Establishment
In February, 1895, the president, vice president and secretary of the Cadmean Club, a literary club, invited the women's literary clubs of Alabama to send representatives to a convention to be held in Birmingham for the purpose of forming a State Federation. On April 17, representatives from various clubs in the State, all purely literary, convened in Birmingham, in order to form a State Federation. Selma, Tuscaloosa, Montgomery, and New Decatur sent representatives. The convention met in the parlors of the South Highland Presbyterian Church. Mrs. George C. Ball, president of the Cadmean Circle, welcomed the guests. Mary La Fayette Robbins replied on behalf of the clubs. Mrs. Sterling A. Wood, of Montgomery, was elected president of the convention. A discussion of the purposes of the convention was had on the first day. Arguments for and against federation were advanced, Robbins reading a strong paper in favor of the movement. A number of subjects which were inimical to the success of a federation were brought forward, and discussed. The State Federation was fully organized, however, with Mary LaFayette Robbins, of Selma, as president; Mrs. George B. Eager, of Montgomery, vice president; Mrs. John D. Wyker, of Decatur, corresponding secretary; Mrs. George L. Haven, of Birmingham, recording secretary; and Mrs. Sterling A. Wood, of Montgomery, treasurer.History
The GFWC Alabama was organized April 17, 1895, in Birmingham. The charter clubs were the Cadmean Circle, Clionian Club and Highland Book Club of Birmingham; No Name Club of Montgomery; Progressive Culture Club, Decatur; and Study Club, Selma. Approximately 130 women comprised the total membership. In 1921, 26 years after the federation, there were 225 clubs with a membership of 10,000 in the organization. Eligibility for GFWC membership required the club to show "that its purpose is not sectarian or political, but chiefly educational, literary, scientific or artistic." With the growth of the organization, it was found imperative to divide the state into seven districts, in each of which an annual meeting was held in the spring by the clubs of that territory, presided over by a chair who is a vice-president of the Federation. Each District Secretary-Treasurer was an exofficio delegate to the state convention. The District assembly could not initiate or endorse any movement not already approved by the Federation as a whole, but could discuss such matters and make recommendations in regard to them to the annual convention.Objective
"To bring together for mutual help, for intellectual improvement and for social union the different women's literary clubs of the state," were the original objects of the organizations, but with the development and growth that followed a few years experience, the Constitution was changed to read: "To bring into communication the various women's clubs throughout the state, that they may compare methods of work, become mutually helpful and through Federation grow to be a power for good."Organ
The work of the organization was greatly facilitated by the use of an official organ, either a department in a current newspaper or its own magazine. Of the former media, the ''Free Lance'', Birmingham, was used in 1895; the ''Birmingham Evening News'', 1901–05; the ''Mobile Register'', 1905–12; the ''Birmingham Evening News'' 1913–19, and ''The Montgomery Advertiser'', 1919–21. During 1899–1900, the Federation owned and published its own organ, a magazine, ''Woman's Work'', Montgomery. The Federation editors were, Mesdames Joseph McLester, L. J. Haley, Erwin Craighead, E. R. Morrisette, A. J. Ridale, J. Sydney Robbins, J. H. Phillips, H. P. Harshfield, W. H. Seymour, J. D. Elliott, Dora C. Fell, J. Walter Black.Libraries
The first philanthropic educational work of the Federation was undertaken in 1897, in behalf of the library of the Alabama Girl's Industrial School (later, the Alahama Girl's Technical Institute; now, University of Montevallo),Education
The committee on education made its first report on the status and needs of education in Alabama at the convention of 1898, and recommended that the Federation undertake to "create public sentiment for better standards and methods, especially in the public schools, and that it co-operate with other forces in the State for such educational laws and reforms as are necessary and desirable." At once the club women began to investigate not only the educational system of their own state, but for comparison, the systems of other states. It then advocated, agitated, co-operated with and urged legislation for public school kindergartens, educational qualifications for eligibility to the office of county superintendent of education, local taxation for the support of public schools, better school buildings and equipment, a minimum school term, compulsory school attendance, institutes for teachers, salaries by grades, monthly payment of salaries, examination of teachers by a State Board, education in patriotism by the observance of Alabama Day and Lee's Birthday in schools, women on school boards, industrial education and elementary industrial training in common schools, dormitory accommodations for women at the State University, stimulation of interest in library laws, and the elimination of illiteracy.Scholarship Committee
The scholarship committee of the Federation was created in 1898 for the purpose of establishing scholarships at the Alabama Girl's Industrial School, Montevallo. Other institutions soon drew the interest of the club women and by 1916, the organization having gradually increased its influence and resources, maintained seven scholarships, four of which were loan, viz., Alabama Girl's Technical Institute, two; University of Alabama, one; Southern Industrial Institute, Camp Hill, one; Downing Industrial Institute for Girls, Brewton, one; Judson College, one, music;Notable people
* Lura Harris Craighead (1858–1926), president, Alabama Federation of Women's Clubs *References
External links
* {{authority control 1895 establishments in Alabama Organizations established in 1895 Organizations based in Birmingham, Alabama Service organizations based in the United States History of women's rights in the United States Feminist organizations in the United States Women's organizations based in the United States Women's clubs in the United States History of women in Alabama