership  aided 
in  its  carrying  out  and  successful  termination.  Lincoln  is  said  to 
have  recognized  that  he  could  count  upon  his  adopted  State  for  over- 
filled quotas  of  troops  however  recruiting  might  lag  in  many  other 
states.  The  percentage  of  soldiers  to  the  population  of  Illinois  was 
extremely  high,  a  fact  tragically  significant  to  the  women  of  the 
commonwealth.  Further,  Illinois  had  been  the  political  battle.ground 
of  Lincoln  and  Douglas  in  the  days  which  led  up  to  the  Rebellion 
and  the  fair-minded  historian  recognizes  that,  but  for  the  loyalty  and 
influence  of  Douglas  prior  to  his  untimely  death,  the  battle  front 
would  probably  have  been  in  the  \^cinity  of  Springfield,  Bloomington. 
Jacksonville,    Quincy,   Decatur   and    Danville   rather   ths^n   south   of 


9 

Cairo.    The  war  meant  much  to  Illinois  and  the  war  influence  in  Illi- 
nois— good  or  bad — was  consequently  tremendous. 

The  organization  of  women,  for  religious,  missionary,  temper- 
ance, philanthropic  and,  gradually,  for  aesthetic  and  cultural  pur- 
poses, was  so  general  after  the  period  of  reconstruction  that  a  search 
for  the  pioneer  at  that  time  is  difficult  and  confusing.  Clubs  and 
societies  developed  simultaneously  in  various  parts  of  the  State  and 
the  instances  of  conspicuous  achievment  are  largely  those  of  compara- 
tive degree  which  will  be  treated  in  the  general  history  of  the  State 
Federation  which  will  follow.  There  is  a  chapter  in  the  woman^s 
history  of  Illinois,  however,  Avhich  is  singularly  interesting  on  ac- 
count of  the  isolated  evidences  of  a  desire  for  self-expression  result- 
ing in  purely  pioneer  clubs  and  organizations.  Here  there  is  no  great 
national  event  to  serve  as  the  underlying  motive  power.  Here  we 
must  assume  only  that  desire  for  development,  the  desire  for  "self 
expression"  (to  use  again  a  sadly  hackneyed  phrase)  which  women, 
as  well  as  men,  have  always  felt  and  which  doubtless  developed  the 
more  strongly  on  account  of  suppression  and  repression  until  it  broke 
the  bounds  of  conventionality  and  laid  the  foundation  for  the  days 
to  come.  Thus,  sporadically,  the  women's  clubs  of  Illinois  came  into 
existence.  So  far  as  we  know,  Illinois  may  fairly  claim  one  of  the 
first  organizations  of  women  in  the  Nation,  in  the  Ladies  Education 
Society  of  Jacksonville,  certainly  one  of  the  oldest,  if  not  the  very 
oldest,  of  those  clubs  now  in  existence. 

In  this  day  of  our  intellectual  and  physical  freedom,  when  the 
restrictions  of  stag's  and  mid-Victorian  prejudices  have  been  cast  off 
and  when  women  are  privileged  to  go  as  far  as  they  choose  in  the 
affairs  of  everyday  life  and  may  come  back  without  having  lost  their 
■entire  feminine  bloom — in  this  day,  it  does  not  appear  especially 
daring  or  spectacular  to  organize  or  join  "a  ladies  association  for 
educating  females."  In  1833,  however,  this  doubtless  required  much 
of  the  stuff  that  pioneers  are  made  of — for  "educating  females"  was 
not  recognized  universally  in  that  day  as  an  entirely  desirable  or 
orthodox  diversion  or  occupation.  No  doubt,  the  entire  project 
smacked  of  "higher  education"  wdiich  even  in  a  later  day  has  caused 
strong  men  to  raise  their  eyebrows  doubtingly. 

To  get  the  setting  and  significance  of  this  first  woman's  club, 
one  must  bear  in  mind  that,  in  1833,  we  were  witnessing  "an  epic  in 
homespun" — Andrew  Jackson  was  president  and  crude  and  virile 
democracy  Avas  causing  great  indignation  among  the  aristocratic  and 
the  conservatives.  Many  established  customs  and  traditions  were 
being  knocked  over  and  out  of  the  "OTeckage  was  coming  a  truer  sense 
of  equality  and  a  sounder  democracy.  It  was  no  time,  in  rather  con- 
servative Jacksonville,  for  women  to  show  any  evidence  of  being  ad- 
vanced. John  Eeynolds,  fourth  governor  of  Illinois,  had  succeeded 
Ninian  Edwards.  Cook  County  had  been  created  only  two  years  be- 
fore and  39  of  our  existing  Illinois  counties  had  not  yet  been  dreamed 
of.  It  must  be  borne  in  mind  that  when  the  Ladies  Education  So- 
ciety of  Jacksonville  began  to  function  the  following  counties  in 
Illinois  had  not  been  carved  out  of  the  big  areas  which  constituted 


10 

the  few  original  counties  of  the  State:  Stephenson,  Winnebago, 
Boone,  McHenry,  Lake,  Carroll,  Ogle,  DeKalb,  Kane,  DuPage,  Lee, 
Whiteside,  Bureau,  Kendall,  Grundy,  Will,  Kankakee,  Livingston, 
Marshall,  Starke,  Henderson,  Woodford,  Ford,  DeWitt,  Logan,  Men- 
ard, Cass,  Brown,  Scott,  Christian,  Moultrie,  Douglas,  Jersey,  Rich- 
land, Williamson,  Saline,  Hardin  and  Massac. 

The  Ladies  Education  Society  apparently  had  a  definite  pur- 
pose— that  of  bringing  young  women  from  the  east  and  training  them 
to  be  teachers — and  it  appears  that  the  new  organization  was  closely 
akin  to  the  Jacksonville  Female  Academy.  That  institution  was 
opened  in  1833  with  Miss  Sarah  C.  Crocker  as  principal  and  Miss 
Crocker  was  the  first  vice-president  of  the  pioneer  society  during 
the  same  year.  It  will  be  recalled  that  Illinois  College  for  men  had 
been  organized  at  Jacksonville  in  1829  with  the  aid  of  a  group  of 
young  men  from  Yale  University  and  it  was  probably  the  purpose 
of  the  Ladies  Education  Society  to  provide  for  the  women  in  Illinois 
the  same  advantages  Illinois  College  offered  to  men.  If  so,  the  society 
deserved  to  live  as  it  has.  It  doubtless  had  a  significant  influence 
on  the  educational  development  of  Jacksonville  in  the  early  days.  The 
other  original  officers  were  Mrs.  C.  Tillson,  president;  Mrs.  C.  W. 
Baldwin,  secretary  and  Mrs.  H.  Batchelder,  treasurer.  During  1926- 
27,  the  officers  of  the  society,  now  94  years  old,  were  Mrs.  Ensley 
Moore,  president;  Dr.  Josephine  Milligan,  vice-president;  Mrs.  W. 
F.  Wilson,  secretary  and  Mrs.  C.  H.  Eammelkamp,  treasurer.  It 
would  be  tremendously  interesting  to  follow  the  ^history  of  Illinois 
and  the  progress  of  the  women  of  Illinois  through  the  century  this 
organization  has  functioned.  Such  a  review  is,  of  course,  impossible 
in  the  limited  space  of  this  booklet. 

In  view  of  the  part  which  women  have  come  to  take  in  the  poli- 
tical life  of  the  nation,  with  one  woman  having  been  elected  in  the 
Illinois  Eepublican  Primary  for  Congressman-at-Large,  three  women 
in  the  Congress  of  the  United  States,  women  judges  of  the  higher 
courts,  with  one  woman  senator  in  Illinois  and  several  in  the  lower 
house  of  the  Legislature  and  woman's  participation  in  government 
steadily  growing,  one  smiles  as  one  reads  the  minutes  of  the  Sixth 
Annual  Report  of  the  Ladies  Association  for  Educating  Females 
(1839)  and  comes  to  the  remarks  of  President  Edward  Beecher,  of 
Illinois  College :  "It  has  always  been  the  policy  of  the  devil  to  put 
down  and  keep  down  the  female  mind,  and  he  was  wise.  The  wisdom 
from  above  always  counteracts  this  effect  and  plans  to  elevate  women. 
*  *  *  Formerly  young  men  taught  school  for  $6.00  per  month 
— not  so  now.  The  great  west  is  open — the  young  men  are  employed 
in  other  ways.  Then  send  females  for  they  are  best  suited  to  the 
work  and  Providence  seems  to  be  directing  the  public  mind  to  them. 

"Another  providential  indication  is  that  the  accustomed  em- 
ployments of  females  have  been  stolen  away  from  them  by  the  intro- 
duction of  machinery.*  And  when  there  is  danger  of  the  inaction 
of  body  and  mind  the  better  employment  of  teaching  comes  in. 

♦  Just   how   machinery   had    at    that    time    stolen   away   the   employment    of 
females    is    not    clear.     The    sewing    machine  was  not  invented  until   1848. 


11 

"It  is  observed  that  a  spirit  of  impatience  is  manifesting  itself 
in  certain  quarters  amongst  the  female  ranks.  The  offices  of  males 
are  aspired  after  and  it  may  be  doubted  if  there  be  not  danger  of  a 
civil  war  or  something  worse.  For  why  not  send  our  wives  to  Con- 
gress and  stay  at  home  ourselves  if  they  are  better  qualified.  But 
here  is  employment  for  them  and  that  will  meet  the  difficulty." 

Edward  Beecher  was  the  son  of  Lyman  Beecher  and  the  brother 
of  Henry  Ward  Beecher  and  Harriet  Beecher  Stowe  who  had  much 
to  do  with  bringing  on  a  civil  war;  but  not  because  women  aspired 
after  the  offices  of  males.  If  Edward  Beecher  should  visit  us  now, 
would  he  feel  that  we  are  undergoing  "something  worse?" 

Proud  in  the  possession  of  perhaps  the  oldest  existing  woman's 
club  in  the  United  States  if  not  in  the  world,  we  turn  to  another 
pioneer  organization  in  Quincy.  This  is  the  "Friends  in  Council" 
which  was  organized  in  1866  and  which  has  the.  distincton  of  having 
acquired  its  own  clubhouse  as  early  as  1878 — just  50  years  ago.  With 
the  increasing  recognition  of  the  importance  of  a  permanent  home 
for  women's  clubs  and  as  centers  of  their  activities,  the  story  of  this 
Quincy  organization  becomes  very  significant. 

The  society  developed  in  186G  from  a  group  of  women  who 
gathered  together  to  read  "The  History  of  the  Else  and  Influence 
of  Eationalism  in  Europe"  and  followed  up  with  the  reading  of 
"Progress  of  Eeligious  Ideas,"  the  works  of  Plato  and  Epictetus  for 
the  purpose  of  "enlarging  and  increasing  our  resources  for  culture, 
improving  in  the  power  of  concentration  and  in  conversation."  Grad- 
ually the  aim  of  self-culture  gave  way  to  more  modern  things  and 
we  find  the  Friends  in  Council  voicing  the  sentiment:  "Do  not  let 
false  public  opinion,  prejudice  or  indifference  keep  us  from  using  the 
ineans  this  day  of  enlightenment  gives;  or  from  the  knowledge  of  what 
the  men  and  women  of  our  time  are  doing  and  may  we  be  actors 
with  them  in  elevating  our  community,  etc." — this  quotation  being 
credited  to  1869.  During  the  programs  of  subsequent  years,  esthetic 
and  cultural  subjects  vie  for  attention  with  "Education  of  Women," 
"Physiological  Questions,"  "Woman's  Suffrage"  (1869),  "Capital 
Punishment,"  "Study  of  American  Political  Parties."  Fortunately 
the  history  of  the  "Friends  in  Council"  was  published  in  1916.  Aside 
from  the  fact  that  this  club  was  one  of  the  first  to  our  knowledge  to 
have  a  clubhouse  of  its  own,  the  interesting  history  outlines  the  ad- 
vancement of  feminine  thought  and  the  broadening  of  women's  in- 
terests in  a  most  enlightening  and  elucidating  way. 

It  is  deplorable  that  so  many  chapters  of  the  early  history  of 
Illinois  women's  clubs  are  forever  lost.  If  there  could  be,  from  each 
of  the  older  clubs  a  history  as  complete  as  that  of  the  "Friends  in 
Council,"  the  collection  would  be  of  inestimable  value  not  only  for 
l,he  student  of  women  in  the  world's  work ;  but  to  the  student  of  his- 
tory and  the  student  of  social  development  and  community  affairs. 
Perhaps  such  histories  exist,  tucked  away  in  garrets  and  basements, 
forgotten  by  those  now  entrusted  with  club  affairs.  At  any  rate,  they 
have  not  been  forthcoming  in  spite  of  an  earnest  effort  to  secure  them. 
The  onlv  ray  of  consolation  the  club  women  of  Illinois  can  gain  from 


12 

this  irreparable  loss  is  the  fact  that,  it'  such  a  colleetiou  were  ob- 
tainable, this  chapter  would  doubtless  be  extended  to  unwarranted 
length — well  into  the  heart  of  the  present  volume.  Such  records  tell 
step  by  step  wliat  women  have  been  thinking  for  decades  past — the 
mind  of  Illinois  women  in  the  making. 

By  common  consent,  Illinois  is  credited  with  the  oldest  woman's 
club  in  the  United  States — the  Ladies  Education  Society  of  Jack- 
sonville— antedating  by  35  years  the  Sorosis  of  New  York,  through 
which  the  General  Federation  of  Women's  Clubs  came  into  being. 
So  far  as  is  known,  the  following  clubs  take  precedence  in  the  nation, 
after  the  Jacksonville  club:  Maternal  Association,  Oregon,  1838; 
Alphadelphian,  New  York,  1846;  Ladies  Physiological  Society,  Mas- 
sachusetts, 1848;  Ladies  Library  Association,  Michigan,  1852;  Ladies 
Library  Association,  Massachusetts,  1855  and  the  Mutual  Improve- 
ment Society,  Maryland,  1857.  Thus  the  midwestem  prairie  state 
antedates  the  original  colonies  in  women's  clubs,  followed  five  years 
later  by  a  sister  on  the  Pacific  Coast. 

Of  the  other  Illinois  women's  clubs  which  have  served  their  com- 
mimities  for  fifty  years  or  more,  are  the  Women's  Library  Club,  of 
Glencoe,  1874;  the  Cairo  Woman's  Club,  1875;  the  Chicago  Woman's 
Club,  1876;  Pana  Woman's  Club,  1877;  the  Millard  Avenue  Woman's 
Club,  of  Chicago,  1878;  Peoria  Woman's  Club,  1878. 


13 

THE  ORGANIZATION  OF  THE  GENERAL  FEDERATION 

No  State  Federation  history  covild  1^0  complete  without  some 
reference  to  the  organization  of  the  General  Federation  which  had 
its  birth  in  the  Sorosis  Club  of  New  York.  This  interesting  story 
is  told  by  Mrs.  Mary  I.  Wood  m  her  History  of  the  General  Federa- 
tion, from  which  we  are  quoting.  Sorosis  was  among  the  pioneer 
women's  clubs  and  was  organized  in  18G8  by  Mrs.  Jennie  June  Croly, 
a  newspaper  woman.  The  story  is  told  that  the  Press  Association 
was  giving  a  complimentary  dinner  to  Charles  Dickens  while  a  visitor 
in  New  York  and  that  the  women  press  representatives  were  not  in- 
vited. This  so  incensed  them  that  they  formed  an  organization  of 
their  own  and  called  it  "Sorosis."  It  was  not  confined,  however,  to 
this  one  grou2>,  and  as  the  years  went  on,  it  grew  in  power  and  in- 
fluence, drawing  to  itself  many  women  of  widely  different  interests, 
views  and  experience. 

In  January,  1889,  in  anticipation  of  the  twenty-first  birthday  of 
the  organization  the  following  March,  it  was  decided  to  mark  this 
ver}^  unusual  occasion  by  holding  a  convention  of  all  the  women's 
clubs  then  known  to  be  in  existence  and  accordingly  the  following 
call  was  sent  out: 

"In  March  of  the  present  year  (1889)  Sorosis,  the  pioneer 
woman's  club,  attains  its  majority.  It  is  proposed  to  celebrate  its 
twenty-first  anniversary  by  a  convention  of  clubs  to  meet  on  the 
18th,  19th  and  20th  days  of  March  next,  and  in  pursuance  of  this 
object  a  delegate  from  your  club  is  cordially  invited  to  be  its  repre- 
sentative, and  assist,  by  a  report  of  your  methods  and  tlieir  results, 
in  furthering  the  larger  aims  of  the  convention.  The  topics  to  be 
discussed  will  be: 

"1.  The  enunciation  of  the  woman's  club  idea  and  its  point  of 
departure  from  the  society.  2.  The  data  upon  which  to  gauge  the 
extent  to  which,  in  twenty-one  years,  club  life  has  grown  among 
women.  3.  In  what  it  consists,  and  how  it  differs  from  the  club  life 
of  men.  4.  The  methods  and  their  operation.  5.  Results  obtained 
and  outlook  for  the  future.  6.  The  influence  exerted  upon  the  com- 
munities in  which  they  exist.  The  associated  life  of  women  is  now 
an  established  fact.  Twenty-one  years  of  growth  have  demonstrated 
it.  This  life  has  produced  its  first  flower  in  a  bond  of  good  fellow- 
ship to  which  every  good  club  woman  responds." 

This  call  was  sent  to  ninety-seven  clubs,  and  on  the  20th  of 
March,  in  Madison  Square  Theater,  New  York  City,  there  assembled 
delegates  from  sixty-one  of  these  clubs  while  letters  were  received 
from  six  others.  It  was  upon  this  occasion  that  Mrs.  Ella  Dietz 
Clymer,  Chairman  of  the  first  Advisory  Board,  and  afterwards 
President  of  Sorosis,  made  use  of  the  phrase  that  afterward  became 
the  motto  of  the  General  Federation:  We  hole  for  unity,  hut  "unity 
in  diversity." 


14 

Much  enthusiasm  was  manifested  at  this  meeting  in  the  idea  of 
federation  and  a  committee  was  appointed  to  draft  a  constitution 
and  present  a  plan  of  organization,  which  should  he  ratified  the  fol- 
lowing year.  The  committee  named  was  a  very  remarkable  group  of 
women  whose  influence  in  many  lines  of  thought  and  work  had  been 
felt  throughout  the  country.  x\mong  them  were  Julia  Ward  Howe, 
Jennie  June  Croly,  May  Wright  Sewall,  Charlotte  Emerson  Brown, 
Dr.  Julia  Holmes  Smith,  of  Illinois,  and  Mrs.  Clymer. 

The  Advisory  Board  began  work  immediately.  Correspondence 
was  opened  with  clubs  and  club  women ;  applications  for  membership 
were  received;  and  a  plan  for  organization  with  constitution  and 
recommendations  was  adopted  and  made  ready  for  the  Eatification 
Convention  held  April  23,  24  and  25,  1890.  at  the  Scottish  Eite  Hall, 
Madison  Avenue,  New  York.  The  invitation  to  this  convention  was 
sent  only  to  such  clubs  as  had  already  applied  for  membership  in  the 
new  General  Federation  of  Women's  Clubs. 

Each  club  was  asked  to  send  two  representatives  and  all  club 
presidents  became,  by  virtue  of  their  office,  unless  the  club  decided  to 
elect  another  person,  vice-President  of  the  General  Federation.  A 
delegate  was  also  invited  to  come  and  report  on  the  club  work.  It 
was  expected  that  both  representatives  would  be  empowered  to  act 
for  their  club.  A  short,  written  report  of  club  work  was  asked  for, 
to  be  mailed,  if  no  representative  attended.  In  reply  to  this  invitation 
seventeen  states  responded,  sending  sixty-three  delegates,  of  which 
Illinois  sent  four.  Dr.  Julia  Holmes  Smith,  Chicago  Woman's  Club, 
Mrs.  E.  Emmerson  and  Mrs.  Ellen  Mitchell  of  the  Fortnightly  of 
Chicago,  and  Miss  Mary  L.  Ehodes  of  The  Sorosis  of  Jacksonville. 

In  May,  1891,  the  first  Council  Meeting  was  called  at  East 
Orange,  IST.  J.  The  purpose  of  the  Council  Meeting,  was  to  hear  from 
representatives  of  the  different  federated  clubs  any  suggestions  or 
recommendations  they  might  have  to  make,  to  consider  proposed 
changes  in  the  constitution  and  to  provide  for  the  appointment  of 
committees  to  act  with  the  Advisory  Board  in  making  out  a  program 
for  the  Biennial  Meeting  to  be  held  in  Chicago  in  1892. 

The  composition  of  this  Council  was  most  democratic,  since  each 
president  of  a  federated  club,  either  in  person  or  by  written  message, 
became  a  member  of  it,  and  thus  each  club  was  permitted  a  share  in 
the  deliberations  of  the  Council  Meeting  and,  through  recommenda- 
tions submitted  to  the  Biennial  Convention,  of  the  entire  body  of  the 
General  Federation  itself. 

The  first  Biennial  Convention  was  held  in  Chicago  in  the  old 
Central  Music  Hall,  May  11,  12,  13,  1892,  with  the  Palmer  House 
serving  as  Headquarters,  although  the  Chicago  club  women  enter- 
tained many  of  the  delegates  in  their  owti  homes.  The  delegate  body 
numbered  297,  the  membership  including  185  clubs  located  in  29 
different  states.  Among  the  Illinois  women  who  played  a  prominent 
part  in  this  meeting  were :  J\Irs.  Ella  Flagg  Young,  later  Superin- 
tendent of  the  Chicago  Public  Schools,  Mrs.  Julia  Plato  Harvey,  who 
was  elected  Vice-President,  Mrs.  Lindon  W.  Bates  who  was  a  member 
of  the  Board  of  Directors,  Mrs.  Clara  P.  Bourland,  State  Chairman 


J5 

of  CoiTespondeiice,  and  Mrs.  Ellen  Henrotin,  who,  at  the  next  Bien- 
nial, held  in  Philadelphia,  was  elected  President. 
^  Mrs.  Henrotin,  Vice-President  of  the  Woman's  Auxiliary  of  the 
World's  Fair,  spoke  on  Woman's  Congresses  at  this  first  Biennial.  She 
also  made  the  opening  address  at  the  World's  Fair  Council  meeting 
the  next  year.  As  acting  President  of  the  Congress  of  Women  held 
during  the  Fair,  of  which  there  had  been  two  hundred  and  ten  groups 
meeting  and  twelve  hundred  sessions,  she  had  addressed  each  of 
them  upon  matters  touching  world  wide  subjects.  She  was,  indeed, 
a  great  organizer. 

The  following  Vice-Presidents  and  Delegates  from  Illinois  clubs 
answered  the  roll  call  at  the  first  Biennial : 

Chicago  Woman's  Club V-P.  Dr.    Sarah    Hackett    Stevenson.. 

Chicago. 
Del.  Mrs.  Celia  Parker  WooUey,  Chi- 
cago. 

St.  Mary's  Club,  Chicago V-P.  Miss  Laura  Hayes,  Chicago. 

Del.  Miss  Alice  West,  Chicago. 
The  Monday  Conversazoine,  Jackson- 
ville     V-P.  Mrs.  Frank  Hine,  Jacksonville. 

Del.  Mrs.   Emerson   Glover,   Jackson- 
ville. 
Illinois   Woman's   Press   Association, 

Chicago     V-P.   Mrs.  Mary  Irene  Dye,  Chicago. 

Del.  Miss  Emily  Kellogg,  Chicago. 
Society    for    Promotion    of    Physical 

Culture    V-P.  Mrs.  H.  M.  Wilmarth,  Chicago. 

Del.  Mrs.  Egerton  Adams,  Chicago. 

Heliades  Club,  Chicago V-P.  Mrs.  Mary  E.  Haven,  Chicago. 

Del.  Mrs.     Agnes     Vallie     Sherwood, 
Chicago. 
The    Every    Wednesday    Club,    Chi- 
cago     V-P.  Mrs.   Frederick   Dickinson,    Chi- 
cago. 
Del.  Mrs.   Paul   Selby,   Chicago. 

Round  Table,  Quincy V-P.  Mrs.  F.  M.  Butterworth,  Quincy. 

Del.  Mrs.  Emma  Wilcox,  Quincy. 
The  Woman's  Club  of  Rogers  Park.. V-P.  Miss  Flora  M.  Foote,  Chicago. 

Del.  Mrs.  Cox,  Chicago. 

The  Woman's  Club  of  Decatur V-P.  Mrs.  M.  M.  T.  Randall,  Decatur. 

Del.  Mrs.  Ella  C.  Fiebrook,  Decatur. 
The  Every  Wednesday  Club  of  Spring- 
field     

Monday  Club  of  Rockford 

Friday  Club  of  Chicago 

Sorosis  of  Jacksonville V-P.  Mrs.  Belle  Paxton  Drury,  Jack- 
sonville. 
Del.  Mrs.  Mary  Turner  Carriell,  Jack- 
sonville. 

Friends  in  Council,  Chicago V-P.  Mrs.  Mary  W.  Coleman,  Chicago. 

Del.    Mrs.    Elizabeth    Kingman,    Chi- 
cago. 
Woman's  Literary  Club,  Ravenswood.  V-P.  Mrs.  Bassett,  Chicago. 

Del.  Martha  Simonds,  Chicago. 

The  Woman's  Club,  Aurora V-P.  Mrs.  Van  Arsdale,  Aurora. 

Del.  Mrs.  T.  N.  Holden,  Aurora. 

The  Calleri  Club,  Streator V-P.  Mrs.  J.  C.  Barlow.  Streator. 

Del.  Mrs.  Walter  Reeves,  Streator. 


16 

Friends  in  Council,  Quincy V-P.  Mrs.  Anna  B.  McMahan,  Quincy. 

Del.  Mrs.  M.  H.  Buel,  Quincy. 
The  Alternate  Club,  Chicago V-P.    Mrs.   Julian  Hequenbourg,   Chi- 
cago. 

Del.  Mrs.  C.  H.  Merrick,  Chicago. 
The  '84  Club,  Rockford V-P.  Mrs.  J.  P.  Warren,  Rockford. 

Del.  Mrs.  Mary  U.  Lee,  Rockford. 
The  Klio  Club,  Chicago V-P.  Mrs.  Herkett  Hutchins,  Chicago. 

Del.  Mrs.  Eva  Baker,  Chicago. 
The  Century  Club,  Rockford V-P.  Mrs.  H.  W.  Taylor,  Rockford. 

Del.  Mrs.  Henry  Freeman,  Rockford. 
The  Woman's  Club  of  Elgin V-P.  Mrs.  Lois  A.  Wilcox,  Elgin. 

Del.  Miss  Fannie  LeBaron,  Elgin. 
The  Wednesday  Club,  Jacksonville.  .V-P.    Miss    Marriam    Morrison,    Jack- 
sonville. 

Del.  Mrs.  Fitz  Simmons,  Jacksonville. 
The  Woman's  Club  of  Evanston V-P.  Mrs.  E.  B.  Harbert,  Evanston. 

Del  Mrs.  C.  M.  Singleton,  Evanston. 
The  Kenwood  Fortnightly.  Chicago.  .V-P.    Mrs.    James    N.    Steel,    Chicago. 

Del.  Mrs.  Oliver  C.  Ely,  Chicago. 
The  Atlantis,   Quincy V-P.  Mrs.  Anna  L.  Parker,  Quincy. 

Del.  Mrs.  J.  S.  Castle,  Quincy. 

The  Vassar  Home  Study  Club V-P.    Mrs.    C.    W.    Bassett,    Quincy. 

The  Woman's  Club  of  Princeton V-P.     Mrs.     Margaret     D.     Trimble, 

Princeton. 

Del    Mrs.    C.    J.    Richardson,    Prince- 
ton. 
Espana,  Chicago  V-P.   Mrs.   Lucy   G.    Cowles.   Chicago. 

Del.  Mrs.  F.  B.  Marshall,  Chicago. 

The  Peoria  Woman's  Club 

The  Woman's   Literary  Club  of   Irv- 
ing Park   

The  Woman's  Library  Club,  Glencoe.V-P.  Mrs.  John  Nutt. 

Since  the  Columbian  Exposition,  or  World's  Fair,  was  in  the 
making,  the  club  women,  in  the  months  following  the  Chicago  Bien- 
nial, planned  to  hold  a  Council  Day  at  the  Congress  of  Women  to  be 
held  at  the  Exposition,  in  the  spring  of  1893.  May  18th  was  the  day 
chosen  and  hundreds  of  clubs  in  thirty-one  states,  with  a  membership 
of  fully  twenty  thousand  women,  were  represented  by  delegates  and 
other  members.  The  combined  attractions  of  the  Fair  and  the 
Council  Day  brought  together  a  more  notable  gathering  of  American 
women  than  ever  previously  assembled. 

Briefly,  this  is  the  story  of  the  beginning  of  the  General  Federa- 
tion, an  organization  which,  so  far  as  we  know,  has  no  counterpart 
anywhere  in  the  world,  either  in  power,  influence  or  membership.  The 
women,  whose  high  ideals  and  far  reaching  and  constructive  plans 
were  consummated  in  the  General  Federation  possessed  real  vision  but 
it  is  to  be  doubted  if  the  broadest  vision  could  have  forseen  the  results 
of  to-day.  True,  twenty-two  years  of  club  work,  effective,  not  only 
along  cultural  lines  but  along  those  of  civic  and  national  interest, 
had  passed  and  in  the  passing  had  laid  a  foundation  built  on  facts 
and  realities,  so  there  was  a  real  basis  for  the  hopes  and  expectations 
of  the  founders.  In  1868,  when  Sorosis  was  organized,  the  men  of 
New  York  predicted  an  early  demise  but  those  who  have  lived  to 
see  the  growth  of  the  federation  movement  must  appreciate  that 
the  General  Federation  was  a  very  sturdy  infant,  even  at  birth. 


17 

THE  FIRST  BIE:NtNIUM. 

Governofof  Illinois,  President  of  the  U.  S., 

1893—1897.  1893—1897. 

John  P.  Altgeld.  Grovek  Cleveland. 

Mrs.  Isabella  Laning  Candee. 

1894—1896. 


Brownsville,  Fayette  County,  Pennsylvania,  was  the  birth  place 
of  the  first  President  of  the  Illinois  Federation,  Mrs.  Isabella  Laning 
Candee,  whose  home,  for  many  years  has  been  in  Cairo.  Mrs.  Candee 
moved  to  her  adopted  state  in  1855,  settling  in  LaSalle.  .She  was 
married  in  18(38  and  has  one  son  and  one  daughter,  five  grandchildren 
and  five  gTeat  grandchildren. 

She  attended  Monticello  Seminary  in  1863  and  1863  and  Rock- 
ford  Seminary,  now  Rockford  College,  in  1864  and  1865,  later  teach- 
ing for  two  years  in  the  LaSalle  Public  Schools. 

Mrs.  Candee  is  the  only  living  member  of  the  founders  of  the 
Cairo  Woman's  Club,  established  over  fifty  years  ago,  and  is  Honorary 
President  of  the  Cairo  Public  Library,  founded  by  the  Woman's  Club 
in  1877.  She  was  President  of  the  Club  for  six  years  and  President 
of  the  State  Federation. 

She  was  an  alternate  member  from  Illinois  on  the  Board  of  Lady 
Managers  of  the  Chicago  World's  Fair  and  a  member  of  the  Illinois 
Women's  Exposition  Board.  As  Chairman  of  the  Decorative  Art 
Department  she  handled  the  large  collection  of  ceramics,  ecclesiastical 
embroideries,  wood  carvings  and  women's  work  in  weaving  and 
kindred  lines,  which  was  in  the  Illinois  State  Building.  She  also  ex- 
hibited her  own  ceramics  and  wood  carving. 

Mrs.  Candee  is  also  Honorary  President  of  the  Diocesan  Branch 
of  the  Woman's  Auxiliary  to  the  Board  of  Missions  of  the  Episcopal 
Church,  having  served  over  a  period  of  fifty  years  consecutively  as 
Diocesan  Secretary,  Treasurer  or  President  until  age  and  ill  health 
compelled  retirement  from  active  service. 


The  Illinois  Federation  of  Women's  Clubs  was  organized  at  a 
meeting  called  by  Mrs.  Clara  P.  Bourland,  first  State  Chairman  of 
Correspondence  from  Illinois  for  the  General  Federation,  and  one 
of  the  first  group  of  club  women  to  serve  in  this  capacitv.  The  organ- 
ization meeting  was  held  in  the  rooms  of  the  Chicago  Woman's  Club, 
then  situated  on  the  fifth  floor  of  the  building  on  the  northeast 
corner  of  Wabash  Avenue  and  Washington  Street,  on  October  the 
eleventh,  1894. 

In  the  preceding  April,  the  subject  of  state  federation  had  been 
discussed  at  a  meeting  of  the  clubs  of  Cook  County,  also  held  in  the 
rooms  of  the  Chicago  Woman's  Club,  and  called  together  by  iMrs. 
Kate  G.  Huddleston,  Corresponding  Secretary  of  that  organization. 
The  representatives  present  at  this  meeting  voted  in  favor  of  fonning 
a  state  federation. 


18 

Mrs.  Julia  Plato  Harvey,  President  of  the  Chicago  Woman's 
Club,  1891-1892,  and  at  this  time  Vice-President  of  the  General  Fed- 
eration, and  Mrs.  Bourland,  attended  the  General  Federation  Bien- 
nial of  1894  which  was  held  in  Philadelphia  in  May.  Here,  the  sub- 
ject of  state  federation  was  discussed  in  nearly  all  the  state  meetings. 
Five  state  federations  were  reported  as  having  been  organized,  name- 
ly: Utah,  Maine,  Iowa,  Massachusetts  and  the  Social  Science  Federa- 
tion of  Kansas  which  was  afterwards  reorganized  as  the  Kansas  Fed- 
eration of  Women's  Clubs. 

Mrs.  Harvey  and  Mrs.  Bonrland  both  urged  that  a  state  federa- 
tion should  be  organized  in  Illinois.  They  felt  that  the  experience 
of  the  1894  Biennial  proved  conclusively  that  if  the  federation  move- 
ment was  to  be  made  effective  it  must  be  formed  on  state  lines ;  that 
"the  General  Federation  was  so  large  that  it  constituted  at  best,  a 
vague  connection  between  the  clubs  and  thus  fostered  uncertainty  of 
purpose." 

During  the  summer  of  1894,  Mrs.  Bourland  corresponded  with 
the  clubs  of  the  state,  and  encouraged  by  the  very  earnest  desire  of 
the  Illinois  delegates  to  the  1894  Biennial  and  by  the  action  of  the 
clubs  of  Cook  County,  she  issued  a  call  for  a  meeting  of  the  representa- 
tives of  all  clubs  in  the  state  of  which  she  had  knowledge.  The 
Chicago  Woman's  Club  invited  the  representatives  to  be  its  guests 
during  the  organization  meeting.  The  group  was  composed  of  the 
presidents  of  the  then  existing  clubs  of  the  state  and  was  called  to 
order  by  the  President  of  the  hostess  club,  Miss  Ada  C.  Sweet.  Mrs. 
Bourland  was  elected  chairman  and  presided  over  the  two  days  ses- 
sions. A  large  number  of  the  women  had  come  uninstructed  but 
after  listening  to  the  presentation  of  the  subject  of  federation  as  made 
by  many  able  speakers,  an  informal  ballot  showed  an  almost  unani- 
mous vote  in  favor  of  a  state  federation.  A  committee  was  then  ap- 
pointed to  prepare  a  constitution  which  was  later  adopted  and  officers 
elected. 

THE  FIEST  CONSTITUTION^  AND  BY-LAWS  OF  THE 

I.  F.  W.  C. 

Article  I. 

This  association  shall  be  called  the  Illinois  Federation  of  Women's 
Clubs. 

Article  II. 

The  object  of  this  Federation  shall  be  mutual  counsel  and  sym- 
pathy among  the  different  organizations  represented  and  the  promo- 
tion of  higher  social  and  moral  conditions.  For  better  execution  of 
these  objects,  district  federations  mav  be  formed  in  each  Congressional 
district  under  the  direction  of  the  Vice-President  of  that  district. 


19 

Article  III. 

The  officers  of  this  Federation  shall  he  a  President,  a  Vice-Presi- 
dent for  every  Congressional  District,  a  Eecording  Secretar}',  a  Cor- 
responding Secretary  and  a  Treasurer,  who  shall  constitute  a  Board 
of  Directors.  The  officers  of  the  Federation  shall  be  officers  of  the 
Board  of  Directors.  Officers  shall  be  elected  by  ballot  of  the  delegates 
at  the  annual  meeting,  and  shall  hold  office  until  their  successors  are 
elected.    A  majority  of  the  delegates  present  shall  be  required  to  elect. 

The  duties  of  these  officers  shall  be  the  same  as  pertain  to  the 
same  offices  in  similar  organizations.  At  the  meeting  of  the  organi- 
zation the  Vice-Presidents  shall  elect  the  President,  a  Eecording  Sec- 
retary, a  Corresponding  Secretar}^  and  a  Treasurer.  Ever  after  these 
officers  shall  be  elected  by  ballot. 

Article  IV. 

The  annual  meeting  of  the  Federation  shall  be  on  the  second 
Thursday  in  October  and  shall  be  called  by  printed  notification  to 
the  different  clubs.  A  meeting  of  the  Board  of  Directors  shall  be 
held  the  day  before  the  general  meeting.  Nine  shall  constitute  a 
quorum. 

Article  V. 

Any  woman's  organization  recommended  by  the  Board  of  Direc- 
tors may  join  this  Federation  by  the  appointment  of  three  delegates 
to  attend  the  general  meetings,  and  the  payment  of  the  annual  fee. 
Any  other  club  composed  of  men  and  women  may  also  join  the  Fed- 
eration upon  the  same  conditions. 

Article  VI. 

An  annual  fee  of  three  dollars  shall  be  required  of  every  club 
joining  the  Federation,  to  be  paid  at  the  annual  meeting,  before  the 
election  of  new  officers.  Any  club  neglecting  to  pay  this  fee  for  one 
year  shall  be  dropped  from  the  roll  of  membership. 

Article  VII. 

Standing  Committees  may  be  appointed  by  the  Board  of  Direc- 
tors according  to  its  discretion. 

Article  VIIL 

These  By-Laws  may  be  amended  at  any  meeting  of  the  Federa- 
tion, the  amendment  having  been  presented  to  the  Board  of  Direc- 
tors in  writing  by  any  properly  accredited  delegates  and  by  the  Board 
presented  to  each  delegate  in  the  call  for  the  meeting. 


20 

Article  IX. 

In  the  conduct  of  the  meeting  Eobert's  Kuleri  of  Order  shall  be 
the  authority. 

At  tliis  time  there  were  22  Congressional  Districts  in  Illinois, 
the  state  being  reapportioned  in  1900. 

List  of  Clubs  with  Presidents  and  Delegates  at  the  Organization 
of  the  Illinois  Federation  of  Women's  Clubs,  October  11-12,  1894. 

Art-he   Pres.  Mrs.  H.  J.  Hall,  Chicago. 

Del.  Mrs.  J.  R.  Laing,  Chicago. 
Alternate Pres.  Miss  R.   S.  Rice,  Chicago. 

Del.  Mrs.  C.  L.  Park,  Chicago. 

Atlantis   Pres.  Mrs.  Anna  L.   Parker,   Quincy. 

Chicago  Woman's  Club — 1876 Pres.  Miss    Ada  C.  Sweet,  Chicago. 

Del.   Mrs.   Kate  G.   Huddleston,   Chi- 
cago. 
Champaign  Social  Science  Club Pres.  Mrs.  S.  A.  Forbes,  Champaign. 

Del.  Mrs.  Julia  Burnham,  Champaign. 
Catholic  Women's  National  League.  .Pres.  Mrs.  Isabelle  O'Keefe,  Chicago. 

Del.  Mrs.  James  E.  Eagle,  Chicago. 

Del.  Mrs.  J.  Sullivan,  Chicago. 
College   Club    Del.  Mrs.  M.  E.  Luther,  Streator. 

Del.  Miss  Virginia  LeRoy,  Streator. 
Cairo  Woman's  Club  and  Library  As- 
sociation—1875    Pres.  Mrs.  Isabella  L.  Candee,  Cairo. 

Clionian   Club    Pres.  Mrs.  Mary  C.  Bourland,  Pontiac. 

Clinton  Woman's  Club Pres.  Mrs.  L.  Howard,  Clinton. 

Del.   Miss   Jeannette  Welch,  Clinton. 
Evanston  Woman's  Club Pres.  Mrs.  Elizabeth  Harbut,  Evans- 
ton. 
Eclectic  Club   Pres.    Mrs.   E.    O.   F.   Roler,  Chicago. 

Del.  Mrs.  H.  S.  Boyd,  Chicago. 
Elgin   Woman's   Club Pres.   Mrs.   L.   A.   Wilcon,   Elgin. 

Del.  Miss   Le   Baron,   Elgin. 
Every  Wednesday  Club Pres.   Mrs.   F.   Dickenson,   Chicago. 

Del.  Mrs.  Mary  J.  Selby,  Chicago. 

Era  Nata  Club Pres.   Mrs.  R.  D.  Beacham,  Streator. 

Friends  in  Council Pres.  Mrs.  W.  H.  Reed,  Chicago. 

Del.  Mrs.  C.  H.  Kingman,  Chicago. 
Friday  Club   Pres.  Miss  Caroline  Kirkland,  Chica- 
go. 

Del.  Mrs.  H.  B.  Butter,  Chicago. 

Friends  in  Council  1866 Del.  Mrs.  Wm.  D.  Whitemore,  Quincy. 

Fortnightly     Del.  Miss  Mary  Ainsworth,  Moline. 

Hull  House  Woman's  Club Pres.    Miss    Mary    E.    McDowell, 

Chicago. 

Del.  Mrs.  Alphea  Fuller.  Chicago. 

Hawthorne  Club  Del.  Miss  E.  B.  Frost,  Galesburg. 

Harvard    Woman's    Club Pres.    Mrs.    J.    F.    Olmstead,    Engle- 

wood. 
Homer  Club   Pres.  Mrs.  Anne  E.  Bosworth,  Evan- 
ston. 

Del.  Mrs.  E.  H.  Ellis.  Evanston. 
Home  Club  Fortnightly Pres.  Mrs.  J.  Hodgkins,  Englewood. 

Del.    Mrs.    Charles     Salmon,    Engle- 
wood. 

Irving  Park  Woman's  Club Pres.  Mrs.  George  E.  Bender,  Irving 

Park. 

Del.    Miss    C.    C.    Hotchkiss,    Irving 
Park. 


21 

Illinois  Press  Association Del.  Mrs.  Marie  S.  Prowig,  Chicago. 

Kenwood  Fortnightly   Pres.  Mrs.  Oliver  C.  Ely,  Chicago. 

Del.  Mrs.  James  N.  Steel,  Chicago. 

Klio  Club    Pres.  Mrs.  Hiram  Baker,  Chicago. 

La  Harpe  Woman's  Club Pres.     Mrs.     Florence    Hinigate,     La 

Harpe. 

Del.  Mrs.  A.  L.  Hyatt,  La  Harpe. 

Luther  League    Del.  Miss  Emma  L.  Weidner,  Chicago. 

Lake  View  Woman's  Club Pres.  Mrs.  L  A.  Hagerty,  Lake  View. 

Del.  Mrs.  J.   B.  Myers,  Lake  View. 
Monday  Club  Pi-es.  Mrs.  J.  S.  Rybuen,  Ottawa. 

Del.  Mrs.  C.  C.  Swift,  Ottawa. 
Municipal  Order  League Pres.    Mrs.    H.    W.    Duncanson,    Chi- 
cago. 

Del.   Mrs.  Negus.  Chicago. 
National  Council  of  Jewish  AVomen.  .  Pres.  Mrs.  H.  Solomon,  Chicago. 

Del.  Miss  Sadie  Amencan.  Chicago. 
Nike  Club  Pres.    Miss    Frances    McMullen,    Chi- 
cago. 

Del.  Mrs.  G.  S.  Banister,  Chicago. 
National  Association  Household  Eco- 
nomics    Del.  Mrs.  John  Wilkinson,  Chicago. 

National  Woman's  League Del.  Mrs.  J.  Fortune,  Chicago. 

Del.  Miss  M.  Donahue,  Chicago. 

Clio   Club    Pres.    Mrs.    Amelia    Weed    Holbrook, 

Chicago. 

Del.    Mrs.    Edward    Mysenberd,    Chi- 
cago. 
Peoria  Woman's  Club— 1878 Pres.  Mrs.  Clara  P.  Bourland,  Peoria. 

Del.  Mrs.  Virginia  B.  Bash,  Peoria. 
Portia   Club    Pres.  Mrs.  L.  L.  Ormsby,  Argyle  Park. 

Del.  Mrs.  M.  F.  Woods.  Argyle  Park. 
Pekin  Woman's  Club Del.   Mrs.   Emily   P.    Schneck.  Pekin. 

Del.  Mrs.  Conrad  Luppin,  Pekin. 

Progressive  Club    Pres.  Mrs.  L.  R.  Gardiner,  Ottawa. 

Q.  J.  S.  P.  Club Pres.  Mrs.  Jos.  Hainsworth,  Chicago. 

Del.   Mrs.   David   S.   D-^vine,   Chicago. 

River  Forest  Woman's  Club Pres.  Mrs.  Catherine  D.  Buell,  River 

Forest. 

Del.  Mrs.  John  Hoyt,  River  Forest. 
Ravensw^ood    Woman's    Club Pres.  Mrs.  Mary  E.  Rogers,  Ravens- 
wood. 

Del.  Mrs.  M.  D.  Wiswell,  Ravenswood 

Rogers  Park  W.  C Pres.   Dr.   Harriett  B.   C.   Alexander, 

Rogers  Park. 

Del.  Mrs.  E.  H.  Ailing.  Rogers  Park. 
South   Side  W.  C Pres.  Mrs.  Almon  Brooks,  Chicago. 

Del.  Mrs.  M.  J.  Parker,  Chicago. 
Social    Science   Club Pres.  Mrs.  L.  J.  Busey,  Champaign. 

Del.  Mrs.  J.  L.  Ray,  Champaign. 

Phvsical  Culture  Club Pres.  Mrs.  J.  H.  Nolan.  Chicago. 

Woman's  League Pres.  Mrs.  Addie  M.  H.  Ellis,  Chicago. 

Del.  Mrs.  Celia  P.  Woolley.  Chicago. 

Woman's  Club  Pres.  Mrs.   G.   O.   Barnes,  Lacon. 

Woman's  Club  of  Millard  Ave. — 1878.. Del.    Mrs.    Minnie    S.    Hawkins,    Chi- 
cago. 
Woman's  Club  of  Decatur — 1887.  ..  .Pres.  Mrs.  Eugenia  M.   Bacon,  Deca- 
tur. 

Del.  Mrs.  Mary  E.  Haworth,  Decatur. 
West  End  Woman's  Club Pres.  Mrs.  A.  E.  Clark.  Chicago. 

Del.  Mrs.  George  Sherwood,  Cliicago. 


22 

Mrs.  Bourland  was  urged  to  accept  the  presidency  but  declined 
to  allow  her  name  to  be  used  as  a  candidate  feeling  it  would  be  un- 
fair to  the  General  Federation  to  resign  in  the  middle  of  her  term 
of  office  as  State  Secretar}-  of  Correspondence. 

It  is  interesting  to  note  here  that  Mrs.  Bourland  was  the  first 
President  of  the  Peoria  Woman's  Club,  originally  The  Peoria  Ladies' 
Art  Society  wliich  was  organized  in  1878  and  whose  presiding 
officer  she  gontinued  to  be  for  twenty-five  years.  She  was  a  most  able 
woman,  prominent  in  many  fields  of  activity',  and  with  Mrs.  Caroline 
Brown,  an  old  friend,  conceived  the  idea  of  both  the  Chicago  Woman's 
Club  and  the  Peoria  Woman's  Club.  She  is  now  living,  1928,  with 
her  daughter.  Professor  Caroline  Bourland,  in  Xorthhamptou,  Mas- 
sachusetts. 

Mrs.  Isabella  Laning  Candee  of  Carlo  was  then  elected  first 
President  of  the  Illinois  Federation  of  Women's  Clubs.  Mrs.  Candee 
had  done  notable  work  as  a  member  of  the  Woman's  Board  of  Illi- 
nois for  the  Columbian  Exposition.  In  addition,  she  was  personally 
very  popular  so  her  election  was  most  acceptable  to  the  state  at  large. 
The  other  officers  elected  were :  Mrs.  Clara  M.  J.  Farson,  of  Chicago, 
Corresponding  Secretary;  Mrs.  Emily  Prett}Tnan  Schenck,  of  Pekin, 
Eecording  Secretary  and  Mrs.  Celia  Parker  Woolley,  Chicago,  Treas- 
urer. A  Board  of  Directors  consisting  of  one  Vice-President  from 
each  Congressional  district  was  elected.  The  women  on  this  board 
were :  Mrs.  Alpha  A.  Fuller,  ^Mrs.  Hannah  G.  Solomon,  Miss  Francis 
Dusenberry,  Mrs.  Sarah  A.  Carpenter  and  Mrs.  James  E.  Eagle  all 
of  Chicago;  Dr.  Harriet  C.  B.  Alexander,  Eogers  Park;  Mrs.  M. 
H.  Da\idson,  LaGrange;  Mrs.  Francis  P.  Forsythe,  Aurora;  Mrs. 
Alice  Bradford  Wiles,  Freeport;  Miss  Eu  B,  Frost,  Galesburg;  Mrs. 
Georgia  G.  Cook,  Ottawa ;  Mrs.  S.  T.  Busey,  Urbana ;  Mrs.  Virginia 
Bash,  Peoria;  Mrs.  Anna  L.  Parker,  Quincy;  Mrs.  Kate  Butler,  Clin- 
ton; Mrs.  Chas.  E.  Hay,  Springfield;  Miss  Ada  Kepley,  Effingham 
and  Mrs.  Mary  E.  Creelman,  Cairo. 

We  feel  that  the  story  of  the  first  annual  meeting  held  in  Peoria, 
in  the  beautiful  club  house  of  the  Peoria  Woman's  Club  in  October 
1895,  and  the  first  annual  report  of  the  Corresponding  Secretary, 
Mrs.  Farson,  are  so  important  to  this  history  that  they  should  be 
repeated  almost  verbatim.  This  material  is  taken  from  The  jSTew 
Cycle  of  December  1895  and  January  1896,  published  in  Xew 
York,  Mrs.  Jennie  C.  Croly,  Editor.  It  was  the  only  organ,  at  that 
time,  of  the  federated  club  movement  and  was  largely  devoted  to  the 
activities  of  the  various  state  federations. 

The  meeting  was  called  to  order  by  the  President,  Mrs.  Candee. 
The  various  formalities  attending  a  meeting  of  this  kind  were  carried 
out.  Tlie  distinguished  guests  were  Mrs.  Mumford,  of  Philadelphia, 
first  Vice-President  of  the  General  Federation  and  Mrs.  Philip  North 
Moore  of  St.  Louis,  Corresponding  Secretary  of  the  ^Missouri  Federa- 
tion, who  were  introduced  to  the  convention. 

The  Secretary  called  the  roll  and  120  delegates  responded.  The 
clubs  represented  were:  Alternate,  Catholic  Woman's  League,  Every 


23 

Wednesday,  Friday,  Hull  House,  Harvard,  Kenwood  Fortnightly,  Klio 
Association,  Lawndale  Literary,  Lake  View,  National  Household 
Economic  Association,  National  Jewish  Woman's  Council  (Chicago 
branch).  Nineteenth  Century  Clio,  Kogers  Park,  Woodlawn,  News- 
paper Woman's,  South  Side  Woman's,  all  of  Chicago.  Also,  Batavia 
Woman's  Columbian;  Beethoven,  Havana;  Woman's  Club,  Cairo; 
Champaign  Social  Science;  Calleri,  Streator;  Clioniau  Society,  Pon- 
tiac;  Columbian  of  Sycamore;  Catholic  Woman's  League,  Peoria; 
Decatur  Woman's  Club ;  Dialectic,  Pontiac;  Danville,  Literature  Class; 
Eyery  Wednesday,  Springfield ;  E  Ea  Natta,  Streator ;  Elgin  Woman's 
Club;  Emmerson  Club,  Effingham;  Home  Fortnightly,  Englewood; 
Hawthorne,  Galesburg;  Woman's  Club  of  La  Harpe;  Monday  Club, 
Ottawa;  Monticello  Woman's  Club;  Mosaic  Club  of  Galesburg;  Peoria 
Woman's  Club;  Portia  Club  of  Argyle,  Parke  and  Edgewater;  Pekin 
Woman's  Club ;  Paris  Woman's  Club ;  Eavenwood  Woman's  Club ; 
Woman's  Eeading  Club  of  Eiverside;  Sesame  Woman's  Club,  Wau- 
kegan;  West  Side  Eeading  Circle,  Aurora;  Woman's  Club,  Eiver 
Forest;  Social  Science,  Champaign;  Shakespeare,  Freeport;  Atlantis, 
Quincy ;  Tuesday,  Ottawa ;  Tuesday,  Pana ;  Woman's  Progressive 
Club,  Ottawa;  Woman's  Clubs  of  La  Grange,  Henry,  Aurora  and 
Wilmette ;  Woman's  Literary,  Irving  Park ;  Woman's  Literary, 
Savana;  Wednesday  Club,  Jacksonville;  Phidian  Art,  Dixon;  Moline 
Chapter,  D.  A,  E. ;  Hinsdale  Woman's  Club ;  Lacon  Woman's  Club ; 
Monmouth  Fortnightly;  Jacksonville  Sorosis;  Evanston  Woman's 
Club;  Monday  Conversational  Club,  Jacksonville;  Springfield 
Woman's  Club;  The  Fortnightly,  Moline;  Village  Improvement  So- 
ciety, Lewiston;  Toulon  Club;  New  Era,  Peoria;  Illinois  Keely 
League,  Gold  Cure  and  Illinois  Press  Association. 

Mrs.  Farson,  in  her  report,  says:  "The  subject  of  state  federa- 
tion has  long  been  pondered  and  discussed  by  the  club  women  of  Illi- 
nois. In  April,  1894,  the  Chicago  Woman's  Club,  through  its  Cor- 
responding Secretary,  Mrs.  Kate  G.  Huddleston,  called  a  meeting 
of  the  federated  clubs  of  Cook  County.  Delegates  were  sent  from  all 
of  the  clubs.  A  largely  attended  meeting  was  held  both  afternoon 
and  evening.  So  much  interest  was  shown,  that  when  the  invitation 
of  Mrs.  Clara  Bourland  of  Peoria,  Chairman  of  State  Correspondence 
of  the  General  Federation,  was  received  to  attend  a  meeting  of  the 
Women's  Clubs  of  Illinois  at  Chicago,  October  11,  1894.  for  the  ob- 
ject of  organizing  a  state  federation,  no  doubt  of  the  advisability  or 
the  success  of  the  movement  was  felt. 

"Mrs.  Bourland,  in  her  call  for  the  meeting,  so  clearly  stated  the 
necessity  that  interest  was  at  once  inspired.  This  preliminary  meet- 
ing was  held  with  such  success  that  a  State  Federation  was  organized 
with  the  usual  officers,  the  intention  being  that  each  of  the  Con^^i'cs- 
sional  districts  of  Illinois,  22  in  number,  should  have  as  a  representa- 
tive a  vice-president.  The  truth  is,  we  have  been  able  to  secure  only 
18  vice-presidents,  consequently  some  districts  are  not  represented. 
T  wish  that  we  might  have  a  complete  list  of  the  Women's  Clubs  of 
the  state,  and  that  each  woman  would  consider  it  her  special  duty  to 


24 

report  to  the  Corresponding  Secretary  all  clubs  in  her  vicinit}'.  We 
have  now  in  the  association  seventy  nine  clubs  and  many  others  have 
indicated  their  desire  to  join  us.  I  have  not  been  able  to  ascertain 
the  exact  number  of  women  this  brings  us  in  touch  with,  but  think 
from  8,000  to  10,000.  Our  largest  club,  the  Chicago  Woman's  Club, 
has  650  members;  the  smallest  club  reported  has  20  members.  We 
luive  nuiny  clubs  numbering  from  150  to  300. 

"We  have  many  clubs  that  do  literary  work  entirely.  Many  that 
are  doing  practical  and  literary  work  combined.  The  jDrogrammes 
of  work  sent  by  the  clubs  are  most  interesting.  Topics  of  the  day, 
all  domestic  affairs,  all  matters  of  historj'  and  travel,  are  discussed. 
We  have  clubs  that  have  f  oimded  libraries,  clubs  that  have  established 
hospitals,  clubs  that  care  for  destitute  children.  In  fact,  I  could  not 
mention  any  good  work  that  the  women  of  this  Federation  are  not  en- 
gaged in.  I  think  the  tendency  of  the  club  movement  is  to  reach 
out  into  the  work  of  the  world  and  be  less  confined  to  work  that  is  for 
self  culture  alone.    The  motto  of  one  club  is : 

•■  'How  empty  learning,  how  vain  is  art. 

But  as  it  mends  the  life  and  guides  the  heart.' 

''Our  largest  club,  the  Chicago  Woman's  Club,  has  celebrated  its 
nineteenth  birthday  and  is  already  a  power  in  the  great  city  of  our 
State.  All  through  Illinois  are  women  who  are  personally  interested 
in  this  club ;  many  have  been  members,  and,  in  fact,  helped  to  sow  the 
seed  from  which  this  thrifty  plant  has  grown.  Among  them,  allow 
me  to  mention  Mrs.  Bourland,  President  of  the  Peoria  Woman's  Club. 
The  Chicago  Woman's  Club  as  you  well  know,  is  divided  into  six  de- 
partments, which  labor  separately  in  their  chosen  fields;  at  the  same 
time,  believing  there  is  strength  in  union,  they  are  one  on  all  occasions. 
In  the  days  long  past  this  club  placed  in  the  county  institutions 
women  physicians  and  matrons  in  the  jails.  Their  committees  were 
ever  at  our  State  Capital  ready  to  battle  for  every  bill  before  the 
Legislature  tending  to  improve  the  position  of  women  and  children. 
All  educational  matters  were  their  care.  While  meeting  many  re- 
buffs they  were  never  discouraged  but  went  on  with  the  good  fight. 
To  them  belongs  the  honor  of  placing  the  first  woman  on  the  Chicago 
Board  of  Education,  where  they  have  ever  since  retained  at  least  one 
member. 

"They  have  the  honor  to  count  among  their  members  the  Presi- 
dent of  the  General  Federation  of  Women's  Clubs,  two  Trustees  of 
the  State  University,  two  members  of  the  Board  of  the  State  Female 
Juvenile  Offenders'  Home.  One  possession  of  which  they  are  very 
proud  is  that  so  many  women  who  are  presidents  and  workers  in 
other  clubs  in  the  State  belong  to  the  C.  W.  C.  I  have  taken  the 
liberty  to  speak  thus  extendedly  of  this  club  as  it  is  one  of  the  oldest 
and  largest,  and  one  in  which  we  are  all  interested. 

"There  is  one  kind  of  club  that  I  find  lacking  in  our  association 
and  one  that  to  me  looks  like  a  club  that  should  have  an  important 
part  to  perform;  it  is  the  Village  Improvement  Society.  Certainly 
there  is  no  subject  in  which  wom.en  are  more  interested.  I  know  of 
one  such  society  where  the  President  attends  to  every  detail  of  the 


.«.      «       V      »        «     ;# 


25 

welfare  of  her  home  village;  she  has,  by  her  o^vn  efforts,  and  those  of 
her  helpers,  made  the  town  a  model  of  neatness  and  order.  A  library 
has  been  founded,  a  stock  company  formed  to  build  a  town  hall  and 
other  wonders  performed.  I  hope  our  club  women  will  become  inter- 
ested in  this  work.  *  *  *  Wliat  are  we  going  to  accomplish? 
Do  we  simply  wish  to  meet  together  once  a  A'ear  to  read  and  discuss 
papers — something  most  of  us  do  at  home  twice  a  month  for  nine 
months  in  the  year — or  are  we  coming  together  to  learn  how  we  shall 
exert  the  greatest  influence  for  good  and  for  the  advancement  of  our 
beautiful  State  of  Illinois?  When  we  think  of  the  large  number  of 
women  interested  can  we  not  meld  a  great  power  ?  Allow  me  to  quote 
from  Mrs.  Bourland's  call  of  last  year. 

"  '*  *  *  Many  questions  of  grave  concern  to  all  women  arise 
in  the  management  of  State  institutions,  in  the  conduct  of  the  public 
schools  and  in  all  matters  pertaining  to  public  improvement.  In 
municipal,  town  and  village  improvement,  in  public  and  domestic 
sanitation,  in  disseminating  a  knowledge  of  the  principles  of  good 
citizenship  and  in  influencing  the  reform  of  local  politics,  the  efforts 
made  by  a  State  Federation  will  be  far  more  potent  for  good  than 
any  amount  of  individual  influence  exerted  toward  the  accomplishing 
of. the  desired  results.'" 

REPORT  OF  THE  TREASURER. 

Annual  dues  from  70  clubs $210.00 

Expenses. 

To  H.  C.  Marsh  &  Son,  printing,  etc $43.75 

To  postage  for  Corresponding  Secretary 18.00 

To  Treasurer's  book 30 

To  Mrs.  Candee,  money  advanced  for  first  meeting 12.00 

To  Mrs.   Mumford,  travelling  expenses 60.00 

Postage  for  Treasurer 2.50 

136.55 

Balance  on  hand $73.45 

Celia  p.  Wooli.et,  Treasurer. 

Dated  October  6,  1895. 

Both  reports  were  accepted  and  ordered  filed. 

"Short  reports  limited  to  two  minutes  each  were  given  by  twenty 
clubs,  showing  the  aim  and  extent  of  their  work."  Mrs.  Shattuck,  of 
Chicago,  moved  that  a  Nominating  Committee  of  five  members  be 
appointed  by  the  chair.  Seconded.  Mrs.  Solomon  asked  to  amend 
the  motion  b}'  having  the  Nominating  Committee  increased  to  nine. 
The  amendment  was  carried. 

The  selection  of  a  State  flower  and  badge  for  the  new  federation 
had  been  referred  to  a  committe  of  which  Mrs.  Emily  L.  Ailing  was 
chainnan.  She  reported  that  the  flowers  which  seem  to  best  repre- 
sent the  State  of  Illinois  are  the  golden  rod,  the  maize  and  the  iris. 
"The  shield  or  banner  from  the  State  seal  can  be  successfully  com- 
bined with  any  of  these  flowers  thus  affording  space  for  a  motto  or 
the  initial  letters  of  the  Federation.  Your  committee  has  considered 
several  designs  confonning  to  these  ideas,  three  of  which  are  sub- 


26 

mitted  herewith  for  your  consideration.  *  *  *  If  a  State  flower 
is  to  be  chosen  your  committee  suggests  that  the  State  arms  could  be 
engraved  on  a  shield  or  triangle  combined  with  a  flower." 

"A  lengthy  discussion  was  indulged  in  which  brought  out  many 
opinions. 

"The  chair  -named  the  following  JSTominating  Committee :  Mrs. 
J.  D.  Harvey,  Chicago ;  Miss  Post,  Galesburg ;  Mrs.  Wheeler.  Spring- 
field; Mrs.  ]3arbour,  Pekin;  Mrs.  John  Frances,  Peoria;  Mrs.  Wit- 
kowski,  Chicago;  Mrs.  Julia  Mills  Dunne,  Moline;  Mrs.  Frances 
Owens,  Woodlawn,  Chicago,  with  a  request  to  report  on  call  of  the 
meeting  the  following  morning,  at  ten  o^clock." 

The  meeting  was  called  to  order  at  2  p.  m.,  by  the  President, 
Mrs.  Candee  and  "the  following  program  was  rendered :  An  essay 
by  Mrs.  Linden  W.  Bates,  of  the  Fortnightly,  Chicago,  on  'The  Aims 
and  Methods  of  Literary  Clubs.'  Music.  'The  Elvolution  of  the  Study 
Class,'  Mrs.  Marcia  L.  Gould.  Music.  Ten  minutes  was  given  to  the 
discussion  of  some  of  the  practical  suggestions  in  Mrs.  Gould's  address, 
which  was  participated  in  by  Mrs.  Shattuck,  Mrs.  Mumford,  Miss 
Head,  Miss  LeBaron  and  Miss  McDowell. 

"Mrs.  Hannah  G.  Solomon  of  the  National  Council  of  Jewish 
Women,  Chicago,  read  a  paper  on  'The  Practical  Eesults  of  Club 
Life.'    Meeting  adjourned  to  convene  again  at.  8  p.  m." 

The  program  w'as  opened  in  the  evening  with  music.  "Mrs. 
Mary  E.  Mumford,  Philadelphia,  First  Vice-President,  General  Fed- 
eration of  Women's  Clubs,  spoke  on  'Some  Practical  Work  in  Civics.' 
Music.  Mrs.  Bourland  then  introduced  Bishop  Spaulding  who  made 
a  few  remarks.  'The  Slums  and  the  State',  Mrs.  Julia  ]\Iills  Dunne, 
Moline,  Illinois  Women's  Press  Association.  'The  Public  Schools 
and  Citizenship,'  Mrs.  Alice  Braford  Wiles,  Freeport  School  Board, 
Preeport;  after  which  Mrs.  Wiles  introduced  the  following  resolu- 
tions." 

Whereas,  We,  as  women  are  deeply  interested  in  all  that  per- 
tains to  the  welfare  of  children,  and  as  citizens  w^e  recognize  that  the 
public  school  is  second  only  to  the  home  in  its  influence  upon  in- 
dividual and  national  life;  therefore. 

Resolved^  That  the  Federation  of  Women's  Clubs  of  Illinois 
pledges  its  united  effort  to  the  support  of  all  that  is  good  and  the 
eradication  of  all  that  is  bad  in  the  public  school  system  of  the  State. 

Resolved,  further.  That  to  accomplish  this  end  we  will  visit  pub- 
lic schools  in  our  own  cities  and  study  educational  questions  with  ref- 
erence to  local  conditions  and  endeavor  to  secure  the  election  of  dis- 
interested and  non-political  members  of  Boards  of  Education. 

Resolved,  further.  That  each  club  in  the  Federation  be  asked  to 
report  at  the  next  annual  meeting,  uniting  upon  some  special  plan  of 
school  work  which  may  be  particularly  interesting  to  it  because  in  Ime 
with  the  special  work  for  which  the  club  was  organized. 

The  evening  program  closed  with  a  talk  by  Dr.  Abby  Fox 
Eooney,  of  Quincy,  on  "Civic  Responsibility  of  the  Individual." 

At  the  morning  meeting  of  the  11th,  Mrs.  Patton,  of  Springfield, 
invited  the  Fedration  to  hold  its  next  annual  meeting  in  that  city. 


37 

The  invitation  was  accepted.  Mrs.  Solomon  presented  Mrs.  Wiles' 
resolution,  read  the  night  before,  and  after  amending  by  striking  out 
the  word  "non-political,"  and  much  discussion,  it  was  incorporated 
in  the  minutes. 

Mrs.  J.  D.  Harvey,  Chairman  of  the  Xominating  Committee, 
reported  two  tickets,  the  old  ticket  and  a  new  one.  As  the  result  of 
the  ballot,  the  following  officers  were  declared  elected : 

President,  Mrs.  Isabella  Laning  Candee,  Cairo;  Eecording  Secre- 
tary, Miss  LeBaron,  Elgin;  Corresponding  Secretary,  Mrs.  Clara  M. 
J.  Parson,  Chicago  Woman's  Club ;  Treasurer,  Mrs.  Mary  E.  Haworth, 
Decatur.  The  Vice-Presidents  of  the  Congressional  Districts  were: 
Miss  Jane  Addams,  Mesdames  Hannah  G.  Solomon,  James  E.  Eagle, 
Lucy  Flower,  P.  P.  Bichardson  and  W.  J.  Chalmer  of  the  first  six 
districts  of  Chicago;  P.  H.  Davidson,  LaGrange,  7;  J.  S.  Wilcox, 
Elgin,  8;  Alice  B.  Wiles,  Preeport,  9 ;  E.  B.  Prost,  Galesburg,  10; 
Julia  Griggs,  Streator,  11 ;  Miss  Jane  Head,  Danville,  12 ;  Mesdames 
S.  T.  Busey,  Champaign,  13;  Virginia  Bash,  Peoria,  14;  Anna  L. 
Parker,  Quincy,  15 ;  Palmer  Matthews,  Carlinville,  16 ;  James  W. 
Patton,  Springleld,  17.  District  18  had  no  representative.  Mrs. 
Ada  Kepley.  Effingham.  19  :  20th  and  21st  Districts  had  no  repre- 
sentatives; Mrs.  Laura  B.  Eittenhouse,  Cairo,  22. 

It  was  moved  and  carried  that  any  vacancies  for  Vice-President 
be  tilled  by  the  Board. 

At  the  afternoon  session,  Mrs.  Candee  thanked  the  delegates  for 
her  re-election,  declaring  the  officers  duly  elected  and  qualified  to 
enter  upon  their  duties  for  the  new  year.  She  also  asked  for  a  meet- 
ing of  the  new  Board  of  Directors  on  adjournment  of  the  convention. 

Unfinished  business  included  the  settlement  of  the  question  as 
to  whether  or  not  the  State  Federation  should  become  a  member  of 
the  General  Federation.  Mrs.  Bash  moved  that  if  the  Illinois  Fed- 
eration has  been  invited  to  join  the  General  Federation  that  it  accept 
the  invitation.  It  was  so  decided.  Mrs.  Grain  moved  that  the  Presi- 
dent be  empowered  to  represent  the  State  at  the  General  Federation 
at  Atlanta.  Mrs.  Candee  stated  that  it  would  be  impossible  for  her 
to  attend  and  suggested  that  the  matter  be  left  to  the  Board. 

The  program  continued  with  music  and  talks  on  "Preventive 
Education  of  the  Unfit,"  by  Miss  Julia  Lathrop,  Illinois  State  Board 
of  Charities,  Eockford ;  and  "Education  as  a  Preventive  of  Crime  and 
Pauperism."  by  Mrs.  Lucy  L.  Flower,  Trustee  Illinois  State  Uni- 
versity. Chicago. 

The  Committee  on  Eeciprocity  submitted  a  list  of  recommenda- 
tions as  follows: 

Fiisf — The  Secretary  of  the  State  Federation  shall  furnish  each 
club  in  the  Federation  with  a  list  of  all  the  clubs  connected  with  that 
body. 

Second — That  each  club  having  a  printed  programme  shall  fur- 
nish a  copy  of  the  same  to  all  other  clubs  on  that  list. 

Third — That  any  club  desiring  a  paper  upon  a  given  topic  can 
apply  either  to  the  secretary  of  the  club  or  directly  to  the  essayist. 


28 

Four/li — That  any  club  inviting  an  essayist  or  speaker  to  appear 
before  it  shall  provide  for  the  expenses  of  such  essayist  or  speaker. 

Fifth — That  membership  in  any  club  of  the  Federation  shall  en- 
title the  holder  to  admission  in  any  other  federated  club,  upon  pre- 
sentation of  her  membership  ticket  to  the  secretary  of  that  club. 

A  list  of  papers  for  loan  purposes  is  next  given,  some  of  the  sub- 
jects being,  "Conversation  as  a  Lost  Art;"  "jSTo  Work,  iSFo  Pay;" 
"What  Shall  We  Do  With  the  Tramp?"  "Holidays,  Their  Use  and 
Abuse."     Only  thirty-six  were  listed. 

In  a  courtesy  resolution  which  Mrs.  Solomon  introduced,  it  is : 

"Resolved,  That  we  extend  our  heartfelt  appreciation  for  the 
many  courtesies  extended  and  assure  them  (the  women  of  Peoria) 
that  their  kindness  will  live  in  the  memory  of  the  Federation,  and 
that  their  grace  and  charm  as  hostesses  is  but  another  proof  to  us 
that  club  life  in  no  way  detracts  from  the  possibilities  of  perfect 
womanhood." 

The  Flower  and  Badge  Committee  thought  "if  we  adopted  the 
badge  of  the  State  arms  and  a  wreath  of  maize — it  was  a  State  badge 
that  had  not  yet  been  adopted — we  could  combine  the  sentiment  of 
the  flower  with  the  design."  However,  no  action  was  taken,  so  it  was 
moved  that  the  matter  be  referred  to  the  Board  with  power  to  act. 
The  Board  also  reported  that  "it  was  the  unanimous  opinion  of  that 
body  that  the  resolution  offered  by  Mrs.  Wiles  and  adopted  at  the 
morning  session  covered  all  the  work  possible  to  be  accomplished 
during  the  coming  year." 

The  following  resolution  was  also  presented  and  adopted  unani- 
mously, that: 

"Wheiieas,  The  continued  atrocities  committed  by  the  Turks 
against  the  helpless  women  and  children  of  Armenia  have  filled  the 
civilized  world  with  pain  and  horror;  be  it 

Resolved,  That  we  free  American  women,  members  of  the  Illinois 
■Federation  of  Women's  Clubs,  use  every  means  of  influence  and  help- 
fulness in  our  power  to  secure  this  long  oppressed  people  liberty  of 
thought  and  life." 

A  vote  of  thanks  was  given  to  the  citizens  of  Peoria  for  their 
kindness  and  to  the  press  "for  their  dignified  and  kind  reports  of  the 
meeting." 

The  meeting  adjourned  to  meet  at  Springfield,  Illinois,  the 
second  Thursday  in  October,  1896. 

The  Committee  on  Program  for  this  first  annual  meeting  in- 
cluded, Mrs.  Candee,  Mrs.  Celia  Parker  Woolley  and  Mrs.  Anna  L. 
Parker.  Committee  on  Arrangements,  Mrs.  Clara  M.  J.  Farson,  Mrs. 
Martha  Howe  Davidson,  Mrs.  Alice  Bradford  Wiles  and  Mrs.  Eollo 
G.  Wheeler,  Mrs.  Louise  M.  Hanna  and  Mrs.  Wachenheimer  of  Peoria. 

Quoting  directly  from  a  letter  received  from  Mrs.  Candee  in 
March,  1926,  written  to  the  Editor,  tlie  writer  says,  "The  first  two 
years  of  the  Illinois  State  Federation  under  the  administration  of 
Mrs.  H.  F.  Candee,  of  Cairo,  as  President,  were  spent  chiefly  in  cor- 
respondence with  the  women's  clubs  of  the  state,  securing  new  niera- 


29 

bers  and  arousing  more  interest  in  the  Federation  idea,  both  State 
and  General.  The  Secretaries,  Mrs.  Clara  M.  J.  Farson,  Chicago, 
and  Mrs.  Emily  Schenk,  of  Pekin.  aided  greatly  in  this  work  and  were 
untiring  in  their  efforts.  During  the  second  year,  the  outstanding 
effort  of  the  Federation  was  a  plea  to  the  State  Legislature  for  an 
appropriation  for  a  Woman's  Dormitory  at  the  University  of  Illinois 
to  house  women  students  for  whom  no  provision  whatever  was  made 
as  to  adequate  homes  and  comfort  during  attendance  at  the  Univer- 
sity. 

"Mrs.  John  A.  Lutz  of  Lincoln,  chairman  of  that  committee, 
and  otlier  members  were  indefatigable  in  their  efforts  to  obtain  an 
appropriation  for  a  suitable  building  for  the  young  women  concerned. 

'■'But  the  influence  of  the  then  new  Federation  was.  powerless 
against  the  lack  of  interest  in  the  higher  education  of  women  at  that 
time  and  the  active  opposition  of  some  in  power  at  the  University, 
so  the  project  failed,  greatly  to  the  disappointme'nt  of  all  concerned. 
It  is  a  great  satisfaction  to  the  pioneers  of  that  day  to  have  lived 
to  witness  a  different  attitude  of  mind  toward  education  of  women 
generally  and  in  the  State  Universities,  in  particular.  That  the 
phenominal  growth  and  powerful  influence  in  every  direction  for 
betterment  of  our  own  Federation  under  the  direction  of  the  wisest 
and  best  equipped  women  of  the  State  has  had  much  to  do  with  it, 
we  are  truly  thankful.  Long  after  we  elder  workers  have  passed  on 
it  will  continue  with  the  passing  years." 

The  program  of  the  Second  Annual  Convention  which  was  held 
in  Springfield,  October  7,  8,  9,  1896,  in  the  Hall  of  Representatives, 
shows  a  few  changes  in  the  personnel  of  the  Board  of  Directors,  Mrs. 
Elgin  H.  Eay  of  Champaign  taking  Miss  LeBaron's  place  as  Record- 
ing Secretary  and  Miss  LeBaron  taking  Mrs.  J.  S.  Wilcox's  place  as  a 
District  Tice-President.  ^Irs.  ^Martha  A.  Davidson,  of  Chicago,  re- 
placed Miss  Jane  Addams  and  Mrs.  Julia  Duncan  Kirby.  of  Jackson- 
ville, took  the  place  of  Mrs.  Palmer  ^Eatthews,  of  Carlinville. 

Headquarters  for  the  meeting  were  at  the  old  Leland  Hotel. 
Mrs.  E.  A.  Hall  was  Chairman  of  Arrangements  and  was  assisted  by 
Mesdames  J.  W.  Patton.  Stuart  Brown,  W.  R.  Beall,  M.  S.  Kimball, 
J.  P.  Altgeld.  G.  X.  Black.  E.  A.  Snively,  E.  S.  Walker,  W.  E.  Moore. 
X.  B.  Wiggins  and  Misses  Olive  Eggleston  and  Louise  Enos. 

An  evening  reception  to  the  delegates  and  visitors  was  given  by 
Governor  and  Mrs.  Altgeld  at  the  Executive  Mansion.  A  trip  to 
Lincoln's  Monument  was  made  on  Friday  afternoon. 

The  program  of  speakers  was  limited  to  the  club  women  them- 
selves and  those  taking  part  in  a  session  devoted  entirely  to  educa- 
tional subjects  were :  Mrs.  George  Irving  Brown,  Freeport,  speaking 
on  "History-  and  Future  of  Compulsory  Education  in  Illinois;"'  Mrs. 
Linda  B.  McMurry.  Xormal,  '•'Purpose  of  Xature  Study  in  Elemen- 
tary Schools:"  Miss  Frances  LeBaron,  Elgin,  '"'Relation  of  Public 
Libraries  to  Public  Schools."  Mrs.  Wiles.  Chairman  of  Education. 
gave  her  report  and  Mrs.  Corrinne  Brown,  of  Chicago,  discussed  it. 


30 

Another  program  was  devoted  to  club  work  or  "Some  Club  Prob- 
lems.'^ Mrs.  Annie  Fremont  Guinan,  of  Qnincy,  spoke  on  "What  is 
the  Legitimate  Work  of  the  Woman's  Club?"  Mrs.  Laura  A.  Miller, 
of  Cairo,  "Shall  Clubs  be  Limited  in  Number?"  Mrs.  George  Page, 
of  Peoria,  "Is  the  Department  Club  the  Most  Effective  Form  of  the 
Woman's  Club?" 

Governor  Altgeld  addressed  the  meeting  and  Mrs.  Ellen  M.  Hen- 
rotin,  President  of  the  General  Federation,  talked  on  "The  Value  of 
Federation  to  the  Individual  Club."  Miss  Ellen  G.  Starr,  of  Hull 
House,  made  an  address  on  "The  Eelation  of  Art  to  Life." 


31 

THE  SECOND  BIENNIUM. 

Governor  of  Illinois,  President  of  the  U.  S., 

1897—1901.  1897—1901. 

John  E.  Tanner.  Wm.  McKinley. 

Mrs.  Egbert  Hall  A\'iles. 

1896—1898. 


Mrs,  Eobert  Hall  Wiles  was  born  in  Boston  and  educated  in 
private  schools  there.  She  graduated  later  at  Cornell  University,  at 
Ithaca,  in  1875.  The  next  year  she  married  Mr.  Wiles  and  came  to 
Freeport,  Illinois,  to  live.  Two  children,  a  son  and  a  daughter  were 
born  to  her. 

Mrs.  Wiles  comes  from  distinguished  ancestry,  numbering  three 
Colonial  Governors  among  her  forebears  as  well  as  John  Bradford, 
"Continental  Agent"  of  the  Continental  Congress  in  Boston  during 
the  Eevolution. 

She  was  Founder  and  first  President  of  the  Freeport  Woman's 
Club,  President  of  the  Illinois  Federation,  Chairman  of  the  Educa- 
tion Department  and  of  the  Philosophy  and  Science  Department  of 
the  Chicago  Woman's  Club. 

Her  chief  interest  and  affiliation  has  been  with  the  D.  A.  E.  and 
patriotic  societies,  holding  membership  in  a  great  many,  some  of 
which  are  the  Descendants  of  Colonial  Governors,  Mayflower  De- 
scendents,  Colonial  Dames,  Founders  and  Patriots  of  America  and  U. 
S.  Daughters  of  1812.  Of  several  of  these  she  has  been  National 
President. 

She  has  been  a  member  of  the  Freeport  Board  of  Education  and 
was  Vice-President  of  the  Woman's  World's  Fair  Board. 


The  following  officers  were  elected  at  the  Springfield  Convention 
for  one  year,  which  was  the  custom  at  that  time :  President,  Mrs. 
Robert  Hall  Wiles,  Freeport;  Vice-President  at  Large,  Mrs.  Isabella 
Laning  Candee,  Cairo;  Recording  Secretary,  Mrs.  Elgin  Hays  Ray, 
Champaign;  Corresponding  Secretary,  Mrs.  Marc  Sherwood,  Chicago; 
Treasurer,  Mrs.  Mary  E.  Haworth,  Decatur;  Chairman  of  State  Cor- 
respondence for  the  General  Federation,  Mrs.  Clara  M.  J.  Farson, 
Chicago. 

The  list  of  A^ice-Presidents  whose  terms  expired  in  one  year  were : 
Mesdames  Fannie  B.  Richardson,  Chicago,  1 ;  George  Sherwood,  Chi- 
cago, 5;  Miss  Fannie  LeBaron,  Elgin,  8;  Mesdames  Mary  Codding 
Bourland,  Pontiac,  11;  Wm.  E.  Fithian,  Danville,  12;  Laura  A. 
Kline,  Henry,  14;  Jas.  W.  Patton,  Springfield,  17;  Miss  Laura  D. 
Bishop,  Paris,  19;  Miss  Ida  Evans,  Mt.  Vernon,  20;  Mrs,  Laura 
Rittenhouse,  Cairo,  22.  Those  whose  terms  expired  in  two  years 
were :  Mesdames  Chas.  M.  Higginson,  Riverside,  2 ;  Fred  A.  Smith, 
Chicago,  3;  Miss  Mary  McDowell,  Chicago,  4;  Mesdames  Wm.  A. 
Starin,  Waukegan,  7;  J.  L.  Hartwell,  Dixon,  9;  Marcia  Louise  Gould, 
Moline,  10;  Jeannette  B.  Crea,  Monticello,  13;  J.  M.  Keefer,  Ma- 


32 

comb,  15:  Thos.  Worthington,  Jacksonville,  IG :  L.  B.  Bennett,  Green- 
ville, 18.' 

The  Vice-Presidents  also  served  as  chairmen  of  committees,  Mrs. 
Fred  A.  Smith  for  Progi'am;  Miss  Francos  LeBaron  for  Education; 
Mrs.  C.  J.  Eichardson  for  Philanthropy;  Mrs.  Thos.  Worthington 
for  Arrangements  and  Mrs.  Mary  A.  Haworth  for  Credentials. 

At  the  meeting  of  the  Board  of  Directors  held  November,  1896, 
the  following  clubs  were  admitted  to  membership :  Nineteenth  Cen- 
tury Club,  Oak  Park ;  Shakesperian  Club,  Mt.  Vernon ;  Fairbury  Bay 
View  Reading  Club;  Home  Culture  Club,  and  Clio  Reading  Club  at 
Mattoon. 

The  Philanthropy  Committee  was  the  second  to  be  appointed, 
with  Mrs.  James  Patton,  of  Springfield,  Chairman.  Mrs.  Patton  re- 
signed the  same  year  and  was  succeeded  by  Mrs.  C.  J.  Richardson,  of 
Princeton. 

At  the  meeting  of  the  Board  of  Directors  held  February,  1897, 
five  more  clubs  were  taken  into  the  Federation.  These  were :  The 
Bryn  Mawr  Woman's  Club ;  Riverside  Friday  Club ;  Woman's  Club 
of  Austin;  Maywood  Woman's  Club;  Fortnightly  of  Jacksonville. 

From  the  minutes  of  the  Board  Meeting  of  April,  1897,  we  learn 
that  Colonel  Francis  W.  Parker  had  invited  the  Illinois  Federation  of 
Women's  Clubs  to  cooperate  with  the  Illinois  Child  Study  Society  in 
holding  the  coming  annual  meeting  of  the  Child  Study  Congress ;  that 
the  President  of  the  Federation  had  accepted  the  invitation,  and  that 
the  women's  clubs  of  northern  Illinois  had,  by  voluntary  contribu- 
tions, raised  the  sum  of  $200.00  toward  defraying  the  expenses  of 
G.  Stanley  Hall,  as  speaker  for  the  Congress. 

The  new  clubs  admitted  at  this  meeting  were:  Reviewers' 
Matinee  (place  not  given);  Ossoli  Club  of  Highland  Park;  River- 
side Woman's  Club;  Maywood  Twentieth  Century  Club;  The  Neigh- 
bors of  Kenilworth;  Woman's  Literary  Club  of  North  Chicago;  The 
Coterie  of  Lake  Forest ;  Tuesday  Reading  Club  of  Pittsfield ;  Woman's 
Club  of  Beardstown;  Delavan  Woman's  Club;  Tuesday  Club  of 
Kewanee. 

Clubs  were  knocking  on  the  door  for  admittance  in  ever  increas- 
ing numbers.  At  a  Board  Meeting  held  on  October  19,  1897,  immedi- 
ately preceding  the  Annual  Convention,  the  following  clubs  were  ac- 
cepted :  "The  Sevens"  of  Moliue ;  Mendota  Woman's  Club ;  Ohalla 
Culture  of  Lodi :  Mt.  Carroll  Woman's  Club;  Urbana  Twentieth  Cen- 
tury Tourist  Club:  Dixon  Woman's  Club;  Clayton  Woman's  Reading 
Club;  Anti-Rust  of  Springfield;  Kewanee  Tuesday  Club;  Chicago 
Woman's  Columbian  Club;  Metropolis  Woman's  Literary  Club;  Mat- 
toon  Study  Class;  Galena  Fortnightly  Club;  Paris  Friends  in  Coun- 
cil; The  Matheon  of  Chicago;  Wenona  Woman's  Literan^  Club; 
Chicago  Association  of  Young  Women's  Clubs;  Champaign  County 
Housekeepers'  Association;  Carrollton  University  Extension  Club; 
Chicago  IJniversity  Settlement  Club;  Chicago  Woman's  South  Side 
Study  Club;  Lewiston  Tuesday  Club;  Avon  Portia  Club. 


33 

Mrs.  Wiles,  in  her  closing  remarks  at  this  Board  Meeting,  ex- 
pressed the  hope  that  a  meeting  of  the  new  Board  of  Directors  be 
held  either  Friday  or  Saturday  morning  so  that  another  called  meet- 
ing would  not  be  necessary  immediately. 

The  Third  Annual  Meeting  was  held  at  the  State  Street  Presby- 
terian Church,  Jacksonville,  October  20,  21,  22,  1897.  At  this  time 
the  Federation  was  made  up  of  258  clubs,  representing  a  membership 
of  about  15,000,  and  there  were  255  delegates  present,  representing 
115  clubs.  The  delegate  body  moved  that  the  Board  appoint  the 
Standing  Committees  of  Art,  Literature  and  Music.  It  was  also 
suggested  that  a  Sub-committee  of  Literature  be  appointed  to  take 
care  of  the  library  interests  of  tlie  state.  A  committee  was  appointed 
to  attend  the  meeting  of  the  Associated  Charities  and  Corrections. 
A  resolution  was  passed  in  regard  to  the  care  of  dependent  children. 

At  this  time  the  Federation  gave  little  attention  to  anything  ex- 
cepting education  work.  The  General  Federation  had  been  organ- 
ized for  cultural  work  and  the  first  resolution  adopted  for  any  outside 
practical  activity  was  presented  by  Mrs.  Wiles  as  Chairman  of  the 
Educational  Committee  of  the  Illinois  Federation  at  the  Louisville 
Biennial  in  1896.     The  resolution  read  as  follows : 

Whereas,  The  time  is  ripe  for  the  adoption  by  the  General  Fed- 
eration of  Women's  Clubs  of  a  subject  which  shall  be  a  central  point 
of  interest  and  work  for  all  clubs  represented ;  therefore,  be  it 

Resolved,  That  we  recommend  to  the  clubs  a  study  of  the  science 
of  education  and  of  educational  conditions  existing  in  their  home 
cities,  to  the  end  that  the  united  influence  of  women's  clubs  may  be 
exerted  for  the  betterment  of  the  state  system  of  education  from  the 
kindeTgarten  to  the  university. 

Resolved,  further.  That  we  especially  urge  effort  to  emphasize 
systematic  instruction  in  ethics  in  the  public  school  curriculum. 

Resolved,  further.  That  the  Board  of  Directors  be  asked  to  ap- 
point a  committee  to  make  these  suggestions  effective. 

(Signed)   Alice  Bradford  Wiles,  Chairman. 
Mary  H.  Wilmarth. 
Margaret  J.  Evans. 

The  next  fall  Mrs.  Wiles  became  President  of  the  Illinois  Feder- 
ation and  work  for  traveling  libraries  and  compulsory  education  was 
begun,  while  the  interest  in  a  Woman's  Hall  at  the  University  of 
Illinois  was  continued.  Helpful  relations  with  the  Northern,  Middle 
and  Southern  Branches  of  the  Illinois  State  Teachers'  Association 
were  established,  and  a  half  day  was  allotted  at  all  their  meetings 
for  speakers  from  the  Illinois  Federation.  Subjects  under  discus- 
sion at  these  sessions  were  those  in  which  the  teachers  and  the  club 
women  were  mutually  interested. 

The  following  resolutions  were  passed  by  the  Board,  and  later 
by  the  Convention:  The  Illinois  Federation  of  Women's  Clubs  en- 
dorses and  earnestly  urges  legislation  by  the  General  Assembly  of 
Illinois  permitting  the  expenditure  of  school  funds  for  the  main- 
tenance of  vacation  schools  and  playgrounds  and  the  immediate  estab- 
lishment of  a  Truant  School  for  Chicago." 


34 

Also,  "An  appropriation  by  the  next  General  Assembly  which 
shall  make  it  possible  to  provide  for  the  proper  home  life  of  the 
women  students  of  the  University  of  Illinois,  and  for  the  effective 
support  of  a  Department  of  Household  Economics." 

Also,  a  resolution  in  regard  to  traveling  libraries  for  niral  com- 
munities. 

In  response  to  a  number  of  letters  from  club  women  throughout 
the  state  to  the  President,  Mrs.  Wiles,  regarding  her  attitude  on  the 
formation  of  district  organizations,  she  replied  that  she  had  "neither 
requested,  advised  nor  expressed  a  desire  for  such  action:  That  the 
desirability  of  a  District  Federation  of  Women's  Clubs  in  any  given 
Congressional  District  of  Illinois  is  a  question  which  only  the  mem- 
bers of  such  clubs  can  intelligently  and  wisely  decide;  that  if  the 
local  club  women  thought  a  District  Federation  so  desirable  that  they 
wished  to  take  the  responsibility  of  forming  one  I  was  glad  to  ap- 
prove what  they  thought  best." 

The  Jacksonville  pTOgram  was  also  in  the  hands  of  the  club 
women  and  was  given  over  to  three  subjects,  education  leading  as 
usual,  with  philanthropy  and  club  problems  coming  in  for  their  share 
of  attention.  Some  of  the  subjects  and  speakers  were:  "Educational 
Probleius  as  Seen  Through  the  Women's  Clubs  of  Illinois,"  Miss  Le- 
Baron ;  "Ideals  in  Education,"  Mrs.  Anna  L.  Parker;  "Eelation  of 
Child  Study  to  the  Public  Kindergarten,"  Mrs.  Mary  Codding  Bour- 
land;  "Education  as  a  Moral  Factor,"  Mrs.  Gertrude  B.  Blackwelder. 

Mrs.  Pichardson  gave  her  report  as  Chairman  on  Philanthropy 
and  was  followed  by  Mrs.  J.  C.  Barlow  who  spoke  on  "Associated 
Charities;"  Mrs.  Patton,  "Needs  of  Dependent  Children;"  Mrs.  Clara 
P.  Bourland,  "Influence  of  Clubs  on  Civic  Life."  Mrs.  Lambert, 
Jacksonville,  spoke  on  "Literary  Clubs  and  their  Methods  of  Study;" 
Mrs.  Lucy  Fitch  Perkins,  Chicago,  "Work  of  the  Central  Art  Asso- 
ciation;" Miss  Katherine  Sharp  of  the  University,  "Traveling  Li- 
braries in  Country  Districts;"  Miss  Ada  C.  Sweet  of  the  Illinois  Au- 
dubon Society,  "A  Plea  for  the  Birds." 

Mrs.  John  Vance  Cheney,  of  Chicago,  Mrs.  Edward  Poby  and 
Miss  Mary  A.  Wadsworth  were  also  on  the  program. 

Three  receptions  were  given  the  delegates,  one  at  the  home  of 
Mrs.  J.  E.  Bradley  at  4 :30  on  the  first  afternoon  and  another  at  6  :30 
the  same  day  at  the  residence  of  Mrs.  Belle  Short  Lambert.  On  the 
evening  preceding,  Mr.  and  Mrs.  E.  F.  Bullard  were  at  home  at  the 
Female  Academy. 

Mrs.  J.  E.  Bradley,  wife  of  the  President  of  Illinois  College, 
was  general  chairman  and  was  assisted  by  Mrs.  Thomas  Worthington, 
who  was  also  a  member  of  the  Federation  program  committee,  and  by 
Miss  Maria  Fairbanks,  Mrs.  Edward  Tanner  and  Mrs.  W.  H.  H.  King. 

Among  the  interesting  newspaper  accounts  in  the  Jacksonville 
papers  of  that  week  is  this :  "The  absence  of  all  that  pertains  to  the 
vulgarly  ^strong-minded'  woman  was  most  refreshing.  Female  suf- 
frage was  not  even  mentioned  and  many  ladies  privately  expressed 
their  desire  to  have  the  men  do  the  voting.    Grand  Mrs.  Eoby  said,  'I 


35 

belong  to  an  organization  which  has  for  its  motto,  'They  that  rock  tiie 
cradle  rule  the  world'  and  that  is  glory  enough  for  me/ ' " 

At  the  Jacksonville  meeting  the  following  officers  were  elected: 
President,  Mrs.  Eobert  Hall  Wiles;  Vice-President  at  L>arge,  Mrs. 
Anna  L.  Parker:  Kecording  Secretary,  Mrs.  Frederick  Le  Eoy, 
Streator;  Corresponding  Secretary,  Mrs.  Virginia  Bash,  Peoria; 
Treasurer,  Miss  Sarah  Maria  Fairbank,  Jacksonville;  State  Chair- 
man of  Correspondence  G.  F.,  Mrs.  Clara  M.  J.  Farson. 

Vice-Presidents  of  Districts  were:  Mesdames  Almon  Brooks, 
Chas.  M.  Higginson,  Frederick  A.  Smith,  Emma  E.  Andree,  George 
Sherwood  and  Julien  E.  Hequembourg,  all  of  Chicago;  Mesdames 
Wm.  A.  Starin,  Waukegan,  7;  Albert  J.  Hopkins,  Aurora,  8;  J.  L. 
Hartwell.  Dixon,  9;  Marcia  Louise  Gould.  Moline,  10;  C.  J.  Eichard- 
son,  Princeton,  11;  George  G.  Mabin,  Danville,  12;  Jeannette  B. 
Crea,  Monticello,  13 ;  E.  A.  Wallace,  Havana,  14 ;  J.  M.  Keefer.  Ma- 
comb, 15:  Thos.  Worthinfirton,  Jacksonville,  16;  Alice  G.  Wells,  Deca- 
tur, i: :  L.  E.  Bennett,  i&reenville,  18 ;  W.  F.  Purtill,  Mattoon,  19 ; 
George  W.  Evans,  Mt.  Vernon,  20;  Phebe  Alice  Taylor,  Cairo,  22, 

The  Fourth  Annual  Convention,  over  which  'Mis.  Wiles  presided, 
wa5  held  in  Central  Music  Hall,  Chicago,  on  invitation  of  the  Fed- 
erated Women's  Clubs  of  Cook  Count};,  October,  18-19-20,  1898. 
Delegates  to  the  nimiber  of  311  represented  166  clubs  which  showed 
a  very  splendid  interest  and  growth  among  the  women  of  the  state. 

Mrs.  Penoyer  L.  Sherman,  mother-in-law  of  Mrs.  John  D.  Sher- 
man, (President  of  the  General  Federation  1924-28)  and  President 
of  the  Chicago  Woman's  Club  gave  the  address  of  welcome.  IVIrs. 
William  B.  Lowe,  of  Atlanta,  President  of  the  General  Federation, 
made  an  address.  For  the  first  time  we  note  the  name  of  Mrs.  Henrv^ 
M.  Dunlap.  of  Savoy,  who,  as  chairman  of  a  sub-committee  on  the 
Interest  of  Women  Students  at  the  University  of  Illinois,  made  a 
report.  Mrs.  Dunlap  has  long  given  devoted  service  to  the  cause  of 
education,  especially  in  the  field  of  Household  Economics.  Also,  for 
the  first  time  we  see  Art  stressed :  "Art  as  a  Factor  in  Education ;" 
"Art  in  the  Home;"  "Art  in  Conduct  and  Conduct  as  Art." 

An  address  on  "Interdependence  of  Progressive  Influences  in  the 
Community,"  was  given  by  Miss  Phebe  S.  Sutliff,  President  of  Eock- 
ford  College  and  of  the  Eockford  Federation  of  Women's  Clubs.  The 
sub-topics,  handled  by  ten  women  among  whom  were  Miss  Jane 
Addams,  Miss  Mary  McDowell  and  Mrs.  Martha  Foote  Crowe,  As- 
sistant Professor  of  English,  Universitv  of  Chicas^o,  were :  The  Home, 
The  Church,  The  School,  The  Press,  the  Librarv,  The  Art  Museum, 
The  Woman's  Club,  The  Concert,  The  Drama,  and  The  Social  Settle- 
ment. 

Another  notable  on  this  program  was  Mrs.  Mary  Hartwell 
Catherwood  who  talked  on  "The  History  Around  Us."  The  name 
of  Mrs.  Louise  B.  Stanwood,  President  of  the  Illinois  Federation 
(1900-1902 )  appears  for  the  first  time.  She  discussed  "Society  Unity 
Through  the  Club."  We  have  always  recognized,  though  sometimes 
deplored,  the  importance  of  "The  Cup  of  Tea  as  a  Factor  in  Club 


36 

Life''  but  we  have  never  seen  it  dignified  by  having  a  place  on  a  con- 
vention progi-am  before.  Mrs.  Bella  H.  Dimmick  of  Quincy  was  the 
speaker. 

Impromptu  discussion  (if  time  allowed)  was  to  be  given  to  the 
following  resolutions,  pro  and  con,  alternating: 

Resolved,  "That  a  college  education  is  advisable  for  girls." 

Resolved,  "That  household  economics  and  music  should  be  offered 
in  a  college  course." 

A  ver}^  daring  and  progressive  step  must  have  been  taken  at  this 
meeting  when  a  resolution  was  adopted  which  required  the  Federation 
to  petition  the  Legislature  "to  remedy,  so  far  as  possible,  the  present 
defects  in  the  laws  of  Illinois  regarding  dependent  and  delinquent 
children."  A  motion  was  also  adopted,  "that  the  incoming  Board 
appoint  a  committee  on  industrial  problems  affecting  women  and  chil- 
dren." The  committee  was  to  "create  centers  in  various  towns  for 
the  employment  of  women ;  to  co-operate  with  the  committee  ap- 
pointed by  the  Association  of  Young  Women's  Clubs  to  establish  such 
a  center  in  Chicago  known  as  the  'Business  Women's  Exchange.'  " 

A  delegate  inquired  if  there  were  any  clubs  in  the  state  o^vning 
club  houses,  to  which  Mrs.  Jackson,  of  Eiver  Forest,  replied  that  the 
club  of  that  suburb  owned  its  home.  Mrs.  Bacon,  of  Decatur,  stated 
that  a  stock  company  made  up  of  club  women  in  her  city  had  been 
organized,  had  put  up  a  building  and  had  rented  it  to  the  Decatur 
Woman's  Club.  It  is  to  be  regretted  that  later  this  building  passed 
out  of  the  possession  of  the  club  and  that  for  some  time  they  have 
had  no  permanent  home. 

While  we  can  find  no  mention  made  of  the  club  house  owned  by 
the  Quincy  Friends  in  Council  at  this  time,  we  wish  to  make  it  a  mat- 
ter of  record,  as  we  have  done  elsewhere  in  this  History,  that  they 
owned  a  home  in  1878  and  that,  so  far  as  the  General  Federation  has 
been  able  to  learn,  this  is  the  oldest  club  house  in  the  United  States, 
used  exclusively  by  women. 


37 

THE  THIRD  BIENNIUM. 

Mrs.  Kobekt  Bruce  Farson. 
1898—1900. 


Mrs.  Eobert  Bruce  Farson  was  born  in  St.  Charles,  Illinois,  where 
she  now  lives,  and  in  a  very  charming  old  house.  For  many  years, 
however,  and  during  the  early  days  of  the  Federation,  she  was  a 
resident  of  Chicago.  Her  family  consists  of  her  husband  and  one 
son.  She  attended  school  in  St.  Charles,  Galesburg,  Bloomington  and 
Chicago. 

Mrs.  Farson  was  the  second  person,  we  believe,  to  hold  the  office 
of  G.  F.  Secretary  for  Illinois,  or,  as  it  was  called  at  that  time,  State 
Chairman  of  Correspondence.  She  was  the  first  Corresponding  Secre- 
tary for  the  Illinois  Federation,  third  President  of  the  Federation; 
Secretary  and  Vice-President  of  the  Chicago  Woman's  Club,  Presi- 
dent of  the  St.  Charles  Woman's  Club,  Chairman  of  Library  Exten- 
sion for  the  I.  F.  W.  C.  and  President  of  the  Kane  County  Federation. 

Mrs.  Farson  was  Founder  of  the  St.  Charles  Public  Library  and 
served  as  its  President.  She  is  interested  in  all  civic  and  educational 
movements,  and  active  in  the  social  and  cultural  life  of  St.  Charles. 


The  following  officers  were  elected  in  Chicago:  President,  Mrs. 
Eobert  Bruce  Farson  (Mrs.  Clara  M.  J.)  Chicago;  Vice-President 
at  Large,  Mrs.  Anna  L.  Parker,  Quincy;  Eecording  Secretary,  Mrs. 
Frederick  Le  Eoy,  Strcator;  Corresponding  Secretary,  Mrs.  John  A. 
Lutz,  Lincoln ;  Treasurer,  Miss  Sarah  Maria  Fairbank,  Jacksonville ; 
State  Correspondent  for  G.  F.,  Mrs.  Eugenia  M.  Bacon,  Decatur; 
Honorary  Vice-President  for  two  years,  Mrs.  Clara  P.  Bourland, 
Peoria. 

The  Vice-Presidents  whose  terms  expired  in  one  year  were  Mes- 
dames  Almon  Brooks,  1 ;  Alzina  P.  Stevens,  3 ;  George  Sherwood,  5 ; 
Wm.  A.  Starin,  Waukegan,  7 ;  Miss  Effie  Shaw,  Mt.  Carroll,  9 ;  Mes- 
dames  C.  J.  Eichardson,  Princeton,  11;  Saidee  Gray  Cox,  Blooming- 
ton,  13;  Ida  C.  Burns,  Monmouth,  15;  Alice  G.  Wells,  Decatur,  17; 
W.  F.  Purtill,  Mattoon,  19;  Sarah  E.  Hallam,  Centralia,  21.  Those 
serving  for  two  years  were :  Mesdames  Florence  Allen  Ingalls,  Eiver 
Forest,  2 ;  Dessa  Worthington,  Chicago,  4 ;  Miss  Rebecca  F.  Rice,  Chi- 
cago, 6;  Mesdames  A.  J.  Hopkins,  Aurora,  8;  Clara  J.  Coulson,  Gales- 
burg, 10;  George  G.  Mabin,  Danville,  12;  Fredrica  W.  Bayne,  Lacon, 
14;  Thos.  Worthington,  Jacksonville,  16;  Charles  D.  Hoiles,  Green- 
ville, 18;  George  W.  Evans,  Mt.  Vernon,  20;  Phebe  Alice  Taylor, 
Cairo,  22. 

At  the  meeting  of  the  Board  of  Directors,  iSTovember,  1898,  it 
was  voted  to  print  the  list  of  clubs  according  to  Congressional  Dis- 
tricts, counties  and  names.  Vacation  Schools  and  Truant  Schools 
were  endorsed  at  this  meeting. 

At  the  Board  Meeting  in  May,  1899,  the  Library  Committee  re- 
ported the  establishment  of  the  first  travelling  libraries,  stating  that 
Geneva  and  Elgin  were  collecting  the  10th  and  11th  district  libraries 


38 

for  Kane  County  work.  The  Millard  Ave.,  Woman's  Club  and  the 
Culture  Club  of  Chicago  reported  placing  their  2nd  and  3rd  district 
libraries  in  Bureau  and  Champaign  Counties.  Up  to  this  time  only 
two  libraries  had  travelled,  Burlington  and  Hampshire  having  ex- 
changed. At  this  Board  Meeting  a  Eeciproeity  Committee  was  ap- 
pointed to  have  charge  of  the  excliange  of  club  papers  and  programs, 
lists  of  essayists  with  subjects  and  prices,  lists  of  reference  books  and 
other  material  which  might  be  needed. 

The  work  of  the  committees  during  this  administration,  much 
of  which  was  entirely  new,  was  devoted  to  Art,  Education,  Music, 
Literature,  Libraries,  Legislation,  Philanthropy,  Industrial  Conditions 
and  Reciprocity.  The  first  year  book,  a  small  affair  of  sixty-nine 
pages  about  6%  by  5%  inches,  pink  in  color,  made  its  appearance. 
It  contained  a  list  of  officers,  short  articles  on  "Duties  of  Vice-Presi- 
dents"— there  was  no  precedent  to  go  by  in  those  days,  it  was  all  an 
untried  field — "Suggestions  for  Work  in  the  Illinois  Federation  of 
Women's  Clubs"  by  the  President,  Mrs.  Parson,  reports  and  sug- 
gestions from  the  various  committees,  nine  in  number,  the  constitu- 
tion, "Revised  and  Adopted  at  the  Annual  Meeting,  1899,"  lists  of 
clubs  and  their  officers  and  the  report  of  the  treasurer. 

The  Education  Committee's  work  was  the  most  important  at  this 
period,  as  it  had  been  in  the  past,  and  as  it  was  to  continue  to  be  for 
sometime  to  come:  That  was  the  "creation  of  public  sentiment  in 
favor  of  improvements  and  reforms  in  educational  matters  throughout 
the  state."  A  set  of  resolutions  prepared  by  a  committee  of  the  State 
Teachers'  Association,  acting  with  the  Education  Committee  of  the 
State  Federation,  was  presented  at  the  meeting  of  the  Federation  in 
Quincy  in  October  1899  and  unanimously  adopted. 

The  particular  objects  for  which  this  joint  committee  planned 
to  work,  were :  making  kindergartens  a  recognized  part  of  the  public 
school  system  and  urging  their  establishment  wherever  practicable; 
the  establishment  of  special  schools  for  truant  incorrigibles  and  defec- 
tives; the  more  effective  enforcement  of  the  compulsory  education 
law;  the  improvement  in  the  sanitary  conditions  of  school  buildings 
by  more  frequent  and  thorough  inspection ;  the  improvement  in  school 
buildings  that  a  sense  of  the  beautiful  might  be  cultivated;  the  im- 
provement of  study  courses  under  the  guidance  of  experts;  the  sub- 
jection to  severer  tests  of  culture  and  professional  efficiency  the  ap- 
plicants for  teachers'  certificates. 

The  Philanthropy  Committee  suggested  outlines  for  child  study 
and  for  organized  charity  work ;  the  Literature  Committee  made  sug- 
gestions for  local  history,  sociology,  methods  of  work,  speaking  with- 
out manuscript,  voice  culture,  limiting  number  of  papers;  the  Com- 
mittee on  Art  suggested  "some  things  to  know  about  pictures,"  an 
outline  study  in  contemporary  art  arranged  by  Lorado  Taft,  school 
room  decoration  with  a  list  for  reading.  For  the  first  time  traveling 
picture  galleries  were  sent  out  by  this  committee.  The  Music  Com- 
mittee suggested  the  study  of  the  history,  theory  and  philosoph}'  of 
music,  "even  in  clubs  which  do  not  have  a  music  department,"  the 


39 

establishment  of  band  concerts  in  public  squares,  organ  recitals  and 
Sunday  concerts,  choral  unions,  public  singing,  books  on  music  and 
music  journals  in  club  libraries,  making  the  music  for  the  club  meet- 
ing fit  into  the  day's  program,  patronage  and  support  of  good  concerts. 

The  Library  Committee,  also  a  very  active  one,  recommended 
the  establishment  of  public  libraries  wherever  possible;  making  the 
city  library  a  township  library;  supplying  books  which  would  supple- 
ment school  work;  arranging  special  library  rooms  for  younger  chil- 
dren; providing  entertaining  reading  for  inmates  of  public  institu- 
tions; the  building  up  of  a  special  reference  library  for  the  clubs, 
including  year  books,  reports  of  Federation  meetings  and  other  or- 
ganizations ;  provision  for  traveling  libraries  for  rural  districts. 
Traveling  libraries  were  being  successfully  conducted  at  this  time  in 
LaSalle,  Cook,  Stephenson,  Kane,  Champaign,  Bureau,  Macon  and 
McHenry  Counties  and  were  proving  of  "inestimable  value."  The 
committee  was  also  interested  in  the  creation  of  state  traveling  li- 
braries. 

The  Industrial  Committee  recommended  subscribing  to  a  "labor 
reform  paper;"  attendance  at  meetings  of  working  people,  especially 
during  strikes;  purchase  by  public  libraries  of  periodicals  relating  to 
economic  and  industrial  subjects;  the  securing  in  each  locality  of  the 
number  of  children  of  compulsory  school  age  and  how  the  time  is 
spent  of  those  attending  "fourteen  weeks  or  less  of  school;"  ascer- 
taining what  products  are  purchased  chiefly  by  women  and  the  con- 
ditions of  their  manufacture;  promoting  the  enactment  of  a  postal 
savings  bank  bill  by  Congress. 

The  Committee  on  Legislation  felt  that  it  was  not  its  province 
"to  prepare  bills  but  to  suggest  the  lines  on  which  legislation  is 
apparently  needed  and  to  ask  for  them  the  careful  consideration  of 
the  clubs."  The  committee  suggested  working  for  the  appointment, 
by  the  Legislature,  of  a  library  commission  with  a  sufficient  appropri- 
ation to  admit  of  aid  to  traveling  libraries;  the  necessity  for  better 
accommodatio2is  for  women  at  the  State  University;  the  removal  of 
all  children  between  the  ages  of  two  and  sixteen  from  the  poor  houses 
of  the  state;  the  need  of  a  state  reformatory,  on  the  best  approved 
plan,  exclusively  for  boys  under  sixteen;  proper  care  of  epileptics; 
extension  of  compulsory  school  attendance  for  children  under  fourteen 
to  full  school  year  to  harmonize  with  existing  labor  law;  desirability 
of  joint  and  equal  parental  guardianship  of  children." 

The  Committee  on  Literature  and  History  had  established  a 
Bureau  of  Eeciprocity  and  Information,  loaning  manuscripts,  sug- 
gesting study  courses  and  offering  a  list  of  lectures  and  lecturers. 
Mrs.  Farson  reported  that  sixty-six  libraries  were  now  in  circulation. 

The  Fifth  Annual  Meeting  of  the  Federation  was  held  in  the 
Presbyterian  Church  in  Quincy,  October  18,  19,  20,  1899.  Mrs.  Susan 
W.  Tibbetts  was  Chairman  and  was  assisted  by  Mrs.  W.  D.  Whitmore, 
Dr.  Abby  Fox  Eooney  and  Mrs.  W.  L.  Ellis.  A  drive  around  the  city 
was  given  the  delegates  and  this  was  followed  by  a  reception  by  the 
Quincy  Women's  Clubs  at  the  Country  Club.    Mrs.  Edward  J.  Parker 


40 

made  the  address  of  welcome.  Mrs.  Stanwood  and  Mrs.  Dunlap  talked 
on  educational  subjects;  Mrs.  Nellie  M.  Kedzie,  of  Peoria,  talked  on 
''Teaching  Household  Economics."  "Aesthetic  Conscience,'"'  "Art  in 
Common  Things"  and  "Music  in  Women's  Clubs/'  followed  by  a  con- 
cert, was  the  program  for  the  first  evening.  "Interdependence  of 
State  and  General  Federations,"  was  Mrs.  Bacon's  subject  on  Thurs- 
day morning,  followed  by  talks  on  "The  Evolution  of  a  Program," 
"Else,  Progress  and  Future  of  the  Traveling  Library  in  Illinois,"  and 
"Preventive  Legislation  in  Illinois."  Professor  Albion  W.  Small 
discussed  "Practical  Charity ;"  Mrs.  Eleanor  C.  Barlow,  "Indiscrimin- 
ate Alms-giving;"  and  Mrs.  Henrotin,  "The  Consumer's  League." 

Officers  elected  at  Quincy  were:  President,  Mrs.  Eobert  Bruce 
Farson,  Chicago;  Vice-President  at  Large,  Mrs.  Seely  Perry,  Eock- 
ford;  Eecording  Secretary,  Mrs.  Saidee  G.  Cox,  Hudson;  Corres- 
ponding Secretary,  Mrs.  John  A.  Lutz,  Lincoln;  Treasurer,  Mrs. 
Edward  C.  Lambert,  Jacksonville;  General  Federation  Secretar}^  for 
Illinois,  Mrs.  Eugenie  M.  Bacon,  Decatur;  Honorary  President,  Mrs. 
Clara  P.  Bourland. 

The  Vice-Presidents  whose  terms  expired  in  1900,  were :  Mes- 
dames  Florence  A.  Ingaels,  Eiver  Forest,  3;  Dessa  Worthin,gton,  4, 
and  Eebecca  F.  Eice,  6,  both  of  Chicago;  A.  J.  Hopkins,  Aurora,  8; 
Clara  J.  Coulson,  Galesburg,  10;  George  G.  Mabin,  Danville.  12; 
Anna  Schipper,  Lacon,  14;  Thos,  Worthington,  Jacksonville,  16; 
Charles  D.  Holies,  Greenville,  18;  George  W.  Evans,  Mt.  Vernon, 
20;  Phebe  Alice  Taylor,  Cairo,  22.  Those  whose  terms  expired  in 
1901,  were :  Mesdames  H.  E.  Briggs,  1 ;  John  C.  Eobinson,  3 ;  James 
Maxwell,  5 ;  Nathaniel  C.  Sears,  7,  all  of  Chicago.  Miss  Effiie  Shaw, 
Mt.  Carroll,  9;  Mesdames  C,  J.  Eichardson.  Princeton,  11;  J.  E. 
Stewart,  Champaign,  13;  Ida  Carey  Burns,  Monmouth,  15;  Alfred 
Orendoi-ff,  Springfield,  17;  C.  E.  Wilson,  Mattoon,  19;  Sarah  A. 
Hallam,  Centralia,  21. 

Mrs.  Fred  A.  Smith  served  as  Chairman  of  the  Program  Com- 
mittee; Mrs.  Clara  P.  Bourland,  Nominating  Committee;  Mrs.  James 
E.  Keith,  Chicago,  Credentials. 

Among  the  legislative  bills  worked  for  during  Mrs.  Parson's  ad- 
ministration, the  following  were  enacted  into  laws:  The  Juvenile 
Court  Law;  The  Department  of  Children;  Truant  School  Bill:  Vaca- 
tion School  and  Parental  School.  The  Federation  joined  with  the 
Teachers'  Institute  and  the  Farmers'  Institute  in  working  for  a  li- 
brary commission.  An  appropriation  for  a  girls'  dormitor}^  at  the 
University  was  asked  for  and  granted  by  the  Legislature. 

The  following  resolution  was  adopted :  "That  the  coming  Phil- 
anthropic Committee  be  instructed  to  examine  the  question  of  form- 
ing, in  this  Federation,  an  auxiliary  to  the  National  Civil  Service 
Eeform  League,  and  if  they  deem  it  wise  to  do  so.  that  they  be  em- 
powered to  appoint,  with  the  approval  of  the  President,  a  sub-com- 
mittee, which  shall  be  such  auxiliary." 

At  the  Biennial  Meeting  of  the  General  Federation  held  in  Mil- 
waukee in  the  spring  of  1900,  a  very  serious  situation  had  been  pre- 


41 

cipitated.  Mrs.  Eebecca  Douglas  Lowe,  President,  had,  by  virtue  of 
her  oflBce.  and  vrithout  knowing  that  the  New  Era  Club  of  Boston 
was  an  organization  of  colored  women,  admitted  them  to  membership. 
Her  action  had  to  be  ratified  by  the  Board  of  Directors  who  refused 
to  accept  the  club  after  learning  the  facts.  At  this  time  individual 
clubs  and  federations  were  admitted  upon  an  equal  footing  which  was 
an  unnatural  formation  and,  in  itself,  gave  rise  to  much  dissatis- 
faction. Upon  this  tense  situation,  which  probably  could  have  been 
adjusted  at  this  meeting,  was  added  the  question  of  colored  member- 
ship. Dr.  Celia  Parker  Woolley,  a  Chicago  minister,  and  prominent 
in  the  Illinois  Federation,  was  an  ardent  advocate  of  "no  color  line,'' 
hence  her  appearance  at  the  convention,  without  her  delegate's  badge, 
to  offer  as  a  visitor,  the  following  protest : 

•'As  a  member  of  one  of  the  federated  clubs  belonging  to  the  Illi- 
nois Federation  and  the  General  Federation,  I  desire  to  record  my 
earnest  protest  against  the  exclusion  of  the  representative  of  the  New 
Era  Club  of  Boston.  Mrs.  Josephine  St.  Pierre  Rutlhi,  at  the  meeting 
in  Milwaukee  last  June. 

"This  action  is  to  be  condemned  on  grounds  both  constitutional 
and  ethical.  The  Xew  Era  Club  had  paid  its  dues  and  received  a 
receipt  of  membership  and  its  representative  had  fulfilled  all  the  legal 
requirements  of  the  case.  Afterwards,  by  the  action  of  the  governing 
board  acting  on  their  own  responsibility  and  far  exceeding  their 
authority,  the  New  Era  Club  was  refused  representation  in  the  Feder- 
ation because  it  was  a  body  ui  colored  women. 

"The  General  Federation  is  a  national  organization.  Its  spirit 
as  well  as  its  name  should  be  national.  Its  only  test  of  admission  lies 
in  the  work  and  personal  character  of  the  women  seeking  member- 
-ship  therein.  To  exclude  a  body  of  women  because  of  their  racial 
descent  is  to  violate  those  principles  of  human  helpfulness  and  uni- 
versal sisterhood  which  we  profess.  Such  action  is  to  be  further 
deplored  for  its  reactive  effects  upon  the  club  movement  itself,  for 
the  distrust  and  disappointment  it  arouses  among  all  lovers  of  justice 
and  humanity." 

The  matter  was  referred  to  the  Illinois  Board  to  be  brought  be- 
fore the  next  annual  convention  if  deemed  wise.  However,  at  the 
next  Board  Meeting,  December  20,  1900,  it  was  moved  '"'that  the 
wisdom  of  the  Board  is  that  the  Board  do  not  bring  up  this  question 
at  the  annual  meeting  in  1901." 

At  this  meeting  endorsement  was  given  to  the  work  of  ^Irs. 
Florence  Kelly  as  Chief  Factory  Inspector.  It  was  moved  to  request 
Governor  Tanner  to  continue  ^liss  Julia  Lathrop  as  a  member  of 
the  State  Board  of  Charities  and  Corrections.  The  Committee  on 
E(!visions  was  instructed  to  arrange  some  plan  whereby  two  tickets 
might  be  prepared  to  submit  to  the  delegates  at  the  next  convention. 

.\t  the  Board  Meeting  held  on  ^Fav  Ifi.  1901,  the  Legislative 
Chairman,  ^frs.  Flower,  reported  that  the  bill  for  Compulsory  Kinder- 
garten and  ^Manual  Training  had  passed  the  Legislature  and  had  been 
vetoed  bv  the  Governor;  that  the  bill  for  a  State  Home  for  Delin- 


42 

quent  Boys  had  passed  and  was  considered  most  important.  The 
bill  Constituting  the  Parents  Equal  Guardians  of  the  child  had  also 
passed. 

At  this  time  the  chairmen  of  the  various  standing  committees 
were  made  members  of  the  Board.  In  referring  to  the  admission  of 
clubs  of  colored  women,  Mrs.  Farson  spoke  of  the  suggestion  of  Mrs. 
Lydia  Williams,  of  Minnesota,  which  was  to  the  effect  that  each  state 
federation  decide  for  itself  whether  or  not  these  clubs  shall  be  ad- 
mitted. 

The  Sixth  Annual  Convention  was  held  in  Eockford,  in  the 
Second  Congregational  Church,  October  17,  18,  19,  1900. 

The  Local  Board  was  made  up  of  Mrs.  Seely  Perry,  Chairman, 
Miss  Mary  J.  Beattie,  Mrs.  Thos.  Ferguson  and  Mrs.  George  Wood- 
ruff. "Open  house"  was  held  at  the  various  Eockford  clubs  one  after- 
noon, a  reception  at  Eockford  College  another  afternoon  and  an  even- 
ing reception  given  by  the  Eockford  Federation  at  the  church. 

A  conference  of  standing  committees  was  held  the  first  after- 
noon with  the  club  women  taking  part  in  a  very  interesting  program. 
The  name  of  Mrs.  Henry  T.  Eainey,  of  Carrollton,  appears  for  the 
first  time  when  she  discussed  "The  New  Philanthropy."  To  those 
of  us  who  have  conducted  and  taken  part  in  club  institutes,  who 
have  appreciated  how  valuable  an  adjunct  they  can  be  made  to  our 
club  life,  it  is  extremely  interesting  to  read  of  a  program  dealing  Tvdth 
practically  the  same  subjects  which  we  have  been  using  (1924-1938). 
A  conference  of  Club  Presidents  considered  "Club  Work,  Methods  and 
Aims,"  and  the  topics  discussed  were :  "Minor  Morals  of  Club  Life," 
with  Courtesy,  Individual  Eesponsibility  and  Loyalty  as  sub-topics; 
^'Eelation  of  the  Club  to  Other  Organizations,  Charities,  etc," ;  "The 
Club  as  a  Social  Force,"  and  "Divorce  of  Politics  from  Civics." 

A  discussion  on  "How  May  the  Church  be  Influenced  by  the 
Woman's  Club  Movement?"  was  taken  part  in  by  several  speakers, 
Mrs.  Bacon  and  Mrs.  Catherine  Waugh  McCullough  among  them.  Mrs. 
Elia  W.  Peattie  talked  on  "The  Trend  of  American  Social  Life."  Mrs. 
Potter  Palmer  on  "Messages  from  the  Paris  Exposition,"  and  Miss 
Jane  Addams  on  "Social  Economics  at  the  Paris  Exposition." 


43 

THE  FOUETH  BIENNIUM. 

Governor  of  Illinois,  President  of  the  U.  S., 

1901—1905.  1901—1905 

EiCHAED  Yates.  Theodore  Eoosevelt. 

Mrs.  Thaddetjs  P.  .Staxwood. 

1900—1902. 


Mrs.  Thaddeiis  P.  Stanwood  was  bom  in  Waterford,  Wisconsin, 
her  mothers  family  coming  there  as  pioneers  and  building  the  town. 
The  family  came  to  Bockford  in  1859  and  lived  there  for  some  years, 
and  until  they  moved  back  east. 

Mvf-.  Stanwood  received  her  early  education  in  the  East  Rock- 
ford  High  School,  later  going  to  Vassar  College  where  she  graduated 
in  1880.  She  taught  in  the  old  Chauncey  Hall  School  for  boys  in 
Boston  before  her  marriage. 

She  lives  in  Evanston  and  her  family  consists  of  her  husband, 
one  son  and  two  daughters. 

She  is  a  charter  member  of  the  Evanston  Woman's  Club. 

Her  interests  outside  of  club  work  are  educational,  church  and 
civic. 


At  the  meeting  held  in  Bockford  the  official  term  of  sert'iee  had 
been  changed  from  one  to  two  years  and  those  elected  were :  President, 
Mrs.  Thaddeus  P.  Standwood  of  Evanston;  Vice-President  at  Large, 
Mrs.  Seely  Perry,  of  Bockford;  Corresponding  Secretary,  Mrs.  Susan 
W,  Tibbets,  Quincy;  Becording  Secretary,  Mrs.  Saidee  Gray  Cox, 
Hudson;  Treasurer,  Mrs.  Edward  C.  Lambert,  Jacksonville;  Illinois 
Secretar}^  for  the  General  Federation,  Mrs.  Eugenia  M.  Bacon. 

The  Vice-Presidents  were:  Mesdames  H.  E.  Briggs,  1;  C.  E. 
Curtis,  2 ;  John  C.  Eobinson,  3 ;  Laura  Dainty  Pelham,  i ;  James 
Maxwell,  5 ;  John  Worth a',  6 ;  Xathaniel  Sears,  7,  all  of  Chicago. 
Mrs.  Jennie  Ellwood,  Dekalb,  8 ;  Miss  Effie  Shaw,  Mt.  Carroll,'  9. 
Mesdames  Flora  B.  Graham,  Aledo,  10;  H.  M.  Trimble,  Princeton, 
11 ;  Xettie  M.  Kenage,  Kankakee,  12 ;  J.  E.  Stewart,  Champaign,  13 ; 
Anna  Schipper,  Pekin,  14;  Ida  Carey  Burns,  Monmouth,  15;  Thos. 
Pitner,  Jacksonville,  16 ;  Alfred  Orendorif,  Springfield,  1 7 ;  Estelle 
Beach  Davis,  Litchfield,  18 ;  C.  E.  Wilson,  ^Mattoon,  19 ;  Sarah 
A.  Hallam,  Centralia,  21;  Mary  B.  Wenger,  Cairo,  22. 

Chairmen  of  Standing  Committees,  which  now  numbered  eigh- 
teen, were:  Mesdames  Alfred  Bayless,  Springfield,  Education;  S.  T. 
Buse3%  LTrbana,  Domestic  Science;  Chas.  T.  Gildersleeve,  Hudson, 
Philanthropy;  James  M.  Flower,  Chicago,  Legislation;  Caroline  P. 
Brazee,  Bockford,  Literature ;  Florence  A.  Ingalls,  Eiver  Forest, 
Library  Extension;  J.  G.  ]\IcMurphy,  Oak  Park,  Art;  George  A.  Coe, 
Evanston,  ]\Iusic ;  Dessa  Worthington.  Chicago.  Industrial ;  Chas. 
F.  Millspaugh,  Chicago,  Beciprocity;  Albert  W.  Hester,  Buena  Park, 
Program;  Mary  E.  Kates,  Bloomington,  Xominating;  James  Frake, 
Chicago,  Bevision;  John  C.  Bundy,  Evanston,  Printing;  E.  S.  Chea- 


44 

ney,  Petersburg.  Auditing;  Bella  Dimick,  Quincy,  Credentials;  Chas. 
A.  Armstrong,  Springfield,  Transportation  and  Arrangements;  Miss 
Julia  Lathrop,  Civil  Service. 

The  progress  of  this  administration  is  more  or  less  covered  in  the 
following  paragraph  by  Mrs.  Stanwood  in  her  article,  "Looking  Back- 
ward." "In  reality  each  year  sees  the  Federation  patiently  and  per- 
sistently pushing  various  enterprises  and  the  successful  conclusion 
rarely  lies  in  the  administration  which  began  any  of  them."  Mrs. 
Stanwood  also  stated  in  a  private  letter  to  the  Editor,  when 
asked  to  give  some  notes  on  her  administration;  "It  was  early  in  the 
history  of  the  Federation  and  we  were  engaged  in  strengthening  the 
organization  to  insure  its  permanency  and  to  respond  to  the  expressed 
desire  of  the  membership  for  help  if  the  call  had  volume  enough  to 
require  attention.  We  added  a  committee  or  two  and  offered  certain 
schemes  for  serious  and  continuous  study — in  music,  I  remember 
especially.  But  it  was  all  very  primitive  and  simple — very  few  pre- 
cedents or  examples." 

The  Seventh  Annual  Meeting  was  held  in  Decatur,  in  the  First 
Presbyterian  Church,  October  16,  17,  18,  1901.  Mrs.  Florence  J. 
McConnell  was  Chairman  of  the  Local  Board  and  was  assisted  by  ]\Iiss 
Mary  L.  Johnson,  Secretar}^  and  Mesdames  L.  F.  Leavenworth,  A. 
T.  Summers,  J.  Tobe  Ward,  Frank  Hamsher,  J.  G.  Badenhausen, 
Frank  H.  Rhoades,  J.  W.  Evans,  India  McAllister,  Ellen  C.  Philbrook 
and  Miss  Lillian  B.  Irwin.  A  reception  was  given  by  the  Decatur 
Woman's  Club,  in  their  rooms,  to  the  delegates  and  visitors  on 
Wednesday  afternoon. 

The  program  was  very  well  arranged  in  the  form  of  general 
conferences,  the  major  subjects  being  those  of  Domestic  Science,  Edu- 
cation, Philanthropy,  Press,  Libraries,  Legislation,  Literature  and 
Industrial.  For  the  first  time  a  "Parliamentary  Law  Drill"  was 
held  and  was  conducted  by  Mrs.  John  D.  Sherman,  of  Chicago. 

The  state  having  been  reapportioned  in  1900,  its  twenty-two 
Congressional  Districts  being  divided  into  twenty-five,  the  question 
of  redistricting  the  State  Federation  along  the  same  lines  was  an 
important  matter  of  business  and  the  following  recommendation  con- 
cerning the  matter  was  presented  by  Mrs.  Frake  and  adopted :  "In 
order  that  the  Federation  may  live  up  to  the  meaning  of  Article  IV, 
Section  V,  it  will  be  necessary  for  the  clubs  to  be  rearranged  into 
twenty-five  districts  to  correspond  with  the  new  districting  of  the 
state  by  the  Legislature.  Many  of  the  districts  now  bearing  an  odd 
number  will  be  changed  into  an  even  number  and  new  ones  will  be 
•created.  To  avoid  confusion  next  year  when  a  general  election  must 
be  held,  the  Executive  Board  recommends  that  this  year  all  the  dis- 
tricts elect  Vice-Presidents,  the  even  numbered  districts  to  elect  for 
one  year  to  meet  this  emergency  and  the  odd  numbered  districts  to 
elect  for  two  years,  as  they  would  do  under  the  terms  of  the  old! 
article.  That  this  amendment  be  operative  only  for  this  year,  and 
after  this  year  the  old  terms  of  the  article  be  adhered  to."  Accord- 
ingly, all  districts  held  the  necessary  meetings  for  the  nomination  of 


45 

Vice-Presidents,  the  names  of  the  candidates  being  given  to  the  nom- 
inating committee   (for  the  state). 

Mrs.  George  Watkins,  later  district  and  State  President,  urged 
the  desirability  of  using  school  houses  after  four  o'clock,  and  during 
the  evening,  for  the  discussion  of  civic,  educational  and  philanthropic 
questions  by  the  parents. 

The  following  resolution  on  Indian  "Welfare  was  presented  and 
adopted : 

Whereas,  The  education  given  to  American  Indian  girls  at  the 
Government  schools  is  not,  under  present  conditions,  of  the  highest 
and  most  lasting  benefit  to  them,  be  it 

Resolved,  That  their  welfare  is  worthy  the  consideration  of  club 
women  and  that  it  be  made  a  subject  of  study  with  a  view  to  mutual 
helpfulness." 

At  the  Xovember  Board  Meeting  the  Civil  Service  Auxiliary, 
which  had  been  made  a  part  of  the  Philanthropy  Committee,  was 
formed  into  a  separate  committee.  At  the  February  1902  Board 
Meeting  it  was  voted  to  have  a  Finance  Committee,  the  members  of 
said  committee  to  be  appointed  by  the  President.  The  University  of 
Illinois,  in  response  to  the  efforts  of  the  club  women,  founded  a 
Department  of  Domestic  Science. 

For  the  first  time  we  hear  of  a  suggestion  for  the  formation  of 
rural  clubs  in  the  Federation,  and  that  the  membership  should  pre- 
ferably be  made  up  of  both  men  and  women  because  such  organiza- 
tions prosper  to  a  greater  extent  in  the  country  than  clubs  of  women 
alone.  "The  club  is  the  college  of  the  middle  aged"  and  sometimes 
the  only  college  which  youth  may  attend. 

In  addition  to  the  many  prominent  Illinois  women  already  listed 
we  begin  to  note  the  names  of  those  who  have  achieved  more  or  less 
renown  in  state  and  national  affairs  since  those  earl}"  days,  names  of 
those,  who  personally,  or  through  their  families,  have  become  indis- 
solubly  linked  with  the  public  life  of  our  state;  also  names  of  men 
who  have  become  prominent  in  almost  even*  walk  of  life.  Many  of 
these  women  never  held  an  office  in  the  Federation  but  they  con- 
tributed greatly  to  the  life  of  twenty  or  thirty  years  ago.  They 
helped  to  mold  the  Federation,  and  by  the  force  of  their  personali- 
ties, by  their  devoted  and  unselfish  interest  in  the  upbuilding  of  the 
cultural  and  civic  life  of  the  state,  they  have  left  an  impress  which 
shall  never  be  forgotten. 

The  same  officers  who  were  elected  at  Eockford  for  two  years 
continued  to  serve.  The  Vice-Presidents  for  1901-02  were:  ]\Ies- 
dames  Claribel  Schmitt,  1:  George  Watkins,  2;  T.  J.  McGrath,  3; 
W.  E.  Watt,  4;  C.  E.  Curtiss,  6;  Albert  W.  Holmes,  7;  Laura 
Dainty  Pelham,  8;  John  Worthy,  9,  all  of  Chicago;  Wm.  M.  Welch. 
Eogers  Park,  10;  Alonzo  P.  Daniels,  Downers  Grove,  11;  Wm.  L. 
Elwood,  De  Kalb,  12 ;  Dorothy  K  Law,  Dixon,  13 ;  May  I.  Whitham, 
Aledo.  14;  Miss  Xellie  C.  Tompkins,  Avon,  15;  Mrs.  Anna  Schipper, 
Pekin,  16,  ]Miss  Charlotte  B.  Capen,  Bloomingtou,  17;  ^lesdames  W. 
F.  Kenasra,  Kankakee,  18;  Florence  J.  McConnell,  Decatur,  19;  T. 
J.  Pitner,  Jacksonville,  20 ;  Melle  Williams,  Tavlorville,  21 ;  T.  R. 


46 

Murphy,  Upper  Alton,  22;  Adda  M.  Webb,  Vandalia,  23;  P.  T. 
Champman,  Vienna,  24;  Mary  B.  Wenger,  Cairo,  25. 

Chairmen  of  Standing  Committees  for  1901-1902  were:  Mes- 
dames  Alfred  Bayless,  Springfield,  Education;  S.  Noble  King, 
Bloomington,  Domestic  Science ;  Seely  Perry,  Chicago,  Literature ; 
John  B.  Sherwood,  Chicago,  Art;  Geo.  A.  Coe,  Evanston,  Music; 
H.  W.  Trimble,  Princeton,  Library  Extension;  Saidee  G.  Cox,  Hud- 
son, Philanthropy;  Harriett  M.  Van  Der  Wart,  Chicago,  Industrial; 
George  Watkins,  Chicago,  Legislation;  Chas.  F.  Millspaugh,  Chicago, 
Eeciprocity;  Albert  W.  Hester,  Buena  Park,  Program;  Edward  C. 
Lambert,  Jacksonville,  Credentials;  Jas.  E.  Keith,  Chicago,  Print 
ing;  S.  C.  Stanton,  Chicago,  Revisions;  Nellie  Epler  Mills,  Virginia, 
Auditing;  L.  T.  M.  Slocum,  Chicago,  Transportation;  Miss  Julia 
Lathrop,  Chicago,  Civil  Service. 

The  Eighth  Annual  Convention  was  held  in  Champaign-Urbana, 
in  University  Hall,  October  15,  16,  17,  1902,  by  invitation  of  the 
women's  clubs  of  both  cities.  The  members  of  the  Local  Board  were : 
Mesdames  S.  T.  Busey,  Chairman,  S.  W.  Shattuck,  F.  L.  Bills,  M. 
W.  Buse.y,  Ozias  Piley,  H.  M.  Dunlap,  Dean  Kinley  and  Miss  Mary 
Willie,  Secretary.  An  evening  reception  with  a  musical  pro,gram  was 
tendered  the  delegates  by  the  ladies  of  Champaign  and  Urbana. 

The  first  session  was  on  Tuesday  evening  when  the  Literature 
Committee  held  an  open  conference  with  addresses  on  "The  Divine 
Eight  of  Culture."  "Readings  from  Shakespeare  and  Prayer," 
"Thoroughness  and  Concentration"  and  "Wordsworth's  Philosophy 
of  Life."  Nearly  all  the  talks  were  made  by  the  chairmen  them- 
selves or  b}^  other  club  women.  We  note  the  name,  for  the  first  time, 
of  Dr.  Josephine  Milligan,  of  Jacksonville,  v/ho  talked  on  the  "Care 
of  Epileptics  by  the  State."  Mrs.  Demies  T.  Denison,  President  of 
the  General  Federation,  was  present  and  urged  that  the  State  Presi- 
dent be  always  considered  the  head  of  her  delegation  at  meetings 
of  the  General  Federation,  and  that  club  presidents  be  delegates  to 
those  meetings  whenever  it  was  possible  for  them  to  go. 

There  was  a  membership  of  about  25,000  in  the  Federation  at 
this  period  enrolled  in  246  clubs.  For  the  first  time,  invitations  to 
the  annual  meeting  were  sent  to  the  officers  of  the  General  Federation 
and  to  the  presidents  of  other  state  federations.  The  Library  Com- 
mittee reported  225  libraries  in  circulation  throughout  the  state.  A 
long  discussion  took  place  on  the  proposed  plan  of  increasing  the 
dues  of  the  clubs  to  the  Federation  from  a  flat  rate  to  a  per  capita 
fee  of  ten  cents  but  it  failed  to  carry. 

The  following  resolutions  of  importance  were  adopted : 

Whereas,  The  history  of  the  last  year  in  Illinois  has  demon- 
strated the  basal  necessity  of  a  wise  merit  law  to  control  appoint- 
ments in  all  branches  of  the  organized  business  of  the  state,  and 

Whereas,  The  enactment  of  such  law  must  be  preliminary  to 
any  useful  change  in  the  method  of  carrying  on  the  public  charities, 
and 


47 

Whereas^  The  public  charities  are  the  most  important  single 
item  in  the  business  of  the  state,  and  their  effective  and  humane 
administration  an  imperative  public  duty, 

Therefore  Be  It  Resolved,  That  the  Federation  through  its  Civil 
Service  Committee,  endeavor  to  co-operate  with  other  bodies  of 
citizens  in  devising  plans  for  such  organization  under  a  merit  law 
as  shall  appear  to  promise  the  best  medical  and  nursing  care  and 
the  highest  degree  of  efficiency  and  economy  in  the  administration 
of  the  state  charities. 

WiiEEEAs,  The  reports  of  the  factory  inspector,  and  the  investi- 
gations of  the  industrial  and  other  committees  working  along  the 
same  lines,  show  that  child  labor  is  greatly  on  the  increase  in  Illinois, 
and  that  its  increase  is  not  only  an  injustice  to  the  child  and  a! 
menace  to  its  future,  but  a  most  destructive  and  perplexing  element 
in  present  day  economic  conditions,  and  that  its  continuance  is  a 
serious  hindrance  to  the  growth  and  prosperity  of  the  commonwealth, 

Therefore  Be  It  Resolved,  That  the  Illinois  Federation  of 
Women's  Clubs  deplores  the  existence  of  this  evil,  which  is  dwarfing 
the  lives  of  the  children  who  are  to  become  the  future  citizens  of  this 
commonwealth,  and  since  one  of  the  avowed  aims  of  the  Federation 
is  the  protection  and  defense  of  helpless  childhood  wherever  found, 
it  here  and  now  pledges  itself  to  support  such  measures  as  will  re- 
lieve this  unnatural  and  cruel  condition,  with  all  the  skill  and  en- 
fluence  that  lies  in  its  power. 

A  resolution  was  also  adopted  asking  the  Legislature  to  establish 
a  farm  colony  for  epileptics. 

Mrs.  Van  Der  Wart  called  attention  to  the  bill  to  secure  for  tax 
paying  women  the  right  to  vote  for  certain  officers,  and  to  participate 
and  vote  in  certain  meetings  and  on  certain  matters.  Mrs.  Catherine 
Waugh  McCullough  of  Chicago  discussed  the  bill.  She  was  asked, 
"What  was  the  object,  when  drafting  this  bill,  in  limiting  the  women 
voters  to  tax  paying  women?"  Her  reply  was,  that  "there  was  a 
particular  injustice  to  tax  paying  women ;  that  the  bill  did  not  take 
the  ballot  from  other  women  because  they  never  had  it ;  if  the  Legis- 
lature ohjected  it  could  strike  out  the  word  'taxpaying;'  the  Legis- 
lature mifjht  stand  for  this  when  they. would  not  stand  for  a  bill  to 
give  all  women  the  right  to  suffrage.  '  The  bill  was  endorsed  as  read. 


48 


THE  FIFTH  BIENNIUM. 

Mks.  Eugenia  M.  Bacon. 
1902—1904. 


Mrs.  George  E.  Bacon,  long  a  resident  of  Decatur,  was  born  in 
Bowling  Green,  Indiana.  She  came  to  Tuscola,  Illinois,  in  1861, 
and  was  married  there,  at  the  home  of  an  aunt,  March  31,  1874,  to 
Lieut.  George  R.  Bacon,  of  the  First  U.  S.  Cavalry,  and  a  graduate 
of  West  Point.  Mrs.  Bacon  had  one  son  who  died  when  he  was  eight 
years  old  and  Mr.  Bacon  died  in  1911. 

Lieut.  Bacon  resigned  from  the  Army  in  1878  and  the  family 
moved  to  Champaign  and  later  to  Decatur. 

Mrs.  Bacon  served  as  an  officer  in  the  Decatur  Woman's  Club 
for  over  ten  years,  five  of  which  she  gave  to  the  presidency.  She  also 
served  two  terms  as  G.  F.  State  Secretary  for  Illinois  before  she  be- 
came President,  which  she  did  in  1902.  For  one  year  each  she  was 
Chairman  of  Printing,  Library  Extension  and  Legislation  for  the 
I.  F.  W.  C.  She  was  also  Assistant  Editor  of  the  first  Bulletin 
published  by  the  State  Federation.  Her  most  notable  service  was 
given  on  the  Library  Extension  Commission  of  which  she  was  the  only 
woman,  and  where  she  served  for  ten  years.  She  was  largely  in- 
strumental in  having  the  Commission  formed,  appearing  before  the 
Legislature  in  its  interests  for  many  years. 

In  addition  to  her  club  activities,  Mrs.  Bacon  has  been  prom- 
inently identified  with  the  civic,  church  and  educational  interests  of 
Decatur.  She  is  a  member  of  the  D.  A.  E.,  P.  E.  0.,  Delphians; 
Woman's  Civic  League;  President  of  the  Woman's  Society  of  the 
Congregational  Church.  She  has  done  much  in  promoting  an  interest 
in  good  literature  especially  in  Bible  study  from  a  literary  standpoint. 


The  officers  elected  at  the  Champaign-Urbana  meeting,  and  who, 
with  one  exception,  served  for  the  term  of  two  years,  were :  Presi- 
dent, Mrs.  Eugenia  M.  Bacon;  Vice-President  at  Large,  Mrs.  E.  C. 
Lambert;  Corresponding  Secretar}-,  Mrs.  F.  M.  Wright,  Urbana;  Re- 
cording Secretary,  Mrs.  Frank  Gates  Allen,  Moline;  Treasurer,  Mrs. 
Dorothy  N.  Law,  Dixon;  Secretary  for  the  General  Federation  in 
Illinois,  Mrs.  George  Watkins.  Mrs.  Frank  L.  Bills  of  Urbana  took 
the  place  of  Mrs.  Wright  almost  immediately  and  continued  to  serve 
throughout  the  administration. 

The   Vice-Presidents   for   1902-1903    were:    Mesdames    Claribel 
Schmitt,  1;  Thos.  A.  Banning,  2 ;  T.  J.  McGrath,  3;  W.  E.  Watt,  4; 
Hattie  A.  Morse,  5;  Anna  L.  Wright,    (Oak  Park)    6;  Albert  W. 
Holmes,  7 ;  S.  C.  Stanton,  8 ;  John  Worthy.  9,  all  of  Chicago ;  Laura 
B.    Fessenden,    Highland    Park,    10 ;    Alon5:o    P.    Daniels,    Downers 
Grove,  11;  Xorman  F.  Tliompson.  Rockford,  12;  Lizzie  Kehr,  Ster- 
ling, 13 ;  J.  H.  Pattee,  Monmouth,   14 ;  Giles  Clayberg.  Avon,  15 
Martha  W.  Spurck,  Peoria,  16;  Percy  B.  Bckhart,  Bloomington,  17 
W.  E.  Fithian,  Danville,  18 ;  Florence  E.  M'Connell,  Decatur,  19 
Henry  F.  Carriell,  Jacksonville,  20 ;  Melle  Williams,  Taylorville,  21 ; 


49 

George  B.  Dodge,  Upper  Alton,  22;  Adda  M.  Webb,  Vandalia,  23; 
Sarah  A.  Poor,  Vienna,  24;  Mary  B.  Wenger,  Cairo,  25. 

The  Chairmen  of  Standing  Committees  for  the  same  period 
were:  Mesdames  Wm.  J.  Eoberts,  Chicago,  Reciprocity;  H.  M. 
Trimble,  Princeton,  Library  Extension;  Harriett  Van  Der  Wart, 
Industrial;  P.  S.  Peterson,  Domestic  Science;  J.  B.  Sherwood,  Art; 
Frank  L.  AYean,  Education;  John  D.  Sherman,  Kevisions;  C.  S. 
Stanton,  Finance;  Henry  A.  Phillips,  Literature;  J.  W.  Hiner, 
Music  and  Calvin  S.  Case,  Program,  all  of  Chicago;  Marie  E.  Good- 
win, Naperville,  Credentials;  D-r.  Josephine  Milligan,  Jacksonville, 
Philanthropy;  Miss  Bess  M.  Doolittle,  Chicago,  Transportation. 

At  a  Board  Meeting  held  during  the  Champaign  Convention 
it  was  decided  to  compile  and  publish  a  History  of  the  Hlinois  Fed- 
eration for  which  the  sum  of  $25.00  was  later  appropriated.  The 
period  covered  was  from  1894  to  1903,  Mrs.  Henrotin  and  Mrs. 
Bacon  serving  as  historians.  The  little  book  covered  fourteen  pages 
and  was  six  by  four  and  three  quarters  inches  in  size.  The  opening 
paragraph  stated  that  "This  brochure  is  by  no  means  a  full  history 
of  the  Illinois  Federation  of  Women's  Clubs,  but  is  intended  to  set 
forth  the  benefits  of  membership  in  it,  by  briefly  sketching  some  of 
the  results  which  have  been  accomplished  by  united  effort  during 
eight  years  of  organization." 

At  the  January  Board  Meeting  it  was  decided  that  all  the  Treas- 
urer's vouchers  be  signed  henceforth,  by  the  President  and  Chair- 
man of  Finance.  Also  that  the  Finance  Committee  be  listed  as  a 
Special  Committee  composed  of  Board  Members. 

Mrs.  Bacon,  in  her  first  "Outlook,"  stressesd  the  necessity  of  con- 
centrating all  legislative  work  on  compulsory  education  and  child 
labor  laws.  The  wisdom  of  her  position  was  shown  in  the  passage 
of  these  laws  by  the  Legislature  at  no  very  distant  date.  She  also 
suggested  concerted  action  on  Civil  Service  Reform  and  a  State 
Library  Commission.  The  Federation,  at  this  time,  was  prepared 
to  offer  to  such  a  commission,  250  libraries  containing  12,000 
volumes. 

The  President  called  attention  to  the  fact  that  there  were  236 
clubs  with  a  membership  of  24,000,  paying  dues  of  $686.00  in  the 
Federation  for  the  .year  1902-1903.  Also  that  there  were  48  clubs 
with  a  membership  of  8,000,  paying  a  per  capita  fee  of  ten  cents,  or 
$800.00,  in  the  General  Federation,  which  was  more  than  the  state 
was  receiving  for  all  its  expenses.  It  seemed  neither  just  nor  loyal 
to  the  State  as  the  General  Federation  depended  for  lier  existence 
upon  the  state  organizations. 

The  JsTinth  Annual  Convention,  over  which  Mrs.  Bacon  presided, 
was  held  in  Cairo,  at  "the  Opera  House,  October  19,  20,  21,  22,  1903. 
The  members  of  the  local  Board  were:  Mrs.  Mary  B.  Wenger. 
Chairman ;  Miss  Effie  A.  Lansden,  Secretary  and  Mesdames  Isabella 
L.  Candee,  Wm.  A.  Butler,  John  M.  Lansden,  Andrew  Lohr,  J.  E. 
Strong,  Samuel  White,  M.  F.  Gilbert,  W.  B.  Gilbert,  E.  S.  Dewey, 
John  A.  Miller  and  Miss  Bessie  M.  Turner.     On  Tuesday  evening  a 


50 

reception  was  given  by  tlie  Cairo  Woman's  Club  in  their  rooms  in 
the  Library  Building  and  on  Wednesday  afternoon  an  excursion 
around  the  city  was  given  the  visitors. 

Mrs.  Candee,  the  first  President  of  the  Federation,  made  the 
address  of  welcome  at  the  opening  session  and  reminded  the  delegates 
how  the  Federation  had  gi'own  in  nine  years.  The  noted  guests  on 
this  occasion  were  :  Mrs.  Kobert  J.  Burdette,  Vice-President  of 
the  General  Federation ;  Mrs.  Philip  N".  Moore,  President  of  the  Mis- 
souri Federation  and  Dr.  Yamei  Kin,  the  first  Chinese  woman  to  be 
graduated  in  medicine. 

The  Library  Extension  Committee  held  one  of  the  first  places 
on  the  program,  giving  special  attention  to  public  libraries  in  the 
small  towns  and  to  traveling  libraries.  Mrs.  Francis  D.  Everett, 
afterwards  State  President,  was  one  of  the  speakers  on  this  program. 
The  Domestic  Science  Committee  was  represented  by  three  prominent 
women,  first  among  w'hom,  was  Mrs.  Sara  Tyson  Borer,  Principal  of 
the  Philadelphia  Cooking  School,  who  talked  on  Domestic  Science 
as  "A  Promoter  of  Higher  Education;"  '^Domestic  Science  in  the 
Colleges  and  Universities,"  by  Miss  Isabel  Bevier,  Dean  of  Household 
Science,  University  of  Illinois  and  "The  Influence  of  the  Domestic 
Science  School  on  the  Home  Life,"  by  Mrs.  Lynden  Evans,  President, 
Chicago  School  of  Domestic  Arts  and  Science.  We  also  note  the 
name  of  Mrs.  Laura  B.  Evans,  of  Taylorville,  Chairman  of  the  Sub- 
Educational  Committee,  who,  for  several  years  was  a  Trustee  of  the 
University  of  Illinois. 

The  subject  for  General  Discussion  w^as:  "To  what  extent 
should  Women's  Clubs  take  up  the  study  of  civics  in  their  yearly 
program  ?  How  far  and  in  what  way  should  they  use  their  influence 
toward  securing  better  legislation  and  municipal  improvements?" 

A  gavel  made  from  walnut,  originally  a  part  of  a  cabin  occupied 
by  General  Grant  while  in  Cairo  during  the  Civil  War,  was  presented 
to  Mrs.  Bacon.  The  standards  used  for  the  first  time  in  Cairo  for 
marking  the  district  organizations,  were  presented  to  the  Federation 
by  the  Decatur  Woman's  Club. 

During  this  meeting  a  Committee  on  Forestry  was  added  to  the 
list  of  Standing  Committees. 

The  same  officers  continued  to  serve  and  the  Vice-Presidents  for 
Chicago  were :  Mesdames  Katherinc  Storv  Westf all,  1 ;  Thos.  A. 
Banning,  Wheaton,  2;  C.  E.  Herrick.  3 ;  W.  E.  Watts,  4;  Miss  Ger- 
trude Barnum,  5;  Mesdames  Anna  L.  Wright,  6;  George  E.  Colby, 
7;  S.  C.  Stanton,  8;  A.  W.  Hester,  9;  Laura  D.  Fessenden,  High- 
land Park,  10;  James  L.  Nichols,  ISTaperville,  11 ;  Norman  F.  Thomp- 
son, Eockford,  12;  Lizzie  E.  Kehr,  Sterling,  13;  J.  H.  Pattee,  Mon- 
mouth, 14;  Alida  E.  Boydston,  Galesburg,  15;  Martha  W.  Spurck, 
Peoria,  16;  Edmund  O'Connell,  Bloomington,  17;  Wm.  E.  Fithian, 
Danville,  IS;  M.  W.  Busey,  Urbana.  19:  Henry  F.  CaiTiell,  Jack- 
sonville, 20 ;  Wm.  L.  Mounts,  Carlinville,  21 ;  George  B.  Dodge, 
Upper  Alton,  23;  Euth  Eexwinkle,  Vandalia,  23;  Sarah  A.  Poor, 
Vienna,  24;  A.  D.  Caldwell,  Carbondale,  25. 


51 

At  the  end  of  Mrs.  Bacon's  term  as  President  she  was  made 
Honorary  President  for  two  years. 

The  Chairmen  of  the  Standing  Committees  for  this  ]jeriod  were : 
Mesdames  Frank  L.  Wean,  Education;  Elwood  McGraw,  Library 
Extension;  Truman  G.  Palmer,  Philanthropy;  James  Frake,  Legis- 
lation; Henry  L.  Frank,  Civil  Sen-ice;  H.  M.  Van  Der  Wart,  In- 
dustrial; Wm.  J.  Eoberts,  Beciprocitv;  Calvin  S.  Case,  Program; 
John  C.  Hessler,  Art;  Albert  G.  Lane,  Finance ;  C.  D.  Wright,  Print- 
ing; John  D.  Sherman,  Revisions;  P.  S.  Peterson,  Forestry,  all  of 
Chicago ;  H.  M.  Dunlap,  Savoy,  Sub-Committee  on  Education ;  Hugh 
Barr  Smith,  Jacksonville,  Domestic  Science;  0.  B.  Spencer,  Kanka 
kee,  Music;  J.  L.  Polk,  Champaign,  Literature;  ^larie  E.  Goodwin, 
Xapenille,  Credentials;  Miss  Eliza  Shaw,  Dixon,  Auditing;  Miss 
Bess  M.  Doolittle,  Chicago,  Transportation. 

The  Board  at  its  April,  1901  meeting  recommended  to  the  Legis- 
lative Committee  the  endorsement  of  the  bill  increasing  the  age  of 
consent  from  fourteen  to  eighteen  years. 

The  Tenth  Annual  Meeting  was  held  in  Danville  at  the  First 
Presbyterian  Church.  October  17.  18,  19.  20,  21,  1904.  the  Woman's 
Club  of  that  city  acting  as  hostess.  The  Local  Board  consisted  of 
Mrs.  Wm.  E.  Fithian,  Chairman,  Miss  Eva  Sherman,  Secretary  and 
Mesdames  G.  M.  McDowell,  Chas.  Straw,  J.  M.  Guy,  S.  L.  Fox,  E. 
E.  E.  Kimbrough,  Jules  Strauss,  C.  W.  Feldkamp,  A.  Snyder,  D. 
W.  Bell  and  M.  W.  Thompson.  On  Tuesday  evening  a  reception  was 
held  in  the  rooms  of  the  Woman's  Club  and  on  Wednesday  afternoon 
a  trip  was  taken  to  the  Danville  branch  of  the  Xational  Soldiers' 
Home. 

Mrs.  Bacon  was  the  recipient  of  another  gavel,  presented  jointly 
by-  the  Danville  Woman's  Club  and  the  Clover  Club.  This  was  made 
from  a  cherry  tree  grown  under  the  balcony  upon  which  Lincoln 
stood  when  he  addressed  the  citizens,  in  1858,  during  the  famous 
Lincoln  and  Douglas  debates. 

Among  the  honored  guests  at  this  convention,  were :  Mrs.  Sara 
Piatt  Decker,  alwaA's  a  very  popular  and  much  beloved  woman,  and 
President  of  the  General  Federation ;  also  Dr.  Emily  Brainerd  Ryder, 
organizer  and  President  of  the  Bombay,  India,  Sorosis. 

Among  the  prominent  speakers  were  :  Lorado  Taft,  David  Felm- 
ley,  Raymond  Robins  and  Graham  Taylor.  We  also  note  Judge 
Richard  S.  Tuthill  of  Chicago,  who  talked  on  "^Miat  is  most  needed 
in  Illinois  today  is  the  work  of  saving  children  from  becoming  crim- 
inals;" Mrs.  A.  F.  Clift,  Chairman  of  the  Jail  Committee  of  the 
Lake  View  Woman's  Club,  who  had  devoted  nine  years  to  jail  work 
and  who  read  a  paper  on  "My  Work  in  Chicago  Jails."  An  evening 
meeting  was  devoted  to  Civil  Service,  those  on  the  prosram  being, 
Alfred  W.  Cooley,  U.  S.  Commissioner,  who  talked  on  "The  Xational 
Civil  Service  Law,"  Merritt  Starr,  "The  necessity  for  a  State  Law," 
Hoyt  King,  "The  Campaign  for  a  State  Law." 

The  delesrate  body  voted  that  "A  delegate  shall  represent  but  one 
organization." 


52 

It  is  interesting  to  note  at  this  convention  that  almost  the  identi- 
cal discussion  took  place  regarding  the  sending  of  legislative  bills  to 
the  clubs  for  their  approval  or  disapproval  as  took  place  at  the  con- 
vention of  192G.     The  following  bills  were  endorsed: 

A  bill  for  the  creation  of  a  Library  Extension  Board. 

A  bill  for  the  creation  of  a  Commission  on  Forestry. 

A  bill  creating  a  State  Park  from  the  Pine  Tree  Tract  in  Ogle 
County. 

A  bill  for  the  Eegistration  of  Graduate  Nurses. 

Endorsement  was  also  given  to  the  "Age  of  Consent  Bill" 
raising  the  age  from  14  to  18  years.  And  after  much  discussion  the 
"Suffrage  Bill"  was  endorsed. 

The  following  resolution  was  passed :  "That  the  Illinois  Fed- 
eration urge  its  Congressional  delegation  to  use  its  influence  with 
Congress  to  have  national  legislation  enacted  that  will  give  a  Depart- 
ment of  Education  whose  head  shall  be  a  cabinet  officer." 

Among  the  bills  for  which  the  Federation  had  worked,  the  Child 
Labor  and  Compulsory  Education  Bills  were  passed  by  the  Legisla- 
ture. The  Chicago  Civil  Service  League  of  Men  bought  8,000  I.  F. 
W.  C.  leaflets  for  distribution.  The  Constitution  was  revised  and 
adopted.  There  were  346  club  members  and  30  speakers  present  at 
this  meeting. 

During  Mrs.  Bacon's  administration  there  was  much  growth  in 
public  interest  among  the  club  women  and,  for  the  first  time,  they 
appeared  in  large  numbers  before  the  members  of  the  Legislature  in 
support  of  the  bills  which  had  been  endorsed  by  the  Federation. 

The  Board  Members  serving  with  Mrs.  Bacon  later  formed  an 
association  which  enjoyed  several  reunions. 

A  joint  committee  composed  of  the  representatives  of  the  Philan- 
thropic, Civil  Service  and  Legislative  Committees  was  formed  whose 
province  it  was  to  enlist  the  interest  of  club  women  in  the  State 
Charitable  Institutions  in  their  vicinity  and  to  induce  friendly  visit- 
ing at  those  places.  It  was  also  suggested  that  every  federated  club 
appoint  a  legislative  committee  Avhich  would  help  with  the  work  of 
the  state  committee. 

Mrs.  Frank  Gates  Allen,  Eecording  Secretary,  in  closing  her  re- 
port in  the  1904-05  Year  Book,  refers  to  the  preservation  of  the 
Federation  records  and  mentions  the  fact  that  in  the  comparatively 
short  history  of  the  organization,  the  records  had  twice  narrowly 
escaped  being  destroyed  by  fire.  She  says,  "As  the  records  of  a 
society  are  among  its  most  valued  possessions,  I  would  recommend 
that  the  next  recording  secretary  be  directed  to  keep  the  books  in  a 
safety  vault  and  make  two  copies  of  the  minutes  of  the  board  meet- 
ing, one  copy  always  to  be  deposited  with  the  records.  In  this  way 
the  history  of  the  Federation  may  be  safely  preserved." 


53 


THE  SIXTH  BIENNIUM. 


Governor  of  Illinois, 

1905— 

1913. 

Charles  S 

.  Deneen. 

Mrs. 

James 
1904- 

A.  Frake, 
-1906. 

President  of  the  U.  S., 

1901—1909. 
Theodore  Roosevelt. 


Mrs.  James  Frake,  by  whose  name  stands  a  star  denoting  that 
she  is  no  longer  with  us,  served  the  Federation  from  1904-1906, 
She  was  a  member  of  the  Chicago  Board  of  Education,  was  President 
of  the  West  End  Woman's  Club  and  a  leading  member  of  the  Chicago 
Woman^s  Club.  Mrs.  Frake  was  particularly  interested  in  anything 
which  had  to  do  with  children  and  was  prominent  in  the  movement 
that  resulted  in  the  Child  Labor  Law,  the  establishment  of  the  Milk 
Commission  and  the  Juvenile  Court.  She  died  in  April,  1909,  leav- 
ing a  husband  and  two  children. 


The  officers  elected  at  the  Tenth  Annual  Meeting  held  in  Dan- 
ville, were :  President,  Mrs.  James  A.  Frake,  Chicago ;  Vice-Presi- 
dent at  Large,  Mrs.  George  Watkins,  Chicago;  Corresponding  Secre- 
tary, Miss  Bess  M.  Doolittle,  Chicago;  Recording  Secretary,  Mrs. 
Frank  L.  Bills,  Urbana;  Treasurer,  Mrs.  Robert  Alexander,  Joliet; 
General  Federation  Secretary,  Mrs.  Dorothy  N.  Law,  Dixon;  Honor- 
ary President,  Mrs.  Eugenia  M.  Bacon. 

The  District  Vice-Presidents  included :  Mesdanies  Katherine 
Story  Westfall,  1 ;  Henry  S.  Jaffrey,  2 ;  C.  E.  Her  rick,  3 ;  Miss  Laura 
Bass,  4;  Miss  Emma  Pischel,  5;  Mesdanies  C.  E.  Blake,  Maywood,  6; 
George  E.  Colby,  7 ;  Luther  Conant,  Oak  Park,  8 ;  A.  W.  Hester,  9 ; 
C."H.  Betts,  Ravenswood,  10;  J.  L.  Nichols,  Naperville,  11;  Miss 
Kate  F.  OTonnor,  Rockford,  12 ;  Mesdanies  Lizzie  E.  Kehr,  Sterling, 
13;  Frank  Gates  Allen,  Moline,  14;  Alida  E.  Boydston,  Galesburg, 
15;  Evelyn  E.  Jones,  Henry,  16;  Edmund  O'Coiinell,  Bloomington, 
17;  Orson  B.  Spencer,  Kankakee,  18;  M.  W.  Busey,  Urbana,  19;  M. 
Lilienstein,  Petersburg,  20;  Wm.  L.  Mounts,  Carlinville,  21;  Albert 
M.  Jackson,  Upper  Alton,  22;  Ruth  Rexwinkle,  Vandalia,  23;  Sara 
F.  Black,  Flora,  24;  Andrew  S.  Caldwell,  Carbondale,  25. 

Those  serving  on  the  Standing  Committees  were:  Mesdames 
Madeline  W.  Sikes,  Education;  Elwood  McGraw,  Library  Extension; 
Truman  B.  Palmer,  Philanthropy;  K.  D.  Vander  Ploeg,  Music; 
Henry  L.  Frank,  Civil  Service;  Wm.  J.  Roberts,  Reciprocity;  John 
C.  Hessler,  Art ;  Frederick  K.  Tracy,  Transportation ;  John  D.  Sher- 
man, Revisions,  all  of  Chicago;  Eugeiiia  M.  Bacon,  Decatur,  Printing; 
Marie  E.  Goodwin,  jSTaperville,  Credentials ;  H.  J.  Bohn,  Morgan 
Park,  Forestry ;  Francis  D.  Everett,  Highland  Park,  Program ;  Mary 
Codding  Bouiiand,  Pontiac,  Literature;  R.  N.  McCauley,  Blooming- 
ton,  Domestic  Science;  C.  G.  Hopkins,  Champaign,  Sub-Committee, 
Education ;  Dr.  Marion  K.  Bowles,  Joliet,  Legislation ;  Miss  Annie  L. 
Nicholes,  Industrial  and  Miss  Grace  Temple,  Aiuliting. 

At  the  November,  1904,  Board  Meeting,  the  following  resolu- 
tion was  adopted : 


54 

"That  the  President  of  the  I.  F.  W.  C.  formulate  a  letter  con- 
cerning the  duty  of  the  individual  clubs  to  their  District  Vice-Presi- 
dents, and  to  the  State  Federation,  and  that  such  letter  be  sent  to 
each  club  president,  and  that  the  substance  of  this  letter  be  incorpor- 
ated in  the  President's  message  which  is  printed  in  the  Year  Book." 

The  President,  Mrs.  Frake,  presented  the  subject  of  an  official 
magazine  for  the  State  Federation,  requesting  the  opinion  of  mem- 
bers of  the  Board  as  to  the  advisahility  of  having  such  an  organ, 
adding  that  the  project  was  under  consideration  by  experienced  club 
women  who  would  publish  such  a  book  or  magazine  if  the  idea  met 
with  sufficient  encouragement.  Mrs.  John  D.  Sherman  explained 
what  such  a  magazine  would  be,  that  it  would  contain  full  reports  of 
Federation  work  and  would  be  both  desirable  and  helpful  to  clubs 
throughout  the  state.    No  action  was  recorded,  however. 

"What  is  the  best  mode  of  procedure  for  getting  clubs  to  join 
the  Federation."  was  generally  discussed,  as  was  also  the  benefits  of 
a  District  Federation. 

It  was  decided  "That  the  surplus  of  last  year  amoun'cmg  to 
$155.69,  with  the  additional  sums  of  $2.S0  and^  of  $12.00  for  in- 
terest, a  total  of  $170.49,  be  set  aside  as  a  sinking  fund  which  may  be 
added  to  as  a  surplus  occurs,  or  may  be  drawn  upon  in  an  emer- 
gency." 

It  was  also  moved  and  carried  "That  the  incoming  chairmen  of 
committees  request  the  outgoing  chairmen  to  make  condensed  re- 
ports of  their  past  two  years'  work  with  suggestions  for  future  work, 
same  to  be  handed  to  the  President  at  the  October  meeting  and  later 
published  in  the  Year  Book." 

During  1904-1905  new  standing  committees  devoted  to  Pure 
Food  and  Civics  had  been  added  to  the  Federation.  This  was  done 
at  the  request  of  Mrs.  Decker,  President  of  the  General  Federation, 
who  wished  the  State  Federation  committees  to  conform  to  those  of 
the  larger  organization.  The  Springfield  Woman's  Club  initiated 
a  thorough  and  systematic  study  of  the  History  of  Illinois  which  ap- 
peared in  a  carefully  prepared  outline  available  to  all  clubs  on  appli- 
cation. 

In  the  report  of  the  Educational  Committee  interest  was  urged 
for  Consolidated  Eural  School  Districts,  Manual  Training  and 
Domestic  Science  in  schools.  School  and  Traveling  Libraries,  Free 
High  Schools  for  Eural  Children  and  Parents'  Associations.  Out  of 
the  latter  has  grown  the  state  wide  Parent-Teachers'  Association,  a 
very  fine  organization.  The  Philanthropy  Committee  urged  the  es- 
tablishment of  permanent  or  detention  homes  for  feeble  minded 
young  people  of  the  State.  Much  attention  was  given  to  forestry  in 
all  its  phases.  At  the  May,  1905,  Board  Meeting  a  request  for  a 
Suffrage  Extension  Committee  was  laid  on  the  table. 

Interest  in  traveling  libraries  and  library  work  had  been  grow- 
ing to  such  an  extent  that  work  was  started  in  earnest  by  the 
Library  Committee  for  the  creation  of  a  Library  Extension  Board 


55 

with  a  sufficient  appropriation  by  the  State  to  obtain  such  libraries 
by  purchase,  and  to  provide  for  their  expert  administration.  The 
Federation  at  this  time  owned  328  traveling  libraries.  Statistics 
showed  that  there  were  34  counties  in  the  State  with  no  library 
facilities  whatever. 

The  Eleventh  Annual  Meeting  of  the  Federation  was  held  in 
Joliet,  with  Headquarters  at  Hotel  Munroe,  October  17,  18,  19,  20, 
1905,  on  invitation  of  the  Joliet  Federation  of  Women's  Clubs.  The 
Local  Board  was  made  up  of  Mesdames  E.  J.  Murphy,  Chairman, 
Eobert  Alexander,  Secretary,  and  Harriet  B.  Carson,  Albertina  Grosss, 
Grant  Houston,  W.  jSTevens,  Leonard  G.  Wilson,  J.  J.  Gaskill,  George 
J.  Munroe,  Albert  Weaver,  Frank  Chamberlain,  0.  H.  Staehle, 
Clarence  Davidson,  W.  C.  Barber,  C.  C.  Eowett  and  Hubert  Stevens. 
On  Tuesday  evening  a  reception  was  held  at  the  home  of  Mrs. 
Murphy,  President  of  the  Joliet  Federation. 

Domestic  Science,  Education  and  Library  Extension  still  pre- 
dominated as  subjects  of  discussion  and  held  important  places  on 
this  program.  For  the  first  time  Tuberculosis  was  given  attention 
and  Dr.  Wm.  E.  Quine,  President  of  the  Illinois  State  Medical 
Society  talked  on  "The  Preventability  and  Curability  of  Pulmonary 
Tuberculosis  and  the  Duty  of  the  State  and  of  Individual  Citizens  in 
Eelation  Thereto."  Yery  little  attention,  if  any,  had  been  given  to 
public  health  up  to  this  time,  but  it  was  destined  to  play  a  more 
and  more  important  part  in  the  work  of  the  Federation  as  time 
went  on. 

A  very  fine  musical  program  was  given  at  this  meeting,  four 
club  choruses,  those  of  Hull  House,  Lake  View,  Englewood  and  Chi- 
cago Culture  taking  part.  Mrs.  Bertha  Smith-Titus  directed  the 
LaJse  View  and  the  Chicago  Culture  Club  choruses,  Mrs.  W.  D,  Bel- 
knap, Englewood  and  Mr.  Frank  M.  Jeffords,  Hull  House. 

The  names  of  other  well  known  Illinois  people  appearing  on  this 
program  were :  The  Honorable  Eichard  J.  Barr,  then  Mayor  of 
Joliet,  and  later  a  power  in  the  State  Senate;  General  Alfred  Oren- 
dorff  of  Springfield,  President  of  the  State  Historical  Society;  Dr. 
Livingston  Lord,  President  of  the  State  Normal  School  at  Charles- 
ton; Mrs.  John  D.  Sherman,  Eecording  Secretary  of  the  General 
Federation;  Honorable  Frances  W.  Parker;  Judge  0.  E.  Carter;  Prof. 
S.  H.  Clark,  University  of  Chicago;  Mrs.  Margaret  Drier  Eobins, 
and  Mrs.  Ellen  M.  Henrotin. 

The  officers  elected  at  this  meeting  were:  President,  Mrs.  James 
A.  Frake,  Chicago;  Vice-President  at  Lai-ge,  Mrs.  George  Watkins, 
Chicago;  Eecording  Secretary,  Mrs.  Frank  L.  Bills,  Urbana;  Cor- 
responding Secretary,  Miss  Grace  Temple,  Chicago;  Treasurer,  Mrs. 
Eobert  Alexander,  Joliet;  General  Federation  Secretary,  Mrs. 
Dorothy  N".  Law,  Dixon;  Honorary  President,  Mrs.  Eugenia  M. 
Bacon,  Decatur;  Official  Parliamentarian,  Mrs.  John  D.  Sherman, 
Chicago. 

Vice-Presidents  of  Congressional  Districts,  were :  Mesdames 
James  Witkowsky,  1 ;  Henry  S.  Jaffrey,  2 ;  Alexander  McCollom,  3  • 


56 

Miss  Laura  Bass,  4;  Mesdames  Martha  Wake,  5;  C.  E.  Blake,  May- 
wood,  6;  John  E.  Best,  Arlington  Heights,  7;  A.  E.  Martin,  8; 
Donald  L.  Morrill,  9 ;  C.  H.  Betts,  10 ;  Lillie  B.  Hollenbeak,  Elgin, 
11;  Miss  Kate  F.  O'Connor,  Eockford,  12;  Mesdames  H.  D.  Bentley, 
Freeport,  13;  Frank  Gates  Allen,  Moline,  14;  Fannie  V.  Tompkins, 
Avon,  15;  Dr.  Harriet  M.  Owens,  Princeton,  16;  Mesdames  Celia 
Pruen,  Forest,  17;  Orson  B.  Spencer,  Kankakee,  18;  Miss  Georgia 
Hopkins,  Shelbyville,  19;  Mesdames  M.  Lilieustein,  Petersburg,  30; 
Charles  S.  Deneen,  Executive  Mansion,  Springfield,  21;  Albert  M. 
Jackson,  Upper  Alton,  22 ;  Aden  Knoph,  Olney,  23 ;  Sara  F.  Black, 
Flora,  24;  W.  N.  Butler,  Cairo,  25. 

Chairmen  of  Standing  Committees  were:  Mesdames  Wilbur  S. 
Jackson,  Chicago,  Education;  Frank  Hasher,  Sub-Committee, 
Urbana;  Evelyn  E.  Jones,  Henry,  Library  Extension;  E.  IST.  Mc- 
Cauley,  Bloomington,  Domestic  Science;  Geo.  W.  Plummer,  Chicago, 
Pui-e  Food;  A.  G.  Lane,  Chicago,  Civics;  E.  J.  Murphy,  Joliet, 
Philanthropy;  Dr.  Marion  K.  Bowles,  Joliet,  Legislation;  Mesdames 
Frank  E.  Ford,  Chicago,  Music;  Mary  Codding  Bourland,  Pontiac, 
Literature;  Harry  S.  Hyman,  Chicago,  Civil  Service;  Miss  Annie  E. 
Nichoies,  Chicago,  Industrial;  Mesdames  Charles  S.  Clarjv,  Chicago, 
Eeciprocity;  Francis  D.  Everett,  Highland  Park,  Program;  M.  L. 
Eau,  Chicago  Heights,  Art;  Horace  Kauffman,  Oregon,  Forestry; 
Georgia  C.  Caldwell,  Chicago,  Auditing;  FTederick  K.  Trac}',  Chi- 
cago, Transportation ;  F.  B.  Cornell,  Elgin,  Credentials ;  Alvin 
Scott,  Naperville,  Printing;  Lizzie  E.  Kehr,  Sterling,  Eevisions. 

The  1905-1906  Year  Book  carried  the  reports  of  the  retiring 
chairmen,  giving  work  accomplished  instead  of  future  plans  of  the 
new  chairmen.  The  change  was  made  for  two  reasons;  one  because 
the  experienced  chairmen  were  better  able  to  present  the  work  and 
its  needs;  second,  because  it  was  thought  the  change  would  hasten 
the  completion  of  the  Year  Book. 

The  Literature  Committee  completed  a  "Book  List  for  Children 
of  the  Federation  of  fourteen  years  and  younger."  They  urged  story 
telling  in  schools  and  libraries.  The  study  of  the  History  of  Illinois 
was  inaugurated  as  a  special  piece  of  work  for  the  committee  with 
Mrs.  Edwin  S.  Walker,  President  of  the  Springfield  Woman's  Club, 
in  cbarge.     Many  copies  of  the  syllabus  were  distributed  at  Joliet. 

Two  hundred  manuscripts  were  on  file  in  the  Eeciprocity  Bureau. 
The  Art  Committee  was  pushing  the  study  of  public  school  art  and 
had  prepared  a  model  collection  to  loan  to  clubs  for  use  in  school 
rooms.  This  committee  was  also  offering  loan  collections  of  paint- 
ings, American  pottery  and  pictures  of  American  Sculpture,  accom- 
panied by  lectures  on  the  various  subjects. 

The  Twelfth  Annual  Meeting  was  held  in  Chicago,  at  the  Uni- 
versity, October  16,  17,  18,  19,  1906,  on  invitation  from  the  clubs  of 
the  First,  Second,  Third  and  Fourth  Districts. 

The  Local  Board  was  composed  of  Mesdames  George  B.  Car- 
penter, Chairman  and  Katherine  S.  Westfall,  Herman  J.  Hall,  James 
Witkowskv,  L.  C.  Doty,  Henry  S.  Jaft'rey,  Wm.  E.  Gallagher.  F.  W. 


57 

King,  C.  E.  Herrick,  W.  A.  Blodgett,  John  F.  Thompson,  A.  B.  Bogg 
and  Miss  Clara  Dixon.  Tuesday  evening  there  was  an  informal  re- 
ception after  the  program  and  on  Wednesday  afternoon  another  re- 
ception was  given  with  gallery  tours  to  the  studios  of  prominent 
artists  which  were  open  to  the  visitors. 

Among  the  prominent  people  on  the  program  of  this  convention 
we  find  the  names  of  Enos  A.  Mills,  Naturalist;  Mrs.  Sara  Piatt 
Decker,  Miss  Jane  xA.ddams,  E.  G.  Cooley,  Superintendent  of  the 
Chicago  Public  Schools ;  Dr.  Halsey  C.  Ives,  Director  of  the  Museum 
•of  Fine  Arts,  St.  Louis ;  Prof.  James  E.  Angell,  Dr.  Harry  Pratt 
Judson,  Dr.  Caroline  Hedger.  Miss  Sophonisba  Breckinridge  and 
Miss  Anna  Nicholes  pled  for  "equal  pay  for  equal  work  for  the  work- 
::ng  girl"  and  urged  that  the  club  women  petition  Congress  to  pass 
measures  equalizing  pay  to  women  workers  who  do  the  tasks  of  men 
for  less  wage.  They  also  urged  that  laws  be  passed  to  guard  girls' 
Hves  in  factories. 

A  very  interesting  talk  by  Mrs.  Elia  W.  Peattie  on  the  kind  of 
literature,  supposed  to  be  "moral  and  instructive"  which  was  served 
to  young  people  provoked  much  amusement  and  response.  For  the 
first  time  we  see  the  name  of  Mrs.  George  W.  Plummer,  so  long  con- 
nected with  the  Federation  as  Parliamentarian,  listed  as  Chairman 
of  Pure  Food. 

There  was  much  newspaper  talk  at  this  convention  about  the 
women  who  had  the  "office  fever"  and  who  were  seeking  the  Presi- 
dency, but  as  only  one  candidate  out  of  the  twelve  nominated  by  their 
admiring  friends,  stayed  in  the  race  and  saved  the  day  for  the  Fed- 
eration, the  fever  could  not  have  been  ver}^  serious.  This  candidate 
was  Mrs.  Watkins  who  was  elected  without  opposition. 

The  delegate  body  not  only  endorsed  but  pledged  itself  to  work 
for  the  following  legislative  bills : 

For  an  Act,  providing  punishment  for  wife  desertion. 

Entitling  Chicago  women  to  vote  for  municipal  officers  and 

measures. 
Authorizing  the  Governor  to  set  aside  an  appropriation  for 

State  Forester  or  forestry  officer. 
To  establish  a  State  Colony  for  Epileptics. 
Concerning  the  Nurses'  Eegistration  Bill. 

Eesolutions  were  passed  favoring  "protection  for  girls  under  the 
age  of  18  years  who  are  employed  in  the  needle  and  textile  trades" 
and  one  favoring  the  work  of  the  Audobon  Society  of  the  State. 

Much  interest  was  created  by  the  address  of  Mrs.  Julius  Gold- 
zier  on  "Postal  Savings  Banks." 


58 


THE  SEVENTH  BIBNNIUM. 

Mrs.  George  Watkins. 
1906—1908. 


Mrs.  George  Watson  is  one  of  the  six  State  Presidents  who  does 
not  claim  Illinois  at  her  native  state,  having  been  bom  in  Cleveland^ 
Ohio,  and  coming  to  Illinois  in  1860,  settling  in  Quincy.  From  that 
city  she  came  to  Chicago  to  reside  and  has  since  made  her  home  there, 
living  at  the  present  time  at  the  Auditorium  Hotel.  She  is  a  widow 
and  has  no  children. 

Mrs.  Watkins  has  had  many  club  affiliations  beginning  with  the 
Chicago  South  Side  Club  of  which  she  was  one  of  the  Founders,  later 
becoming  its  Treasurer  and  President.  She  also  served  as  President 
of  the  Second  District,  I.  F.  W.  C,  Chairman  of  Legislation,  first 
Chairman  of  Public  Health,  Vice-President  at  Large  and  President 
of  the  State  Federation,  G.  F.  State  Secretary,  and  Chairman  of 
Legislation  for  the  General  Federation. 

She  is  a  trustee  of  the  Sarah  Hackett  Stevenson  Memorial  and 
was  sent  by  the  Governor  as  a  delegate  to  the  National  Conference 
of  Charities  three  times.  She  is  a  member  of  the  Chicago  Woman's 
Club  and  has  served  as  Chairman  of  Legislation  and  of  Eevisions  for 
that  organization.  She  was  one  of  the  charter  members  of  the 
Woman's  City  Club  and  one  of  the  organizers  of  the  Cook  County 
League  which  was  formed  for  the  purpose  of  expediting  legislative 
work  before  clubs  had  legislative  committees. 


The  officers  elected  at  the  Twelfth  Annual  Meeting  in  Chicago, 
were :  President,  Mrs,  George  Watkins,  Chicago ;  Vice-President  at 
Large,  Mrs.  Francis  D.  Eiverett,  Highland  Park;  G.  F.  State  Secre- 
tary, Mrs.  Frank  L.  Bills,  Urbana ;  Recording  Secretary,  Mrs.  Kather- 
ine  S.  Westfall,  Chicago;  Corresponding  Secretary,  Mrs.  Richard  A. 
Young,  Casey;  Treasurer,  Mrs.  W.  F.  Keith,  Danville;  Parliamen- 
tarian, ]\frs.  John  D.  Sherman. 

The  District  Vice-Presidents  were :  Mesdames  James  Witkow- 
sk}'-,  1 ;  John  O'Connor,  2 ;  Alexander  McCollom,  3 ;  J.  W.  Hough,  4 ; 
Martha  Wake,  5 ;  C.  W.  Wright,  La  Grange,  6 ;  John  E.  Best,  Arling- 
ton Heights,  7;  Sallie  C.  Hallowell,  8;  Donald  L.  Morrill,  Buena 
Park,  9 ;  Louis  J.  Pierson,  Wilmette,  10 ;  Ralph  D.  Hollembeak, 
Elgin,  11;  Minne  Starr  Grainger,  Belvidere,  12;  H.  D.  Bentley,  Free- 
port,  13;  J.  H.  Pattee,  Monmouth,  14;  Fannie  V.  Tompkins,  Avon, 
15 ;  Mary  L.  Locke.  Henry,  16 ;  D.  P.  McCracken,  Paxton,  17 ;  Miss 
Livonia  R.  Kay,  Watseka,  18;  Miss  Georgia  Hopkins,  Shelbyville, 
19 ;  Mesdames  Hugh  Barr  Smith,  Jacksonville,  20 ;  Charles  S.  Deneen, 
Springfield,  21;  Finis  P.  Ernest,  East  St.  Louis,  22;  Aden  Knoph, 
Olney,  23;  Minnie  L.  Brown,  Flora,  24;  W.  N.  Butler,  Cairo,  25. 

Chairmen  of  the  Standing  Committees  included :  Mesdames 
Madeline  W.  Sikes,  Chicago,  Education ;  T.  A.  Clark,  Urbana,  Sub- 
Committee;  Evelyn  N.  Jones,  Henry,  Library  Extension;  Miss  Helen 


59 

Louise  Johnson,  B.  S.  James  Millikeu  Universit}-,  Decatur,  Domestic 
Science;  Mesdames,  James  Frake.  Chicago,  Pure  Food;  Frederick 
K.  Tracy,  Chicago,  Civics;  E.  J.  Murphy,  Joliet,  Phihinthropy ; 
Morton  W.  Thompson,  Danville,  Legislation;  Frank  E.  Ford,  Chicago, 
Music;  Harry  S.  Hyman,  Chicago-,  Civil  Sen'ice;  Eaymond  Robins, 
Chicago,  Industrial;  Frank  Pearson,  Chicago  Reciprocity;  T.  D. 
Palmer,  Chicago,  Program;  L.  B.  Powell,  Chicago,  Art;  Horace  G. 
Kauffman,  Oregon,  Forestry;  Georgia  C.  Caldwell,  Chicago,  Audit- 
ing; Henry  S.  Jaffrcy,  Chicago,  Transporation ;  F.  B.  Cornell,  Elgin, 
Credentials;  Edward  L.  ^Miirfey,  Chicago,  Printing;  Lizzie  E.  Kehr, 
Sterling,  Revisions. 

^Ye  leam,  through  the  message  of  the  President,  that  it  will  be 
"the  purpose  of  her  administration  "to  strengthen  the  work  under  its 
various  heads  and  at  the  same  time  to  guard  against  the  waste  of  time 
and  energy-  by  attempting  more  than  can  be  well  done."  Stress  is 
laid  upon  the  educational  and  legislative  work  of  the  Federation  with 
a  plea  for  continued  interest  in  the  operation  of  tho  Juvenile  Court 
Law,  the  Child  Labor  Law  and  the  Compulsory  Education  Law,  with 
a  reminder  that  merely  passing  the  laws  is  not  enough — that  they 
must  be  enforced  and  no  harmful  amendments  added  which  may 
weaken  them. 

The  Educational  Committee,  for  the  first  time,  suggested  the 
use  of  school  houses  for  community  purposes,  higher  standards  for 
teachers  and  industrial  arts  in  high  schools.  The  sub-committ«e  plead 
for  dormitories  for  girls  at  the  University,  citing  the  fact  that  there 
was  little  room  in  the  Twin  Cities  for  "the  700  girls  and  2,500  men" 
then  enrolled.  This  does  not  seem  like  a  great  number  today  (1928) 
with  over  10,000  students  taking  part  in  the  life  of  the  University. 
The  Music  Committee  had  compiled  a  new  list  of  Illinois  composers 
and  urged  the  study  of  their  compositions ;  also  an  interest  in  public 
school  music,  club  choruses  and  a  music  exchange. 

The  Thiri:eenth  Annual  Convention  was  held  in  the  Second 
Presbvterian  Church  of  Bloomington,  on  invitation  of  the  Woman's 
Club,'on  October  15,  16,  17,  18,'' 1907.  The  Local  Board  consisted 
•of  Mrs.  Sarah  J.  DeMotte,  Chairman,  Miss  Charlotte  C.  Probasco, 
Secretary,  and  Mesdames  Howard  D.  Humphreys,  Dudley  C.  Smith, 
Wm.  L.  Evans,  James  C.  Means,  Henry  D.  Spencer,  Harry  S.  Eck- 
hart,  Oscar  Mandel,  B.  P.  Marsh,  George  P.  Davis  and  Misses  Mabel 
Gray  and  Mary  L.  Kimball. 

On  Tuesday  afternoon  there  was  a  tea  at  the  library  following 
a  round  table  discussion.  On  Wednesday  afternoon  the  delegates 
were  taken  for  a  drive  over  the  city,  tea  following  at  the  country 
club.  On  that  evening  a  reception  was  given  for  them  at  the  Court 
House. 

The  programs  for  the  day  sessions  were  in  charge  of  the  various 
standing  committees,  thus  affording  an  opportunity  for  each  commit- 
tee to  present  its  work  to  the  Convention.  In  addition  to  the  prom- 
inent club  women  who  spoke,  addresses  were  made  by  George  0. 
Currie,  Professor  of  Germanic  Philology,  Northwestern  University; 
Dr.   Frank   P.   ISTorbury,  Member  Civil   Service   EiXamining  Board ; 


60 

Miss  Mary  Ahern,  President  Illinois  Library  Association;  Miss  Anne 
Shaw  Falkner,  later  Mrs.  Marx  Oberndorfer,  Chairman  of  Music  for 
the  General  Federation  for  four  years,  and  prominently  identified 
-with  the  musical  life  of  Chicago;  A.  T.  Boison,  Forestry  Service; 
Dr.  A.  L.  Winton,  U.  S.  Department  of  Food  Inspection;  Dr.  Shailer 
Matthews  and  Rev.  Florence  Buck. 

The  first  Civic  Conference  was  held  at  this  meeting,  the  topics 
under  discussion  being  "Protective  Work  for  Children,"  Mrs.  Joseph 
T.  Bowen  and  Miss  Breckinridge  speaking;  "Chicago  Woman's  Out- 
door Art  League,"  Mrs,  Chas.  F.  Millspaugh;  "Vacation  Schools," 
Mrs,  A.  W.  Bryant. 

A  trend  away  from  purely  cultural  subjects  and  those  pertaining 
to  the  home  began  to  show  itself  very  decidedly  in  this  program  for 
we  note  such  subjects  as  "The  State  Civil  Service  Law;"  "How  Do 
We  Care  for  Girls  in  Illinois,"  by  Miss  Lathrop;  "The  Illinois  In- 
dustrial School  for  Girls,"  Mrs.  Henry  Solomon;  "Industrial  Edu- 
cation for  Girls,"  Mrs.  Henrotin;  "The  Immigrant  Girl  in  Our 
Large  Cities,"  "Some  Equivocal  Eights  of  Labor,"  "Industrial  Edu- 
cation," Miss  Addams;  "Civics  by  Children"  and  "Civic  Improve- 
ment" by  Mrs.  John  O'Connor.  If  we  had  any  comment  to  make  it 
would  be  that  there  were  too  many  talks  made  along  practically  the 
same  line  of  thought. 

At  this  meeting  the  Educational  and  Sub-Educational  Commit- 
tees were  combined,  as  well  as  Literature  and  Reciprocity,  Creden- 
tials and  Printing.  Domestic  Science  was  changed  to  Household 
Economics.  The  Educational  Committee  opened  up  a  greater  field 
for  progressive  work  by  presenting  the  subject  of  "Industrial  Edu- 
cation" as  a  part  of  the  State's  educational  system. 

The  resolutions  adopted  at  Bloomington  concerned :  A  Sane 
Fourth  of  July;  Bill  Board  Advertising;  Establishment  of  Public 
Comfort  Stations  wherever  needed ;  Study  of  the  Dependent  Girl  and 
assisting  with  Industrial  School  for  Girls;  the  standards  of  food  and 
education  to  be  adopted  by  the  State;  annual  medical  examination 
of  all  children;  employment  of  women  physicians  in  all  state  institu- 
tions where  there  are  women  and  children;  dormitories  at  the 
University  for  girls. 

The  Legislative  Committee  reported  that  three  bills  out  of  eight 
endorsed  by  the  Federation  had  passed  the  Legislature.  These  three 
were:  An  Amendment  to  the  Compulsory  School  Law;  The  Nurses' 
Bill  and  a  Bill  for  an  Act  to  Define  and  Punish  Crimes  Against 
Children.  The  Civics  Committee,  with  Mrs.  Tracy  as  Chairman, 
offered  a  very  comprehensive  and  excellent  plan  of  work  suitable  for 
all  localities  and  all  clubs.  The  Pure  Food  Committee  worked 
against  food  adulteration.  The  Industrial  Committee  urged  club 
women  to  work  for  a  state  law  for  the  protection  of  those  employed 
from  dangerous  and  hazardous  machinery. 

At  the  Board  Meeting  immediately  following  the  Convention, 
three  special  committees  were  appointed,  two  in  accordance  with 
resolutions  passed  at  the  Convention  and  the  third  formed  upon  the 


61 

request  of  the  Public  Healtli  Committee  of  the  Gleneral  Federatiou. 
The  work  of  the  last  named  committee  was  to  be  particularly  directed 
to  the  education  on  the  cure  and  prevention  of  tuberculosis  and  also 
the  educational  work  of  the  Social  Hygiene  Association  of  Chicago. 
The  other  two  committees  were :  State  Arbor  and  Bird  Day  and  "To 
Care  for  Girls  in  Institutions."  The  matter  of  holding  a  biennial 
meeting  instead  of  an  annual  one  was  discussed  but  no  action  taken. 

The  officers  who  were  elected  in  Chicago  for  two  years  continued 
to  serve  through  1907-1908.  The  Vice-Presidents  for  the  same 
period  were:  Mesdames  Charles  F.  Adams,  1;  John  O'Connor,  2; 
L.  D.  Doty,  3;  J.  W.  Hough,  4;  Wm.  Healy,  5;  C.  W.  Wright  (La- 
Grange)  6;  W.  H.  Wallis,  7;  S.  C.  Hallowell,  8;  L.  M.  Posing,  9; 
all  of  Chicago.  Mesdames  Louis  J.  Pearson,  Wilmette,  10;  C.  F. 
Wade,  Aurora,  11 ;  Minne  S.  Grainger,  Belvidere,  12 ;  L.  K.  Wynn, 
Sterling,  13;  J.  H.  Pattee,  Monmouth,  14;  C.  E.  Franing,  Gales- 
burg,  15;  Mary  L.  Locke,  Henry,  16;  H.  A.  Foster,  Fairbury,  17; 
Miss  Livonia  E.  Kay,  Watseka,  18;  Mesdames  Edith  Williamson, 
Tuscola,  19;  Hugh  Barr  Smith,  Jacksonville,  20;  Miss  lone  Hay- 
ward,  Pana,  21;  Mesdames  Finis  P.  Ernst,  East  St.  Louis,  22;  L. 
Landenberger,  Olney,  23;  Minnie  L.  Bro\vn,  Flora,  24;  H.  C. 
Mitchell,  Carbondale,  35. 

Chairmen  of  Standing  Committees  were:  Mesdames  Arnold  L. 
Heap,  Art  and  Fred  K.  Tracy,  Civics,  both  of  Chicago ;  John  T. 
Mason,  Aurora,  Civil  Service;  Wm.  A.  Blodget,  Household 
Economics  and  F.  W.  King,  Education,  of  Chicago;  Horace  G. 
Kauffman,  Forestry,  Oregon;  Miss  Mary  McClain,  TJrbana,  Music; 
Mesdames  Frank  Pearson,  Chicago,  Literature  aud  Reciprocity; 
George  R.  Bacon,  Decatur,  Library  Extension;  Raymond  Robins, 
Chicago,  Industrial;  A.  S.  Caldwell,  Carbondale,  Pure  Food;  T.  D. 
Palmer,  Chicago,  Program;  J.  M.  Guy,  Danville,  Philanthropy; 
Morton  W.  Thoinpson,  Danville,  Legislative;  Edward  L.  Murfey, 
Printing  and  Credentials;  Henry  S.  Jaffray,  Transportation,  and 
Miss  Grace  E.  Temple,  Auditing,  all  of  Chicago;  Mrs.  Sain  Welty, 
Bloomington,  Revisions. 

Special  Committee  chairmen  were:  Mesdames  George  Watkins, 
Public  Health ;  F.  K.  Tracy,  "State  Arbor  and  Bird  Day"  and  Han- 
nah Solomon,  "To  Care  for  Girls  in  Institutions." 

The  Fourteenth  Annual  Meeting  of  the  Federation  was  held  in 
the  First  M.  E.  Church,  in  East  St.  Louis,  October  20,  21.  22,  23, 
1908.  Those  composing  the  Local  Board  were:  Mesdames  L.  C. 
Haynes,  Chairman,  John  E.  Miller,  Secretary,  and  x\lonzo  R.  Vick- 
ers,  Glen  F.  May,  E.  E.  Wilson,  J.  H.  Rendelman,  William  Thrasher, 
John  P.  Metzger,  Leslie  Allen,  Spencer  Ellsworth,  0.  A.  Buck, 
Harvey  Smith  and  E.  Abt.  On  Monday  evening,  preceding  the 
Convention  a  "Get  Acquainted  Social"  was  held  for  the  delegates,  and 
on  Wednesday  evening  they  were  invited  to  a  reception  given  at  the 
City  Hall.  A  trip  to  historic  Monk's  Mound,  between  East  St. 
Louis  and  Collinsville,  Vas  also  on  the  progi'am. 


62 

Mrs.  Francis  D.  Everett  presided  over  the  District  Vice-Presi- 
dents' meeting  where  the  following  topics  were  discussed:  (1)  The 
Selection  of  the  District  Vice-President;  (2)  The  Relation  between 
the  Clubs  of  a  district  and  their  Vice-President;  (3)  What  are  the 
best  means  we  have  found  of  arousing  the  Club's  interest  in  the 
Work  of  the  Standing  Committees;  (4)  District  Organization: 
What  it  has  accomplished   and  what  it  has  failed  to  accomplish; 

(5)  What  is  the  Value  of  the  Federation    to    the    Smaller    Clubs? 

(6)  \\^ien,  and  where,  and  under  Avhat  conditions  should  the  Dis- 
trict Vice-President  attempt  to  organize  a  new  club  ? 

Mr.  Enos  Mills  talked  on  "Our  Nation's  Forest  Eeserves;"  Dr. 
Caroline  Bartlett  Crane  on  "The  White  Woman's  Burden;"  Pro- 
fessor Percy  H.  Boynton,  "The  Social  Message  of  George  Eliott;'' 
Mrs.  Alice  P.  Norton,  on  "Home  Economics  and  the  New  Educa- 
tion;" John  D.  Shoop  on  "Vacation  Schools;"  Dr.  David  Kinley  on 
"Some  Social  Obligations;"  and  Professor  George  H.  Meade,  on 
"The  Social  Value  of  Industrial  Legislation." 

We  note,  for  the  first  time,  the  name  of  Mrs.  Minne  Starr 
Grainger,  of  Belvidere,  who  served  as  President  of  the  Twelfth  Dis- 
trict, 1906-1908,  and  became  President  of  the  Federation  in  1910. 
Her  interest  in  the  work  has  never  ceased  and,  as  Mrs.  Clarence  G. 
Goodwin,  she  has  renewed  her  connection  at  various  times,  serving 
continuously  as  Finance  Chairman,  from  1933  to  1927,  and  as  Busi- 
ness Supervisor  and  Courtesy  Member  of  the  Board  for  1927-28. 
Miss  Jessie  Spafford  is  also  a  newcomer  at  this  meeting,  speaking  on 
"The  Conferences  of  the  preceding  Biennial  of  the  General  Feder- 
ation." Miss  Spafford  served  as  President  of  her  district  from  1908- 
1910,  as  chairman  of  various  committees  and  as  President  of  the 
State  Federation,  1916-1919. 

Mrs.  John  T.  Mason,  having  served  for  two  years  as  Chairman 
of  Civil  Service,  appears  for  the  second  time  on  the  program.  She 
did  splendid  work  for  that  department  over  a  period  of  many  years, 
later  serving  in  the  same  caparity  in  the  General  Federation,  and  for 
four  years  as  Chairman  of  Legislation  for  the  State  Federation, 
1924-28. 


63 

THE,  EIGHTH  BIENNIUM. 

Governor  of  Illinois,  President  of  the  U.   S., 

1905—1913.  1909—1913. 

Charles  S.  Deneen.  William  Howard  Taft. 

Mrs.  Francis  D.  Everett. 
1908—1910. 


Pekin,  Illinois  was  the  birthplace  of  Mrs.  Francis  D.  Everett, 
whose  famil}',  however,  moved  from  the  state  when  she  was  only  six 
years  old.  She  returned  to  Illinois  in  1894,  making  her  home  in 
Highland   Park. 

Mrs.  Everett  was  married  twice,  a  son,  George  Hawley  Bowen, 
being  born  of  her  first  marriage.  This  son,  a  physician  in  Chicago, 
died  in  1926,  leaving  a  widow  and  one  child. 

Before  her  marriage  to  Mr.  Everett,  she  was  for  some  years  a 
school  principal  and  superintendent  and  served  in  the  latter  capacity 
in  Highland  Park  for  four  years. 

]\'Irs.  Everett's  first  important  club  connection  was  with  the  Ossili 
Club  of  Highland  Park,  whose  President  she  became.  Next  she  was 
Chairman  of  Program  for  the  Illinois  Federation,  then  Vice-Presi- 
dent at  Large,  and  then  President.  These  activities  were  immediately 
followed  by  affiliations  with  the  General  Federation,  first  as  State 
Secretary  for  Illinois;  then  Director,  which  was  practically  the  same 
position  under  a  new  name ;  Chairman  of  the  Program  Committee  and 
then  Corresponding  Secretary,  in  all  covering  a  period  of  eighteen 
years  when  she  was  in  active  service  with  the  exception  of  the  bien- 
nium  of  1902-1904.     This  is  a  unique  distinction. 

Mrs.  Everett's  interests  and  affiliations  outside  of  club  work,  and 
during  the  same  period,  have  largely  been  devoted  to  religious  and 
educational  matters.  She  has  served  as  Recording  Secretary  of  the 
Illinois  Equal  Suffrage  Association;  Superintendent  of  the  elementary 
department  of  the  Highland  Park  Presbyterian  Church  School ;  Presi- 
dent of  the  Woman's  Missionarv  Society  of  the  same  church ;  member 
of  the  National  Board  of  the  Y.  W.  C.  A. ;  President  of  the  High- 
land Park  Conncil  of  Eeligious  Education,  and  member  of  the  Board 
of  Directors  of  the  Highland  Park  Public  Library  for  twenty-seven 
years. 


The  officers  elected  at  the  Fourteenth  Annual  Meeting  in  East 
St.  Louis,  were :  President,  Mrs.  Francis  D.  Everett,  Highland  Park ; 
Vice-President  at  Large,  Mrs.  Andrew  S.  Caldwell,  Carboudale;  Ee- 
cording  Secretary,  Mrs.  Finis  P.  Ernest,  East  St.  Louis;  Correspond- 
ing Secretary,  Mrs.  Edward  L,  Murfey,  Chicago;  Treasurer,  Mrs. 
Eichard  A.  Young,  Casey;  G.  F.  State  Secretar}^,  Mrs.  Katherine  S. 
Westfall,  Chicago.  Before  the  club  year  was  closed,  however,  Mrs. 
Frank  L.  Bills  of  Urbana  took  the  place  of  Mrs.  Ernest  and  Mrs.  Fred- 
erick K.  Tracy  took  the  place  of  Mrs.  Westfall. 

The  District  Vice-Presidents  for  this  period  included :  Mesdames 
Charles  F.  Adams,  1 ;  Laura  E.  E.  Fischer,  2 ;  L.  D.  Doty,  3 ;  Jessie 


64 

H.  Gaebler,  4;  Wm.  Healy,  5;  David  W.  Beggs,  6;  W.  H.  Wallis,  7; 
Etta  E.  Brainerd,  8;  Donald  L.  Morrill,  9;  Charles  H.  Thompson, 
10.  all  of  Chicago;  Mrs.  Charles  F.  Wade,  Aurora,  11;  Miss  Jessie 
I.  Spafford,  Rockford,  12;  Mesdanies  L.  K.  Wynn,  Sterling,  13;  J. 
E.  Webster,  Monmouth,  14;  Edward  C.  Franing,  Galesburg,  15;  W. 
R.  Curran,  Pekin,  16;  R.  N".  McCauley.  Xormal,  17;  Morton  W. 
Thompson,  Danville,  18;  Edith  G.  Williamson,  Tuscola,  19;  T.  J. 
Schweer,  Beardstown,  20;  Miss  lone  Hayward,  Pana,  21;  D'r.  Louise 
Eavold,  Greenville,  22;  Mesdames  L.  E.  Landenberger,  Olney,  23; 
P.  0.  Johns,  Metropolis,  24;  H.  C.  Mitchell,  Carbondale,  25."  Par- 
liamentarian, Mrs.  John  D.  Sherman,  Chicago. 

The  Chairmen  of  the  Standing  Committees  were:  Mesdames 
Arnold  L.  Heap,  Chicago,  Art;  E.  M.  Henderson,  Chicago,  Civics; 
John  T.  Mason,  Aurora,  Civil  Service;  Wm.  A.  Blodget,  Chicago, 
Household  Economics;  F.  W.  King,  Evanston,  Education;  Harvey 
C.  Adams,  Danville,  Forestry;  Miss  Mary  McClain,  TJrbana,  Music; 
Mesdaines  Daniel  M.  Cobb,  Highland  Park,  Literature  and  Pie- 
ciprocity ;  Edmund  A.  Curtis,  Decatur,  Library  Extension ;  Dr. 
Eachelle  S.  Yarros,  Chicago,  Lidustrial;  Mesdames  I.  D.  Page, 
Princeton,  Pure  Food;  Minne  Starr  Grainger,  Belvidere,  Program; 
J.  M.  Gu.y,  Danville,  Philanthropy;  George  E.  Bacon,  Decatur,  Leg- 
islative ;  Albert  E.  Martin,  Chicago,  Printing  and  Credentials ;  Robert 
P.  Cummings,  Chicago,  Transportation ;  John  H.  Beers,  Chicago, 
Eevisions  and  Miss  Grace  Temple,  Auditing. 

The  Chairmen  of  the  Special  Committees  were :  Mrs.  George 
Watkins,  Public  Health ;  Mrs.  Hannah  Solomon,  "Girls  in  Institu- 
tions," and  Mrs.  G.  J.  Charlton,  "To  Investigate  Management  of 
State  Institutions  under  Civil  Service." 

The  first  official  publication  of  the  Federation,  "The  Bulletin," 
was  issued  in  February  1909  and  met  with  immediate  interest  and 
favor.  Mrs.  Everett  became  editor  in  chief  with  Mrs.  Bacon  assisting 
and  Miss  Grace  Temple  acting  as  business  manager.  The  subscrip- 
tion reached  the  seventeen  hundred  mark  before  the  second  number 
was  published.     It  was  issued  three  times  a  year. 

Most  excellent  work  was  done  during  this  administration  through 
the  Committees  on  Library  Extension,  Education  and  Industrial  Con- 
ditions. The  first  committee  was  in  possession  of  225  travelling 
libraries,  averaging  fifty  books  each  which  had  been  given  by  the  clubs 
of  the  Federation.  The  Federation  was  actively  engaged  in  sup- 
porting a  Library  Extension  bill  prepared  by  the  Legislative  Com- 
mittee and  which  became  a  law,  July  first,  1909.  It  presented  to  the 
State  of  Illinois  its  libraries  and  trunks  valued  at  $5,000.00  when  the 
law  went  into  effect.  Mrs.  Eugenia  M.  Bacon.  Past  President  of  the 
Federation,  was  largely  instrumental  in  the  passage  of  the  bill,  having 
appeared  before  the  Le,gislature  time  after  time  in  its  support. 

Mr.  Francis  G.  Blair,  in  speaking  before  the  Oak  Park  Conven- 
tion in  1909,  announced  the  appointment  of  two  members  of  the  new 
Library  Commission,  saying  that  when  the  Library  Board  met  to 
make  the  appointments,  the  name  of  one  woman  came  to  the  minds 
of  all,  because  to  her,  more  than  to  any  other  one  person,  was  clue  the 


65 

passage  of  the  bill.  Her  fine  co-operation  with  the  Library  Board 
and  her  fourteen  years  of  continuous  service  were  greatly  appreciated. 
That  woman  was  IMrs.  Bacon  and  she  continued  to  be  a  member  of 
the  Commission  for  ten  years. 

Mrs.  Eaymond  Robins,  as  Chairman  of  the  Industrial  Committee, 
called  a  conference  at  Hull  House  to  consider  the  industrial,  health 
and  safety  conditions  under  which  men,  women  and  children  were 
working.  Many  noted  social  workers  took  part  and  the  subjects  dis- 
cussed were:  "Women  Workers  and  the  Social  Costs  of  the  New 
Industrialism,"  "Social  Safeguards  Through  Union  Organization," 
"Employers'  Liability  for  Trade  Injuries,"  "Protected  Machinery  Leg- 
islation" and  "Limitation  of  Hours  for  Women's  Work." 

It  is  interesting  to  note  that  the  Industrial  Commission,  ap- 
pointed later  by  Governor  Deneen  to  help  in  the  enactment  of  laws 
for  the  health,  comfort  and  safety  of  the  working  men  and  women 
of  Illinois,  earnestly  considered  the  questions  discussed  at  this  con- 
ference. 

Notable  work  was  also  being  done  in  an  educational  way  by  the 
Public  Health  Committee  which  had  been  changed  from  a  Special  to 
a  Standing  Committee,  and  which  was  stressing  tuberculosis,  venereal 
disease  and  narcotics.  The  Education  Committee  urged  industrial 
education,  ethical  instruction  and  medical  inspection  in  the  public 
schools,  and  worked  for  a  bill  to  exclude  fraternities  and  sororities 
from  the  secondary  and  elementary  public  schools  of  the  state. 

The  Fifteenth  Annual  Convention  of  the  Federation  was  held 
in  the  First  Congregational  Church,  Oak  Park,  November  9,  10,  11, 
12,  1909,  on  invi'tation  of  the  Sixth  District.  The  Local  Board  was 
made  up  of  Mesdames  David  W.  Beggs,  Honorary  Chairman,  A.  W. 
Bryant,  Chairman  and  John  C.  Swinson,  Walter  Ferrier,  John  C. 
McDonald,  Andrew  P.  Coon,  C.  H.  Zimmerman,  Mark  Henry,  Charles 
A.  Danz,  W.  J.  Burgess,  Frederick  K.  Tracy,  Charles  W.  Mann, 
Eobert  L.  McCall,  Thomas  White,  Alexander  L.  Parker,  Charles  Lane, 
P.  D.  Konald,  C.  W.  Poorman  and  Miss  Florence  Beckett. 

On  Tuesday  afternoon  an  informal  tea  was  given  by  Mrs.  Herman 
Winslow,  Auvergne  Lodge,  Eiver  Forest.  On  Wednesday  a  reception 
was  given  by  the  Nineteenth  Century  Club  in  their  rooms  in  Scovel 
Institute  and  on  Thursday  another  reception  was  held  in  the  Oak 
Park  Club  House. 

There  was  present  at  this  meeting  the  largest  voting  body 
recorded  in  the  history  of  the  Federation,  471  delegates  being  regis- 
tered. The  program  was  an  exceedinglv  fine  one  in  every  respect  and 
among  the  notable  speakers  were :  Francis  G.  Blair,  Superintendent 
of  Public  Instruction ;  Wm.  Hard  of  Everbody's  Magazine  who  talked 
on  "Snobbishness  and  Education;"  Dr.  Harvey  W.  Wiley  on  "In- 
fluence of  Women's  Clubs  on  Public  Welfare ;"  Mrs.  Herman  J.  Hall, 
Curator  of  Chicago  Academy  Fine  Arts;  Joseph  Mason  and  Wm.  B. 
Moulton  who  talked  on  Civil  Service ;  Dr.  Caroline  Bartlet  Crane  on 
"The  Call  of  the  Almshouse:"  Dr.  Anna  Howard  Shaw  on  Social 
Heredity:  Clifford  Eoe  who  directed  the  campaign  against  the  white 
slave  traffic  and  Mrs.  Maude  Ballington  Booth  who  was  compelled  to 


66 

divide  her  time  between  two  audiences.  Mrs.  Bacon  and  Mrs.  Wat- 
kins  addressed  the  overflow  meeting  until  Mrs.  Booth  could  take  her 
place. 

Eesolutions  adopted  at  Oak  Park  concerned  the  Ten  Hour  Law 
for  Women;  TrafEc  in  Women  and  Girls;  Adult  Probation;  Peace, 
"A  one  day  peace  program  for  each  club,  each  year;"  The  press  in 
regard  to  criminal  and  sensational  matter;  Supremacy  of  Law;  The 
Hetch-Hetchy  Valley ;  Good  Eoads.  Also  a  resolution  of  sympathy  on 
the  recent  death  of  Mrs.  Evelyn  Allen  Frake,  Past  President  of  the 
Federation. 

The  first  Public  Health  Conference  was  held  at  this  meeting, 
being  dignified  with  a  place  on  the  evening  program.  Mrs.  Ellen 
M.  Henrotin,  Dr.  Mary  G.  McEwen  and  Dr.  Anna  E.  Blount  were  the 
speakers. 

During  this  administration  the  Art  Committee  arranged  a  loan 
collection  made  up  of  originals  of  Illinois  artists  and  this  collection 
was  sent  throughout  the  state.  The  Civics  Committee  made  a  plea 
for  good  roads,  stating  that  only  8  per  cent  of  Illinois  roads  were 
improved  and  that  they  were  the  worst  in  the  entire  middle  west. 

At  this  time  there  were  314  clubs  in  the  Federation  with  a  mem-, 
bership  of  29,037. 

.  The  Legislative  Committee  reported  that  four  of  the  seven  Tbills 
endorsed  by  the  Federation  had  passed  the  Legislature  in  1909.  One 
was  the  Library  Commission  Bill  already  referred  to,  two  bills  relat- 
ing to  the  suppression  of  the  white  slave  traffic  and  one  to  revise  the 
law  relating  to  charities  and  corrections. 

The  same  officers  continued  to  serve  through  1910.     The  Vice- 
Presidents  for  this  period  were :     Mesdames  George  P.  Vosbrink,  1 
Laura  E.  E.  Fischer,  2 ;  Freeman  E.  Brown,  3 ;  Jessie  H.  Gaebler,  4 
Amelia  Grundverg,  5 ;  David    W.  Beggs,  6 ;  Wm.  Severin,  7 ;  Etta  E 
Brainerd,  8 ;  James  P.  Houston,  9 ;  Chas.  H.  Thompson,  10 ;  John 
F.   Courtney,  Lockport,   11 ;  Miss  Jessie  I.   Spafford,  Eockford,  12 
Mesdames  Walter  Dalzell,  Eochelle,  13;  J.  E.  Webster,  Monmouth 
14;  ]Sr.  0.  Crissey,  Avon,  15;  W.  E.  Curran.  Pekin,  16;  E.  N.  Mc- 
Cauley,  Normal,  17;  Morton  W.  Thompson,  Danville,  18;  Dora  Her- 
rick,  Farmer  City,  19 ;  T.  J.  Schweer,  Beardstown,  20 ;  J.  Harvey 
Brown,  Divernon,  21 ;  Dr.  Louise  Eavold,  Greenville,  22 ;  Mesdames 
Chas.  E.  Hull,  Salem,  23;  P.  0.  Johns,  Metropolis,  24;  George  H. 
Mayer,  Duquoin,  25. 

Standing  Committees  included  Mesdames  Howard  T.  Willson, 
Virden,  Art;  E.  M.  Henderson,  Chicago,  Civics;  A.  W.  Bryant,  Oak 
Park,  Civil  Service;  Elmer  Ei.  Kendall,  Chicago,  Forestry;  I.  S. 
Blackwelder,  Morgan  Park,  Education;  E.  M.  Barnes,  Macon,  House- 
hold Economics;  Frederick  Tice,  Chicago,  Philanthropy;  George  E. 
Bacon,  Decatur,  Legislative;  Florence  Allin  Ingalls,  Eiver  Forest, 
Library  Extension;  Daniel  M.  Cobb,  Highland  Park,  Literature  and 
Eeciprocity;  H.  H.  Whitten,  Peoria,  Music;  Dr.  Eachelle  S.  Yarros, 
Chicago,  Industrial;  Mesdames  George  Watkins,  Chicago,  Public 
Health;  Minne  Starr  Grainger,  Belvidere,  Program;  C.  H.  Betts, 
Chicago,  Pure  Food;  Eobert  F.  Cummings,  Chicago,  Transportation; 


67 

John  C.  Swinson,  Chicago,  Printing  and  Credentials;  John  H.  Beers, 
Chicago,  Eevision :  Albert  R.  Martin,  Chicago,  Auditing. 

The  Sixteenth  Annual  Meeting  was  held  in  Peoria,  at  the 
Peoria  Woman's  Club  House,  jSTovember  15,  16,  17,  18,  1910,  the 
Club  acting  as  hostess  for  the  second  time  to  the  Federation.  Mrs. 
Clara  P.  Bourland  who  helped  to  organize  the  Illinois  Federation 
was  Honorary  Chairman  of  the  Local  Board  and  Mrs.  Chas.  F. 
White  was  Chairman.  They  were  assisted  by  Miss  Caroline  Rice  and 
Mesdames  W.  R.  Curran,  T.  0.  Tanton,  Milton  Xewman,  Howard 
Priestly,  J.  B.  Bartholomew,  J.  Howard  Sevmour,  J.  C.  Poffen- 
berger,  W.  F.  Wolfner,  W.  B.  Watts,  C.  U."^  Collins,  W.  S.  Parry, 
John  H.  Kuhl,  W.  C.  Collins,  J.  A.  Hunter,  W.  A.  Hinckle  and 
Misses  Mary  H.  White,  May  Pinkney  and  Anna  Resor. 

The  Woman  Teachers'  Club  gave  an  informal  reception  to  the 
delegates  in  their  club  house  on  Wednesday  afternoon  and  on  Friday 
a  drive  over  the  city  was  given,  stopping  at  the  Country  Club  for 
tea.    Thursday  there  was  a  reception  at  the  Peoria  Woman's  Club. 

On  Tuesday  and  Wednesday  evenings  veiy  elaborate  musical 
programs  preceded  the  addresses  which  were  given,  on  the  first  eve- 
ning by  Dr.  Harriet  D.  Chandler  on  Public  Health,  and  on  Wednes- 
day by  Governor  A.  0.  Eberhart  of  Minnesota,  who  spoke  on 
'^oman  in  the  Life  and  Development  of  the  State."  Among  the 
other  speakers  were :  Mrs.  Frances  Squire  Potter,  Miss  Mary  E.  ]\Ic- 
Dowell,  Mrs.  Ernest  Vosburgh,  Judge  Stephen  R.  Foster,  Dr.  Wallace 
W.  Atwood,  Mrs.  Elia  W.  Peattie,  Miss  Bertha  M.  Miller,  and  Mrs. 
Addison  F.  Broomhall,  President  Ohio  Federation.  Mrs.  Howard  T. 
Willson  of  Virden,  prominently  identified  with  club  work  for  many 
years,  presented  the  report  of  the  Art  Committee  of  which  she  was 
chairman. 

Mrs.  George  R.  Bacon  held  a  conference  of  Club  Presidents  who 
discussed  ''The  Relation  of  Club  Women  to  the  Public  Schools,"  and 
Mrs.  Andrew  S.  Caldwell  presided  over  a  meeting  of  the  District  Vice- 
Presidents,  arrangement  of  the  subject  for  discussion  being  most 
excellent.  The  whole  program  was  a  veiT  practical  one  and  conformed 
closely  to  the  work  of  the  Federation. 

Several  important  amendments  were  made  in  the  constitution 
at  this  time,  one  stating  the  size  of  a  club.  Formerly,  the  minimum 
number  constituting  eligibility  for  membership  in  the  State  Federation 
was  twenty.  This  number  was  now  reduced  to  ten.  A  second  amend- 
ment required  that  a  person  must  have  served  on  the  Board  of  Direc- 
tors for  one  year  to  be  eligible  to  election  as  an  officer  in  the  Federa- 
tion. A  third  changed  the  election  of  District  Vice-Presidents  so 
they  might  be  nominated  in  their  several  districts  and  confirmed  by 
the  State  Board.  Up  to  1908  a  caucus  would  be  held  during  the  State 
Convention  and  Vice-Presidents  would  be  nominated  by  the  delegates. 

Other  amendments  included  one  making  all  former  State  Presi- 
dents voting  members  of  the  delegate  l)ody,  one  requiring  that  dues 
must  be  paid  by  ^lay  first  and  one  making  District  Vice-Presidents 
members  of  the  State  Board  of  Directors. 


68 

The  resolutions  passed  at  this  meeting  referred  to  the  press, 
voicing  the  hope  that  the  Sunday  comic  supplements  might  be  aban- 
doned; Industrial  School  for  girls;  National  Floral  Emblem,  recom- 
mending that  the  state  adopt  a  state  flower;  White  Pine  Forests; 
Child  Saving,  children  selling  merchandise  on  the  streets  and  fac- 
tory inspection. 

The  Forestry  Committee,  which  had  begun  its  work  in  1903,  was 
changed  to  the  Conservation  Department,  and  included  in  the  scope 
of  its  work,  soil,  minerals,  animal  life,  birds  and  waterways.  The 
Committee  on  Philanthropy  stressed  the  almshouse  problem  in  the 
state,  with  special  emphasis  on  the  need  of  trained  nurses,  and  the 
proper  care  and  treatment  of  tuberculous  inmates. 


69 

THE  NINTH  BIENNIUM. 

Mrs.  Minne  Staer  Grainger. 
1910—1913. 


Mrs.  Clarence  G.  Goodwin,  born  Minne  Starr  of  Belvidere,  later 
becoming  Mrs.  Grainger,  and  known  as  Mrs.  Minne  Starr  Grainger 
when  President,  has  made  her  home  for  many  years  in  Chicago,  on  the 
south  side,  where  Dr.  Goodwin,  who  died  in  the  summer  of  1926  was 
a  practising  physician.    Mrs.  Goodwin  has  no  children. 

She  was  educated  in  the  South  Belvidere  High  School  and  the 
Illinois  State  Normal  at  Normal. 

Her  first  club  position  of  importance  was  as  President  of  the 
Ganesha  Club  of  Belvidere.  She  then  served  as  Vice-President  of  the 
Park  Eidge  School,  President  of  the  Twelfth  District,  I.  F.  W.  C, 
Program  Chairman  of  the  State  Federation  and  then  President,  fol- 
lowed by  the  office  of  General  Fedration  State  Secretary.  In  1923 
Mrs.  Goodwin  became  Chairman  of  Finance  in  the  State  Federation, 
assuming  also  the  work  of  printing.  In  1927  she  became  a  courtesy 
member  of  the  Board  with  the  title  of  Business  Supervisor  and  in 
general  charge  of  the  affairs  of  Headquarters. 

She  is  a  trained  parliamentarian  and  has  served  in  that  capacity 
for  the  Second  District,  the  Chicago  Woman's  Club,  Bryn  Mawr, 
Woodlawn  Study,  South  Shore  Ed-so-phil  Clubs  and  the  Illinois 
Woman's  Press  Association.  She  is  also  a  special  teacher  at  the 
Baptist  Missionary  Training  School. 


-  The  officers  elected  at  the  Peoria  meeting  were :  President,  Mrs. 
Minne  Starr  Grainger,  Belvidere;  Vice-President  at  Large,  Mrs.  P. 
0.  Johns,  Metropolis;  Recording  Secretary,  Mrs.  Edward  L.  Murfey, 
Chicago;  Corresponding  Secretary,  Mrs.  John  C.  Swinson,  Chicago; 
Treasurer,  Mrs.  John  Harvey  Brown,  Divernon;  General  Federation 
Secretary,  Mrs.  Francis  D.  Everett,  Highland  Park ;  Parliamentarian, 
Mrs.  John  D.  Sherman,  Chicago. 

The  Vice-Presidents  for  Congressional  District  were:  Mes- 
dames  George  P.  Vosbrink,  1 ;  0.  T.  Hurlburd,  2 ;  Freeman  E.  Brown, 
3;  John  C.  Bley,  4;  Leila  A.  Martin,  5;  Andrew  P.  Coon,  6;  Wm. 
Severin,  7 ;  Miss  Hattie  Damert,  8 ;  Mrs.  James  P.  Houston,  9 ;  Dr. 
Alice  Barlow  Brown,  Winnetka,  10;  Mesdames  John  F.  Courtney, 
Lockport,  11;  J.  W.  Pettit,  Ottawa,  12;  E.  L.  Vaille,  Rochelle,  13; 
E.  C.  Hiatt,  Bushnell,  14;  N.  0.  Crissey,  Avon,  15;  Howard  Priestly, 
Princeton,  16;  E.  N.  McCauley,  Normal,  17;  Eichard  A.  Young, 
Casey,  18;  Dora  Herrick,  Farmer  City,  19;  Jacob  Dohm,  Greenfield, 
20;  James  Partridge,  Pawnee,  21;  Emma  L.  Tulley,  Granite  City, 
22;  Charles  E.  Hull,  Salem,  23;  J.  B.  Blackman,  Harrisburg,  24; 
George    H.  Mayer,  DuQuoin,  25. 

Standing  Committees  had  been  changed  to  Departments  of  Work 
and  the  Chairmen  for  those  departments  were:  Mesdames  Howard 
T.  Willson,  Virden,  Art;  Eobt.  L.  McCall,  Chicago,   Civics;  A.  W. 


70 

Bryant,  Oak  Park,  Civil  Service;  Elmer  E.  Kendall,  Chicago,  Con- 
servation; I.  S.  Blackwelder,  Morgan  Park,  Education;  Alice  P.  Nor- 
ton, Chicago,  Household  Economics;  C.  H.  Betts,  Chicago,  Pure 
Food;  Miss  Anna  Nicholes,  Chicago,  Legislative;  Mesdames  Florence 
Allin  Jngalls,  Eiver  Forest,  Library  Extension;  Frank  B.  Cornell, 
Elgin,  Literature  and  Eeciprocity;  H.  H.  Whitten,  Peoria,  Music; 
George  Watkins,  Chicago,  Public  Health;  L.  L.  Loehr,  Chicago,  Phil- 
anthropy; Miss  Mary  McDowell,  Chicago,  Industrial  and  Social  Con- 
ditions. 

Standing  Committee  chairmen  were:  Mesdames  Albert  E. 
Martin,  Chicago,  Auditing;  Harry  S.  Hyman,  Chicago,  Program; 
Chas.  B.  Young,  Aurora,  Printing  and  Credentials;  Laura  E.  E. 
Fischer,  Chicago,  Eevisions;  Miss  Kate  F.  O'Connor,  Eockford,  Trans- 
portation. 

Special  Committee,  Bulletin,  Mrs.  Francis  D.  Everett,  Chairman. 

During  this  administration  the  public  health  work  was  carried 
on  very  intensively  and  was  directed  along  three  lines,  the  most  im- 
])ortant  and  ambitious  of  which  was  the  Tuberculosis  Survey,  the 
(irst  attempt  to  survey  an  entire  state.  The  committee  also  worked 
for  the  establishment  of  a  Federal  Health  Service  and  continued  their 
interest  in  the  Social  Hj'giene  program  begun  several  years  before. 
The  Tuberculosis  Survey  helped  to  lay  the  foundation  for  what  was, 
for  many  years,  one  of  the  most  efficient  Tuberculosis  Associations  in 
the  country,  helping  to  reduce  the  mortality  from  the  disease  50  per 
cent  in  fifteen  years.  The  Federation  can  always  point  with  pride  to 
this  fine  piece  of  public  health  work.  Dr.  Mary  G.  McEwen  was 
Chairman  of  the  department  when  this  work  was  carried  on. 

The  club  women  of  this  period  also  gave  valuable  aid  to  the 
cause  of  Civil  Service  as  they  materially  assisted  in  placing  the 
charitable  institutions  of  the  state  under  the  Merit  System.  There 
was  much  agitation  directed  against  unsanitary  food  shops  and  the 
Pure  Food  and  Sanitary  Food  Laws  were  passed  and  upheld.  Interest 
in  general  public  affairs  was  urged  through  the  Civics  Committee  which 
adopted  a  large  and  comprehensive  program.  Effective  work  for  the 
proper  care  and  education  of  girls  was  carried  on.  Efforts  were  put 
forth  to  secure  new  art  collections  and  an  interstate  loan  system  was 
established.  The  music  of  Illinois  composers  was  studied  and  the 
singing  of  "Illinois"  was  urged  in  all  clubs,  schools  and  places  of  pub- 
lic gathering. 

To  conform  to  the  resolution  passed  at  Oak  Park  in  1909,  con- 
cerning the  Industrial  School  for  girls  at  Park  Eidge,  and  the  Fed- 
eration's endorsement  of  this  institution,  a  committee  was  appointed 
to  raise  funds  for  a  building  to  take  care  of  from  twenty  to  twenty- 
five  girls  and  to  be  known  as  Illinois  Cottage.  Mrs.  Andrew  P.  Coon 
was  the  first  chairman  and  was  succeeded  the  second  year  by  Mrs. 
Frederick  K.  Tracy.  Mrs.  Coon  continued  to  work  as  ^dee-chairman, 
and  these  two  women  with  their  committee,  were  indefatigable  in 
their  efforts  to  raise  the  $10,000,  at  first  thought  sufficient  for  the 
work.  It  was  soon  found,  however,  that  this  amount  would  not  be 
adequate  to  complete  and  furnish  the  building  so  another  $5,000.00 


71 

was  raised.  As  soon  as  the  $15,000  was  raised  a  Maintenance  Fund 
was  started,  the  income  of  which  was  to  be  used  for  the  support  and 
upkeep  of  the  building. 

The  site  was  chosen  during  Mrs.  Goodwin's  Presidency  and  the 
building  completed  and  dedicated  in  September,  1914,  just  before 
Mrs.  Dow  left  the  chair.  It  stands  as  a  monument  to  the  good  work 
done  by  Mrs.  Henrotin,  whose  life  had  been  given  to  the  cause  of 
protecting  the  dependent  girl,  and  to  the  two  administrations  which 
made  her  "dreams  come  true.'' 

The  Bulletin  was  enlarged  and  made  to  pay  for  itself.  Mrs. 
Grainger  was  elected  Editor  in  June,  1911. 

The  Seventeenth  Annual  Meeting  was  held  in  Galesburg,  No- 
vember 14,  15,  16,  17,  1911,  in  the  Presbyterian  Church  and  on  in- 
vitation of  the  Sorosis  and  Oliver  Wendell  Holmes  Clubs.  The  Local 
Board  was  made  up  of  Mesdames  A.  0.  Eich,  Chairman,  and  W.  C. 
Smith,  E.  B.  Sinclair,  J.  C.  Toler,  C.  T.  Childers,  Josephine  P. 
Grubb,  H.  E.  Bates,  Fred  Dean,  L.  L.  Steele,  John  Zoll,  E.  S.  Tobey, 
T.  C.  Minehan,  M.  A.  Overstreet,  G.  0.  Bechtel,  E.  C.  Praning,  A. 
L.  Andrews,  C.  W.  Warnock,  C.  H.  Trask,  N.  E.  Ives,  and  Misses 
Maude  Main  and  Mary  Scott.  An  informal  reception  was  given  the 
delegates  at  the  Church  Monday  evening,  and  on  Wednesday  after- 
noon, the  faculty  of  Knox  College  held  a  reception  at  Whiting  Hall. 
Thursday  evening  the  Galesburg  Business  Men's  Club  held  open 
house. 

The  program  was  splendidly  arranged  as  to  subject  matter,  the 
■work  of  the  Federation  being  prominently  brought  out  through  re- 
ports, speakers  and  conferences.  An  excellent  musical  program, 
added  much  to  the  pleasure  of  the  delegates.  Dr.  Wm.  A.  Evans 
talked  on  "What  Should  Be  Done  for  Tuberculosis  Through  Sani- 
toria  and  Open  Air  Schools?"  Mr.  W.  L.  Bodine's  address  was  on 
"Conservation  of  Childhood,"  Miss  Mary  Snow,  "The  Essentials  of 
Education."  An  interesting  Symposium  of  Women  was  given  one 
evening,  the  topics  being:  "Woman,  the  Public  Guardian,"  "Woman 
the  Physician,"  "Woman  the  Teacher,"  "Woman  in  Industry," 
"Woman  in  Music,"  "Woman  in  the  Drama,  and  the  Drama  League," 
"Woman  as  a  Journalist,"  "Woman  as  a  Homebuilder,"  "Woman  in 
Art." 

Mrs.  Philip  IST.  Moore,  President  of  the  General  Federation,  and 
Mrs.  Everett  W.  Pattison,  Chairman  of  the  Art  Department  of  that 
organization,  were  honored  guests,  as  well  as  Prof.  Frances  Squire 
Potter,  of  Minnesota. 

In  addition  to  tlie  special  committee  formed  to  take  care  of  the 
Illinois  Cottage  Fund,  two  others  were  formed;  a  A^igilance  Commit- 
tee of  seven  to  co-operate  with  and  protect  the  women  of  the  State 
who  earn  their  livelihood  under  the  Civil  Service  law,  and  a  Com- 
mittee on  State  Care  for  Dependent  Girls. 

The  Education  Committee  was  stressing  a  more  liberal  allowance 
of  funds  for  country  schools  and  also  for  residence  halls  for  women 


72 

at  the  University.     In  addition,  the  Committee  was  agitating  the 
use  of  school  buildings  and  their  equipment  for  the  whole  community. 

The  Legislative  Committee  reported  that  the  shortening  of  the 
day  to  ten  hours  had  not  been  followed  by  a  reduction  in  wages  as 
had  been  feared,  and  that  a  step  toward  sane  Christmas  shopping 
had  been  taken  "when  we  can  say  that  women  can  be  employed  only 
ten  hours  a  day,  no  matter  how  rushing  the  business  of  an  establish- 
ment may  be." 

The  Library  Extension  Committee  was  still  assisting  in  the  work 
of  the  Library  Extension  Commission  which  the  Federation  had  done 
so  much  to  establish,  and  had  also  just  given  six  new  libraries,  con- 
taining 375  volum.es,  to  the  State. 

The  Civil  Service  Committee  reported  passage  of  the  State  wide 
Civil  Service  bill  extending  the  merit  system,  the  passage  of  which 
was  largely  due  to  the  efforts  of  the  club  women.  The  Pure  Food 
Committee  reported  passage  of  a  sanitarj'  law  for  which  they  had 
long  been  working;  also  a  greater  interest  in  the  movement  for  the 
betterment  of  the  nation's  food  supply.  The  Philanthropy  Committee 
urged  the  proper  food  and  care  for  infants  that  the  infant  mortality 
rate  might  be  reduced,  and  a  renewed  interest  in  a  larger  and  more 
adequate  appropriation  for  the  adult  blind  by  the  State.  It  also  of- 
fered the  use  of  slides  and  lectures  to  clubs. 

The  resolutions  passed  at  Galesburg  concerned  a  Mod^^l  Law  for 
Eegistration  of  Births  and  Deaths ;  Confidence  in  the  management  of 
the  Illinois  Industrial  School  for  Girls;  Eatification  of  general  arbi- 
tration treaties  with  Great  Britain  and  Ft-ance;  Adequate  and  perm- 
anent State  care  of  dependent  girls;  asking  that  the  new  Memorial 
Highway  from  the  Atlantic  to  the  Pacific  be  called  "The  Lincoln 
Memorial  Highway." 

Total  receipts  for  the  year,  ending  November,  1911,  were 
$3,996.79;  disbursements,  $2,024.83.  There  were  374  clubs  with  a 
total  membership  of  36,900. 

The  officers  for  1911-1912  were:  President,  Mrs.  Minne  Starr 
Grainger,  Belvidere;  Vice-President  at  Large,  Mrs.  John  Harvey 
Brown,  Divernon;  Eecording  Secretary,  Mrs.  J.  Kibben  Ingalls 
(Florence  Allin)  Eiver  Forest;  Corresponding  Secretary,  Mrs.  John 
C.  Swinson,  Chicago;  Treasurer,  Mrs.  George  H.  Mayer,  Kinmundy; 
G.  F.  State  Secretary,  Mrs.  Francis  D.  Everett,  Highland  Park. 

Mrs.  George  W.  Plummer  of  Chicago  took  the  place  of  Mrs. 
John  D.  Sherman  as  Parliamentarian. 

The  Vice-Presidents  of  Congressional  Districts  were:  Mesdames 
Frederick  A.  Dow,  1 ;  0.  T.  Hurlburd,  2;  C.  Houghton  White,  3; 
John  C.  Bley,  4;  Emma  Henderson,  5;  Andrew  P.  Coon,  6;  Clifford 
Miller,  Park  Eidge,  7;  Maurice  C.  O'Connor,  9;  Dr.  Alice  Barlow 
Smith,  Winnetka,  10;  Mesdames  J.  W.  Pettit,  Ottawa,  12;  H.  D. 
Bentley,  Freeport,  13;  E.  C.  Hiatt,  Bushnell,  14;  Anne  J.  Wood, 
Quincy,  15;  Howard  Priestly,  Princeton,  16;  0.  P.  Bourland,  Pontiac, 
17;  Eichard  A.  Young,  Casey,  18;  Daniel  P.  Mclntire,  Champaign, 
19 ;  Jacob  Dohm,  Greenfield,  20 ;  Maud  M.  Baldwin,  Litchfield,  21 ; 


73 

Em  ma  L.  Tulley,  Granite  City,  22 ;  Albert  Watson,  Mt.  Vernon,  23 ; 
J.  B.  Blackman,  Harrisburg,  24;  Dr.  Harriet  M.  Daniel,  Murphys- 
boro,  25. 

The  Chairmen  of  the  Departments  of  Work  were:  Mesdames 
Stephen  M.  B.  Hunt,  La  Grange,  Art;  Eobt.  L.  McCall,  Chicago, 
Civics;  Wm.  Severin,  Chicago,  Civil  Service;  Elmer  E.  Kendall, 
Chicago,  Consenation ;  Laura  B.  Evans,  Taylorville,  Education; 
Alice  P.  Norton,  Chicago,  Household  Economics;  James  C.  Long, 
Geneva,  Pure  Food;  Miss  Anna  Nicholes,  Chicago,  Legislative;  Mes- 
dames, J.  L.  Eeilly,  Chicago,  Library  Extension;  Frank  B.  Cornell, 
Elgin,  Literature  and  Reciprocity;  Constance  Barlow  Smith,  Urbana, 
Music;  Miss  Mary  McDowell,  Chicago,  Industrial  and  Social  Con- 
ditions; Dr.  ]Mary  G.  McEwen,  Evanston,  Public  Health;  Mrs.  Leon 
L.  Loehr,  Philanthropy. 

Chairmen  of  Standing  Committees  were:  Mesdames  Morton 
\\.  Thompson,  Danville,  Auditing ;  Chas.  B.  Young,  Aurora,  Bulletin ; 
Harry  S.  H}TTian,  Chicago,  Program;  Thos.  ^Vliite,  Oak  Park,  Print- 
ing and  Credentials;  Miss  Kate  F.  O'Connor,  Eockford,  Transporta- 
tion; Mrs.  Andrew  S.  Caldwell,  Carbondale,  Eevisions. 

Chairmen  of  Special  Committees  were :  Mesdames  A.  W.  Bry- 
ant, Oak  Park,  Civil  Sevice  Vigilance  Committee;  George  Bass,  Chi- 
cago, State  Care  for  Dependent  Girls;  Andrew  P.  Coon,  Illinois  Cot- 
tage Fund  Committee. 

The  Eighteenth  Annual  Convention  was  held  in  Aurora  in  the 
East  Aurora  High  School,  November  12,  13,  14,  15,  1912  by  invita- 
tion of  the  Woman^s  Club.  The  Local  Board  was  made  up  of  Mes- 
dames Alfred  E.  Walker,  Honorary  Chairman,  Henrv'  P.  Grimm, 
Chairman  and  John  T.  Mason,  Chas.  F.  Wade,  F.  T.  Bell,  Wm.  E. 
Gillette,  T.  N.  Holdeu,  Ella  Carlisle,  J.  0.  Mason,  M.  S.  Eice,  M.  C. 
Eandolph,  S.  D.  Seamans,  L.  A.  Constantine,  Joe  Crego,  C.  S.  Kil- 
bourne,  E.  D.  Terry,  Theodore  Worcester,  Pierce  Burton,  J.  H.  Bliss, 
A.  J.  Hopkins,  S.  D.  Brown,  N.  C.  Simmons,  T.  J.  Parker,  W.  S. 
Mack,  Alice  D.  Wernicke. 

Ajiother  excellent  program  with  much  fine  music  was  offered 
the  delegate  body  and  the  auditorium  of  the  new  and  modern  High 
School  proved  a  comfortable  and  convenient  meeting  place.  An 
evening  reception  was  held  in  the  school  house  and  the  delegates  were 
taken  on  a  trip  to  the  Geneva  State  Home  for  Girls. 

Among  the  prominent  speakers  were:  Mesdames  Percy  V. 
Pennybacker,  President,  Olaf  M.  Guldin,  Home  Economics  Chair- 
man and  Imogene  B.  Oakley,  Civil  Service  Chairman  of  the  General 
Federation,  and  Mrs.  Fred  H.  Cole,  Ex-President  of  the  Nebraska 
Federation.  The  Baroness  Bertha  Von  Suttner,  member  of  the  Inter- 
national Bureau  of  Peace,  Berne,  Switzerland,  talked  on  "Europe's 
Need  of  America  in  Peace  Arbitration ;"  Miss  Virginia  Brooks  on 
"Women  in  the  Municipality.''  Ernest  Freunde,  Miss  Julia  Lathrop 
and  D'r.  Caroline  Hedger  were  also  on  the  program. 

Names  new  at  this  meeting,  but  which  later  came  to  be  well 
known,  were  those  of  Mrs.  George  Bass,  President  of  the  Chicago 
Woman's  Club,  and,  during  the  next  administration.  Chairman  of  the 


74 

Local  Board  for  the  Chicago  Biennial  of  the  General  Federation,  Mrs. 
Eobt.  L.  McCall,  Mrs.  Wm.  Severin,  Mrs.  Laura  B.  Evans,  Mrs. 
Chas.  B.  Young,  much  beloved  and  later  to  die  a  very  tragic  death, 
Mrs.  James  C.  Long,  Mrs.  Frederick  W.  Blocki,  reporting  as  a  dele- 
gate to  the  National  Conservation  Congress,  Miss  Kate  F.  O'Connor 
and  Mrs.  Morton  W.  Thompson.  Mrs.  Carrie  Jacobs  Bond  delighted 
her  hearers  with  her  original  songs  and  stories.  The  usual  monotony 
of  the  District  Vice-Presidents'  session  was  varied  by  each  of  the  re- 
tiring oflBcers  talking  on  a  different  angle  of  club  work.  Conferences 
were  held  separately  by  the  Art,  Civics,  Civil  Service,  Music  and  Pub- 
lic Health  Departments. 


75 

THE  TENTH  BIENNIUM. 

Governor  of  Illinois,  President  of  the  TJ.  S. 

1913—1917.  1913—1921. 

Edward  F.  Dunne.   Mrs.  Feederick  A.  Dow.   Woodrow  Wilson. 

1912—1914. 


Mrs.  Frederick  A.  Dow,  of  Hinsdale,  like  so  many  other  women 
who  have  served  the  Illinois  Federation  as  its  President,  is  a  native 
daughter,  having  been  born  in  Galena,  in  the  extreme  northwestern 
part  of  the  state.     Mr.  and  Mrs.  Dow  have  no  children. 

Her  education  was  acquired  in  the  Galena  Public  Schools,  Nor- 
mal School  at  Normal  and  the  Well's  Schools  of  Pedagogy  of  Teachers 
in  Oregon. 

During  the  war  Mrs.  Dow  was  prominently  identified  with  the 
work  of  the  State  Council  of  National  Defense,  serving  as  Vice-Chair- 
man  for  the  Woman's  Division. 

She  has  been  President  of  the  Arche  Club  of  Chicago,  one  of  the 
largest  and  most  important  of  the  south  side  clubs ;  President  of  the 
First  District.  I.  F.  W.  C,  and  of  the  State  Federation.  She  also 
served  as  General  Federation  Secretary  for  Illinois.  She  is  at  present 
a  member  of  the  Public  Affairs  Committee  of  the  Chicago  Woman's 
Club,  a  member  of  the  Legislative  Committee  of  that  club  and  of  the 
Hinsdale  Woman's  Club ;  and  is  Chairman  of  the  Kesolutions  and 
Eevisions  Committee  of  the  Arche  Club. 

Mrs.  Dow  is  particularly  interested  in  Garden  Clubs,  feeling  that 
they  are  of  vital  interest  to  our  Better  American  Home  work,  and  she 
includes  this  subject  among  her  lectures  which  she  gives  before 
organizations  all  over  the  state. 

She  does  not  limit  her  activities  to  club  work  as  she  is  one  of  the 
Vice-Presidents  of  the  Illinois  Eepublican  Women's  Clubs  and  Chair- 
man of  its  Program  and  Speakers  Committee. 


The  officers  elected  in  Aurora,  were:  President,  Mrs.  Frederick 
A.  Dow,  Chicago;  Vice-President  at  Large,  Mrs.  John  Harvey  Brown, 
Divernon ;  Recording  Secretary,  Mrs.  J.  Kibben  Ingalls,  River  Forest ; 
Corresponding  Secretary,  Mrs.  Chas.  EL  Hull,  Salem;  Treasurer,  Mrs. 
George  H.  Mayer,  Kinmundy;  G.  F.  State  Secretary,  Mrs.  Minne 
Starr  Grainger,  Belvidere. 

The  District  Vice-Presidents  for  1912-1913  were:  Mesdames 
John  F.  Thompson,  1;  Richard  L.  Pennington,  2;  C.  Houghton 
White,  3;  Thos.  E.  Hickey,  4;  Emma  Henderson,  5;  Chas.  H.  Zim- 
merman, G;  Clifford  Miller,  Park  Ridge,  7;  Alma  E.  Schlain,  8; 
Maurice  C.  O'Connor,  9 ;  John  Harper  Long,  Evanston,  10 ;  A.  E. 
Walker,  Hinsdale,  11 ;  Edwin  C.  Page,  De  Kalb,  12 ;  H.  D.  Bentley, 
Freeport,  13;  Miss  Elizabeth  Martin,  Monmouth,  14;  Mesdames  Anne 
J.  Wood,  Quincy,  15;  A.  B.  McGill,  Peoria,  16;  0.  P.  Bourland, 
Pontiac,  17;  D.  E.  Styles,  Momence,  18;  Daniel  P.  Mclntyre,  Cham- 
paign, 19;  C.  E.  Smoot,  Petersburg,  20;  Maud  M.  Baldwin,  Litch- 
field, 21;  L.  C.  Haynes,  East  St.  Louis,  22;  Albert  Watson,  Mt.  Ver- 


76 

non,  23 ;  Morris  Blasker,  Carmi,  24 ;  Dr.  Harriet  M.  Daniel,  Miir- 
physboro,  25.  Official  Parliamentarian,  Mrs.  George  W.  Plummer, 
Chicago. 

Tlie  Chairmen  of  Standing  Committees  for  the  same  year  were : 
Mesdames  Stephen  M.  B.  Hunt,  La  Grange,  Art;  Moses  L.  Purvin, 
Chicago,  Civics;  Wm.  Severin,  Chicago,  Civil  Service;  Fred  W. 
Blocki,  Chicago,  Conservation;  Laura  B.  Evans,  Tajdorville,  Educa- 
tion; Henry  A.  Morgan,  Chicago,  Household  Economics;  James  C. 
Long,  Geneva,  Pure  Food ;  Eobert  Bruce  Farson,  St.  Charles,  Library 
Extension;  Benjamin  E.  Page,  Highland  Park,  Legislative;  George 
Thomas  Palmer,  Springfield,  Literature  and  Reciprocity;  Constance 
Barlow  Smith,  IJrbana,  Music;  0.  T.  Hurlburd,  Chicago,  Industrial 
and  Social  Conditions;  Dr.  Mary  G.  McEwen,  Evanston,  Public 
Healtli;  Mrs.  0.  P.  Johns,  Metropolis,  Philanthropy. 

The  Chairmen  of  Standing  Committees  were :  Mesdames  Mor- 
ton W.  Thompson,  Danville,  Auditing;  Laura  S.  Eabb,  Chicago,  Bul- 
letin; Thos.  White,  Oak  Park,  Printing  and  Credentials;  John  C. 
Swinson,  Chicago,  Program;  Andrew  S.  Caldwell.  Carbondale,  Ee- 
visions;  Chas.  B.  Young,  Aurora,  Transportation. 

The  Chairmen  of  the  Special  Committees  were:  Mesdames 
Minne  Starr  Grainger,  Eesolutions;  George  Bass,  Dependent  Girls; 
Fred  K.  Tracy,  Illinois  Cottage  Fund. 

During  this  administration,  as  during  the  preceding  one,  the 
work  of  public  health  was  vigorously  pushed  and  the  tuberculosis  sur- 
vey continued  withjnuch  success.^  It  took  tliree^  j^ears  fo'^copniplete 
this- survej  and  a  very  comprehensive  report  of  the  work  Is  given  by 
DrTTdsephine  Milligan,  of  Jacksonville,  of  the  sub-committee  respon- 
sible for  the  work.  This  report  is  published  in  the  1914-1915  Year 
Boot,  and  al)rief  resume  of  it  shows  that  all  the  twenty-five  districts 
in  the  state  reported  in  some  way  on  it;  that  nineteen  districts  re- 
ported from  all  their  counties;  that  eighty-seven  out  of  one  hundred 
and  two  counties  reported,  and  that  nine  counties  reported  all  their 
townships. 

Dliring  the  legislative  season  of  1913  two  objects  were  stressed_L, 
the  Suffrage  Bill  and  an  appropriation  for  the  Epij-epticj3«lony.  The 
former  gave  our  wdmeh  suffrage'lrfter-is^'eral"d:?cades  of  endorsement 
but  the  intensive  lobby  of  a  certain  group  at  this  time  created  an 
opening  wedge  for  universal  suffrage  that  followed.  The  Nurses' 
Eegitration  Bill  also  passed  at  this  time. 

The  chief  interest  of  the  Civics  Department  was  centered  upon 
the  successful  passage  of  a  bill  in  1915  permitting  the  use  of  pulalic 
schools  for  all  gatherings  of  an  educational  nature.  The  Industrial 
and  Social  Department  stressed  the  need  of  supervision  of  dance  halls 
and  the  formation  of  local  committees  to  censor  and  improve  the  five 
cent  motion  pictures  theaters. 

The  1913  Legislature  appropriated  $125,000.00  for  the  erection 
of  a  residence  hall  for  women  at  the  State  University  and  also  in- 
creased the  State  School  Fund  by  $1,000,000.  MucL-&ratification 
was  felt  by  members  of  the  Federation  over  these_a£propriations 
as  they  had  beenlargelylMtrimentM-in^ 


77 

The  Nineteenth  Annual  Meeting  of  the  Federation  was  held  in 
Evanston,  by  invitation  of  the  Tenth  District,  in  the  First  Congrega- 
tion Church,  Xovember  11,  12,  13,  14,  1913.  The  Woman's  Club 
building  served  as  Headquarters. 

The  Local  Board  consisted  of  Mesdames  John  Harper  Long, 
Honorary  Chairman,  Charles  E.  Clifton,  Chairman  and  Wm.  H. 
Farrington,  Louis  J.  Pierson,  A.  P.  C.  Matson,  Charles  E.  Steams, 
Carl  S.  Williams,  W.  E.  Paddock,  Wm.  A.  Lacy,  A.  F.  McCarrell, 
Chester  B.  Cleveland,  Eobt.  H.  Gault,  George  Bridge,  J.  A.  Odell, 
E.  L.  Harpham,  F.  A.  Vickers,  Wm.  S.  Carson,  J.  A.  Townsend, 
Chas.  H.  Betts,  U.  S.  Grant,  Wirt  E.  Humphrey,  Howard  Field,  C. 
J.  Bell,  S.  J.  Llewellyn,  L.  E.  Hildreth,  A.  D.  Sanders. 

Courtesies  were  extended  to  the  delegates  by  the  Drama  Club 
which  gave  an  entertaimnent ;  by  the  University  Guild  which  re- 
ceived at  the  home  of  Mrs.  James  Patton ;  by  the  Local  Board  which 
gave  a  reception  in  the  Woman's  Club  House;  by  the  Wilmette 
Woman's  Club  which  gave  an  "At  Home" ;  by  tea  which  was  served 
every  afternoon  at  the  Woman's  Club.  An  automobile  ride  through 
Evanston  and  to  Northwestern  University  also  gave  great  pleasure. 

Some  of  the  speakers  at  the  conferences,  luncheon  meetings  and 
regular  sessions  were :  Jens  Jensen  and  Wm.  G.  Edens  who  talked  on 
Conservation;  Dudley  Crafts  Watson  whose  subject  was,  "Art  and 
the  American  People,"  Alexander  McCormick  on  "Civil  Service  in 
our  Institutions,"  Dr.  W.  C.  Bagley,  University  of  Illinois,  Mrs. 
Ella  Flagg  Young,  Superintendent  of  Chicago  Public  Schools,  Mrs. 
Grace  Julian  Clarke,  Director  of  the  General  Federation,  and  Miss 
Helen  Bennett.  A  symposium  on  "The  New  Civic  Duty  of  the^^^lub 
Woman^^^_was_discussed  byiIrsrt^theriue''Wirn:glT  McCuTIough,  author^ 
ofjth^^^nmois  Equ!f^"Sufffage'13ill  7  Mrs.  Grace  Wilbur"  Trout"  wEo 
spoke  orP^TriTe "WomanVTIlub  and  Its  Opportunity;"  Mrs.  Sherman 
Booth,  "Our  Work  at  Springfield,"  Mrs.  Antoinette  Funk,  "The 
New  Citizenship."  Addresses  were  also  made  at  this  session  by  Mrs. 
Medill  ]\IcCormick  and  Miss  Jane  Addams. 

The  Illinois  Club  Bulletin,  the  official  organ  of  the  Federation, 
was  issued  four  times  a  year,  and  for  the  tv/o  years  1913-1914,  it  met 
all  expenses  of  its  publication. 

During  this  administration  the  number  of  clubs  increased  from 
386  to  500  and  the  membership  from  42,000  to  60,000. 

The  largest  and,  perhaps,  the  most  important  piece  of  work 
during  this  administration  was  the  entertainment  of  the  Biennial 
Convention  of  the  General  Federation  in  June,  1914.  This  proved 
to  be  one  of  the  most  successful  meetings  of  the  General  Federation 
ever  held.  The  Convention  met  in  the  Auditorium  Theater  and 
the  Headquarters  for  officers  and  delegates  was  at  the  Congress 
Hotel.  Members  from  clubs  all  over  the  State  served  on  the  various 
committees  and  money  for  the  necessary  expenses,  amounting  to 
$20,000.00,  was  raised  through  the  clubs,  and  by  gifts  from 
individuals. 


78 

The  members  of  the  executive  committee  responsible  for  the 
Biennial  were:  Mesdames  George  Bass,  Chairman;  Frederick  K. 
Tracy,  John  C.  Swinson,  George  Watkins  and  Willis  Wood,  Vice- 
Chairmen;  Andrew  P.  Coon,  Eecording  Secretary;  J.  Kibbon  Ingalls, 
Assistant;  Miss  Grace  Dixon,  Corresponding  Secretary;  Mesdames 
Thos.  White,  Treasurer;  Wm.  Stow  Heath,  Assistant;  Arnold  N. 
Heap,  Auditor;  Albert  Martin,  Assistant;  Francis  D.  Everett, 
Chairman  Biennial  Committee;  Minnie  Starr  Grainger,  G.  F.  State 
Secretary;  Frederick  A.  Dow,  Chairman  State  Advisory  Committee. 

The  Directors  were :  Mesdames  Henry  Solomon,  John  Mc- 
Mahon,  Edwin  T.  Johnson,  Calvin  Case,  Julius  Eosenwald,  George 
B.  Carpenter,  Donald  Merrill  and  John  T.  Mason. 

The  sum  of  $100.00  was  given  the  State  Federation  from  the 
treasury  of  the  Local  Biennial  Committee,  after  completion  of  its 
work,  and  this  sum  became  the  nucleus  of  the  Endowment  Fund  of 
the  I.  F.  W.  C. 

A  pledge  of  $7,000.00  had  been  made  by  the  State  Federation 
to  the  endowment  fund  of  the  General  Federation,  and  later  this 
amount  was  raised  by  the  chairman.  Miss  Jessie  Spafford,  and  her 
conunittee.  In  addition,  the  sum  of  $1,815  was  pledged  and  raised. 
During  the  same  period  that  this  $8,815.00  and  the  $30,000.00  for 
the  Biennial  expenses  were  being  raised,  the  State  was  working  on 
the  Illinois  Cottage  Maintenance  Fund.  Having  raised  these  sums 
for  other  purposes,  it  was  indeed  time  to  begin  to  thinly  about  raising 
a  state  endo^vanent  fund,  but  it  did  not  take  shape  until  seven  years 
later. 

The  officers  serving  for  the  period  1913-1914  were:  President, 
Mrs.  Fl-ederick  A.  Dow,  Chicago;  Vice-President  at  Large,  Mrs. 
Albert  Watson,  Mt.  Vernon;  Eecording  Secretary,  Mrs.  Anne  J. 
Wood,  Quincy;  CoiTesponding  Secretary,  Mrs.  Chas.  E.  Hull,  Salem; 
Treasurer,  Mrs.  Morton  W.  Thompson,  Danville;  G.  F.  State  Secre- 
tary, Mrs.  Minne  Starr  Grainger,  Belvidere.  Parliamentarian,  Mrs. 
George  W.  Plummer. 

The  Vice-Presidents  of  Districts  were :  Mesdames  John  Worthy, 
1;  Eichard  L.  Pennington,  2;  James  H.  Hood,  Chicago  Heights,  3; 
Thos.  Hickey,  4;  Leila  H.  Martin,  Wheaton,  5;  Chas.  H.  Zimmer- 
man, 6 ;  G.  W.  Halleman,  7 ;  Alma  E.  Schlein,  8 ;  F.  H.  Gansbergen, 
9;  John  Harper  Long,  Evanston,  10;  John  T.  Mason,  Aurora,  11; 
Edwin  C,  Page,  DeKalb,  12;  A.  G.  Bumham,  Dixon,  13;  Miss 
Elizabeth  Martin,  Monmouth,  14;  Mesdames  Wm.  Masters,  Oneida, 
15 ;  A.  B.  Magill,  Peoria,  16 ;  N".  D.  M'Kinney,  Bloomington,  17 ;  D. 
E.  Styles,  Momence,  18;  Miss  Georgia  Hopkins,  Shelbyville,  19; 
Mesdames  C.  E.  Smoot,  Petersburg,  20 ;  D.  D.  Shumway,  Taylorville, 
21 ;  L.  C.  Haynes,  East  St.  Louis,  22 ;  Miss  Beulah  Scarborough,  Mt. 
Carmel,  23;  Mesdames  Morris  Blasker,  Carmi,  24,  and  Wm.  Hart, 
Benton,  25. 

The  Chairmen  of  the  Departments  of  Work  were:  Mesdames 
Flora  Sims,  IJrbana,  Art;  Moses  L.  Purvin,  Chicago,  Civics;  W.  J. 
Burgess,  Chicago,  Civil  Service;  Fred  W.  Blocki,  Chicago,  Conser- 


79 

vation;  Fred  L.  Hatch,  Spring  Grove,  Education;  Henry  A.  Morgan, 
Chicago,  Home  Economics  and  Pure  Food;  A.  E.  Walker,  Hinsdale, 
Legislative;  Eobt.  Bruce  Farson,  St.  Charles,  Library  Extension; 
Wm,  M.  Gamble,  Chicago,  Music;  George  Thomas  Palmer, 
Springfield,  Literature  and  Eeciprocity;  Eugenia  R.  Curry,  Mt. 
Sterling,  Public  Health;  Miss  Harriet  E.  Vittum,  Chicago,  Indus- 
trial and  Social  Conditions;  Mrs.  J.  C.  Leishman,  DeKalb,  Philan- 
thropy. 

The  Chairmen  of  Standing  Committees  were:  Mesdames  C.  D. 
Babb,  Homer,  Auditing;  Laura  S.  Eabb,  Chicago,  Bulletin;  H.  E. 
Chamberlain,  Chicago,  Printing  and  Credentials;  John  C.  Swinson, 
Chicago,  Program;  George  W.  Plummer,  Chicago,  Eevisions;  Chas. 
B.  Young,  Aurora,  Transportation. 

The  Chairmen  of  the  Special  Committees  were :  Mrs.  Robert 
Bruce  Farson,  Finance;  Mrs.  Minne  Starr  Grainger,  Resolutions; 
Mrs.  George  Bass,  State  Care  for  Dependent  Girls;  Mrs.  Frederick 
K.  Tracy,  Illinois  Cottage  Ftind. 

Ninety-four  Illinois  clubs  were  reported  in  Evanston  as  belong- 
ing to  the  General  Federation. 

The  Conservation  report  given  by  Mrs.  Blocki  was  excellent,  and 
her  plea  for  the  protection  of  birds  from  slaughter  for  their  plumage 
was  especially  interesting. 

Two  new  special  committees  were  formed,  one  the  Maintenance 
Fund  Committee  to  support  the  Illinois  Cottage  at  Park  Rid,ge  re- 
cently completed,  and  the  other,  called  the  State  Institutional  Visit- 
ing Committee,  formed  to  investigate  our  State  Institutions  and  re- 
port on  conditions. 

The  Illinois  Club  Bulletin  was  changed  to  the  Federation  Bul- 
letin and  a  very  attractive  state  pin  was  de^ngned  and  offered  for  sale. 
— "^  Civics  and  Philanthropy  were  combined  in  one  department  and 
the  committee  was  emphasizing  two  lines  of  work,  the  moving  pic- 
ture show  and  the  establishment  of  social  centers.  A  bill  for  which 
the  Federation  had  worked,  providing  for  a  state  censorship,  had 
been  passed  by  both  houses  but  it  was  vetoed  by  Governor  Dunne. 

In  response  to  a  request  from  the  Federation,  and  in  compliance 
with  the  State  Charities  Act  that  there  should  be  a  board  of  three 
visitors  for  each  state  charitable  institution,  and  that  one  member  of 
each  board  should  be  a  woman,  the  appointment  of  women  visitors 
was  made.  The  Departments  ol  Pure  Food  and  Home  Economics 
had  been  combined  and  were  actively  engaged  in  carrying  out  their 
motto,  "Better  Homes  for  all  the  People." 

The  Music  Department  issued  a  booklet  of  Illinois  Composers, 
the  first  State  Federation  to  have  listed  its  composers.  At  the  sug- 
gestion of  the  Department  many  clubs  were  arranging  for  Annual 
Illinois  Composers'  programs.  There  was  a  growing  demand,  re- 
ported by  the  Art  Department,  for  exhibits  of  original  paintings,  but 
all  artists'  loan  exhibits,  excepting  that  of  the  Chicago  Society  of 
Etchers,  had  been  withdrawn  on  account  of  damage  to  pictures  and 


80 

lack  of  sales.    Eighty-nine  exliibitions  had  been  held  in  sixty  Illinois 
towns,  during  the  past  year. 

The  Twentieth  Annual  Meeting  was  held  in  Springfield,  and  for 
the  second  time,  in  the  House  of  Representatives,  State  House,  No- 
vember 10,  11,  12,  13,  1914,  with  the  Springfield  Woman's  Club 
acting  as  hostess,  and  the  Y.  W.  C.  A.  Building  serving  as  Head- 
quarters. 

The  Local  Board  was  composed  of  Mesdames  George  Thomas 
Palmer,  Chairman,  Euclid  B.  Eogers,  Adolph  F.  Kmuz,  Pascal  E. 
Hatch,  J.  H.  Holbrook,  Wni,  E.  Vredenburgh,  James  H.  Matheny, 
Arthur  E.  Prince,  James  Y.  Kelly,  Eobert  C.  Lanphier,  E.  S.  Walker, 
H.  A.  McKeene,  Will  T.  Lewis,  Will  Taylcr,  Walter  M.  Allen,  Henry 
Abels,  Logan  Hay,  Anais  C.  Smith,  0.  B.  Babcock,  Ernest  Helmle, 
IVancis  P.  Ide,  Eoy  W.  Ide,  A.  S.  Capps,  W.  S.  Barber,  C.  J.  Doyle, 
Frank  D.  Thompson,  and  Misses  Mary  and  Maude  Humphrey,  Elda 
Smith  and  Mary  Hudson. 

Courtesies  were  extended  by  the  local  club  to  the  Board  of  the 
Federation  to  a  dinner  at  the  Country  Club  on  Monday  evening;  by 
the  Amateur  Musical  Club  which  extended  invitations  to  all  visiting 
delegates  to  a  concert  given  by  them  the  same  evening;  by  Governor 
and  Mrs.  Dunne  who  received  the  Federation  at  the  Executive  Man- 
sion on  Tuesday  evening ;  by  the  gentlemen  of  the  Sangamo  Club  who 
were  "At  Home"  at  their  club  house  on  Wednesday  afternoon;  by 
members  of  the  Amateur  Art  Club  who  received  the  visitors  and 
delegates  on  Thursday  afternoon  at  their  club  house;  by  Mr.  A.  D. 
Mackie,  of  the  Springfield  Street  Eailway  Company  who  furnished 
private  cars  to  make  a  "Lincoln  Pilgrimage." 

The  State  Historical  Library,  the  State  Museum  of  Natural 
History  and  the  Public  Health  Exliibit  prepared  for  the  State  Fair 
by  Dr.  C.  St.  Clair  Drake  offered  much  of  interest  to  the  visitors. 

Honored  guests  at  the  Convention  were:  Mrs.  John  D.  Sher- 
man, Chairman  of  Conservation,  G.  F.,  and  Mrs.  W.  E.  Chivis, 
President  Missouri  Federation.  Among  the  speakers  were :  Judge 
Hugo  Pain  who  talked  on  "The  School  House  as  a  Social  Center,'' 
Wilhelm  Miller,  "Landscape  Gardening  Along  tlie  Lincoln  Highway," 
Joel  Hunter,  Juvenile  Court,  Chicago,  Senator  Hugh  S.  Magill,  Jr., 
on  "The  Woman  in  Legislature,"  Nicholas  Vachel  Lindsay,  the  poet, 
Mabelle  Church  Van  Alstyne,  Miss  Helen  Euggles,  Eev.  Myron  T. 
Pontius  and  Dr.  George  Thomas  Palmer,  who  talked  on  the  recently 
completed  "Springfield  Survey." 

Eesolutions  dealt  with  the  Park  Eidge  School  and  the  need  for 
clubs  to  help  maintain  it ;  Wider  Use  of  School  Houses  as  Social  Cen- 
ters ;  Insurance  and  Eetirement  Fund  for  Teachers ;  The  Smith  Lever 
Bill;  Unit  System  in  Education.  Some  of  the  legislative  measures 
had  to  do  with  unemployment  among  women  and  girls;  capital 
punishment ;  child  labor ;  censorship  board  for  motion  pictures ;  peace 
and  bovine  tuberculosis. 


81 


THE  EL.EIVBNTH  BIENNIUM. 

Mes.  Charles  H.  Zimimermax. 
1914—1916. 


Mrs.  Charles  H.  Zimmerman  has  the  distinction  of  being  the 
only  President  of  the  Illinois  Federation  to  be  born  in  Chicago,  or 
rather  Austin,  as  her  father,  Wm.  Ammerson,  was  one  of  the  pioneers 
of  that  section  long  before  it  became  a  part  of  the  great  city. 

Mrs.  Zimmerman  who  lives  in  Chicago,  has  been  a  widow  for 
several  years,  has  only  one  son,  an  instructor  in  engineering  in  the 
Massachusetts  Institute  of  Technology,  and  two  young  grandsons. 

Her  club  career  began  as  President  of  the  Austin  Woman's  Club 
in  1907.  She  then  became  President  of  the  Sixth  District,  I,  F.  W. 
C,  and  immediately  on  her  retirement  became  State  President.  She 
is  at  present  (1928)   Chairman  of  Music  for  the  State  Federation. 

After  Mrs.  Zimmerman  completed  the  courses  in  the  public 
schools  she  took  up  the  study  of  music  as  a  profession  and  has  served 
as  organist  in  various  churches  and  for  various  organizations.  She  ha? 
always  been  prominently  identified  with  the  Methodist  Church,  being 
at  the  present  time  one  of  the  two  women  members  of  the  Official 
Board  of  the  Austin  Methodist  Church,  in  which  capacity  she  has 
served  for  nine  years.  She  is  a  past-president  of  the  Home  Missionary 
Society  of  her  Church  and  a  member  of  the  Sunday  School  Board. 


The  officers  elected  in  Springfield  and  those  who  continued  to 
serve  were:  President,  Mrs.  Chas.  A.  Zimmerman,  Chicago;  Vice- 
President  at  Large,  Mrs.  Albert  Watson,  Mt.  Vernon;  Recording 
Secretary,  Mrs.  Anne  J.  Wood,  Quincy;  Corresponding  Secretary, 
Mrs.  George  Thomas  Palmer,  Springfield;  Treasurer,  Mrs.  Morton 
W.  Thompson,  Danville;  G.  F.  State  Secretary,  Mrs.  Fred  A.  Dow, 
Chicago. 

The  Vice-Presidents  serving  1914-1915  were:  Mesdames  John 
Worthy,  1 ;  Lambert  0.  Wile,  2 ;  James  H.  Hood,  Chicago  Heights, 
3 ;  A.  W.  Sullivan,  4 ;  Leila  A.  Martin,  5 ;  Harry  J.  Ilett,  La  Grange, 
6;  H.  W.  Halleman,  7;  Inez  Eogers  Deach,  8;  F.  H.  Gansbergen,  9; 
Wm.  J.  Fyff'e,  Highland  Park,  10;  John  T.  Mason,  Aurora,  11; 
George  B.  Gregory,  Rockford,  12;  A.  G.  Burnham,  Dixon,  13;  Miss 
Lillian  Vertroes,  Bushnell,  14;  Mesdames  Wm.  Masters,  AVataga,  15; 
J.  B.  Slinn.  Chillicothe,  16;  N.  D.  M'Kinney,  Bloomington.  17; 
Howard  Uran,  Kankakee,  18 ;  Miss  Georgia  Hopkins,  Shelbyville,  19 ; 
Miss  Ada  Glenn,  Ashland,  20;  Mesdames  G.  J.  Eivard,  Assumption, 
21;  George  Levis,  Alton,  22;  Miss  Beulah  Scarborough,  Mt.  Carmel, 
23;  Mrs.  Delia  Parker,  Vienna,  24;  Mrs.  Wm.  Hart,  Benton,  25. 

The  Chairmen  of  the  Departments  of  Work  were:  Mesdames 
Elmer  E.  Hagler,  Springfield,  Art ;  David  B.  Parr,  Decatur,  Civics 
and  Philanthropy;  W.  J.  Burgess.  Chicago,  Civil  Service;  C.  W.  Irion, 
Ottawa,  Conservation ;  Fred  L.  Hatch,  Spring  Grove,  Education ;  T. 
A.  Vernon,  Aledo,  Home  Economics  and  Pure  Food ;  A.  E.  Walker, 


82 

Hinsdale,  Legislative;  John  D.  Ladd,  Cairo,  Library  Eixtension;  Wni. 
M.  Gamble,  Chicago,  Music;  John  H.  Long,  Evanston,  Literature 
and  Eeciprocity;  Eugenia  E,  Curry,  Mt.  Sterling,  Public  Health; 
Thos.   F.  Hickey,  Chicago,  Social  and  Industrial  Conditions. 

Standing  Committee  Chairmen  were:  Mesdames  C.  D.  Babb, 
Homer,  Auditing;  Edward  L.  Muri'ey,  Chicago,  Bulletin;  H.  E. 
Chamberlain,  Chicago,  Printing  and  Credentials;  Chas.  E.  Clifton, 
Evanston,  Program;  Geo.  W.  Plummer,  Chicago,  Revisions;  Laura 
S.  Eabb,  Chicago,  Transportation. 

Special  Committee  Chairmen  were :  Mesdames  Inez  E.  Deach, 
Finance;  Fred  A.  Low,  Kesolutions;  G.  W.  Halleman,  Illinois  Cottage 
Maintenance  Fund;  Albert  Watson,  State  Institutional  Visiting. 

For  the  first  time  the  Year  Book  was  divided  into  two  sections 
and  published  separately.  The  first  section  appeared  as  the  "Year 
Book."  1915-1916,  containing  names  of  officers  and  committees,  in 
fact  all  the  usual  information  excepting  the  Club  Directory.  The 
Directory  1916-1917  appeared  later  carrying  the  lists  of  clubs,  officers 
and  committees. 

The  most  progressive  piece  of  work  done  by  the  Department 
of  Education  during  the  summer  of  1915  was  the  holding  of  eight 
Government  Canning  Schools  and  the  Department  felt  that  the  im- 
provement of  rural  schools  was  the  greatest  educational  need  in  the 
state. 

The  Public  Health  Department  was  active,  working  through 
the  three  committees  of  Child  Hygiene,  Social  Hygiene  and  Anti- 
Tuberculosis.  The  Illinois  County  Tuberculosis  Act.  called  the 
Glackin  Bill,  tlie  most  comprehensive  passed  by  any  Legislature  in 
the  United  States,  had  become  a  law  in  June,  1915,  and  the  club 
women  were  urged  to  see  that  its  provisions  were  carried  out  as 
rapidly  as  possible.  The  first  Baby  Week  was  held  and  was  the  fore- 
runner of  excellent  work  along  this  line. 

The  Civics  Department  was  very  active,  with  a  broad  and  far 
reaching  program,  combining  work  for  beautifying  home  and  school 
yards,  boys'  and  girls'  clubs,  assisting  with  canning  clubs  and  com- 
bining with  other  state  wide  organizations  in  the  establishment  of 
social  centers.  The  Legislature  had  recently  passed  the  Social  Center 
Bill  for  which  the  Federation  had  worked  very  hard. 

Mrs.  Willis  J.  Burgess,  in  reporting  for  the  Civil  Service  Depart- 
ment, stated  that  the  Board  of  Administration,  which  governs  all  state 
charitable  institutions,  had  adopted  a  new  salary  schedule  giving 
women  the  same  salaries  as  men  doing  the  same  work.  Also,  it  had 
been  found  that  women  attendants  did  better  work  than  men  in  those 
positions  and  that  preference  was  to  be  given  women  in  the  future. 

Mrs.  Burgess,  who  served  as  chainnan  of  this  committee  for  two 
years,  later  became  Corresponding  Secretary  and  afterwards  Execu- 
tive Secretary,  on  salary,  and  has  filled  that  office  continuously,  ever 
since.  She  has  probably  been  more  closely  identified  with  the  Fed- 
eration, over  a  longer  period  of  time  than  any  other  one  member, 
and  has  endeared  herself  to  thousands  by  her  sympathetic  interest 
and  co-operation. 


83 

The  Conservation  Department  stressed  interest  in  bird  and  wild- 
flower  protection,  home  gardening,  forestry,  conservation  of  natural 
scener}-,  waterway  possibilities,  way  side  planting,  good  roads  and  the 
Lincoln  Highway.  The  failure  of  the  Illinois  Legislative  Committee 
to  recommend  the  passage  of  the  bill  for  the  purchase,  by  the  state,  of 
the  White  Pine  Forest  to  be  converted  into  a  State  Park,  was  a  great 
blow  to  the  club  members.  The  White  Pine  Forest  Bill  Avas  of  peren- 
nial interest  and  it  was  a  great  disappointment  that  it  never  left  the 
hands  of  the  Committee  at  that  time.  It  was  finally  bought  by  the 
state  on  September  18,  1927  for  $62,500.00 

Illinois  stood  at  the  head  of  the  list  in  number  of  clubs  belong- 
ing to  the  General  Federation,  154,  with  25,000  members  or  40  per 
cent  of  state  membership,  which  at  this  time  approximated  62,000 
in  530  clubs. 

The  election  of  chairmen  for  the  various  departments  was 
changed  to  conform  to  the  time  of  election  of  corresponding  chair- 
men in  the  General  Federation. 

The  bills  which  had  passed  the  Legislature  in  1915  and  which 
the  Federation  had  endorsed,  were:  Commitment  and  Care  of  the 
Feehle  Minded ;  State  Pension  Law  for  Teachers ;  Schools  as  Social 
Centers ;  Better  Provision  for  Support  of  Wife  and  Children  by  Hus- 
band and  Father;  Abatement  and  Injunction  Law;  Abolition  of 
Filing  System  in  dealing  with  Prostitutes ;  Care  of  the  Blind ;  Birth 
Eegistration ;  Punishment  of  Adults  Causing  Delinquency  and  Crime 
in  Children;  Playgrounds  for  Towns  and  Small  Cities. 

The  Twenty-first  Annual  Meeting  of  the  Federation  was  held 
in  Eockford,  in  the  Second  Congregational  Church,  ISTovember  9, 
10,  11,  12,  1915,  the  Eockford  Woman's  Club,  Household  Science 
Club  and  Catholic  Woman's  League  acting  as  hostesses. 

The  Honorary  Chairmen  were:  Mesdames  Norman  F.  Thomp- 
son, Ella  G.  Eoot,  W.  A.  Talcott  and  Seely  Perry.  Miss  Jessie  I. 
Spafford  was  Chairman  and  was  assisted  bv  Miss  Isabelle  Duffey  and 
Mesdames  George  B.  Gregor.y,  Hugh  T.  Brown,  W.  B.  Keeling,  A. 
H.  Fi-ost,  W.  B.  Franklin.  C.  H.  Knapp,  B.  B.  Page,  L.  H.  Clark, 
E.  A.  Clark,  E.  K.  Welsh,  T.  G.  Levings,  Almond  E.  Case,  G.  N. 
Safford,  D.  E.  Mead,  W.  W.  Snyder,  V.  L.  Page,  Chas.  E.  Sheldon, 
Walter  A.  Forbes,  C.  E.  Brantingham  and  E.  G.  Jones. 

Courtesies  were  extended  by  the  Local  Board  which  entertained- 
with  a  musical  program  and  lecture  recital  at  the  Church  on  Monday 
evening.  Visits  were  arranged  to  St.  Elizabeth's  Social  Center,  Mon- 
tague House  and  to  Harlem  Consolidated  School,  at  that  time  con- 
sidered the  best  country  school  and  community  center  in  the  country. 

The  highlights  on  this  very  fine  program  were :  Dr.  Clara  Har- 
rison Town,  who  spoke  on  "The  Feeble  Minded  in  onr  Community ;" 
Professor  Edwin  D.  Starbuck,  State  University  of  Iowa.  "The  Worth 
of  a  Child;"  Nicholas  Yachel  Lindsey,  Senator  Morton  D.  Hull,  Pro- 
fessor Edward  J.  Ward,  University  of  Wisconsin;  Dr.  William  Sadler 
whose  address  was  "Faith  and  Fear  in  Eelation  to  Health ;"  James 
H.  Green,  University  of  Illinois,  "Boys'  and  Girls'  Clubs;"  Miss 
Anna  May  Price  of  the  State  Library ;  Miss  Helen  Bosv/ell,  Chair- 


84 

man  of  Education,  G.  F. ;  Miss  Kathleen  O'Brennan,  Society  Editor 
of  the  Irish  Times.  Dublin,  who  spoke  on  "Woman's  Work  in  Ire- 
land;" Miss  Anne  Hinrichson,  "Jail  Inspection  in  Illinois;"  Senator 
Hugh  S.  Magill  and  Mrs.  John  D.  Sherman,  Chairman  Conserva- 
tion, G.  F. 

The  oflBcers  holding  over,  and  those  elected  at  Rockford,  were: 
President,  Mrs.  Chas.  H.  Zimmerman,  Chicago;  Vice-President,  Mrs. 
Wm.  H.  Hart,  Benton ;  Recording  Secretary,  Mrs.  Geo.  Thos.  Palmer, 
Springfield;  Corresponding  Secretary,  Mrs.  W.  J.  Burgess,  Chicago; 
Treasurer,  Mrs.  Moses  L.  Purvin,  Chicago ;  G.  F.  State  Secretary,  Mrs. 
Frederick  A.  Dow,  Chicago. 

From  1896,  until  the  Convention  held  in  Eockford  in  1915.  we 
had  a  Vice-President  at  Large.  At  that  meeting  the  by-laws  were 
revised,  eliminating  the  words  "at  Large."  Vice-Presidents  of  dis- 
tricts were  also  changed  to  Presidents  of  Congressional  Districts. 

The  Presidents  for  1915-16  were:  Mesdames  Chas.  E.  Cald- 
well, 1 ;  Lambert  0.  Wile,  2 ;  Clarence  Rainwater,  3 ;  A.  W.  Sullivan, 
4;  Peter  Kussman,  5;  Harry  Ilett,  La  Grange,  6;  Duane  McXabb, 
7;  Inez  R.  Deach,  8;  Wm.  M.  Hopkins,  9;  Wm.  J.  Fyffe,  Highland 
Park,  10;  Chas.  H.  Talbott,  Marengo,  11;  Geo.  B.  Gregory,  Rockford, 
12;  J.  M.  Heald,  Byron,  13;  Harry  R.  Morgan,  Aledo,  14:  Geo.  W. 
Thompson,  Galesburg,  15;  Miss  Delia  Miller,  Peoria,  16;  Mesdames 
Frank  Funk,  Bloomington,  17 ;  W.  R.  Hunter,  Kankakee,  18 ;  John 
H.  Chadwick,  Tuscola,  19 ;  Miss  Ada  Glenn,  Ashland,  20 ;  Mesdames 
John  Harvey  Brown,  Litchfield,  21;  George  Levis,  Alton,  22;  J.  J. 
Brown,  Vandalia,  23;  Lucas  Parker,  Vienna,  24;  Fred  G.  Campbell, 
Marion,  25. 

Department  Chairmen  were:  Mesdames  Jas.  W.  Parker,  Chi- 
cago, Art;  David  B.  Parr,  Decatur,  Civics  and  Philanthropy;  Felix 
W.  Levy,  Chicago.  Civil  Service;  C.  W.  Irion,  Ottawa,  Conservation; 
Chas.  B.  Young.  Riverside,  Education;  T.  A.  Vernon,  Aledo,  H.  E. 
and  Pure  Food;  Thos.  F.  Hickey,  Chicago,  Social  and  Industrial; 
John  T.  Mason,  Aurora,  Legislative;  John  D.  Ladd,  Cairo,  Library 
Extension;  John  H.  Long,  Eivanston,  Literature  and  Reciprocity; 
Forrest  H.  Kellogg,  Kewanee,  Music ;  Dt.  Violet  Palmer  Brown,  Kan- 
kekee.  Public  Health. 

Standing  Committee  Chairmen  included :  Mesdames  Richard  L. 
Pennington,  Chicago.  Auditing ;  Edward  L.  Murfey.  Biilletin :  Miss 
Anne  Hinrichson,  Alexander,  Press;  Miss  Jessie  Spafford,  Revisions; 
Mesdames  Chas.  M.  Carver,  Oak  Park,  Pl-inting  and  Credentials ; 
Geo.  E.  Fouser,  Chicago,  Transportation;  Geo.  W.  Plummer,  Official 
Parliamentarian. 

Special  Committee  Chairmen  included:  Mesdames  R.  L.  Pen- 
nington, Finance;  Frederick  A.  Dow,  Resolutions;  Duane  McNabb, 
Cottage  Maintenance  Fund  ;  Frederick  A.  Dow,  Institutional  Visit- 
ing; Wm.  H.  Hart,  Endowment  Fund. 

The  Federated  Women's  Clubs  of  Urbana  and  Champaign  were 
hostesses  for  the  second  time  to  the  Federation  when  they  entertained 
the  delegates  to  the  Twenty-second  Annual  Convention  in  Xovember 
14,  15,  16,  1916.  All  meetings  were  held  in  the  auditorium  of  the 
University. 


85 

The  Honorary  Chairmen  of  the  Local  Board  were :  Mesdames 
Mary  E.  Bnsey,  H.  H.  Harris,  D.  M.  Dunlap  and  the  Missess  Isabelle 
Bevier  and  Martha  Kyle.  Airs.  Frank  L.  Frailey  was  Chairman  and 
was  assisted  by  Mesdames  I.  0.  Baker,  A.  S.  Mason,  G.  T.  Flom,  H. 
S.  Grindlev,  F.  E.  Williamson,  F.  S.  Goodman,  D.  P  Mclntvre,  L. 
B.  Saffer,  G.  A.  Miller,  H.  E.  Temple,  G.  F.  Way,  L.  H.  Howser,  M. 
S.  Bryant,  W.  W.  Earnest,  Fi-ed  Paigg,  T.  E.  Saunder,  J.  S.  Mason, 
Gus  Freemen,  F.  0.  Sale,  Eugene  Davenport,  Morgan  Brooks,  F.  E. 
Baimmi.  F.  K.  Eobeson,  Will  Sim,  T.  A.  Clark,  Constance  B.  Smith, 
Wm.  Murray,  George  Busey,  T.  H.  Leathers,  John  Busey,  J.  J.  Han- 
more,  Guy  Stewart,  Daniel  Warwick,  B.  F.  Stevenson,  W.  T.  Bur- 
ford  and  Miss  Eva  Foote. 

Monday  evening  the  delegates  were  entertained  by  the  Players' 
Club  of  the  University.  The  University  also  arranged  several  in- 
teresting exhibits,  among  which  were  an  Art  Exhibit,  a  Flower  Show 
at  the  Floriculture  Greenhouses,  a  Stock  Show  by  the  Department  of 
Animal  Husbandry  and  a  Eegimental  Drill.  The  decorations  of  the 
Auditorium  were  arranged  by  the  Class  in  Floral  Decoration  of  the 
University. 

The  general  subject  of  the  program  was  "Conservation  of  Child- 
hood" and  nearly  all  of  the  speakers  dealt  with  some  phase  of  the 
subject  in  their  addresses.  Music  held  a  more  prominent  place  than 
usual  on  account  of  the  advantages  offered  by  the  University.  Dr. 
Lawrence  Erb,  Director  of  the  School  of  Music,  and  an  organist  of 
note,  played  several  times.  The  Faculty  of  the  School  of  Music  gave 
a  concert  on  Wednesday  Elvening. 

Miss  Lutie  E.  Stearns  of  Wisconsin  talked  on  "The  Problem  of 
Eeading  for  the  Adolescent  Girl."  Those  from  the  University  ap- 
pearing on  the  program  were :  Dean  David  Kinley,  Dr.  Euth 
Wheeler,  Miss  Fannie  Brooks,  and  Dr.  B.  E.  Hieronymous.  Alder- 
man Chas.  E.  Merriam,  of  the  University  of  Chicago,  made  an  ad- 
dress, as  did  Hon.  Ban-ett  O'Hara,  whose  subject  was  "Protecting 
Childhood  by  Legislation."  Prof.  Lynn  Harold  Hough,  of  North- 
western, talked  on  "The  Bible  as  Literature"  and  Mrs.  C.  Houghton 
White  gave  a  beautiful  dramatic  interpretation  of  Barrie's  "Eosa- 
lind." 

For  the  first  time  we  note  the  Districts  becoming  publicly  vocal, 
eight  of  the  twenty-five  publishing  reports  in  the  Federation  Bulle- 
tin Convention  IS^umber  of  1916.  The  work  of  organization  was  slow 
in  these  units  and  while  there  were  many  clubs  organized  and  func- 
tioning they  had  not  gotten  the  spirit  of  the  "District  Federation" 
idea;  had  not  yet  felt  the  need  of  banding  together,  of  having  a  full 
complement  of  officers  and  of  holding  regular  meetings.  The  Dis- 
trict is.  such  an  important  part  of  the  machinery  of  the  State  Fed- 
eration today  we  can  scarcely  realize  that  there  was  a  time,  and  not 
so  many  years  ago,  when  there  were  Districts  which  were  represented 
on  the  State  Board  by  a  President  but  which  practically  had  no 
organization.  Every  well  organized  and  thoroughly  functioning 
District  has  added  a  tremendous  power  to  the  State  Federation. 


86 

At  this  time  the  Second  District,  now  the  sixth  largest  in  the 
State,  was  reported  as  having  had  practically  no  organization  in 
1914,  but  in  the  two  years  intervening  an  organization  of  twelve 
working  committees  corresponding  to  the  state  committees  had  been 
formed  so  that  there  was  no  break  from  the  individual  club  to  the 
national  organization.     Mrs.  Lambert  0.  Wile  was  President. 

The  Sixth  District,  Mrs.  Harry  W.  Iletl,  President,  reported  a 
Juvenile  Protective  League  which  cared  for  the  children  under  four- 
teen in  the  Skinner  School  Neighborhood.  She  also  reported  on 
Chicago's  "Light  House/^  the  Improvement  Association  for  Blind 
People  with  whose  occupational  classes  they  were  helping.  This 
District  is  now  the  second  largest  in  the  Federation  with  a  member- 
ship of  nearly  6,000  club  women. 

We  hear  one  of  the  first  notes  of  the  war  in  the  report  of  the 
Seventh  District,  which  speaks  of  the  interest  in  Eed  Cross  work. 
They  had  First  Aid  talks  and  then  began  to  make  hospial  supplies 
which  went  into  great  warehouses  for  base  hospitals  when  needed. 
They  raised  their  money  through  contributions  and  card  parties. 
They  were  also  making  a  fight  on  campaign  posters,  the  use  of 
which  was  in  violation  of  a  city  ordinance.  Mrs.  Duane  McXabb  was 
President. 

The  Eighth  District,  tlie  "settlement"  district,  while  reporting 
that  it  had  no  Federation  and  was  not  organized,  stated  that  its  clubs 
were  keeping  in  touch  with  one  another  through  Eeciprocity  Days  at 
which  time  the  State  and  General  Federation  work  was  presented  to 
them.  Among  the  special  activities  were  the  linen  chests  which  pro- 
vided for  the  needs  of  the  neighborhood  and  which  seemed  to  have 
had  an  inexhaustible  supply,  the  Hull  House  Club  reporting  the  dis- 
tribution of  3,500  garments  in  two  years.  The  Columbian  Club,  not 
now  a  member  of  either  the  District  or  State  Federation,  was  start- 
ing on  its  twenty-fourth  year  of  social  service.  It  established  a  sum- 
mer cottage  in  the  Fox  Eiver  Valley  where  one  hundred  women  and 
children  could  enjoy  a  much  needed  vacation  in  the  summer. 

The  Hull  House  Woman's  Club,  with  Mrs.  Laura  Dainty  Pel- 
ham  as  President,  in  1915  became  a  departmental  club  and  did  much 
in  the  distribution  of  children's  books.  Many  parties  for  young 
people  were  given  and  the  club  budgeted  money  for  the  City  Gardens 
and  Juvenile  Protection  Association.  Mrs.  Inez  Eogers  Deach  was 
President  at  this  time. 

The  Eleventh  District  President,  Mrs.  C.  H.  Talbott,  told  of 
a  Eeciprocity  meeting  held  by  the  Eush  Creek  Club,  to  which 
delegates  came  from  miles  around  and  which  proved  that  "the  rural 
club  of  today  means  push,  prosperity  and  progress."  There  were  forty 
clubs  in  the  district. 

The  Fourteenth  District  was  looking  forward  to  an  interesting 
meeting  which  was  to  be  addressed  by  Mrs.  Pennybacker  and  Mrs. 
Zimmerman.  It  numbered  seventeen  clubs  with  2,074  members.  The 
Thursday  Club  of  Keithsburg  reported  "splendid  things  in  civic  and 


87 

philanthropic  work."  Mrs.  H.  E.  Morgan,  the  President,  reported 
that  they  now  had  district  chairmen  who  were  ready  to  work. 

Mrs.  G.  W.  Thompson,  President  of  the  Fifteenth  District,  re- 
ported a  new  District  Year  Book  with  all  committees  named,  and  that 
ten  new  clubs  had  been  added  to  the  organization  within  the  last 
year.  The  Press  Committee  was  taking  care  of  club  publicity  in  the 
local  papers.  The  Health  Committee  had  been  directing  Baby  Weeks 
and  was  giving  attention  to  Social  Hygiene. 

Mrs.  Fred  Gregg  Campbell,  President  of  the  Twenty-fifth  Dis- 
trict said  they  had  financed  Chatauquas ;  furnished  free  ice  and  pure 
milk  for  the  poor;  planned,  inspected  and  judged  school  and  home 
gardens.  Also  that  her  plans  for  the  year  centered  around  the  work 
of  the  County  Chairmen,  each  one  of  whom  she  was  asking:  "1.  Try 
to  organize  one  club  at  least  in  a  community  where  there  are  no 
clubs.  2.  Try  to  bring  together  all  club  officers  in  your  county  for 
one  or  more  conferences.  3.  Visit  your  clubs.  The  personal  touch 
is  a  strong  factor  in  Federation  work." 

In  these  reports  we  see  almost  the  first  mention  of  "rural 
clubs"  and  "county  chairman," 


88 

THE  TWELFTH  BIENNIUM. 

Governor  of  Illinois,  President  of  the  U.  S., 

1917—1921.  1913—1921. 

Frank  0.  Lowden.    Miss  Jessie  I.  Spafford.    Woodrow  Wilson. 

1916—1919. 


Miss  Jessie  I.  Spaiford,  was  born  in  Rockford,  Illinois,  her  im- 
mediate family  coming  from  Xew  Hampshire  and  Xew  York.  She 
attended  Rockford  High  School,  Vassar  College,  University  of  Chi- 
cago, University  of  Wisconsin  and  Zurich  Polytecnic. 

Miss  Spafford  has  been  closely  identified  for  many  years  with  the 
club  and  civic  life  of  her  native  city,  having  been  President  of 
the  Woman's  Club  for  something  like  twenty  years.  Under  her 
efficient  administration  a  club  house  was  erected  which  is  one  of  the 
handsomest  and  most  complete  in  the  state.  She  has  been  President 
of  the  Twelfth  District,  I.  F.  W.  C,  President  of  the  State  Federa- 
tion, Director  to  the  General  Federation  and  at  present  (1928)  is  a 
member  of  the  Board  of  Trustees  of  that  organization.  She  is  par- 
ticularly interested  in  the  Boys'  Club  and  in  general  public  welfare 
work  in  Rockford  and  was  chairaian  of  the  Organization  Committee 
of  the  Woman's  Division  of  the  Council  of  National  Defense  during 
the  war. 


The  term  of  service  for  this  administration  was  from  November 
1916,  until  June  1919,  two  and  one-half  years,  owing  to  the  fact  that 
at  the  Convention  in  1917,  the  date  'of  the  annual  meeting  was 
changed  from  November  to  May.  In  this  instance  the  meeting  was 
postponed  until  June,  1919. 

At  the  Champaign  meeting  Miss  Jessie  I.  Spafford  of  Rockford 
was  elected  President  and  Mrs.  John  H.  Chadwick  of  Tuscola,  Vice- 
President.  Those  remaining  in  office  were:  Mrs.  W.  J.  Burgess, 
Corresponding  Secretary  and  Mrs.  Moses  L.  Purvin,  Treasurer,  while 
Mrs.  Zimmerman  became  G.  F.  State  Secretary  and  Mrs.  W.  R. 
Hunter,  Recording  Secretary. 

The  District  Presidents  for  1916-1917  were:  Mesdames  Chas. 
E.  Caldwell,  1;  Henry  W.  Hardy,  2;  Clarence  Rainwater,  3;  Frank 
Jerome,  4;  Miss  Ruth  Austin,  5;  Mesdames  Wm.  J.  Benson,  6;  Duane 
McNabb,  7 ;  Luther  Conant,  Oak  Park,  8 ;  Wm.  M.  Hopkins,  9 ;  Mar- 
tin K.  Northam,  10;  Chas.  H.  Talbott,  Marengo,  11;  Dr.  M.  D. 
Brown.  DeKalb,  12;  Mesdames  J.  M.  Heald,  Byron,  13;  A.  S.  Ed- 
wards, Moline,  14;  Geo.  W.  Thompson,  Galesburg,  15;  W.  K.  Trim- 
ble, Princeton,  16;  Frank  H.  Funk,  Bloomington,  17;  E.  B.  Griffin, 
Grant  Park,  18;  Ftank  L.  Frailey,  Urbana,  19;  Edgar  D.  Glandon, 
Pittsfield,  20 ;  John  Harvey  Brown,  Litchfield,  21 ;  J.  M.  Daniels, 
Greenville,  22;  J.  J.  Brown,  Vandalia,  23;  Chas.  H.  Melrose,  Gray- 
ville,  24;  Fred  G.  Campbell,  Marion,  25. 

The  Department  chairmen  for  this  period  were :  Mesdames  Jas. 
W.  Parker,  Chicago,  Art;  Wm.  H.  Hart,  Benton,  Civics  and  Philan- 
thropy; Felix  Levy,  Chicago,  Civil  Sei"vice;  W.  L.  Arnold,  Chicago, 


89 

Conservation;  Albert  Evans,  Chicago,  Education;  Eobt.  Harlan,  Free- 
port,  H.  E.  and  Pure  Food;  John  T.  Mason,  Aurora,  Legislation;  T. 

B.  Davis,  Kock  Island,  Library  Extension;  E.  L.  Kellogg,  Kewanee, 
Music;  Gr.  M.  Kendall,  Glen  Ellyn,  Literature  and  Eeciprocity;  F. 

C.  Starr,  Chicago,  Social  and  Industrial;  Dr.  Violet  Palmer  Brown, 
Kankakee.  Public  Health. 

At  this  time,  the  committees  made  up  of  one  member  from  each 
district,  were  listed  with  the  chairmen. 

Chairmen  of  Standing  Committees  were :  Mesdames  R.  L.  Pen- 
nington, Auditing;  Chas.  M.  Carver,  Printing  and  Credentials;  Jos. 
McM.  Steele,  Program;  Harry  E.  Chamberlain,  Revisions,  and  N.  La 
Doit  Johnson,  Press,  all  of  Chicago,  with  the  exception  of  Mrs.  Carver, 
who  lived  in  Oak  Park. 

The  Special  Committee  chairmen  were :  Mesdames  R.  L.  Pen- 
nington. Finance;  Chas.  H.  Zimmerman,  Resolutions;  Fred  A.  Dow, 
State  Institutional  Visiting;  Clarence  G.  Goodwin  (Minne  Starr 
Grainger)  State  Reserve  Fund;  Howard  T.  Willson  of  Virden,  Cen- 
tennial and  Wm.  Lyman.  Chicago,  Efficiency. 

In  writing  of  this  administration  we  are  quoting  almost  verbatim 
from  Miss  Spafford's  outline  to  us.  She  says,  "It  was  distinctly  a 
Var  administration'  because  the  Great  War  had  already  been  in 
progress  over  two  years  and  it  was  becoming  increasingly  evident  that 
the  United  States  must  enter  the  conflict.  The  declaration  of  War 
in  April  1917,  the  draft,  the  organization  of  camps,  the  organization 
of  the  civilian  population,  the  war  itself,  the  armistice,  and  the  first 
seven  months  of  reconstruction  all  came  within  the  dates  of  this  one 
administration.     War  colored  every  thought  and  action. 

"The  disintegrating  effects  of  the  war  were  felt  very  early  in  the 
ckibs.  hence  it  seemed  wisest  to  have  each  chairman  of  a  department 
concentrate  the  major  efforts  of  the  year  on  one  project,  in  order  to 
achieve  some  definite  results.  Among  these  were  a  housing  law  for 
the  state;  placing  Illinois  on  the  white  list  for  registration  of  births 
and  deaths;  State  Censorship  of  motion  pictures;  Americanization  of 
alien  women;  suffrage  for  women.  None  of  these  bills  became  laws 
at  this  time  though  birth  registration  and  national  suffrage  came 
very  soon,  (the  latter  in  June  1919,  known  as  the  Nineteenth  Amend- 
ment.) 

"In  the  early  months  of  1916  the  Bulletin,  the  official  organ  of 
■the  Federation  was  changed  from  four  issues  a  year  to  eight,  and  its 
size  was  greatly  increased. 

"After  April  second,  1917,  all  efforts  of  clubs  and  club  women 
were  turned  to  -winning  the  war.  Many  clubs  were  changed  into  Red 
Cross  Units,  and  club  women  everywhere  were  drafted  in  to  war  organ- 
ization— Councils  of  Defense,  War  Camp  Community  Service,  Liberty 
Loan  Drives  and  Food  Conservation  units.  In  one  war  time  organiza- 
tion, where  a  careful  estimate  was  made,  it  was  found  that  four  fifths 
of  the  active  membership  were  club  women.  Meanwhile,  the  move- 
ment in  its  various  branches  was  making  almost  daily  demands  upon 
the  club  units.     The  President,  Miss  Spafford,  served  as  Chairman 


90 

of  Organization  on  the  Woman's  Committee,  Council  of  Xational  De- 
fense, attending  weekly  meetings  in  Chicago." 

The  Twenty-third  Annual  Convention  was  held  in  Chicago  at 
Sinai  Temple,  Forty-sixth  Street  and  Grand  Boulevard,  November 
13,  14,  15,  1917,  the  club  women  of  the  first  ten  districts  serving  as 
hostesses.  Mrs.  Frederick  A.  Dow  was  Chairman  of  the  Local  Board 
and  was  assisted  by  Mesdames  H.  W.  Cooley,  Benjamin  Auerbach, 
W.  H.  Buhlig,  Edgar  A.  Hall,  H.  H.  Baldwin,  Wm.  G.  Cook,  Henry 
Gertsley,  Chas.  S.  Cornelius,  Elizabeth  Jeffers,  Chas.  S.  Clark,  James 
W.  Parker,  Lambert  0.  Wile,  Wm.  J.  Eoberts,  Oliver  L.  Watson, 
Frederick  W.  Blocki,  N.  LaDoit  Johnson,  Harry  J.  Ilett,  Jos.  Mc- 
Clure  Steele  and  Miss  Ima  Clarke. 

Courtesies  included  a  visit  to  the  beautiful  Ida  Noyes  Hall  at 
the  University,  Open  House  at  the  Arche  Club,  and  an  original  play 
presented  by  the  Chicago  Woman's  Club,  entitled  "The  Kettle 
Sings''  or  "The  Domestic  Conscience"  by  Caroline  S.  P.  Wild. 

Among  the  speakers  were:  Dr.  Mary  G.  McEwen,  former 
Chairman  of  the  Public  Health  Department  who  talked  on  "The 
Dawn  of  a  ISTew  Day  for  Women ;"  Dr.  Carolyn  E.  Geisel,  "Woman's 
Greatest  Need;"  Earle  Edward  Eubank;  Mrs.  True  Worthy  White, 
"The  Club  Program  in  Community  Life;"  Mrs.  Joseph  T.  Bowen, 
"The  Council  of  National  Defense;"  Mrs.  H.  M.  Dunlap;  John  D. 
Shoop;  Arthur  E.  Bestor,  "America  and  the  World  War;"  Honorable 
Frederick  DeYoung,  "The  Constitutional  Convention;"  Honorable 
Harold  C.  Kessinger,  "The  Challenge  of  the  Changing  World ;"  Owen 
E.  Lovejoy,  "What  Shall  we  do  for  the  Children  in  Time  of  War." 

At  this  convention,  war  work  for  the  Federation,  as  a  whole, 
was  organized.  Very  shortly  after  a  Soldiers'  Club  was  established  at 
Rockford  which  was  financed,  furnished  and  managed  entirely  by 
club  women.  Two  homes  for  protective  work  for  girls  were  also 
established,  one  at  Rockford  and  one  at  Waukegan.  The  sum  of 
$1,000  was  given  for  the  furnishing  of  the  Soldiers'  Club  at  Rantoul. 
Approximately  $15,000  was  raised  for  these  projects.  In  Rockford, 
45,000  soldiers  attended  the  club  in  eleven  months,  and  sixty-two 
week  end  meals  were  served. 

In  the  midst  of  the  war  came  the  Illinois  Centennial  Celebration, 
marking  in  1918  the'  one  hundredth  anniversary  of  statehood.  The 
Federation  celebrated  the  occasion  by  giving  an  historical  pageant 
in  the  Auditorium  Theater,  Chicago,  May  eleventh,  for  the  benefit  of 
its  War  Recreation  Fund.  Two  thousand  performers  took  part.  The 
scenes  and  tableaux  were  largely  the  adaptation  of  Wallace  Rice  who 
had  been  appointed  official  pageant  writer  for  the  state  by  the  Illinois 
Centennial  Commission.  Symbolical  and  allegorical  scenes  and  char- 
acters appeared  in  connection  with  characters  representing  the  earliest 
French  settlers  down  through  the  great  men  who  added  to  the  glory 
of  Illinois  during  the  Civil  War,  through  times  of  peace,  the  growth 
of  industries,  to  the  period  of  the  Great  AYar.  The  final  scene  de- 
picted these  various  industries,  together  with  a  united  people,  showing 
the  alliance  of  Illinois  and  America  with  England,  France  and  Italy, 
all  combining  with  one  object  in  view — World  Democracy. 


91 

The  event  was  an  artistic  and  financial  success,  $3,500  being 
raised  for  Federation  work. 

In  November  of  that  year  came  the  Armistice  and  the  sudden 
letting  down  of  war  work.  Many  clubs  were  disorganized  and  there 
was  great  need  to  re-enlist  the  women  in  Federation  work.  To  that 
end  four  regional  conferences  were  organized;  one  each  in  Chicago, 
Bloomington,  East  St.  Louis  and  Springfield.  Eleven  members  of 
the  board  made  the  trip  down  state  paying  all  their  own  expenses. 
They  were  met  evei^where  by  enthusiastic  club  women  eager  to  get 
back  to  work.  It  was  estimated  that  over  1,500  attended  the  four 
meeting's. 

There  were  two  pieces  of  work  left  over  from  the  war  that  the 
administration  was  most  anxious  to  continue,  and  they  were  citizen- 
ship training  and  protective  work  for  girls.  As  money  was  required 
for  carrying  them  on,  an  extension  fund  was  started  for  that  purpose 
and  at  the  annual  meeting  of  1919  it  was  named  the  "Jubilee  Fund" 
and  a  goal  set  for  $25,000.00  At  the  same  convention,  on  recom- 
mendation of  the  President,  dues  were  placed  on  a  per  capita  basis 
and  recommendations  adopted  to  establish  headquarters  with  a  paid 
secretary. 

"As  we  look  back  over  the  disquieting  years  of  the  war,  and  the 
alarm  felt,  in  many  quarters,  lest  the  war  time  organization  would 
weaken  and  perhaps  destroy  the  usefulness  of  the  Federation,  we  gain 
new  confidence  in  the  permanence  and  strength  of  that  organization. 
Councils,  created  for  special  purposes  have  passed  out  of  existence, 
while  the  Federation  is  stronger  than  ever  before." 

The  officers  serving  with  Miss  Spafford  from  November  1917 
until  June  1919  were :  Vice-President,  Mrs.  Frank  Funk,  Blooming- 
ton;  Recording  Secretary,  Mrs.  W.  E.  Hunter,  Kankakee;  Correspond- 
ing Secretary,  Mrs.  C.  M.  Carver,  Oak  Park;  Treasurer,  Mrs.  Fred- 
erick W.  Blocki,  Chicago;  C  F.  State  Secretary.  Mrs.  Chas.  H.  Zim- 
merman. 

The  Presidents  of  Congressional  Districts  were :  Mesdames  E. 
S.  Bailey,  1;  Henry  W.  Hardy,  2;  A.  W.  Augur,  3;  Frank  Jerome,  4; 
Chas.  E.  Greenfield,  5 ;  Wm.  J.  Benson,  6 ;  Eansom  Ennicott,  7 ; 
Luther  Conant,  8;  C.  D.  Jeifers,  9;  Martin  K.  Northam,  10;  H.  J. 
Sawyer,  Joliet,  11 ;  Dr.  Mareva  D.  Brown,  DeKalb,  12 ;  Mesdames  W. 
P.  Graham,  Eochelle,  13 ;  A.  S.  Edwards,  Moline,  14 ;  W.  A.  Spies, 
Abinscdon,  15;  W.  K.  Trimble,  Princeton,  16;  Fred  W.  Longan, 
Lincoln,  17;  E.  B.  Griffin,  Grant  Park,  18;  Frank  L.  Frailey, 
TJrbana,  19;  Edgar  D.  Glandon,  Pittsfield,  20;  J.  T.  Savage,  Car- 
linville,  21;  J.  M.  Daniels,  Greenville,  22;  A.  T.  Midget,  Eobinson, 
23;  Chas.  H.  Melrose,  Grayville,  24;  Nellie  Searing,  Carbondale,  25. 

Department  Chairmen  included:  Mesdames  James  W.  Parker, 
Art;  Guy  Blanchard,  Motion  Pictures;  Oliver  L.  Watson,  Civil  Ser- 
vice; W.  L.  Arnold,  Conservation;  Albert  Evans,  Education  and 
Clarence  Eainwater,  H.  E.  and  Pure  Food,  all  of  Chicago.  Also  Mes- 
dames Jos.  F.  Nachbour,  Joliet,  Industrial  and  Social  Conditions; 
W.  W.  Whitmore,  Bloomington,  Legislative ;  T.  B.  Davis,  Eock  Island, 
Library  Extension;  G.  M.  Kendall,  Glen  EUyn,  Literature  and  Ee- 


92 

ciprocity;  E.  F.  Burkholder,  Streator,  Music;  Dr.  Violet  Palmer 
Brown,  Kankakee,  Public  Health. 

Chairmen  of  Standing  Committees  were:  Mesdames  Edmund 
Graf,  Auditing  and  Finance;  Francis  K.  Vonficht,  Bulletin;  Jos. 
McC.  Steele,  Progi'am ;  Lambert  0.  Wile,  Transportation ;  X.  La  Doit 
Johnson,  Press,  all  of  Chicago.  Also  Mesdames  George  M.  Bennett, 
Eockford,  Printing  and  Credentials;  John  H.  Chadwick,  Tuscola, 
Eevisions. 

The  Twenty-fourth  Annual  Meeting  was  held  in  the  Auditorium 
of  Mohammed  Temple,  Peoria,  June  3,  4,  5,  1919,  with  headquarters 
at  the  Jefferson  Hotel  and  the  Federated  Clubs  of  Peoria  acting  as 
hostesses.  This  was  the  third  convention  of  the  Federation  to  be 
held  in  Peoria. 

The  Local  Board  was  made  up  of  Mesdames  Harrison  Monro 
Brown,  Chairman,  and  John  E.  Keene,  H.  D.  Eunnells,  Franklin  S. 
Davis,  C.  E.  Nixon,  Janet  M.  Dickson,  A.  T.  Griffith.  John  Winzaler, 
A.  B.  McGill,  L.  B.  Quick,  H.  E.  Chubbuck,  Jacques  Bloom,  E.  E. 
Barbour,  C.  U.  Collins,  E.  J.  Bush,  R.  J  Boynton,  W.  A.  Wittick, 
W.  H.  Moors,  E.  D.  Carey,  Arthur  G.  Smith  and  Misses  Lucy  Way, 
Alberta  Wolgamott,  Bertha  Case,  Elizabeth  Eiess,  Minnie  M.  Peter- 
son, Catherine  Lester  and  Irma  Staebler.  The  outstanding  social 
feature  of  this  convention  was  the  banquet,  the  first  ever  given  for 
Illinois  delegates  at  a  Federation  meeting,  when  1,200  women  sat 
down  to  dine  together.  Men  were  permitted  to  come  to  the  Coliseum 
and  sit  in  the  balcony  to  hear  the  program,  but  they  were  not  allowed 
a  seat  at  the  tables.  Mrs.  Brown  introduced  Mrs.  Winter  that  night 
as  the  "present  Vice-President  and  the  next  President  of  the  G.  F. 
W.  C." — and  she  did  become  the  next  President.  The  same  night  the 
word  was  received  from  Washington  that  Congress  approved  the  Suf- 
frage measure.     It  was  a  great  occasion  for  the  Illinois  Federation. 

Coming  so  soon  after  the  close  of  the  war,  and  when  the  echoes 
of  the  AiTnistice  Avere  still  being  heard,  the  music  of  the  convention 
had  more  or  less  of  a  martial  air,  while  many  of  the  topics  discussed 
pertained  wholly  or  in  part  to  war  activities.  Dr.  Caroline  Hedger, 
always  a  favorite  with  Federation  audiences,  talked  on  "The  Club 
Women  in  Americanization;"  Grace  Wilbur  Trout  discussed  "The 
jSJational  Woman's  Voters'  League;"  Dr.  Edward  S.  Divine  of  New 
York,  "Impending  Social  Changes;"  Dr.  Allen  D.  Albert,  "Com- 
munity Councils;"  Dean  Percy  G.  Boynton,  University  of  Chicago, 
"Poetry  and  Politics;"  Dudley  Crafts  Watson,  "Art  and  True  De- 
mocracy;" Mrs.  Katherine  Knowles  Eobbins,  "Better  American 
Speech;"  Dt.  Wm.  A.  Evans,  Public  Health;  Dr.  Josephine  Milligan, 
"Suggestions  on  How  to  Utilize  Experience  Gained  in  France,  For 
Public  Health  Work  in  Illinois ;"  Mrs.  Thos.  G.  Winter,  Second  Vice- 
President  of  the  G.  F.,  "The  Day  and  the  Opportunity."  Dr.  Amaury 
Mars  told  "The  most  phenominal  story  of  the  war."  Some  of  the 
temporary  committees  reporting  were :  Chicago  Woman's  Club 
Canteen  Service ;  War  Service  Committee  and  Soldiers'  Club. 

All  the  departments  held  open  conference  meetings  at  four  o'clock 
on  Tuesday  and  Wednesday  afternoon. 


93 

The  Department  of  Social  aud  Industrial  Conditions  reported 
that  it  had  put  its  efforts  on  three  lines  of  work:  the  handicapped 
soldier  and  sailor  and  the  civilian  injured  through  industry.  The 
Legislative  Committee  reported  passage  of  the  Vocational  Education 
Bill  which  they  had  endorsed,  interest  in  a  Housing  Bill,  Motion 
Picture  Censorship  Bill,  appropriation  for  the  feeble  minded  and  the 
Eight  Hour  Bill  for  women. 

The  Music  Department  stressed  Community  ilusic  with  singing 
of  patriotic  songs. 

The  Department  of  Public  Health  was  very  active  and  had  added 
adult  hygiene  and  public  health  nursing  to  its  other  activities.  In  co- 
operation with  the  Children's  Bureau  at  Washington  which  was  at- 
tempting to  save  100,000  babies  during  1918,  and  the  Illinois  C.  N. 
D.,  the  club  women  weighed  and  measured  all  children  of  pre-school 
age;  they  assisted  the  National  Tuberculosis  Association  in  its  Mod- 
em Health  Crusade  movement  for  better  health  habits  among  school 
children,  and  they  co-operated  with  the  State  Health  Department  in 
its  Health  Promotion  Week.  They  were  asking  for  the  following  pro- 
posed legislation:  full  time  county  health  officers;  medical  inspection 
for  schools;  detention  hospitals  for  venereal  diseased  delinquents; 
creation  of  an  orthopedic  hospital  for  victims  of  infantile  parlysis. 

Some  of  the  activities  participated  in  at  this  time,  largely  war 
time  measures,  by  clubs  and  districts,  included  the  Liberty  Loan, 
War  Savings  Stamps,  Community  Canning,  Eed  Cross  work  of  all 
kinds,  Canteen  Service,  Visiting  Housekeeper  for  Americanization 
work,  Memorial  Tree  Planting,  War  Gardens,  Adoption  of  French  Or- 
phans, sponsoring  chatauquas,  securing  full  time  health  officers, 
child  welfare  work,  and  incidentally,  in  addition,  many  of  them 
carrying  on  a  full  time  Federation  program.  Some  clubs  gave  them- 
selves over  entirely  to  war  work  while  the  individual  members  of  other 
clubs  gave  their  service  to  war  organizations  so  the  club  might  be 
kept  as  a  club  organization,  and  perhaps  as  a  refuge  from  many 
needed  war  time  demands. 


94 


THE  THIETEENTH  BIENNIUM. 

1919—1921. 
Mrs.  Wm.  H.  Hart. 


Mrs,  Wm.  H.  Hart,  the  second  President  coming  from  southern 
Illinois,  was  born  in  Coulterville,  this  state,  being  educated  at  the 
Academy  in  that  town,  and  at  the  Southern  Illinois  Normal  School, 
Carbondale.  She  has  lived  for  many  years  in  Benton  where  she  has 
a  delightful  home,  so  she  has  been  closely  identified  with  that  part 
of  the  state  during  her  life  time. 

Her  immediate  family  consists  of  her  husband,  two  sons  and  two 
daughters,  all  of  whom  are  married,  we  believe. 

She  has  been  President  of  the  Self  Culture  Class  and  of  the 
Woman's  Club  of  Benton;  President  of  the  Twenty-fifth  District, 
Chairman  of  Civics  and  Vice-President  of  the  Illinois  Federation. 

During  the  war  Mrs.  Hart  was  county  worker  in  the  Council  of 
National  Defense  and  Chairman  of  the  Liberty  Loan  for  the  Eighth 
Federal  Eeserve  District.  She  has  taken  a  prominent  part  in  mis- 
sionary work,  in  the  Woman's  Christian  Temperance  Union,  Eed 
Cross,  D.  A.  E.,  and  League  of  Women  Voters. 


At  the  Peoria  Meeting  Mrs.  Wm.  H.  Hart,  of  Benton,  was  elected 
President;  Mrs.  John  T.  Mason,  of  Aurora,  Vice-President,  and  Mrs. 
Martin  Kent  Northam,  of  Evanston,  Eecording  Secretary,  Those  re- 
maining in  office,  were :  Mrs.  Chas,  M,  Carver,  Oak  Park,  Corres- 
ponding Secretary  and  Mrs.  Frederick  W,  Blocki,  of  Chicago,  Treas- 
urer.    Miss  Spafford  was  elected  G.  F.  State  Secretary. 

The  Presidents  of  Congressional  Districts  for  this  year  were: 
Mesdames  Edward  S.  Bailey,  1;  Chas.  F.  Eoss,  2;  A.  W.  Augur,  3; 
Elliot  W.  Davis,  4;  Chas.  E.  Greenfield.  5;  Jessie  J.  White,  6;  John 
F.  Devine,  7;  Balph  T.  Pickett,  8;  C.  D.  Jeffers,  9;  Chas.  Ware, 
Kenilworth,  10;  H.  J.  Sawyer,  Joliet,  11;  Miss  Clara  B.  Goodwin, 
Mendota,  12;  Mesdames  W,  P.  Graham,  Eochelle,  13;  George  E, 
Ockert,  Eoseville,  14;  A.  C,  Eoberts,  Galesburg,  15;  Miss  Delia  Miller, 
Peoria,  16;  Mesdames  Fred  W.  Longan,  Lincoln,  17;  L.  F.  W.  Stuebe, 
Danville,  18 ;  Frank  L.  Frailey,  Urbana,  19 ;  J,  C,  Grout.  Winches- 
ter, 20;  J,  T,  Savage,  Carlinville,  21;  Eugene  Gaskins,  Alton,  22; 
Mary  E.  McCauley,  Olney,  23;  P.  T.  Chapman,  Vienna,  24;  George 
W.  Hess,  Anna,  25. 

Parliamentarian,  Mrs.  Geo.  W.  Plummer.  Chicago. 

Those  serving  as  Chairmen  of  Departments  for  the  same  period, 
were:  Mesdames  J.  W.  Parker,  Chicago,  Art;  F,  J.  Macnish,  Oak 
Park,  Civics;  Guy  Blanchard,  Chicago,  Motion  Picture  Survey; 
Oliver  L.  Watson,  Chicago,  Civil  Service;  W.  L.  Arnold,  Chicago, 
Conservation;  Albert  Evans,  Chicago,  Education;  D.  W.  Eedfield, 
Evanston,  H.  E.  and  Pure  Food;  Jos.  F.  jSTachbour,  Joliet,  Industrial 
and  Social  Conditions;  E.  M.  Eeed.  Chicago,  Legislation;  Miss  Anna 
May  Price,  Springfield,  Library  Extension;  Mesdames  Walter  S.  Mc- 


»5 

Gee,  Chicago,  Literature  and  Eeciprocity ;  E.  F.  Burkholder,  Streator, 
Music;  Dr.  Violet  Palmer  Brown,  Kankakee,  Public  Health  and 
Child  Welfare. 

The  Chairmen  of  Standing  Committees  were :  Mesdames  Guy 
Blanchard,  Bulletin;  Edmund  S.  Graf,  Chicago,  Finance;  Edward  S. 
Baile}^,  Auditing;  George  M.  Bennett,  Rockford,  Printing  and  Cre- 
dentials; Eobt.  "e.  Gillespie,  East  St.  Louis,  Press;  A.  H.  Clement, 
Chicago,  Program;  John  H.  Chadwick,  Tuscola,  Eevisions;  Frank 
H.  Funk,  Bloomington,  Speakers'  Bureau;  Wm.  D.  Hurlburt,  Chi- 
cago, Transportation. 

Special  Committee  Chairmen  were :  Mesdames  Duane  McJSTabb, 
Illinois  Cottage  Endowment  Fund;  Frederick  Dale  Wood,  Chicago, 
Silver  Jubilee  Eixtension  Fund ;  Clarence  G.  Goodwin.  Chicago,  State 
Eeserve  Fund;  Frederick  A.  Dow,  Chicago,  Thrift;  Miss  Jessie 
Spafford,  Eesolutions. 

For  the  first  time  the  County  Chairmen,  of  whom  there  were 
seventy-six,  were  listed.  All  of  the  counties  outside  of  Cook,  with 
the  exception  of  the  Sixteenth  and  the  Twenty-fourth,  were  more  or 
less  organized. 

At  the  meeting  of  the  Board  of  Directors,  September  25th,  1919, 
authorization  was  given  for  the  renting  of  room  634,  Fine  Arts 
Building,  Michigan  Avenue,  Chicago,  to  be  used  as  headquarters  for 
the  Federation.  The  office  was  opened  on  Monday,  October  the  6th, 
1919.  The  Woman's  Division,  Council  of  National  Defense,  was 
disbanding  and  the  Federation  purchased  necessary  furniture  from 
that  organization.  The  Federation  remained  in  the  Fine  Arts  Build- 
ing imtil  April  1st,  1920,  when  the  office  was  moved  to  127  Forth 
Dearborn  Street,  first  occupying  the  front  of  the  building  on  the 
sixth  floor,  then  moving  to  the  rear  where  more  room  was  available, 
and  later  going  to  the  eighth  floor  where  the  offices  are  now  located 
(1928),  in  three  rooms. 

Three  distinct  p-rograms  of  work  were  emphasized  by  the  Presi- 
dent; Americanization,  Thrift  and  Community  Service.  During 
1919  the  Illinois  Bulletin  passed  from  the  hands  of  the  Federation 
chairman  and  her  committee,  being  taken  over  by  a  publishing  com- 
pany and  the  name  changed  to  the  "Edict." 

"  At  the  Convention  of  1920  held  at  the  Congress  Hotel  in  Chi- 
cago, the  most  conspicious  event  was  the  celebration  of  the  twenty- 
fifth  anniversary  of  the  founding  of  the  Federation.  It  was  called 
"The  Illinois  Federation  of  Women's  Clubs  in  Eetrospect"  and 
showed  twenty-five  years'  work  of  the  club  women  of  the  State.  It 
was  directed  by  Mrs.  Ferdinanda  Iv.  Anderson,  Mrs.  Ernest  B. 
Griffin  giving  the  prologue.  The  setting  was  the  Gold  Ball  Eoom 
of  the  hotel  which  was  a  veritable  fairyland  of  beauty,  Mrs.  James 
W.  Parker  and  her  committee  having  left  nothing  undone  to  enhance 
the  charm  and  artistic  setting  for  this  great  event.  The  color  scheme 
was  carried  out  in  silver  and  blue,  the  colors  of  the  Federation.  The 
last  tableau  was  called  "The  Spirit  of  the  Federation"  Mrs.  Hart  and 
the  twenty-five  District  Presidents  representing  the  completion  of  the 
efforts  of  a  quarter  of  a  century. 


96 

Mrs.  John  T.  Mason  of  Aurora  was  the  Chairman  of  the  Official 
Committee  in  charge  of  arrangements.* 

Among  old  and  new  friends  of  the  Federation  appearing  on  this 
program  we  find  the  names  of  Miss  Harriet  Vittum,  who  talked  on 
"The  Social  Eesponsibilities  of  Women;"  Mrs.  George  W.  Plummer 
speaking  for  the  Community  Service  Committee  of  the  General  Fed- 
eration of  which  she  was  chairman;  Mrs.  Ira  Couch  Wood,  G.  F. 
Chairman  for  Child  Welfare;  Katherine  Knowles  Eobbins,  Annie  P. 
Kenny,  Jeannette  Bates,  Dr.  Horace  Bridges,  Dr.  Wm.  S.  Sadler, 
Mrs.  Grace  Wilbur  Trout,  Shailer  Mathews.  Mrs.  Joseph  T.  Bowen, 
Mrs.  Cyinis  E.  Perkins  who  spoke  on  "What  Illinois  has  done  for  Art 
in  the  General  Federation;"  Dr.  F.  E.  Moulton  and  Dr.  W.  H. 
Macpherson.  The  music  was  arranged  by  Anne  Faulkner  Oberndorfer 
and  was  devoted  to  Illinois  composers. 

Governor  of  Illinois,  President  of  the  U.  S., 

1921—1929.  1921—1923. 

Len  Small.              Mrs.  Wm.  H.  Hart.  Warren  G.  Harding. 
1920—1921. 

The  old  and  new  officers  who  served  for  this  year  were :  Presi- 
dent, Mrs.  Wm.  H.  Hart,  Benton;  First  Vice-President;  Mrs.  Edward 
S.  Bailey,  Chicago;  Second  Vice-President,  Mrs.  H.  J.  Sawyer,  Joliet; 
Eecording  Secretary,  Mrs.  Martin  K.  Xortham,  Evanston;  Corres- 
ponding Secretary,  Mrs.  Henry  W.  Hardy,  Chicago;  Treasurer,  Mrs. 
Oliver  L.  Watson,  Chicago;  G.  F.  State  Secretary,  Miss  Jessie 
Spafford. 

There  were  569  clubs  in  the  Federation  with  a  membership  of 
63,476. 

The  District  Presidents  included :  Mesdames  A.  E.  Kaltenbrun, 
1;  Chas.  F.  Eoss,  2;  Wm.  J.  Eoberts,  3;  Elliot  W.  Davis,  4;  M.  E. 
Kultchar,  5;  Jessie  J.  White,  6;  Chas.  0.  Sethness,  7;  Ealph  T. 
Pickett,  8;  Auguste  Babize.  9;  Chas.  Ware,  Kenilworth,  10;  M.  W. 
Coultrap,  Naperville,  11;  Miss  Clara  B.  Goodwin,  Mendota,  12;  Mes- 
dames, Hattie  M.  Ehersole,  Sterling,  13;  George  E.  Ockert,  Eoseville, 
14;  A.  C.  Eoberts,  Galesburg,  15;  Miss  Delia  Miller,  Peoria,  16; 
Fred  H.  Ballinger,  Chenoa,  17 ;  L.  F.  W.  Stuebe,  Danville,  18 ;  Dan 
Macknet,  Decatur,  19;  J.  C.  Grout,  Winchester,  20;  A.  M.  Howell, 
Hillsboro,  21 ;  Eugene  Gaskins,  Alton,  22 ;  Mary  E.  McCauley,  Olney, 
23;  P.  T.  Chapman,  Vienna,  24;  S.  A.  McKelvey,  Sparta,  25. 

The  Chairmen  of  Departments  were :  Miss  Katherine  Lester, 
Peoria,  Art;  Mesdames  F.  J.  Macnish,  Oak  Park,  Civics;  Fi'ank  L. 
Frailey,  Urbana,  Civil  Service;  W.  Welsh,  Des  Plaines,  Conservation; 
M.  H.  Lieber,  Winnetka,  Education;  Jaques  Holinger,  Chicago,  H. 
E.  and  Pure  Food ;  J.  F.  Nachbour,  Joliet,  Industrial  and  Social  Con- 
ditions ;  Morton  W.  Thompson,  Danville,  Legislation ;  Miss  Anna  May 
Price,  Springfield,  Library  Extension;  Mesdames  Fred  G.  Campbell, 

*  No  records  are   at  hand  which   give  hostesses  or  local  board  members  for 
this    convention. 


97 

Chicago,  Literature  and  Eeciprocity;  Anna  Groff-Brvant,  Galesburg, 
Music;  Dr.  Eva  Wilson,  Public  Health  and  Child  Welfare. 

The  Standing  Committee  Chairmen  were :  Mesdames  Edward 
L.  Murfey,  Chicago,  Edict;  Edmund  S.  Grai?,  Chicago,  Finance;  Geo. 
M.  Bennett,  Eockford,  Printing  and  Credentials ;  X.  C.  McLean.  East 
St.  Louis,  Press;  E.  B.  Griffin,  Kankakee,  Program;  John  H.  Chad- 
wick,  Tuscola,  Revisions;  Frank  H.  Funk,  Bloomington,  Speakers' 
Bureau ;  Wm.  D.  Hurlburt,  Chicago.  Transportation. 

Mrs.  McXabb,  Miss  Spafford  and  ]\Irs.  Wood  continued  to  serve 
as  chairmen  of  their  respective  committees,  while  the  new  chairmen 
were:  Mesdames  Wm.  J.  Benson,  Thrift;  John  C.  Roth,  Community 
Service  and  Edmund  S.  Graf,  House,  all  of  Chicago. 

County  organization  work  had  been  stressed  and  there  were  now 
eighty  counties  with  chainiien. 

Mrs.  Jolm  T.  ]\Iason  of  Aurora  liad  succeeded  ^Irs.  Plummer  as 
Director,  the  latter  having  been  made  Corresponding  Secretary  of 
the  General  Federation  and  the  office  of  Director  having  superseded 
that  of  G.  F.  State  Secretary. 

The  Twenty-sixth  Annual  Convention  was  held  in  the  Drake 
Hotel,  Chicago,  "May  24,  25,  26,  1921.  The  theme  for  the  occasion 
was  "Service  to  the  Community."  Mrs.  Edmund  A.  Graf  was  Chair- 
man of  the  Local  Board  and  was  assisted  by  Mesdames  W.  J.  Roberts, 
Oliver  Watson,  George  Bennett,  A.  E.  Kaltenbrun,  Charles  Ware, 
Jos.  F.  ISTachbour,  Rose  Murfey,  Frank  Johnson,  Jessie  White,  Ernest 
Griflfin  and  Miss  Anna  M.  Price.  A  banquet  was  held  on  the  first 
evening  with  Mrs.  Pennybacker  as  the  guest  of  honor  and  speaker. 

An  Open  Forum  on  American  Citizenship  devoted  to  "The  For- 
eign Born  Woman"  was  held  with  Mrs.  Pennybacker,  Miss  Grace 
Abbott  and  Mr.  Frank  Comerford  taking  part  in  the  discussion.  Mrs. 
Henry  W.  Cheney  spoke  on  "A  Joint  Lobby ;"  Colonel  John  V.  Clinin, 
"American  Women  in  Politics;"  Mrs.  George  Bass,  "Votes  for 
Women;"  Miss  Juliet  L.  Bane,  "Home  Bureau  and  Women's  Clubs." 
Honorable  Lynden  Evans  was  also  a  speaker.  The  temporary  com- 
mittees of  Thrift,  Student  Fellowship.  Near  East  Relief  and  Service 
Star  Legion  reported.  Part  of  a  session  was  devoted  to  the  "Discus- 
sion of  the  Policies  of  the  Federation''  "A'^alue  of  Publicity,"  "Re- 
Organization."  and  "Finance."  Much  lovely  music  featured  the 
sessions  in  addition  to  a  very  fine  concert  arranged  by  Mrs.  Orben- 
dorfer  on  Thursday  evening. 

The  outstanding  achievement  of  this  administration  and  of  this 
Convention  was  the  launching  of  the  $100,000  endowment  fund,  long 
the  hope  and  dream  of  the  leaders  of  the  Federation.  The  income 
from  clubs,  first  based  on  a  flat  rate,  and  then  on  a  ten  cent  per  capita 
fee,  had  never  been  sufficient  for  the  needs  of  the  organization  and  it 
was  nece-ssary  to  augment  this  income  if  any  broad  and  comprehensive 
program  of  work  was  to  be  accomplished.  The  first  one  hundred 
dollars  for  such  an  endowment  had  been  given,  as  stated  earlier  in 
this  History,  by  the  Local  Board  of  the  Chicago  Biennial,  at  which 
time  the  State  Reserve  Fund  Committee  was  appointed. 


98 

The  goal  of  this  fund  had  now  been  set  at  $100,000  and  the 
movement  was  launched,  amid  great  enthusiasm  at  this  meeting  in 
May,  1921.  The  sum  of  $10,000  had  been  left  from  the  Silver  Jubilee 
Fund  which  was  finished,  that  committee  abolished  and  the  State 
Endowment  Fund  created  with  Mrs.  Samuel  Horner  of  Chicago  as 
the  first  and  only  chairman  up  to  the  time  of  her  death  in  February, 
1928.  This  committee  was  one  of  two  where  the  chairman  was  asked 
to  succeed  herself  until  the  work  was  accomplished.  Mrs.  Homer 
was  untiring  in  her  efforts  to  help  raise  this  fund  and  directed  the 
investment  and  management  of  it  for  almost  seven  years.  Aside 
from  the  fact  that  her  death  was  a  severe  loss  to  her  friends,  and  to 
the  members  of  the  Federation,  it  seems  indeed  a  pity  that  she  could 
not  have  lived  to  see  the  completion  of  a  work  to  which  she  gave  so 
much  of  her  self,  time  and  energy. 


99 


THE  FOURTEENTH  BIENNIUM. 

1921—1923. 
Mrs.  EIdwaed  S.  Bailey. 


Mrs.  Edward  S.  Bailey  was  born  in  Tuscaloosa,  Alabama,  com- 
ing in  1900  to  Chicago  where  she  has  since  made  her  home.  Mr. 
Bailey  is  living  but  they  have  no  children. 

Mrs.  Bailey  was  educated  in  a  private  school,  later  going  to  Tus- 
caloosa College  for  Girls.  She  graduated  from  the  Alabama  Central 
Female  College. 

Her  club  affiliations  in  her  native  state  included  the  Treasurer- 
ship  of  the  Alabama  Federation,  Founder  and  Presidency  of  the 
Tuscaloosa  "Up-to-D'ate"  Club  and  Secretaryship  of  the  Kettledrum 
Society. 

Since  coming  to  Chicago  she  has  served  as  Art  and  Literature 
Chairman  of  the  South  Side  Club,  President  of  the  Southern  Woman's 
Club,  Stonewall  Chapter  U.  D.  C,  First  District,  I.  F.  W.  C,  Vice- 
President  of  the  Illinois  Federation,  President  of  Chicago  and  Cook 
County  Federated  Womens'  Organizations. 

Mrs.  Bailey's  interests  outside  of  club  work  have  been  in  con- 
nection with  the  Greater  South  Side  Chamber  of  Commerce,  the 
Salvation  Army.  Southern  Educational  Alliance,  Junior  School  for 
Boys'  Welfare  and  civic  work,  generally,  serving  on  seven  boards  and 
three  committees. 


At  the  Twenty-sixth  Annual  Convention,  held  at  the  Drake  Hotel, 
Chicago,  May  1921,  Mrs.  Edward  S.  Bailey  of  Chicago  was  elected 
president ;  Mrs.  Earnest  B.  Griffin,  Grant  Park,  First  Vice-President ; 
Mrs.  Frank  L.  Frailey,  Urbana,  Second  Vice-President;  Mrs.  Eugene 
Gaskins,  Alton,  Recording  Secretary;  Mrs.  Henry  W.  Hardy,  Chicago. 
Corresponding  Secretary;  Mrs.  Chas.  F.  Ross,  Treasurer. 

The  Presidents  of  Congressional  Districts  were :  Mesdames  A. 
E.  Kaltenbrun,  1 :  Walter  W.  Seymour,  2 :  Wm.  J.  Roberts.  3 :  A.  G. 
Jackson,  4;  M.  R.  Kultehar,  5;  John  C.  Wilmot,  6;  Chas.  0.  Seth- 
ness,  7;  Edgar  J.  Stewart,  8;  Auguste  Babize,  9;  Jas.  A.  Campbell, 
10;  M.  W.  Cbultrap,  Naperville,  11;  Samuel  E.  Bradt,  De  Kalb, 
12;  Hattie  M.  Ebersole,  Sterling,  13;  Wm.  J.  Sweeney,  Rock  Island, 
14;  A.  R.  Chandler,  Galesburg,  15;  Martha  Steinmetz,  Pekin,  16; 
0.  P.  Bourland,  Pontiac,  17;  Warren  R.  Hickox,  Kankakee,  18;  Dan 
Macknet,  Decatur,  19 ;  A.  L.  Adams,  Jacksonville,  20 ;  A.  M.  Howell, 
Hillsboro.  21;  Henry  Xeedles,  Granite  City,  22;  Harry  W.  Farson, 
Salem,  23;  Jas.  B.  Blackman,  Harrisburg,  24;  S.  A.  McKelvey, 
Sparta,  25.     Parliamentarian,  Mrs.  Plummer,  Chicago. 

Conforming  to  the  reorganization  plans  of  the  General  Federation 
as  presented  at  the  Biennial  held  the  previous  summer  in  D'es  Moines, 
the  Illinois  Federation  divided  its  work  into  six  departments  with 
various  divisions  functioning  under  those  departments,  instead  of  the 
eleven  groups  as  had  been  the  arrangement  for  some  time.  It  was 
not   intended   by  this  reorganization  to  wipe   out  any   interests   or 


100 

activities,  but  as  certain  things  seemed  more  or  less  important  in 
different  localities,  and  at  different  times,  it  was  thought  that  this 
arrangement  might  enable  chairmen  to  emphaize  the  work  that  was 
most  important  both  as  to  time  and  location.  Hence,  the  program 
for  this  period  was  carried  out  on  the  following  lines: 

Department  of  American  Citizenship,  Mrs.  Robert  Bruce  Farson, 
Chairman,  with  the  Division  of  Americanization,  Mrs.  Henry  Holver- 
scheid,  Hinsdale;  Community  Service,  Mrs.  John  R.  Oliver,  Chicago; 
Motion  Pictures,  Mrs.  R.  D.  Cunningham,  Evanston ;  Training  in 
Citizenship,  Mrs.  F.  J.  Macnish,  Oak  Park. 

Department  of  Applied  Eiducation,  Mrs.  M.  H.  Lieber,  Winnetka, 
Chairman,  with  the  Division  of  Conservation,  Mrs.  Theron  F.  Colton, 
Chicago ;  Education,  Mrs.  Clarence  Balke,  Highland  Park ;  Library 
Extension,  Miss  Anna  May  Price,  Springfield  ;  Home  Economics,  Mrs. 
W.  E,  Fribley,  Chicago.  Fine  Arts,  Mrs.  Jas.  W.  Parker,  Chairman, 
with  Division  of  Art,  not  filled;  Literature,  Miss  Helen  Bagg;  Music, 
Miss  Olga  Menn,  all  of  Chicago. 

•Miss  GTrace  Dixon  was  Chairman  of  Legislation  which  included 
the  Division  of  Civil  Ser\'ice  of  which  Mrs.  Chas.  Anderson  was  in 
charge,  both  residing  in  Chicago.  The  Department  of  Press  and 
Publicitv,  ]\[rs.  Ceo.  W.  Plummer,  Chairman,  included,  Edict  Maga- 
zine, Mrs.  Frank  Johnson,  Glen  Ellyn ;  Speakers'  Bureau,  Mrs.  Fred 
A.  Schwarz,  Chicago ;  State  Press,  Mrs.  !N^.  C.  McLean,  East  St.  Louis. 
The  Department  of  Public  Welfare  with  Mrs.  Wm.  H.  Hart  as  Chair- 
man, combined  Child  Welfare,  Mrs.  E.  P.  Welles,  Evanston;  Health, 
Dr.  Eva  Wilson,  Manhattan;  Indian  Welfare,  Mrs.  J.  Marc  Fowler, 
Chicago ;  Industrial  and  Social  Conditions,  Mrs.  H.  W.  Hartough. 

The  Standing  Committees  with  their  Chairmen  were:  Advisory, 
Mrs.  Edward  S.  Bailey;  Credentials,  Mrs.  C.  W.  Wade,  Aurora;  En- 
downment,  Mrs.  Samuel  Horner,  Chicago ;  Finance,  Mrs.  Edmund 
S.  Graf:  Auditing,  Mrs.  John  T.  ]\Iason;  House,  Mrs.  Frank  John- 
son; Printing,  Mrs.  Thos.  0.  Wallace,  Chicago;  Program,  Mrs. 
Samuel  Slade,  Chicago;  Resolutions,  Mrs.  H.  M.  Brown,  Peoria; 
Re^^sions,  Mrs.  Albert  Watson,  Mt.  Vernon;  Transportation,  Mrs. 
L.  F.  W.  Steube,  Danville. 

The  Chairmen  of  the  Special  Committees  were:  Miss  Myrtle 
Carpenter,  Chicago,  Friendly  Co-operation  with  Ex-Ser\'ice  Men; 
Miss  Mabel  Poole.  Chicago,  Over  Seas  Unit;  Mrs.  M.  K.  Northam, 
Service  I^eague. 

Eighty-four  counties  were  listed  as  having  chairmen.  The  Re- 
tiring State  President  was  made  a  member  of  the  Board  of  Directors. 
Chairmen  of  divisions  had  no  vote  but  were  expected  to  "sit  in"  at 
the  Board  meetings. 

The  Illinois  Federation,  for  the  first  time,  was  incorporated  under 
the  laws  of  the  State  of  Illinois,  January  1923,  the  incorporators  be- 
ing the  fifty  members  of  the  Board  which  consisted  of  the  officers, 
the  twenty-five  district  presidents,  the  director  of  the  General  Federa- 
tion, the  chairmen  of  the  Departments  of  Work  and  of  Standing 
Committees. 


101 

The  summary  of  this  year  showed  that  there  were  589  clubs  in 
the  Federation  with  a  membership  of  67,704.  Of  course  the  figures 
for  membership  in  any  administration  are  not  entirely  accurate  as 
many  women  belong  to  more  than  one  federated  club  and  are  counted 
as  members  in  each  of  those  clubs.  In  the  previous  year  166  Illinois 
clubs  were  reported  as  belonging  to  the  General  Federation. 

"The  outstanding  features  of  the  administration  of  the  Illinois 
Federation,  1921-1923,^'  to  quote  directly  from  the  President,  Mrs. 
Bailey,  "were  the  establishment  of  the  Indian  Welfare  Division,  the 
Committee  on  Friendly  Relations  with  Ex-Service  Men,  the  Legisla- 
tive Forum  and  the  Woman's  Pageant  of  Progress.  Special  effort 
was  given  to  Junior  Membership  (the  movement  just  inaugurated  by 
Mrs.  Winter)  and  the  Park  Kidge  School  for  Girls.  Work  on  the 
endowment  funds  for  the  State  and  General  Federations  were  actively 
begun,  $5,000  having  been  pledged  by  Illinois  to  the  General  Federa- 
tion. County  Federations  were  fostered.  The  greatest  achievement 
was  the  number  of  clubs  brought  into  membership." 

The  following  very  wise  policy  was  established  at  this  time :  "It 
is  recommended  that  the  policy  of  the  State  Federation  be  to  make 
no  financial  appeals  to  the  club  women  except  for  the  business  of 
the  Federation.  For  A^ears  past  we  have  been  asked  to  finance  other 
organizations,  indiscriminately,  while  our  own  has  suffered.  Let  us 
set  our  own  house  in  order.  Of  course  it  is  your  privilege  to  give  aa 
generously  as  you  choose  to  all  appeals,  but  first  contribute  to  your 
endowment  fund,  the  General  Federation  Home,  and  last,  but  not 
least,  subscribe  to  your  magazine." 

For  the  first  time  an  executive  committee  was  formed  consisting 
of  the  President  and  seven  other  members  of  the  Board. 

During  this  period  women  of  the  Second  District  had  become 
greatly  interested  in  saving  the  Field  Museum  and  for  the  sake  of 
securing  the  attention  of  the  public  and  demonstrating  what  might 
be  done  in  its  restoration,  they  raised  the  sum  of  $7,000  and  restored 
one  corner  of  the  building.  Mrs.  Albion  L.  Headburg  of  Chicago, 
prominent  in  club  and  art  circles  was  the  first,  and  has  been  the  only 
chairman  of  this  committee,  1928. 

Mrs.  Headburg  was  indefatigable  in  her  efforts,  not  only  in  help- 
to  raise  this  amount  but  in  agitating  public  sentiment  for  subsequent 
bond  issues  designed  for  complete  restoration.  The  name  of  the  com- 
mittee, was,  "Eestoration  of  Columbian  Art  Building." 

The  Twenty-seventh  Annual  Meeting  was  held  in  the  historic 
State  House  in  Springfield,  in  the  House  of  Eepresentatives  Avhich 
had  been  the  setting  for  two  previous  Conventions  of  the  Federa- 
tion. The  dates  were  May  23,  24,  25,  1923,  and  the  members  of  the 
Woman's  Club  served  as  hostesses.  The  Local  Board  consisted  of 
Mrs.  George  Thomas  Palmer,  chairman,  and  Mesdames  E.  R.  Coggs- 
well,  Albert  Trapp,  S.  A.  Bradley,  Frances  P.  Ide,  James  A.  Day, 
Paul  Taft,  James  A.  Jones,  J.  R.  Leib,  Burton  Reid.  Mary  Berdan 
Tiffany,  Will  Starne,  H.  M.  Solenberger,  E.  E.  Hagler,  Wm.  R. 
Vredenburgh,  and  Mrs.  CD.  Wright,  President  of  the  club. 


102 

The  Board  of  Directors  and  the  Local  Board  enjoyed  dinner  to- 
getlier  at  the  Illini  Country  Club  on  M^onday  evening.  On  Tuesday 
afternoon  Mrs.  Small  and  her  daughter,  Mrs.  Inglish,  received  all 
the  delegates  and  visiting  club  women  at  the  Executive  Mansion  from 
four  until  six.  On  Wednesday  evening  a  banquet  was  held  at  the 
Leland  Hotel  and  on  Thursday  afternoon  following  adjourmnent  a 
drive  was  taken  around  the  city,  ending  with  a  reception  in  the  rooms 
of  the  Springfield  Art  Association. 

The  program  of  this  meeting,  while  still  showing  some  effects  of 
the  war,  was  largely  devoted  to  the  practical  business  of  the  Federa- 
tion and  is  extremely  interestmg  in  comparison  with  those  of  a  decade 
before  on  account  of  the  very  different  subjects  under  discussion  and 
the  amount  of  attention  given  to  the  financial  and  organization  side 
of  the  federation  work. 

Among  the  prominent  speakers  were:  Mrs.  Eose  V.  S.  Berry, 
Chairman  of  Fine  Arts  for  the  General  Federation,  who  gave  a  bril- 
liant address;  Mrs.  Edwin  S.  Johnson,  of  Chicago,  equally  brilliant, 
whose  subject  was  "Leadership  and  Loyalty;"  Mrs.  Marx  Oberndorfer, 
Chairman  of  Music  of  the  General  Federation;  Mrs.  F.  J.  Macnish, 
Chairman  of  Americanization,  who  had  made  a  personal  investiga- 
tion of  conditions  at  Ellis  Island,  talked  on  "Ellis  Island  and  Its 
Eelation  to  Immigration  Legislation."  One  session  was  devoted  to 
a  "Discussion  of  the  policies  of  the  I.  F.  W.  C,"  in  which  "Junior 
Membership,"  "The  Value  of  Publicity,"  "How  We  May  Work  More 
Efficiently,"  and  "How  We  Shall  Finance  the  I.  F.  W.  C."  were  the 
subjects  stressed. 

Mrs.  Ernest  B.  Griffin,  First  Vice-President,  was  in  charge  of  a 
session  devoted  to  the  "Women  in  the  State  at  Large,"  and  the  sub- 
jects under  discussion  were,  "How  and  Why  We  Have  the  Home 
Bui-eau  and  Do  We  Want  It?"  "Good  Eoads  and  What  They  Mean 
to  Women,"  "The  Business  Side  of  the  Home"  and  "Forestry  Plans 
for  Illinois," 

Some  of  the  old  friends  on  the  program  welcomed  by  the  dele- 
gates were:  Mrs.  Eobert  Bruce  Farson,  President,  1898-1900,  Mrs. 
H,  M.  Dunlap,  Miss  Grace  Temple,  Mrs.  Wm.  H.  Hart,  who  talked 
on  County  Chairmen,  a  subject  for  the  first  time  enjoying  the  dignity 
of  a  place  of  importance,  and  Mrs,  Howard  Willson,  President  of  the 
Springfield  Art  Association. 

The  Endowment  Fund,  recently  created,  also  had  a  place  for  the 
first  time,  Mrs.  Samuel  J.  Horner  presenting  the  subject.  Among 
the  new  faces  are  those  of  Mrs.  J.  Marc  Fowler,  later  to  become 
President  of  her  district  and  First  Vice-President  of  the  Federation, 
and  one  who  gave  long  and  faithful  service  to  the  organization :  Mrs. 
Chas,  J.  Trainor,  a  board  member  for  four  years,  first  as  Department 
Chairman  and  afterwards  serving  as  Treasurer;  and  Mrs.  John  E. 
Oliver,  Sixth  District  President,  1927-1929.  Mrs,  James  Campbell 
reported  that  over  $9,000  had  been  subscribed  through  the  Federa- 
tion for  Near  East  Eelief.  Mrs.  Chas.  W.  Eoss,  the  Treasurer,  re- 
ported expenditures  of  $8,256  and  receipts  of  $15,284, 


103 

Kesolutions  dealt  with  the  suppression  of  vice  about  military  and 
naval  stations  and  with  placing  copies  of  the  Ten  Commandments 
and  the  Golden  Eule  in  the  schools  of  the  state.  Endorsement  was 
given  to  the  stand  taken  by  Mr.  Will  Hays,  Director  of  Motion  Pic- 
tures in  barring  Arbuckle  films. 

Mrs.  Bailey,  Mrs.  Griffin,  Mrs.  Frailey  and  Mrs.  Gaskins  con- 
tinued to  serve  through  1922  and  1923,  while  Mrs.  Hardy  became 
Treasurer  and  Mrs.  A.  M.  Howell,  retiring  president  of  the  Twenty- 
first  District  became  Corresponding  Secretary.  Mrs.  Harrison 
Monro  Brown,  Peoria,  was  elected  Director  to  the  General  Federation. 

The  District  Presidents  were:  Mesdames  Thos.  P.  Casey,  1; 
W.  W.  Seymour,  2;  Martin  Strand,  3;  Arthur  G.  Jackson,  4;  M.  K. 
Kultchar,  5;  John  C.  Wilmot,  6;  Allen  Elrod,  7;  Miss  Clara  Daum, 
8 ;  Mesdames  H.  L.  Hartenstein,  9 ;  Jas.  A.  Campbell,  10 ;  W.  H. 
Doolittle,  Woodstock,  11;  Samuel  E.  Bradt,  DeKalb,  12;  W.  H. 
Coppins,  Dixon,  13;  W.  J.  Sweeney,  Rock  Island,  14;  Robert,  A. 
Chandler,  Galesburg,  15;  Martha  Steinmetz,  Pekin,  16;  Carl  Vroo- 
man,  Bloomington,  17;  G.  F.  Patterson,  Milford,  18;  Flo  Jamison 
Miller,  Monticello,  19 ;  A.  L.  Adams,  Jacksonville,  20 ;  Ari'etus  Burt, 
Pana,  21 ;  Henr}-  Needles,  Granite  City,  22 ;  Harry  W.  Farson, 
Salem,  23;  J.  B.  Blaekman,  Harrisburg,  24;  Paul  R.  Colp,  Marion, 
25. 

The  Chairmen  of  Departments  and  Divisions  of  Work  were : 
Mesdames  Chas.  J.  Trainor,  Chicago,  American  Citizenship,  with  F. 
J.  Macnish,  Oak  Park,  Americanization;  John  R.  Oliver,  Oak  Park, 
Community  Service;  Albert  Trapp,  Springfield,  Motion  Pictures; 
Wm.  H.  Cade,  Chicago,  Training  in  Citizenship. 

The  members  of  the  Applied  Education  Department  remained 
the  same,  as  did  the  Department  of  Fine  Arts,  with  the  addition  of 
Mrs.  Chas.  W.  Leigh  of  Chicago,  who  assumed  the  chairmanship  of 
Art.  There  were  no  changes  in  the  Department  of  Legislation  and 
only  one  in  Press  and  Publicity,  Mrs.  Wendell  R.  Doolittle,  of  Chi- 
cago, taking  the  place  of  Mrs.  Frank  Johnson,  of  Glen  Ellyn. 

Mrs.  H.  W.  Hartough,  of  Chicago,  became  Chairman  of  Public 
Welfare  with  Mrs.  A.  S.  Edwards,  of  Moline,  serving  as  Chairman  of 
Birth  Registration;  Mrs.  Walter  H.  Atwater,  Etvanston,  Child  Wel- 
fare; Dr.  Eva  L.  Wilson,  Manhattan,  Health;  Mrs.  J.  Marc  Fowler, 
Indian  Welfare;  Mrs.  W.  E.  Simonds,  Galesburg,  Industrial  and 
Social  Conditions. 

Mrs.  Bailey,  Mrs.  Wade,  Mrs.  Horner,  Mrs.  Graf,  Mrs.  Johnson, 
Mrs.  Wallace  and  Mrs.  Watson  remained  chairmen  of  their  respective 
committees,  while  Mrs.  James  A.  Campbell,  of  Evanston,  became 
chairman  of  Auditing;  Mrs.  Martin  K.  Northam,  of  Evanston,  Pro- 
gram ;  Mrs.  Hattie  M.  Ebersole,  Sterling,  Resolutions,  and  Mrs.  Chas. 
M.  Woodman,  of  Chicago,  Transportation. 

Miss  Carpenter  and  Miss  Poole  remained  as  heads  of  their  com- 
mittees, wliile  the  Service  League  was  dropped  and  Restoration  of 
Columbian  Art  Building,  with  Mrs.  Headburg  as  Chairman,  was 
added. 


104 

The  Twenty-eighth  Annual  Convention  of  the  Federation  was 
held  in  Aryan  Grotto,  Chicago,  May  23,  23,  24,  1923,  with  Chicago 
club  women  acting  as  hostesses.  Headquarters  was  at  the  Congress 
Hotel.  The  members  of  the  Local  Board  were :  Mesdames  Edmund 
S.  Graf,  A.  M.  Howell,  Allen  Elrod,  Thos.  P.  Casey,  H.  L.  Harten- 
stein,  Jas.  A.  Campbell,  W.  J.  Sweeney,  Paul  E.  Colp,  Arthur  G. 
Jackson,  Chas.  J.  Trainor  and  Walter  W.  Seymour. 

An  Artists'  Eeception  was  held  at  the  Chicago  Art  Institute  on 
Tuesday  afternoon  to  which  all  the  delegates  and  visitors  were  in- 
vited. On  Wednesday  evening  the  "Pageant  of  Woman's  Progress" 
was  given,  depictin,g  the  "history  of  women  from  the  early  cave  dwell- 
in,g  days,  when  women  guarded  the  fire  of  the  home  from  the 
brutish  force  of  men,  to  the  final  exemplification  of  women's  work 
today  as  conducted  through  the  various  avenues  of  the  Federation  of 
Women's  Clubs."  The  Pageant  had  been  written  by  Miss  Bertha 
Isles  for  presentation  at  the  Municipal  Pier  the  year  before  and  was 
directed  by  her. 

Mrs.  Thos.  G.  Winter,  President  of  the  General  Federation,  was 
the  guest  of  honor  and  spoke  on  Tuesday  evening  on  "Spiritual 
Forces."  Mrs.  H.  G.  Eeynolds,  President  of  the  Kentucky  Federa- 
tion, brought  a  greeting  from  her  State  and  Mrs.  Marx  Oberndorfer 
was  in  charge  of  a  very  lovely  musical  program. 

Dr.  Lee  A.  Stone  talked  on  the  "Folly  of  Ignorance,"  Dr.  John 
A.  Lapp,  "Training  in  Citizenship,"  Mr.  W.  N.  Pelouze,  "St. 
Lawrence  Deep  Waterway."  Miss  Helen  Bennett,  Miss  Genevieve 
Forbes  and  Dr.  Wm.  A.  C'olledge  spoke  for  the  Department  of  Press 
and  Publicity.  The  Convention  came  to  a  close  on  Thursday  night 
when  a  huge  banquet  was  held  in  the  Columbian  Arts  Building  with 
Mr.  Lorado  Taft  as  the  chief  speaker.  Mrs.  Headburg,  Mrs.  Parker 
and  Mr.  Pelouze  were  also  on  the  program. 

An  interesting  side  light  on  this  banquet  was  that  the  food  was 
all  cooked  and  brought  over  in  great  metal  containers  from  the  Chi- 
cago Beach  Hotel.  The  meeting  was  held  in  this  building  to  in- 
terest the  women  in  its  restoration.  Uufortunately  it  was  a  very 
chilly  evening,  the  building  was  unheated  and  the  acoustics  were 
such  that  it  was  very  difficult  to  hear.  However,  with  all  these 
handicaps  it  was  an  unusual  and  interesting  affair. 


105 

THE  FIFTEENTH  BIENNIUM. 

Governor  of  Illinois,  President  of  the  U.  S^ 

1921—1929.  1923—1929. 

Lbn  Small.  Calvin  Coolidge. 

Mes.  George  Thomas  Palmer. 

1923—1926. 


Mrs.  George  Thomas  Palmer  was  born  in  Alton,  Illinois,  living 
there  until  her  marriage,  when  she  removed  to  Chicago.  Springfield, 
however,  has  been  her  home  for  many  years.  Dr.  and  Mrs.  Palmer 
have  no  children. 

Mrs.  Palmer's  club  career  began  as  President  of  the  Springfield 
Woman's  Club.  Her  next  official  position  was  as  Chairman  of  Litera- 
ture and  Eeciprocity  of  the  Illinois  Federation,  then  one  year  each  as 
Corresponding  and  Eecording  Secretary  of  the  Federation.  After 
an  absence  from  the  Board  of  several  years  she  was  elected  President 
for  two  years  and  re-elected  for  a  term  of  one  year.  This  was  fol- 
lowed by  two  years  as  Director  from  Illinois  on  the  General  Federation 
Board. 

Mrs.  Palmer  has  also  held  various  chairmanships  on  the  Board 
of  the  Twenty-first  District,  I.  F.  W.  C,  and  on  the  Board  of  the 
Springfield  Woman's  Club,  the  work  of  Junior  Membership  being  the 
last  to  claim  her  attention.  She  served  as  Chairman  of  the  Local 
Board  during  two  State  Conventions  held  in  Springfield. 

During  the  war  Mrs.  Palmer  was  chairman  of  food  conservation 
for  Springfield,  and  deeply  interested  in  Red  Cross  work.  She  has 
been  President  of  the  Anti-Rust  Club,  Progress  Circle  of  Kings  Daug- 
ters.  The  Springfield  Improvement  League  and  is  now  President  of 
the  Sangamon  County  Union  of  Republican  Women  and  a  Board 
Member  of  the  Springfield  Urban  League.  She  was  one  of  the  two 
women  members  of  the  Springfield  Planning  and  Zoning  Commission 
and  has  always  been  greatly  interested  in  civic  affairs.  She  has  been 
a  life  long  member  of  the  Episcopal  Church,  and  active  in  the  work 
of  that  organization. 


The  term  of  service  for  this  administration  was  from  May  1923 
to  May  1926,  Mrs.  Palmer  having  been  re-elected  in  1925  for  one 
year,  the  first  and  only  President  to  be  re-elected. 

For  the  second  time  in  the  history  of  the  Federation  there  was 
only  one  candidate  for  President,  Mrs.  Frances  D.  Everett  having 
been  unopposed,  also.  In  fact  there  was  only  one  ticket  in  the  field, 
the  Chicago  women  graciously  conceeding  the  honors  to  '^•'down- 
state/' 

Those  serving  for  the  period  of  1923-1924  were:  President  Mrs. 
George  Thomas  Palmer,  Springfield ;  First  Vice-President,  Mrs.  Wal- 
ter W.  Seymour,  Chicago ;  Second  Vice-President,  Mrs.  N".  C.  McLean, 
East  St.  Louis;  Recording  Secretary,  Mrs.  S.  A.  McKelvey,  Sparta; 
Corresponding  Secretary,  Mrs.  A.  M.  Howell,  Hillsboro;  Treasurer, 
Mrs.  Henry  A.  Hardy,  Chicago. 


106 

Mrs.  Harrison  Monro  Brown,  of  Peoria,  having  resigned,  Mrs. 
Bailey,  while  President,  was  appointed  to  sen-e  out  her  term  of  Gen- 
eral Federation  Director. 

Mrs.  Plummer  was  re-elected  Parliamentarian. 

The  Presidents  of  Congressional  Districts  for  the  same  period, 
were :  Mesdames  Thos.  P.  Casey,  1 ;  John  S.  Maurer,  2 ;  Martin 
Strand,  3;  Arthur  G.  Jackson,  4;  M.  R.  Kultchar,  5;  J.  Marc  Fowler, 
6;  Allen  Elrod,  7;  Jessie  Dabe,  8;  H.  L.  Hartenstein,  9;  Frederick 
W.  Blocki,  10;  W.  H.  Doolittle,  Woodstock,  11;  Chas.  H.  Williams, 
Streator,  12;  W.  H.  Coppins,  Dixon,  13;  W.  H.  Bissell,  Viola,  14; 
Eobt.  A.  Chandler,  Galesburg,  15 ;  Martha  Steinmetz,  Pekin,  16 ;  Carl 
Vrooman,  Bloomington,  17;  G.  F.  Patterson,  Milford,  18;  Flo  Jami- 
son Miller,  Monticello,  19;  J.  Marshall  Miller,  Jacksonville,  20;  Ar- 
retus  Burt,  Pana,  21;  G.  W.  T.  Eeynolds,  East  St.  Louis,  22;  Harry 
W.  Farson,  Salem,  23;  Douglas  Naney,  Flora,  24;  Paul  R.  Colp, 
Marion,  25. 

The  Chairmen  of  the  Departments  of  Work  and  their  Division 
Chairmen  were :  Mesdames  Chas.  J.  Trainor,  American  Citizenship 
with  Henry  Weber,  Pekin,  Americanization;  A.  W.  Larison,  Lincoln, 
Community  Service;  Boy  F.  Hoadley,  Yorkville,  Motion  Pictures; 
Wm.  Harrison  Cade,  Chicago,  Training  in  Citizenship;  Mrs.  M.  H. 
Lieber,  continued  as  Chairman  of  Applied  Education  with  the  same 
division  chairmen  holding  over.  Mrs.  Charles  E.  Caldwell  became 
Chairman  of  Fine  Arts,  assisted  by  Mesdames  Charles  W.  Leigh,  Art; 
E.  J.  Murray,  Music  and  Miss  Helen  Bagg,  Literature,  all  residents 
of  Chicago.  Miss  Dixon  continued  as  Chairman  of  Legislation  with 
Mrs.  Frank  S.  Goodman,  of  Champaign,  handling  Civil  Service.  De- 
partment of  Press  and  Publicity  included :  Mesdames  Frank  R.  Cain, 
Highland  Park.  Chairman  and  Edna  C.  Masters,  Wataga,  Edict  Maga- 
zine ;  Chas  M.  Conkey,  Chicago,  Speakers'  Bureau ;  James  W.  Carney, 
Galesburg,  State  Press.  The  only  change  in  the  Department  of  Pub- 
lic Welfare,  under  Mrs.  Hartough,  was  that  in  Child  Welfare,  Dr. 
Anna  R.  Panes,  of  Chicago,  taking  Mrs.  Atwater's  place. 

The  Standing  Committees  and  their  Chairmen  included  Ad- 
visory, Mrs.  Palmer  and  Mesdames  C.  F.  Wade,  Credentials;  Clarence 
G.  Goodwin,  Finance;  H.  W.  Hartough,  Auditing;  Thos.  0.  Wallace, 
Printing;  W.  J.  Sweeney,  Program;  Hattie  M.  Ebersole,  Resolutions 
and  Revisions;  Chas.  0.  Sethness,  Membership;  Chas.  M.  Woodman, 
Transportation. 

The  Chairmen  of  Special  Committees  remained  the  same  with 
the  exception  of  Overseas  Unit,  Miss  Marjorie  Valentine,  Great  Lakes 
TJ.  S.  N.  Hospital,  replacing  Miss  Poole.  There  were  ninety-four 
county  chairmen  listed. 

Realizing  the  necessity  for  a  strong  financial  basis  for  the  Federa- 
tion and  the  absolute  need  for  an  augumented  and  steadily  increasing 
income  if  the  proper  work  were  to  be  done,  and  if  the  Federation  were 
to  take  its  rightful  place  in  the  life  of  the  state,  the  new  administra- 
tion immediately  began  working  for  the  Endowment  Fund  and  the 
emphasis  on  this  need  never  ceased  through  the  entire  term  of  three 
years.     While  the  progress  was  slow,  and  often  times  disheartening, 


107 

the  fund  grew  in  two  years  from  $20,000  to  $40,000,  and  by  the  end 
of  the  third  year  of  Mrs.  Palmer's  term,  the  sum  of  $G0,000  had  been 
reached.  Like  a  snow  ball  it  began  to  grow  with  the  splendid  as- 
sistance of  the  district  presidents  and  when  the  rank  and  file  of  club 
women  really  understood  its  need  and  purposes. 

Mrs.  Palmer,  in  outlining  the  policy  for  her  administration  said, 
she  hoped  to  see  "The  women's  clubs  of  Illinois  develop  to  their 
highest  possible  strength  and  efficiency  that  they  might  be  capable 
of  accomplishing  the  greatest  amount  of  good ;  the  attainment  of  the 
highest  possible  numerical,  moral  and  financial  strength  on  the  part 
of  every  club  and  on  the  part  of  the  State  Federation  so  that  their' 
influence  might  be  felt  more  definitely  than  ever  before." 

The  constant  admonisition  was;  "Give  as  you  please,  individually, 
but  do  not  use  the  machinery  of  your  organization  for  raising  money 
for  and  building  up  other  organizations.    Let  charity  begin  at  home." 

Eadio  service,  arranged  through  the  Press  and  Publicity  De- 
partment of  the  Federation  and  Miss  Judith  Waller,  Director  of 
W.  M.  A.  Q.  for  the  Daily  News  at  the  LaSalle  Hotel,  Chicago,  was 
inaugurated  on  the  evening  of  January  24th,  1924,  with  an  address  by 
the  President.  So  far  as  we  have  been  able  to  learn,  this  was  the 
first  radio  service  established  by  any  State  Federation. 

In  February,  1924,  the  business  relation  proving  unsatisfactory, 
a  new  publisher  was  secured  for  the  Edict  and  the  name  of  the  maga- 
zine was  changed  to  the  "Illinois  Club  Woman's  World." 

The  Twenty-ninth  Annual  Meeting  of  the  Federation  was  held 
in  the  beautiful  Methodist  Church,  Moline,  May  21,  22,  23,  1924, 
and  the  delegates  enjoyed  an  unusually  fine  program.  The  Le Claire 
Hotel  was  Headquarters.  The  Local  Board  included.  Miss  Mollie 
McEniry,  Chairman,  and  Mesdames  Charles  Peterson,  J,  B.  Hill,  C. 
C.  Sloane,  Otis  Howard,  James  Pearson,  Ellsworth  Livingston,  Henry 
Lord  and  Florence  Borg.  The  social  affairs  were  delightful  and  in- 
cluded a  banquet  Tuesday  evening  at  the  LeClaire  Hotel,  a  tea  and 
reception  in  the  very  beautiful  home  of  Mrs.  Charles  Deere  Wiman 
and  a  view  of  the  art  gallerv'  of  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Wm.  Butterworth  after 
Mrs.  Wiman's  tea.  On  Thursday  evening,  Mrs.  Frank  Gates  Allen, 
a  past  member  of  the  Board,  entertained  the  old  and  new  members  of 
the  Board  at  a  buffet  supper. 

An  interesting  detail  of  the  program  was  the  fact  that  an  or- 
dained woman  minister  gave  the  invocation,  Dt.  Clara  Cook  Helvie, 
and  Dr.  Eowena  Morse  Mann,  who  made  an  address  on  "Art  Edu- 
cation and  the  Nation,"  said  the  Benediction. 

For  the  first  time,  the  Club  Litany,  written  by  Alice  iVmes  Winter, 
President  of  the  General  Federation,  was  used.  Very  lovely  music 
was  a  feature  of  the  three  days'  sessions.  The  first  Club  Institute, 
arranged  by  the  President,  was  held  at  this  meeting  wath  Mrs.  Sey- 
mour presiding. 

Among  the  high  lights  on  the  program  were :  Mrs.  0.  E.  Lake 
who  talked  on  "Loyalty;"  Frank  B.  Slutz,  "Education;"  Donald 
Eobertson  on  "The  Civic  Theatre  in  Its  Eelation  to  the  Populace;" 


108 

Oswald  Eyan,  "Immigration;"  Wm.  Dudley  Folke,  "Civil  Service;" 
Miss  Julia  Connor,  "Better  Homes;"  Dr.  Herman  G.  Adler,  "Gen- 
eral Health  and  Child  Welfare;"  Eoy  Dewey,  "The  Narcotic  Prob- 
lem." 

On  Wednesday  evening,  which  was  District  Presidents'  Night,  a 
pageant,  "The  Spirit  of  the  Federation,"- was  given  under  the  direc- 
tion of  Mrs.  Seymour. 

Among  the  important  revisions  were  those  which  dealt  with  the 
change  in  the  election  of  the  President  from  the  odd  to  the  even 
calendar  year,  conforming  to  the  Biennial  meeting  of  the  General 
Federation,  the  change  reading,  "In  1925  the  President  shall  be 
elected  for  one  year  with  the  privilege  of  re-election  in  1926  for  two 
years."  Another  required  that  clubs  must  Join  the  District  Federa- 
tion before  they  could  be  admitted  to  the  State  Federation. 

The  resolutions  had  to  do  with  establishment  of  County 
Libraries;  Protection  of  Homes  and  Lands  of  the  Pueblo  Indians  of 
New  Mexico ;  Loyalty  and  Obedience  to  the  Constituted  Authority  of 
Our  Land;  Protest  against  publication  of  scandal  and  crime  in  the 
daily  press;  Enforcement  of  Law;  Selective  Immigi'ation ;  Child 
Labor  Amendment ;  Bureau  of  Visual  Education. 

The  Federation  had  a  membership  of  67,587  in  608  clubs.  Its 
income  was  between  eight  and  nine  thousand  dollars  and  its  dis- 
bursements between  seven  and  eight  thousand. 

In  conformance  with  a  revision  passed  by  the  delegate  body,  the 
Board  eliminated  the  divisions  of  work  which  had  been  functioning 
for  two  years  and  reverted  to  the  old  plan  of  having  a  department 
chairman  for  each  activity,  these  chairmen  all  to  be  voting  members 
of  the  Board.  The  new  system  used  for  the  past  two  years  had 
proved  too  unwieldly  to  be  satisfactory.  At  the  July  Board  meeting, 
a  new  charter  was  arranged  for  and  the  Board  was  enlarged  from 
fifty  members  to  sixty  to  take  care  of  the  new  chairmen  of  depart- 
ments and  committees.  It  was  decided  to  solicit  advertisements  for 
the  directory  to  help  carry  the  expense.  District  Presidents  were 
advised  to  ask  all  club  presidents  to  become  members  of  their  district 
boards.     Participation  in  the  Legislative  Forum  continued. 

The  officers  serving  for  1924-1925  were:  President,  Mrs. 
Palmer ;  First  Vice-President,  Mrs.  Seymour ;  Second  Vice-President, 
Mrs.  McLean;  Eecording  Secretary,  Mrs.  McKelvey;  Corresponding 
Secretary,  Mrs.  J.  B.  Lieb,  Springfield ;  Treasurer,  Mrs.  M.  W.Coul- 
trap,  Naperville;  Director  to  the  General  Federation,  Miss  Jessie  I. 
Spafford,  Eockford. 

A  by-law  was  adopted  at  this  time  providing  that  the  Corres- 
ponding Secretary  be  appointed  from  the  same  city  as  the  President. 

For  this  year  the  following  District  Presidents  served :  Mes- 
dames  Jos.  J.  Worker,  1 ;  John  S.  Maurer,  2 ;  Wallace  B.  Combs,  3 ; 
Arthur  G.  Jackson,  4 ;  M.  E.  Kultchar,  5 ;  J.  Marc  Fowler,  6 ;  G.  W. 
Gambrill,  7 ;  Jessie  Dabe,  8 ;  Samuel  D.  Snow,  9 ;  Frederick  W. 
Blocki,  10 ;  George  B.  Watts,  Elgin,  11 ;  Chas.  H.  Williams,  Stroator, 
12;  W.  H.  Sanford,  Freeport,  13;  W.  H.  Bissell,  Viola,  14;  A.  E. 


109 

Bergland,  Galva,  15;  Chas.  B.  Scott,  Wenona,  16;  Archie  B.  xVpple- 
gsite,  Atlanta,  IT;  G.  F.  Patterson,' Milford,  18;  Chas.  D.  Babb, 
Homer,  19;  Edward  F.  Ford,  Greenfield,  20;  J.  C.  Hanna,  Spring- 
field, 21 ;  G.  W.  T.  Eeynolds,  East  St.  Lonis,  22 ;  Albert  Watson,  Mt. 
Vernon,  23 ;  W.  A.  Ball,  Carmi,  24 ;  Mary  A.  Wall,  Murphysboro,  25. 

The  Chairmen  for  the  same  period  were:  Mrs.  Chas.  W.  Leigh, 
Art,  with  Mrs.  F.  W.  Bentley  in  charge  of  War  Memorials ;  Dr.  Lena 
K.  Sadler,  Child  Welfare;  Mrs.  Chas.  J.  Trainor,  American  Citizen- 
ship; Mrs.  Chas.  E.  Caldwell,  Conservation;  Mrs.  Wm.  E.  Groten- 
huis.  Literature,  all  of  Chicago;  Mrs.  F.  0.  Van  Galder,  Rock  Island, 
Community  Service,  with  Mrs.  Eoy  Hoadley  in  charge  of  Motion 
Pictures;  Mrs.  H.  W.  Hartough,  Industrial  and  Social  Conditions, 
with  Mrs.  J.  Marc  Fowler  in  charge  of  Indian  Welfare  Committee; 
Mrs.  Grant  Beebe,  Education;  Mrs.  Frank  S.  Goodman,  Champaign, 
Civil  Senice;  Mrs.  L.  K.  McAlpin,  Metropolis,  American  Home, 
with  Mrs.  Wilbur  E.  Fribley,  Chicago,  Cliairman  of  Budget  Com- 
mittee. Mrs.  E.  J.  Murray,  Music;  Mrs.  John  T.  Mason,  Legisla- 
tion; Mrs.  John  F.  Decker,  Park  Ridge,  Press  and  Publicity;  Dr. 
Eva  M.  Wilson,  Public  Health. 

The  Chairmen  of  Standing  Committees  were:  Credentials,  Miss 
Mollie  McEniry  and  Mesdames  C.  G.  Goodwin,  Finance;  H.  W. 
Hartough,  Auditing;  Allen  Elrod,  Chicago,  Membership  and  Junior 
Membership;  W.  J.  Sweeney,  Program;  John  H.  Chadwick,  Resolu- 
tions and  Revisions;  Chas.  M.  Conkey,  Speakers'  Bureau;  John  C. 
Wilmot,  Chicago,  Transportation ;  R.  W.  Richards,  Park  Ridge. 

International  Relations,  with  Mrs.  James  W.  Morrison,  of  Chi- 
cago, as  Chairman  and  Law  Enforcement,  under  Mrs.  Wm.  Harrison 
Cade,  were  added  to  the  list  of  special  committees.  Xinety-six  county 
chairmen  were  listed. 

Four  days  after  the  close  of  the  convention,  a  special  train  left 
Chicago  for  Los  Angeles  carrying  the  delegation  to  the  Biennial 
Convention  of  the  General  Federation.  Illinois  had  approximately 
200  delegates,  the  largest  state  group  outside  of  the  hostess  state, 
and  with  the  exception  of  Colorado,  which  presented  Mrs.  Sherman 
as  a  candidate  for  President,  was  probably  more  largely  instrumental 
in  her  election  than  any  other  state.  One  thousand  dollars  was 
pledged  at  Los  Angeles  to  the  G.  F.  Headquarters. 

Great  stress  was  laid  upon  Public  Health  and  Child  Welfare  dur- 
ing this  administration,  and  for  the  first  time  in  the  history  of  the 
Illinois  Federation,  and  perhaps  in  that  of  any  other  federation,  a 
splendid  working  agreement  was  entered  into  between  that  organi- 
zation and  the  State  Medical  Society,  the  State  Dental  Society  and 
the  State  Department  of  Public  Health.  In  cooperation  with  the 
State  Medical  Society  which  financed  the  project  and  under  the  direc- 
tion of  Dr.  Lena  K.  Sadler,  assisted  by  Dr.  Eva  Wilson,  the  Federa- 
tion held  a  series  of  Health  Conferences  during  1924-1926,  Cham- 
paign, East  St.  Louis,  the  Second  District  and  the  Third  District 
each  taking  charge  of  one. 


110 

The  Federation  participated  in  the  Defense  Days  of  1924  and 
1925,  being  told  by  the  Military  authorities  that  it  had  done  more 
than  any  other  state  organization  to  make  those  days  successful.  The 
Federation  bought  exhibition  space  and  took  part  in  the  programs  of 
the  1925  and  1926  Woman's  World  Fair,  held  for  the  first  time  in 
April,  1925.  On  one  of  the  opening  days  the  Board  of  the  Federa- 
tion gave  a  luncheon  at  the  Fair  for  all  the  women  members  of  the 
old  Columbian  World's  Fair  Board,  but  unhappily,  only  a  few  were 
able  to  accept.  Among  those  few  were  Mrs.  Isabella  Laning  Candee, 
first  President  of  the  Federation  and  Mrs.  Eichard  Oglesby,  widow  of 
Governor  Oglesby.  Mrs.  Sherman,  President  of  the  General  Federa- 
tion was  also  a  guest. 

The  Music  Department  had  offered  a  prize  for  the  best  music  to 
be  used  with  the  words,  "Illinois"  and  Mrs.  Mabel  Newell,  of  Shelby- 
ville,  was  the  successful  contestant.  Later,  another  prize  was  offered 
for  the  best  "Song  of  Peace."  This,  called  "U.  S.  A."  adapted  from 
the  poem  of  that  name  written  by  Harriet  Hill  Mabry,  was  set  to 
music  by  Ethelyn  Mabry  Newell  who  won  the  prize.  This  song,  and 
others  deserving  honorable  mention,  one  of  which  was  written  by 
Mrs.  S.  A".  McKelvey,  were  sung  at  the  banquet  given  at  the  Decatur 
Convention  in  1925. 

The  work  of  Law  Enforcement  was  given  great  impetus.  Dur- 
ing the  winter  of  JL924-25  a  mass  meeting  was  held  at  one  of  the 
large  Chicago  theaters  under  the  direction  of  Mrs.  Cade,  the  Chair- 
man. On  the  platform  and  through  the  press,  the  President  and  the 
Chairman  worked  constantly  for  a  stronger  enforcement  of  all  laws 
and  for  the  prompt  punishment  of  the  criminal  class. 

Just  prior  to  the  Decatur  Convention,  all  members  of  the  Fed- 
eration were  deeply  saddened  by  the  very  sudden  death  of  Mr.  Walter 
W.  Seymour,  husband  of  the  First  Vice-President,  in  Chicago,  May 
14th,  of  angina  pectoris. 

The  Thirtieth  Animal  Convention  was  held  in  Decatur,  May 
19,  20,  21,  22,  in  the  First  Methodist  Church  with  the  following 
women  serving  on  the  Local  Board :  Mrs.  Inez  Bender,  Chairman, 
and  Mesdames  C.  H.  Patterson,  J.  E.  Eussell,  J.  J.  Moran,  C.  L. 
Cassell,  P.  B.  Sullivan,  Poland  Pease,  Dan  Macknet,  N.  M,  Bascom, 
Eoy  Stewart,  W.  B.  Henebry,  H.  F.  Carmichael,  V.  F.  Freeman,  Leon 
Monson,  Jay  Batchelder  and  George  A.  CaldM^ell,  President  of  the 
Woman's  Club. 

The  slogan  for  the  meeting  was :  "America,  One  Country,  One 
Flag."  Mrs.  Eugenia  M.  Bacon,  an  honored  and  beloved  citizen  of 
Decatur  and  a  Past  President  of  the  Federation,  gave  an  address  of 
welcome.  Mrs,  Sherman  was  a  guest  of  honor  and  made  an  address. 
Among  the  other  speakers  were  Dr.  Parran  and  Miss  Sara  Place  who 
spoke  for  tlie  Public  Health  Department;  Dr.  George  N.  West,  on 
"The  Belation  of  Oral  Hygiene  to  Child  Welfare;"  Dean  James  Ed- 
ward Eogers,  of  the  Playground  and  Eecreational  Association  of 
America;  Miss  Euth  Wardell,  of  the  University  at  Urbana,  who  spoke 
for  the  American  Home  Department;  Prof,  J,  W,   Garner,  also  of 


Ill 

the  University,  who  talked  on  International  Relations;  Prof.  Chas. 
E.  Holly,  of  Decatur;  Dean  David  Kinley,  Mrs.  J.  Paul  Goode,  Mrs. 
Edith  McClure  Patterson,  Budget  Chairman  for  the  General  Feder- 
ation and  Rev.  Elmore  L.  Williams,  of  Cliieago,  who  talked  on  Law 
Enforcement. 

Madame  Pearl  Y.  Metselthin  in  "Tales  of  a  Mandarin's  Coat" 
was  presented  by  the  Department  of  Literature  in  an  evening  enter- 
tainment, while  a  Pageant,  "Our  Country''  was  the  offering  of  the 
Citizenship  Department  on  another  evening.  The  Pageant  was  under 
the  direction  of  Mrs.  Roland  Pease,  of  Decatur,  and  the  performers 
were  all  local  people.     It  was  Yevj  beautifully  done. 

On  Monday  evening  a  dinner  was  given  for  the  State  and  Local 
Boards  at  one  of  the  country  clubs.  On  Tuesday  afternoon  an  auto- 
mobile ride  was  enjoyed  by  the  delegates  and  on  Thursday  afternoon 
there  was  an  art  exhibit  and  tea  at  the  Art  Institute.  The  usual 
banquet  took  place  on  Wednesday  evening  at  the  Decatur  Club. 

After  the  necessary  change  in  the  constitution,  Mrs.  Palmer  was 
nominated  and  re-elected  to  serve  one  more  year  as  President.  Those 
serving  with  her  in  1925-26  were :  First  Vice-President,  Mrs.  J.  Marc 
Fowler,  Chicago;  Second  Vice-President,  Mrs.  N.  C.  McLean,  East 
St.  Louis;  Recording  Secretary,  Mrs.  John  S.  Maurer,  Chicago; 
Corresponding  Secretary,  Mrs.  J.  R.  Leib,  Springfield;  Treasurer, 
Mrs.  Chas.  J.  Trainor,  Chicago.  Miss  Spafford  continued  as  Direc- 
tor and  Mrs.  Plummer  was  re-elected  Parliamentarian. 

The  list  of  District  Presidents  included:  Mesdames  Jos.  J. 
Worker  ,  1;  David  MacLean,  2;  W.  B.  Combs,  3;  H.  S.  Quinn,  4; 
M.  R.  Kultchar,  5;  W.  H.  H.  Schwedler,  6;  G.  W.  Gambrill,  7; 
George  M.  Hartwell,  8;  Samuel  D.  Snow,  9;  Wm.  F.  Farrell,  10; 
George  B.  Watts,  Elgin,  11;  R.  F.  Hoadlev,  Yorkville.  12;  W.  M. 
Sanford,  Freeport.  13;  W.  H.  Bissell,  Alola,  11:  A.  E.  Bergland, 
Galva,  15;  C.  B.  Scott,  Wenona,  16;  A.  B.  Applegate,  Atlanta,  17: 
M.  P.  Kelly,  Watseka,  18 ;  C.  D.  Babb,  Homer,  19 :  E.  F.  Ford.  Green- 
field, 20 ;  J.  C.  Hanna,  Springfield,  21 ;  Fred  J.  Wagner,  Marissa, 
22 ;  Albert  Watson,  Mt.  Vernon,  23 ;  L.  K.  McAlpin,  Metropolis,  24 ; 
Mary  A.  Wall,  Murphysboro,  25. 

The  Chairmen  of  Departments  were :  Mrs.  Chas.  W.  Leigh, 
Art;  Dr.  Lena  K.  Sadler,  Child  Welfare;  Mesdames  E.  P.  Sloan. 
Bloomington,  American  Citizenship:  Chas.  Ei.  Caldwell,  Conservation; 
Wm.  J.  Grotenhuis,  Literature  and  Library  Extension ;  F.  0.  Van  Gal- 
der,  Rock  Island,  Community  Ser^-ice;  Jchn  W.  Blacklidge,  Public 
Welfare;  Grant  Beebe,  Education;  Frank  S.  Goodman,  Champaign, 
Civil  Service ;  Harry  Stotlar,  Benton,  American  Home ;  E.  J.  Miirray, 
Music :  John  T.  Mason,  Legislation :  John  F.  Decker,  Park  Ridge, 
Press  and  Publicity :  Dr.  Eva  M.  Wilson,  Manhattan,  Public  Health. 

The  Chairmen  of  Standing  Committees  remained  the  same  with 
two  exceptions :  Mrs.  Dan  Macknet,  of  Decatur,  took  the  Program 
and  Mrs.  Charles  M.  Woodman,  of  Chicago,  Transportation.  The  only 
change  among  the  Special  Committee  Chairmen  was  that  Miss  Marion 
Hoffman,  of  Chicago,  took  the  place  of  Miss  Myrtle  Carpenter. 


112 

It  had  been  the  aim  and  purpose  of  the  past  two  years  to  place 
the  Federation  in  a  commanding  position  of  power  and  influence,  not 
only  in  the  state  in  relation  to  other  organizations,  but  also  in  the 
General  Federation  in  relation  to  other  states.  "Illinois  must  lead, 
not  follow''  was  the  slogan.  Club  Institutes  were  held  for  the  first 
time,  some  seventeen  in  eighteen  months,  and  they  were  found  to  be 
exceedingly  helpful  and  interesting.  A  Junior  Membership  leaflet 
had  been  issued,  one  of  the  first  to  be  prepared  in  any  state  and 
Junior  organizations  were  encouraged  to  become  a  part  of  every  club. 
Fifty  of  these  auxiliaries  had  been  organized  by  the  end  of  the  ad- 
ministration though  not  all  formed  during  this  period  as  some  clubs 
reported  having  had  such  departments  for  several  years. 

American  Citizenship,  first  under  Mrs.  Trainor  and  then  under 
Mrs.  Sloan,  was  particularly  emphasized,  with  special  stress  directed 
against  radical  and  subversive  propaganda  and  for  a  wise  and  sane 
preparedness.  Many  Citizenship  Institutes  were  held,  eighteen  being 
held  in  the  winter  and  spring  of  1926.  Notable  work  under  Mrs. 
Grant  Beehe  was  done  in  Education. 

Eealizing  the  need  for  a  closer  union  between  the  General  and 
State  Federations  and  the  rural  women,  county  organizations  and 
county  meetings  were  fostered  wherever  and  whenever  possible,  the 
President  visiting  thirty-four  county  groups  during  her  last  year  in 
oflfiee.  At  the  end  of  the  administration  there  were  ninety-six  coun- 
ties out  of  the  one  hundred  and  two  with  chairmen  and  almost  com 
plete  organizations.  The  Federation  showed  a  membership  of  72,136 
with  625  clubs.  During  the  preceeding  year  some  very  large  Chicago 
philanthropic  clubs  withdrew  because  they  did  not  wish  to  be  taxed 
for  the  EndowTuent  Fund  and  needed  their  funds  for  charity.  These 
withdrawals  caused  a  loss  of  over  4.000  members. 

A  questionnaire  was  sent  to  every  State  President  in  the  spring 
of  1926  and  from  the  replies  certain  facts  were  established  concerning 
our  own  Federation.  Ten  thousand  leaflets  on  "Federation  Facts" 
were  published  giving  much  information  and  many  talking  points 
useful  to  club  members.  These  were  ready  for  distribution  at  the 
1926  Convention.  We  found  ours'  was  the  first  Federation  to  estab- 
lish its  own  headquarters  with  a  full  time,  paid  executive;  the  first 
one  to  publish  a  state  magazine;  the  first  to  establish  regular  x\sso- 
ciated  Press  and  radio  connections ;  the  second  to  have  a  Law  Enforce- 
ment Committee  doing  practical  work. 

The  constitution  was  revised,  completely  rewritten  and  presented 
for  adoption  to  the  Convention  of  1926.  The  Treasurer's  report 
showed  total  receipts  of  $20,831.88  and  disbursements  of  $9,739.68. 

The  State  Bills  passed  by  the  Legislature  and  endorsed  by  the 
Federation  referred  to  Crippled  Children ;  Kindergartens ;  Preserva- 
tion of  Wild  Flowers;  Playground  Bill  amended  so  it  could  be  adopted 
as  the  National  Playground  Bill;  Dance  Halls,  and  one  which  pro- 
vided for  the  acquisition  of  land  for  reforestation  not  valuable  for 
other  purposes. 

National  bills  endorsed  and  passed  referred  to  Immigration  and 
placing  prohibition  agents  under  Civil  Service. 


113 

The  ThirtA'-first  Annual  Convention  was  held  at  the  Edgewater 
Beach  Hotel,  Chicago,  May  18,  19,  30,  21,  1936,  the  club  members  of 
the  first  ten  districts  acting  as  hostesses,  and  the  ten  District  Presi- 
dents making  up  the  Local  Board  with  Mrs.  Wm.  F.  Farrell  as  Chair- 
man. Mrs.  Martin  K.  Northam,  Mrs.  Charles  H.  Challen  and  Mrs. 
Frank  Nichols  were  in  charge  of  the  banquet,  junior  dinner  and 
luncheons.  The  courtesies  included  an  automobile  drive  along  the 
A^orth  Shore  with  receptions  and  teas  at  the  North  End,  Rogers  Park 
and  Evanston  Woman^s  Club  houses.  Mrs.  Wm.  Lill  was  chairman. 
Very  lovely  music  rendered  by  different  club  choruses  opened  each 
session.  The  American  Home  Department's  exhibition  suite  of  rooms 
furnished  by  Marshall  Field  was  an  inovation  and  one  much  admired. 
There  was  an  interesting  exhibition  of  posters  done  by  the  eighth 
grade  pupils  of  the  schools  of  Illinois. 

iVmong  the  speakers  were:  Dr.  Henry  C.  Cowles  whose  address 
was  on  "Forests;''  Henry  Justin  Smith,  "News  Value;"  Mrs.  Linn 
White  who  gave  an  illustrated  lecture  on  "The  Making  of  a  Garden ;" 
Miss  Judith  Waller,  Eadio  Chairman  for  the  General  Federation ; 
Miss  June  Dunham,  "Your  Home;"  Dr.  Maurice  L.  Blatt;  Miss 
Adah  Hess;  Ada  E.  Schweitzer;  Miss  Florence  Monahan,  Superin- 
tendent Minnesota  State  Reformatory;  Honorable  Wm.  C.  Deming; 
Rev.  Frederick  Shannon;  Nelson  L.  Greene;  Df.  Theodore  G.  Soares. 
A  two  hour  Club  Institute  was  held  on  Friday  morning. 

The  position  of  Corresponding  Secretary  was  dropped  and  a 
third  Vice-President  added,  the  three  Vice-Presidents  serving  the 
upper,  central  and  southern  parts  of  the  state. 


114 

THE  SIXTEENTH  BIENj^IUM. 

1926—1928. 
Mrs.  Walter  Webster  Seymour. 


Winnetka,  Illinois  was  the  birthplace  of  Mrs.  Walter  Webster 
Seymour  who  has  lived  most  of  her  life  in  her  native  state. 
Mrs.  Seymour  is  a  widow,  her  husband  having  passed  away  in  May, 
1925.  She  has  a  most  chamiing  family  of  three  children,  one  son, 
Eobert,  and  two  daughters,  Mrs.  Emmet  Bey,  the  wife  of  a  young 
physician  of  Chicago,  and  Florence,  just  out  of  college,  who  is  now  a 
student  of  interior  decorating. 

Mrs.  Se}aiiour  attended  high  school  in  Indianapolis  and  in  St. 
Louis  and  was  later  a  student  at  Lindenwood  College,  St.  Charles, 
Missouri,  Vanderbult  University,  Nashville  and  University  of 
Chicago. 

She  has  served  as  President  of  The  Bryn  Mawr  Woman's  Club, 
the  Bryn  Mawr  Parent-Teachers'  Associatiaon,  the  Woodlawn  Mothers' 
Round  Table,  the  Second  District  I.  F.  W.  C,  and  as  Chairman  of 
Education  of  the  Second  District. 

Her  connections  and  affiliations  outside  of  club  work  have  had  to 
do  with  Parent-Teacher  organizations,  the  Art  Institute  of  Chicago 
and  with  the  First  Presbyterian  Church  of  Chicago,  of  whose  Sunday 
School  she  has  been  Superintendent  for  twenty-five  years. 


The  officers  elected  in  May,  1926,  were :  President,  Mrs.  Walter 
Webster  Seymour,  Chicago;  Second  Vice-President,  Mrs.  Mary  A. 
Wall,  Murphysboro;  Third  Vice-President,  Mrs.  John  Calvin  Hanna, 
Springfield;  General  Federation  Director,  Mrs.  George  Thomas  Pal- 
mer, Springfield.  Those  holding  over  for  one  more  year  were  :  First 
Vice-President,  Mrs.  J.  Marc  Fowler ;  Recording  Secretary,  Mrs.  John 
S.  Maurer  and  Treasurer,  Mrs.  Chas.  J.  Trainor,  all  of  Chicago.  Mrs. 
Plummer  continued  as  Parliamentarian  and  Mrs.  Burgess  as  Eexecu- 
tive  Secretary. 

The  Presidents  of  Congressional  Districts  for  1926-1927  were: 
Mesdames  Thos.  S.  Harper,  1;  David  MacLean^  2;  George  S.  Steele, 
3;  H.  S.  Quinn,  4;  W.  H.  H.  Schwedler,  6;  J.  M.  Laventhal,  7; 
George  M.  Hartwell,  8;  Samuel  D.  Snow,  9;  Wm.  F.  Farrell,  10; 
Richard  J.  Barr,  Joliet,  11:  Rov  F.  Hoadlev,  Yorkville,  12:  Florence 
R.  Stroh,  Stillman  Valley,  13;  W.  H.  Bissell,  Viola,  14;  J.  A.  Dixon, 
Avon,  15;  Chas.  B.  Scott,  Wenona,  16;  Jo  Major,  Eureka,  17;  M. 
P.  Kelly,  Watseka,  18 ;  George  S.  Edmonson,  Clinton,  19 ;  Josephine 
C.  Chandler,  Havana,  20;  Lyman  G.  Grundy,  Taylorville,  21;  Fred 
J.  Wagner,  Marissa,  22;  Thos.  C.  Wright,  Newton,  23;  L.  K  Mc- 
Alpin,  Metropolis,  24;  Fred  Hood,  Mound  City,  25. 

Chairmen  for  the  Departments  of  Work  for  the  same  year  in- 
cluded: Mesdames  H.  C.  Rodenhouser,  Peoria,  American  Citizen- 
ship ;  Constant  Church  Hopkins,  Highland  Park,  American  Home ; 
Albert  J.  Pohlman,  Oak  Park,  Art;  Frank  S.  Goodman,  Champaign, 


115 

Civil  Service;  F.  0.  Van  Galder,  Rock  Island,  Community  Service; 
J.  D.  McKinney,  Alton,  Conservation;  Grant  Beebe,  Chicago,  Educa- 
tion; James  W.  Morrisson,  Chicago,  International  Relations;  Wm. 
Harrison  Cade,  Chicago,  Law  Enforcement;  John  T.  Mason,  Aurora, 
Legislation;  W.  J.  Grotenhuis,  Chicago,  Literature  and  Library  Ex- 
tension; Arthur  G.  Jackson,  Chicago,  Music;  John  F.  Decker,  Park 
Ridge,  Press  and  Publicity;  Dr.  Lena  K.  Sadler,  Chicago,  Public 
Health  and  Child  Welfare;  Mrs.  John  W.  Blacklidge,  Chicago,  Pub- 
lic Welfare. 

Chairmen  of  Standing  Committees  were:  Mesdames  S.  A.  Mc- 
Kelvey,  Sparta,  Credentials;  Clarence  G.  Goodwin,  Finance;  Martin 
K.  Northam,  Evanston,  Junior  Membership;  R.  W.  Richards,  Chi- 
cago, Park  Ridge  School;  Dan  Macknet,  Decatur,  Program;  George 
E.  Watts,  Elgin,  Transportation;  Miss  Mollie  McEniry,  Moline,  Mem- 
bership and  Miss  Livonia  Kay,  Watseka,  Resolutions  and  Revisions. 

Special  Committee  Chairmen  remained  the  same. 

The  1926-27  Directory  listed  625  clubs  with  a  membership  of 
72,136  members. 

Great  attention  having  been  given  during  the  previous  admin- 
istration to  the  organization  and  encouragement  of  rural  clubs  and 
county  units  and  Mrs.  Seymour  also  feeling  that  it  was  a  very  im- 
portant part  of  Federation  Extension,  adopted  it  as  her  chief  activity. 
She  planned  and  carried  out,  with  the  assistance  of  her  District  and 
Vice-Presidents,  two  very  successful  series  of  Regional  County  Con- 
ferences. 

The  President  and  the  Director  had  places  on  every  program, 
the  President  attending  every  meeting  and  by  her  presence  and  splen- 
did messages  inspiring  a  fine  attendance  and  a  real  desire  to  extend  the 
work  of  the  Federation.  To  these  meetings  also  went  many  of  the  de- 
pannent  chairmen  when  time  and  budgets  permitted  and  on  invitation 
of  the  District  Presidents.  There  was  a  special  demand  for  talks  on 
Public  Health  and  Child  Welfare,  Education,  Law  Enforcement,  Pub- 
lic Welfare  and  Junior  Membership.  However  every  chairman  was 
welcome  and  every  one  had  a  real  message  to  deliver. 

Fortunately,  the  larger  part  of  the  travelling  expenses  for  these 
meetings  was  met  by  the  treasury  of  the  Federation,  made  possible 
by  the  growing  income  from  the  endowment  fund.  It  was  an  ex- 
cellent advertisement  for  the  fund  and  proved  to  the  club  women 
that  they  were  at  last  receiving  a  direct  return  on  their  investment. 

In  October  1926,  County  Conferences  were  held  in  six  cities,  as 
follows : 

Districts  11,  12  and  13,  embracing  16  counties — met  at  Rockford. 

Districts  14,  15  and  16,  embracing  17  counties — met  at  Gales- 
burg. 

Districts  17,  18  and  19,  embracing  19  counties — met  at  Cham- 
paign, 

Districts  20,  21,  embracing  14  counties — met  at  Springfield. 

Districts  22,  25,  embracing  13  counties — met  at  Belleville. 

Districts  23,  24,  embracing  20  counties — met  at  Mt.  Vernon. 


116 

The  last  of  these  conferences  for  1926  was  held  in  Chicago  on 
N^ovember  10th,  and  embraced  Lake  and  Cook  Counties.  In  the 
morning  departmental  conferences  were  held,  followed  by  a  social 
gathering  at  noon  and  a  patriotic  mass  meeting. 

From  that  time  on  county  organization  work  became  more  in- 
tensified as  well  as  efforts  for  local  county  improvements.  At  the 
end  of  the  first  year  of  this  term  97  counties  were  organized  and  func- 
tioning. 

The  second  year  brought  greater  progi'ess  and  a  clearer  vision.  In 
October,  1927,  eight  conferences  were  held,  with  a  record  attendance 
far  in  excess  of  expectations,  every  county  in  Illinois  being  repre- 
sented.    The  dates  and  places  of  meeting  were  as  follows : 

Districts  22  and  25 — October  4 — Centralia. 

Districts  23  and  24 — October  6 — Harrisburg. 

Districts  16  and  17— October  11— Peoria. 

Districts  18  and  19 — October  13 — Champaign. 

Districts  14  and  15 — October  18 — Galesburg. 

Districts  11,  12  and  13 — October  20 — Aurora. 

Districts  20  and  21 — November  1 — Springfield. 

Districts  1  to  10,  inclusive — November  10 — Chicago. 

The  Thirty-second  Annual  Convention  was  held  in  Danville,  in 
the  Armory,  May  17,  18,  19,  20,  1927,  with  the  Danville  Woman's 
Club  acting  as  hostess,  and  the  Wolford  Hotel  serving  as  Head- 
quarters. "American  Ideals"  was  the  general  theme  of  the  meeting. 
Mrs.  W.  B.  Murray  was  Chairman  of  the  Local  Board  and  was  assisted 
by  Mesdames  Fred  Webber,  Charles  Watkins,  Edward  Goldsmith, 
Ealph  Cole,  W.  T.  Shaffer,  A.  R.  Samuels,  Julius  Hegeler,  George 
Cass,  Frank  Beshoar,  Joseph  Tanner,  W.  S.  Dillon,  Elma  Roseberry, 
Earl  Thornton,  C.  E.  Amerman,  John  Telling,  S.  Murray  Clark, 
W.  J.  McConachie,  S.  R.  Driskell,  M.  L.  Coutant,  J.  S.  Emery  and 
H.  E.  Ducker. 

Among  the  outstanding  speakers  were:  Prof.  James  L.  Lard- 
ner,  Northwestern  University,  whose  address,  "He  Knew  Lincoln." 
was  charming ;  Mrs.  Rufus  Dawes,  G.  F.  Chairman  of  International 
Relations,  who  spoke  on  "The  Open  Road  to  Peace;"  General  John 
McA.  Palmer,  U.  S.  A.  Retired,  "Preparedness  for  Peace;"  Eugene 
T.  Lies,  "The  Challenge  of  Youth;"  Mrs.  Marx  Oberndorfer,  "Your 
Part  in  America's  Musical  F'uture." 

Among  the  other  excellent  speakers  were:  Mrs.  Annie  Peaks 
Kenney  who  talked  on  "Home  Budgeting,"  Mrs.  H.  M.  Robins,  G.  F. 
Junior  Membership  Chairman;  0.  M.  Schantz,  and  Dr.  Prank  T. 
Duffey,  of  the  U.  S.  Veterans'  Bureau. 

The  retiring  District  Presidents,  speaking  in  groups  of  three  at 
the  different  sessions,  and  limited  in  time,  made  excellent  talks.  The 
General  Federation  Contest  Symposium  on  "The  Scope  of  the  Federa- 
tion and  Why  Clubs  Should  Belong  to  It,"  by  the  winners  of  the  con- 
test held  at  the  Regional  Conferences,  provoked  much  interest.  Din- 
ners were  given  for  the  Board  on  Monday  evening;  for  the  Juniors 
on  Tuesday  evening  and  one  for  all  delegates  and  visitors  on  Thurs- 
day.    A  very  charming  processional,  in  which  all  the  incoming  and 


117 

outgoing  Board  members  took  part  was  also  a  feature  of  Thursday 
evening.  The  President,  Mrs.  Seymour,  gave  her  charge  to  all  the 
new  members  while  Mrs.  Palmer,  the  Director,  reminded  the  retiring 
members  of  their  continued  responsibility  to  the  Federation. 

Interesting  exhibits  were  shown  by  the  Art,  Literature  and 
Music  Departments,  War  Veterans,  Park  Ridge  School  for  Girls, 
Public  Welfare  Department,  showing  handiwork  from  every  State 
institution  and  the  Foreign  Women's  Rockford  Settlement  House. 

During  these  two  years  there  was  an  increase  of  interest  in  art 
subjects;  more  attention  was  given  to  club  choruses  and  community 
singing;  assistance  was  given  in  the  establishment  of  town  and 
county  libraries.  Marion,  Illinois,  received  a  $50.00  prize  from  the 
CI.  F.  W.  C.  for  the  best  outline  of  Children's  Book  Week. 

Thousands  of  forestry  primers  were  distributed;  Junior  groups 
reached  157  in  number;  there  was  quiet,  steady  work  along  the  line 
of  Law  Enforcement ;  a  careful  study  was  made  of  the  needs  of  War 
Veterans  in  the  various  hospitals;  there  was  a  new  study  of  Interna- 
tional Relations,  the  Illinois  plan  being  sent  to  every  state  federa- 
tion as  requested  by  the  G.  F.  W.  C. 

One  of  the  most  notable  pieces  of  health  work  ever  accomplished, 
in  the  Federation  had  been  done  in  the  examination  of  pre-school  and 
grade  school  children  and  in  the  follow-up  work.  The  Park  Ridge 
Endowment  Fund  of  $15,000  was  completed,  tlie  interest  of  which 
was  to  be  used  for  the  maintenance  of  Illinois  Cottage.  An  intensive 
drive  in  certain  parts  of  the  state  to  eradicate  illiteracy  had  been 
very  successful  and  groups  of  club  women  were  formed  for  teaching 
the  adult  foreigner  and  the  illiterate. 

The  Federation  had  been  active  in  the  passage  of  certain  im- 
portant legislation,  the  bill  for  a  Woman's  Reformatory  being  of  par- 
ticular interest.  There  was  co-operation  with  the  Home  Extension 
and  Art  Extension  divisions  of  the  University  of  Illinois;  with  the 
Conservation  Department  of  the  State,  at  Springfield,  with  the  Legis- 
lative Forum  and  with  the  various  Illinois  Public  Utilities. 

The  Home  Equipment  Campaign  which  had  been  carried  on  for 
many  months  resulted  in  the  most  ambitious  undertaking  of  this 
administration,  the  Well  Equipped  Homes  Exposition,  which,  in  con- 
junction ^vith  the  Illinois  Public  Utilities,  was  lield  in  the  Stevens 
Hotel  during  the  May,  1938,  Convention. 

Membership  in  the  State  Federation  for  the  year  1926-27  in- 
creased by  twenty-eight  clubs.  Membership  in  the  General  Federa- 
tion for  1927-28^^  increased  by  thirty-five  clubs,  exceeding  the  gain 
made  by  anv  other  state  in  the  same  period.  The  Endowment  Fund 
had  reached  $73,000. 

The  officers  for  1927-1928  were:  President,  Mrs.  Seymour; 
First  Vice-President,  Mrs.  Wm.  F.  Farrell,  Chicago;  Second  Vice- 
President,  Mrs.  Wall;  Third  Vice-President,  Mrs.  Hanna;  Secretary, 
Mrs.  M.  P.  Kelly,  Watseka;  Treasurer,  Mrs.  David  MacLean,  Chi- 
cago, and  Mrs.  Palmer,  Director. 

District  Presidents  for  tliis  year  were:  Mesdames  Thos.  S. 
Harper,  1 ;  John  F.  McKeon,  2 ;  George  S.  Steele,  3 ;  H.  S.  Quinn, 


118 

4;  John  K.  Oliver,  6;  J.  M.  Layenthal,  7;  Miss  Clara  M.  Daum,  8 
Mesdames  Samuel  D.  Snow,  9;  Harry  S.  Gradle,  Highland  Park,  10 
Eichard  J.  Barr,  Joliet,  11;  Morey  Eoberts,  Ottawa,  12;  Florence  E 
Stroh,  Stillman  Valley,  13;  W.  L.  Schuppert,  Macomb,  14;  J.  A 
Dixon,  Avon,  15;  H.  M,  Brown,  Peoria,  16;  Jo  Major,  Eureka,  17 
E.  0.  Herman,  Momence,  18;  George    S.    Edmonson,    Clinton,    19; 
Josephine  C.  Chandler,  Havana,  20;  Lyman  G.  Grundv,  Taylorv'ille, 
21 ;  J.  Paul  Carter,  Nashville,  22 ;  Thos.  C.  Wright,  Xewton,  23 ;  T. 
0.  Elliott,  Harrisburg,  24;  Ered  Hood,  Mound  City,  25. 

New  Department  Chairmen  for  the  same  period  included: 
Mesdames  Eoy  F.  Hoadley,  Yorkville,  American  Citizenship ;  John 
H.  Chadwick,  Tuscola,  Civil  Service;  James  Henry  Jackson,  Chicago, 
Literature;  Chas.  H.  Zimmerman,  Music;  W.  H.  H.  Schwedler,  Press 
and  Publicity. 

The  "hold-over^'  chairmen  were:  Mesdames  Hopkins,  Pohlman, 
Van  Galder,  McKinney,  Beebe,  Northam,  Cade,  John  T.  Mason, 
Blacklidge  and  Dr.  Sadler. 

Standing  Committee  Chairmen  remaining  in  office  were :  Mrs. 
McKelvey,  Miss  McEnir}',  Mrs.  Eichards  and  ]\L-s.  Watts,  while  the 
new  Chairmen  were:  Mesdames  Ealph  W.  Webster,  Chicago,  Inter- 
national Eelations;  Wirt  E.  Humphrey,  Evanston,  Program,  and  L. 
Fay  Danforth,  Cairo,  Eesolutions  and  Eevisions. 

The  only  new  Special  Committee  Chairman  was  Mrs.  Henry 
Mason,  Higliiand  Park,  Co-operation  with  War  Veterans. 

The  Board  extended  Courtesy  Membership  to  six  Chainnen 
which  entitled  them  to  sit  in  but  not  to  vote.  These  included  Mrs. 
Goodwin,  Business  Supervisor;  Mrs.  Burgess,  Executive  Secretary; 
Mrs.  Plummer,  Parliamentarian;  Mrs.  Fowler,  Indian  Welfare;  Mrs. 
Albert  J.  Fisher,  Editor  of  the  Illinois  Club  Woman's  World,  and 
Mrs.  E.  J.  Boylan  of  East  St.  Louis,  Co-Chairman  of  Press  and 
Publicity. 


119 


ORGANIZATION  OF  THE  DiSTEICTS. 

In  preparation  for  these  brief  sketches  of  the  district  organiza- 
tions every  effort  has  been  made  to  secure  the  information  necessary 
to  tell  the  story  but  in  some  instances  it  has  been  almost  impossible 
to  find  even  the  date  and  place  of  orgaiiization.  The  early  club 
members  have  either  passed  away  or  moved,  or  the  records  have  been 
lost  or  destroyed.  The  District  Presidents  to  whom  we  have  appealed 
have  done  everything  possible  to  assist  us.  If  our  readers  have  in- 
formation in  their  possession  which  is  lacking  here,  will  they  not  send 
it  in  to  headquarters  where  it  may  be  filed  away  and  perhaps  used 
in  preparing  another  History? 

It  must  be  borne  in  mind  that,  when  the  Federation  was 
organized,  there  were  only  twenty-two  Congressional  Districts  and 
not  until  the  state  was  reapportioned  was  the  number  changed  to 
twenty-five,  hence  the  boundaries  of  neavly  all  the  districts  were 
changed  and  consequently  the  numbers  changed. 

In  the  beginning,  and  before  the  districts  were  organized  into 
federations,  the  State  Board  appointed  women  to  represent  those 
districts.  Later,  when  the  district  federations  became  stronger,  the 
state  by-laws  were  changed  permitting  the  districts  to  nominate  and 
elect  their  own  leaders,  the  elections  being  confirmed  by  the  State 
Board. 

Since  the  names  of  the  district  vice-presidents,  and  later,  presi- 
dents, are  all  listed  in  the  administrations  in  which  they  served,  only 
the  names  of  the  first  gi'oup  of  officers,  when  they  are  available,  will 
"be  given  here.  The  first  ten  Congressional  Districts  are  in  Chicago 
and  Cook  County.  The  First  District  was  organized  on  January  2, 
1902  and  incorporated  May  17,  1921. 

The  Second  District  was  originally  the  First  District  and  was 
organized  January  30,  1900  at  a  meeting  which  was  held  with  the 
Chicago  South  Side  Club.  The  first  President  was  l\Irs.  H.  E. 
Briggs;  Secretary  and  Treasurer,  Marcia  St.  John  Mendenhall. 

On  June  30,  1902,  the  clubs  of  the  south  side  were  grouped  to- 
gether and  the  Second  District  formed.  Mrs.  George  Watkins,  after- 
wards State  President,  acted  as  presiding  officer  while  the  district  was 
being  organized,  then  Mrs.  Wm.  Sims  v/as  elected  President,  Mrs. 
Luther  Flagg,  Secretary  and  Treasurer,  and  Mrs.  George  How  and 
Mrs.  Edwin  Watkins,  Directors. 

The  Third  District  was  organized  in  1902  with  Mrs.  T.  J.  Mc- 
Grath,  of  the  Current  Topic  Club  of  Blue  Island,  as  the  first  President 
and  Mrs.  C.  E.  Herrick,  Secretary-Treasurer. 

All  the  early  records  of  the  Fourth  District  were  lost  at  the  timo 
of  the  death  of  the  District  Secretary.  Mrs.  Wm.  E.  Watt,  of  Evans- 
ton,  was  the  first  President. 

The  Fifth  District,  which  at  the  present  time  consists  of  only  one 
club,  the  Henry  Booth  Settlement  House,  has  no  President  and  we 
have  no  data  concerning  it. 


120 

The  Sixth  District  was  organized  in  the  home  of  Mrs.  A.  W. 
Br\-ant,  of  Oak  Park,  in  1906,  with  Mrs.  C.  W.  Wright  as  President; 
Mrs.  D.  W.  Beggs  and  Mrs.  Coon  followed.  Mrs.  Coon,  in  her  admin- 
istration, created  departments  to  correspond  with  those  in  the  State 
Federation,  making  every  club  in  the  district  have  representation  on 
the  program.  This  was  an  innovation  and  created  much  interest  in 
both  large  and  small  clubs  and  resulted  in  the  accomplishment  of  a 
great  deal  of  work. 

The  records  of  the  Federation  show  that  Mrs.  F.  A.  Davidson,  of 
La  Grange,  was  the  first  President  of  the  Seventh  District,  serving 
with  the  first  State  President,  Mrs.  Candee  and  that  Mrs.  Wm.  A. 
Starin,  of  Waukegan,  sei'ved  for  the  next  four  years,  or  until  1900, 
when  Mrs.  Nathaniel  Sears  became  President  of  the  newly  formed 
district. 

The  original  Eighth  District  included  Elgin  and  ilrs.  J.  S. 
Wilcox,  of  that  city,  was  the  first  President.  She  was  followed  by 
Miss  Fannie  Le  Baron,  of  Elgin,  Mrs.  A.  J.  Hopkins,  Aurora,  Mrs. 
Jennie  Elwood,  of  DeKalb.  Mrs.  S.  C.  Stanton  was  the  first  Presi- 
dent of  the  district  as  now  formed. 

Mrs.  Alice  Bradford  Wiles  of  Freeport,  State  President,  1896-98, 
was  the  first  President  of  the  original  Ninth  District  while  Mrs.  John 
Worthy  is  listed  as  the  first  President  of  the  district  as  we  now  know 
it.  The  Lake  View  Woman's  Club,  the  Eli  Bates  Club  and  the  Good 
Fellowship  Club,  the  latter,  two  small  settlement  clubs,  formed  the 
present  Ninth  District. 

The  Tenth  District,  as  originally  formed,  included  Galesburg 
and  the  first  President  was  Mrs.  E.  B.  Frost,  of  that  city.  Old  pro- 
grams show  that  Mrs.  Wm.  M.  Welch,  of  Rogers  Park,  was  the  first 
President  of  the  reorganized  district,  or  that  she  represented  that 
district  on  the  State  Board.  The  first  organization  in  that  neighbor- 
hood came  in  1898  when  the  clubs  along  the  North  Shore,  number- 
ing twenty-two  in  all,  feeling  the  need  of  closer  friendliness  and  a 
better  acquaintance  with  the  work  of  the  state,  banded  together  and 
elected  Mrs.  Wm.  A.  Starin  as  President.  Evidently  the  district 
boundary  lines  were  not  very  distinct  at  this  time  as  Mrs.  Starin  is 
listed  also  as  presiding  over  the  Seventh  District.  The  District  was 
reorganized  in  1907  when  Mrs.  Louis  J.  Pearson  was  made  President. 
It  has  the  largest  membership  in  the  state,  numbering  almost  9,000. 

The  Eleventh  District  was  organized  in  the  spring  of  1909  at  a 
tea  given  by  Mrs.  Charles  Wade,  of  Aurora,  then  Vice-President,  at 
the  Clio  Club  in  Chicago.  The  meeting  was  attended  by  four  repre- 
sentatives from  each  of  eight  clubs.  In  the  following  October  dele- 
gates from  these  clubs  met  in  Aurora  where  the  organization  was 
completed.  By-Laws  drafted  by  Mrs.  Mason  and  Mrs.  Wade  were 
adopted  and  the  officers  chosen,  Mrs.  John  F.  McCourtney,  of  Lock- 
port,  being  made  President. 

One  provision  of  the  constitution  of  this  district  is,  that  each 
county  in  turn  shall  provide  a  President  for  the  district  thus  doing 
away  with  any  rivalry  between  the  counties,  of  which  there  are  four. 


121 

The  Twelfth  District  Federation  was  organized  in  Kockford, 
November  10,  1908,  with  Miss  Jessie  Spafford  as  President;  Mrs. 
Carrie  S.  Brett,  of  Winnebag-o  County,  Secretary  and  Miss  Crosby,  of 
DeKalb  Connty,  as  Treasurer. 

The  first  Vice-President  of  the  old  Twelfth  District  was  Miss 
Jane  Head,  of  Danville,  with  Mrs.  Wm.  L.  Elwood,  of  DeKalb,  serv- 
ing as  Vice-President  of  the  newly  organized  district.  Mrs.  Norman 
F.  Thompson  and  Miss  Kate  F.  O'Connor,  both  of  Rockford,  and 
Mrs.  Minne  Starr  Grainger,  of  Belvidere,  also  represented  the  district 
on  the  State  Board. 

The  Thirteenth  District  was  organized  April  22,  1899,  in  Free- 
port.  The  Federation  records  give  Miss  Effie  Shaw,  of  Mt.  Carroll, 
as  the  Vice-President  of  the  district  but  Miss  Shaw  writes  that  Mrs. 
Charles  Knowdton  of  Freeport  was  the  first  President,  Mrs.  E.  C. 
Parsons,  of  Dixon,  A^ice-President,  Mrs.  FVank  Greenleaf,  of  Savanna, 
Secretary  and  Mrs.  C.  S.  Hostewer,  of  Mt.  Carroll,  Treasurer.  The 
explanation  of  this  arrangement  is  that  these  officers  did  serve  the 
district  federation  but  that  Miss  Shaw  was  appointed  by  the  State 
Board  to  be  their  representative  as  was  often  the  case.  The  first 
representative  on  the  State  Board  of  the  Thirteenth  District,  as  now 
organized,  was  Mrs.  Dorothy  N.  Law,  of  Dixon,  1901,  while  Mrs.  S. 
T.  Busey,  of  Champaign,  served  in  that  capacity  in  1894-96. 

On  September  first,  1908,  a  meeting  was  called  at  the  home  of 
Mrs.  J.  H.  Pattee,  Monmouth,  for  the  purpose  of  organizing  the 
Fourteenth  District  Federation.  The  clubs  represented  at  this  meet- 
ing were  the  Fortnightly  of  Monmouth,  The  Mutual  Improvement 
and  Carnegia  Clubs  of  Bushnell  and  the  Fortnightly  of  Macomb. 
Mrs.  Pattee  was  elected  President ;  Miss  Sarah  Gibson.  Monmouth, 
Vice-President;  Miss  Lillian  Vertrees,  Bushnell,  Recording  Secretary; 
Mrs.  C.  S.  Townley,  Macomb,  CoiTesponding  Secretary ;  Mrs.  Mary 
Burpee,  Bushnell.  Treasurer ;  Mrs.  Harding,  Monmouth,  Auditor. 
Mrs.  Virginia  Bash,  of  Peoria,  was  the  representative  of  this  district 
during  the  first  state  administration. 

At  a  meeting  of  the  State  Federation,  held  in  Peoria,  November 
17,  1910,  the  club  members  present  from  the  Fifteenth  District  called 
their  group  together  and  organized  a  District  Federation,  nine  clubs 
being  represented.  The  temporarv  officers  elected  were :  Mrs.  N.  0. 
Crissey  of  Avon,  Chairman  and  Mrs.  Mary  D.  Overstreet,  Secretary. 
The  first  annual  meeting  was  held  in  Avon,  April,  1911,  at  which 
time  five  clubs  were  represented.  They  were  Sorosis  and  Oliver 
Wendell  Holmes  of  Galesburg,  Portia  of  Avon,  Atlantis  of  Qunicy 
and  the  New  Century  of  Oneida.  Twenty  delegates  were  present 
and  the  pennanent  officers  elected  were :  President,  Mrs.  N.  0.  Cris- 
sey; Vice-President,  Mrs.  0.  A.  Rich;  Recording  Secretary,  Mrs. 
Ethel  Clayberg;  Corresponding  Secretary,  Mrs.  Fred  Masters;  Treas- 
urer, Mrs.  George  Walker.  Mrs.  Anna  L.  Parker,  of  Quincy,  repre- 
sented the  distrist  on  the  State  Board  in  1895,  and  ^liss  Elizabeth 
B.  Frost,  of  Galesburg,  was  the  President  during  the  same  period. 

With  the  exception  of  two  counties  the  old  Fourteenth  and  the 
present  Sixteenth  Districts  were  the  same,  the  counties  of  Stark  and 


123 

Bureau  taking  the  places  of  Fulton  and  Mason  in  the  reapportion- 
ment. Since  the  first  meeting  after  organization  was  held  in  Peoria, 
March  29,  1898,  we  assume  that  the  district  was  organized  in  1897 
or  early  in  1898.  Mrs.  E.  A.  Wallace,  of  Havana,  was  the  first  presid- 
ing officer;  Miss  B.  Strawn,  Lacon,  Eecording  Secretary;  Miss  Addie 
L.  Turner,  Pekin,  Corresponding  Secretary;  Mrs.  Donat  Miller,  Can- 
ton, Treasurer.  The  original  Sixteenth  District  was  represented  by 
Mrs.  Palmer  Matthews,  Carlinville. 

The  present  SeTenteenth  District  Federation  was  organized  at 
Lincoln,  September  29,  1915,  with  Mrs.  S.  D.  M'Kinney,  of  Bloom- 
ington.  District  Vice-President,  I.  F.  W.  C,  presiding.  The  clubs 
of  Atlanta,  Bloomington,  Chenoa,  Dwight,  Fairbury,  Lincoln  and 
Xew  Holland  were  represented  and  formed  the  organization.  Mrs. 
M'Kinney,  by  virtue  of  her  office  was  elected  President;  Mrs.  E.  L. 
Klatt,  Lincoln,  Vice-President ;  Mrs.  J.  L.  Bevan,  Atlanta,  Secretary ; 
Mrs.  J.  E.  McNeil,  Xew  Holland,  Treasurer. 

The  original  Seventeenth  District  was  formed  in  Decatur  in 
1898,  Mrs.  E.  G.  Wells  being  elected  President.  She  was  followed 
by  Mrs.  Alfred  Orendorfl:,  of  Springfield.  Mrs.  James  W.  Patton,  also 
of  Springfield,  was  the  first  representative  from  this  district  on  the 
State  Board  in  1895. 

We  have  no  data  from  the  Eighteenth  District. 

The  present  Nineteenth  District  was  also  organized  in  Decatur 
in  1902.  ^Irs.  C.  J.  McConnell  being  elected  President.  Mrs.  xVda 
Kepley,  of  Effingham,  represented  this  district  in  1895. 

The  first  representative  of  the  original  Twentieth  District  was 
Mrs.  George  W.  Evans,  of  Mt.  Vernon,  who  served  in  1898  with  Mrs. 
Farson.  For  the  first  three  years  there  seems  to  have  been  no  repre- 
sentative. However,  in  1896,  when  Mrs.  Wiles  was  State  President, 
Mrs.  Thos.  Worthington,  of  Jacksonville,  now  in  the  TVentieth,  was 
on  the  State  Board  as  coming  from  the  Sixteenth  District  and  Mrs. 
Worthington  continued  to  serve  through  Mrs.  Parson's  administra- 
tion.    Mrs.  J.  W.  Pitner,  also  of  Jacksonville,  followed. 

The  present  district  organization  was  formed  early  in  the  spring 
of  1900  in  the  Dunlap  Hotel,  Jacksonville,  with  Mrs.  Pitner  pre- 
siding, and  the  first  annual  meeting  was  held  in  that  city  in  1901. 

The  Twenty-first  District  Federation,  comprising  the  counties  of 
Sangamon,  Macoupin,  Christian  and  Montgomery,  was  organized  in 
Pana,  June  5,  6,  1902.  Mrs.  Melle  Williams,  of  Taylorville,  was 
elected  President;  Mrs.  Estelle  Davis,  of  Litchfield,  Eecording  Secre- 
tary; Mrs.  John  Hogan,  Taylorville,  Corresponding  Secretary.  Five 
Vice-Presidents  were  also  elected  and  they  were:  Mrs.  Thomas 
Einaker,  of  Carlinville,  Mrs.  Chas.  E.  Hay  and  Mrs.  Eebecca  Adair, 
of  Springfield,  Mrs.  G.  N.  Gilbert,  Mrs.  J.  K.  Shaffer,  Mrs.  J.  C. 
Tureman  and  Mrs.  George  Fisher.  The  old  Twenty-first  District  had 
no  representative  on  the  State  Board  until  1900  when  Mrs.  Sarah  A. 
Hallam,  of  Centralia,  was  appointed. 

The  Twenty-second  District  was  organized  in  1909  at  Greenville 
and  the  first  list  of  officers  included:  Dr.  Louise  Eavold  (now  Mrs. 
E.  E.  Schnepp)  of  Greenville,  President;  Mrs.  M.  E.  Johnson,  East 


123 

St.  Louis,  Vice-President;  Mrs.  W.  E.  Drennan,  Granite  City,  Ee- 
cording  Secretary;  Mrs.  L.  B.  Washbnm,  East  St.  Louis,  Correspond- 
ing Secretary;  Mrs.  I^^ancy  Bradford,  Greenville,  Treasurer.  The 
seven  clubs  signing  the  constitution  were :  Pierian,  Shakespeare  and 
Browning  Circle  of  Greenville;  Schubert,  Wednesday  and  Ladies 
Literary  of  East  St.  Louis  and  Woman's  Club  of  Granite  City.  There 
were  fourteen  clubs  in  the  Federation  the  second  year.  Mrs.  Ritten- 
house,  of  Cairo,  represented  the  district  in  1895. 

Tlie  Salem  Woman's  Club  of  that  city  called  a  meeting  for  May 
20,  1910  for  the  purpose  of  organizing  the  Twenty-third  District  into 
a  Federation.  Delegates  from  Mt.  Carmel  Mothers'  Club,  Mt.  Ver- 
non Thimble  Club,  Sandoval  Woman's  Club,  Clio  of  Olney  and 
Woman's  Club  of  Salem  were  present.  Mrs.  Andrew  S.  Caldwell, 
then  Vice-President  at  Large  was  instrumental  in  the  organization 
and  Mrs.  Chas.  E.  Hull,  Vice-President  of  the  District,  by  virtue  of 
her  office,  became  President  of  the  organization.  The  other  officers 
were:  Vice-President,  Mrs.  A.  E.  Watson.  Mt.  Vernon;  Recording 
Secretary,  Mrs.  Robert  Van  Ausdel,  Olney;  Corresponding  Secretary, 
Mrs.  L.  M.  Kagy,  Salem ;  Treasurer,  Mrs.  T.  M.  Floyd,  Mt.  Carmel. 

It  is  interesting  to  note  that  the  first  rural  club  in  the  state 
was  organized  in  Wabash  County  in  the  Twenty-third  District  in 
1910,  and  that  Wabash  was  the  first  to  have  county  organization.  At 
the  present  time  it  has  a  membership  of  sixteen  clubs  and  between 
500  and  600  women. 

The  only  report  available  from  the  Twenty-fourth  District  is  that 
Mrs.  P.  T.  Chapman,  of  Vienna,  represented  the  District  on  the 
State  Board  in  1900-1902. 

The  Twenty-fifth  District  was  organized  in  Carbondale,  May 
1905.  Those  elected  were :  Mrs.  Andrew  S.  Caldwell,  Carbondale, 
President:  Mrs.  J.  W.  Wenger.  Cairo.  Vice-President;  Mrs.  0.  H. 
Burnett,  Marion,  Recording  Secretary;  Mrs.  S.  E.  Harwood,  Carbon- 
dale, Corresponding  Secretary;  Mrs.  P.  V.  Pope,  DuQuoin,  Treas- 
urer. Mrs.  Laura  J.  Rittenhouse,  of  Cairo,  was  the  first  representa- 
tive from  this  district,  then  the  Twenty-second,  on  the  State  Board 
in  1895. 

SUMMARY 

1927-1928 

District  Clubs  Membership 

First   36  4751 

Second    27  3947 

Third    22  3859 

Fourth 6  215 

Fifth    1  65 

Sixth    30  5962 

Seventh    30  2911 

Eighth   2  231 

A^inth    12  1356 

Tenth    37  8873 


124 

District  Clubs  Membership 

Eleventh    40   5434 

Twelfth    40    4735 

Thirteenth    27   2130 

Fourteenth    23    2726 

Fifteenth    28    1691 

Sixteenth    27    2603 

Seventeenth 20    . 1853 

Eighteenth  28   1738 

Nineteenth    47    3228 

Twentieth    24   1596 

Twentv-first   18    1988 

TwentV-second    34   1465 

Twentv-third    15    1391 

Twentv-fourth    21    1019 

Twentv-fifth   37   1816 


632  67583 

Federated  with  State  only 16   1788 

State  Clubs 5   4758 


658  74129 

CLUB  FEDERATIONS 

District                                                  Federations  Clubs 

First 2    40 

Tenth 1                                    11 

Eleventh    4   54 

Fourteenth    1    5 

Fifteenth 1    8 

Sixteenth    3    29 

Seventeenth 2    21 

Eifi^hteenth   1    45 

Twentieth    1    6 

Twenty-second    1    5 

Twenty-third    1    15 

Twenty-fourth    2    5 

Twenty-fifth    2   14 


22  258 

Federated  with  State  only 3 164 


25  422 


'^ 

^