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