The American Woman's League was created by the magazine publisher
Edward Gardner Lewis
Edward Gardner Lewis (March 4, 1869 – August 10, 1950) was an American magazine publisher, land development promoter, and political activist. He was the founder of two planned communities that are now cities: University City, Missouri, and Ata ...
in 1907. In part, it was a maneuver to lower
postal rates by appealing to educational and social opportunities that would appeal to the emerging
women's suffrage
Women's suffrage is the right of women to vote in elections. Beginning in the start of the 18th century, some people sought to change voting laws to allow women to vote. Liberal political parties would go on to grant women the right to vot ...
movement. His magazines, ''Woman's Magazine'' and the ''Woman's Farm Journal'', had been denied second class postal rates because they were judged as advertisements and thus did not qualify for a lower rate as second class mail. Rather than magazine sales representatives making commissions, as was the common practice at the time, the payments went to form local women's "Chapter Houses".
Although the local groups began as a marketing venture, many become prominent women's clubs within their communities. The network later became a more traditional organization with dues paid to the national office and became the "American Woman's Republic".
The 1986 nomination of an Idaho 1909-built AWL chapter house to the National Register of Historic Places (NRHP) states that there were 39 other AWL chapter houses once existing in the United States (beyond two in Idaho).
[ with ]
Chapter houses included:
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Andover Chapter House
The Andover Chapter House is a historic building located on Locust Street northwest of 5th Avenue in Andover, Illinois, Andover, Illinois. The building was constructed between 1909 and 1910 as a meetinghouse for Andover's chapter of the American Wo ...
,
Andover, Illinois
Andover is a village in Henry County, Illinois, United States. The population was 578 at the 2010 census, down from 594 in 2000.
History
Andover is the oldest community in Henry County. Andover was the first area to be settled as a town within ...
, NRHP-listed
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American Women's League Chapter House (Peck, Idaho)
The American Women's League Chapter House in Peck, Idaho was built in 1909. It was designed with Prairie School architecture, Prairie School style elements by St. Louis architects Helfensteller, Hirsch & Watson. It was deemed historically signif ...
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Peck, Idaho
Peck is a city in Nez Perce County, Idaho, United States. The population was 197 at the 2010 census. It is part of the Lewiston, ID- WA Metropolitan Statistical Area. Many residents of Peck work in nearby Orofino, Idaho. Additionally, Peck r ...
, NRHP-listed
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Alton Chapter House
The Alton Chapter House is a historic building located at 509 Beacon St. in Alton, Illinois, Alton, Illinois. The building was constructed between 1909 and 1910 as a meetinghouse for Alton's chapter of the American Woman's League. The American Woma ...
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Annawan Chapter House
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Carlinville Chapter House
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Carmi Chapter House
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Deer Lodge American Women's League Chapter House
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Edwardsville Chapter House
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Katy Hamman-Stricker Library
The Katy Hamman-Stricker Library is located at 404 E. Mitchell Street in Calvert, Texas, USA. It consists of a museum as well as a public library and community center and was the first chapter house built by the American Woman's League in the state ...
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Maywood Woman's Club
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Princeton Chapter House
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Zion Chapter House
References
1907 establishments in the United States
Organizations established in 1907
Defunct women's magazines published in the United States
Women's organizations based in the United States
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