The Glendale Woman's Club was first organized in 1901 as a “Self Culture Club”, the primary aim of the Woman’s Club was self-improvement from a literary standpoint. They raised money for the first library and city parks. In 1898 the lumber company moved to a new two-story office building; Mr. Messenger could no longer manage the library. A library association was formed (as a stock company). The women’s club bought up stock and then assigned members to vote. Mrs. May Catlin Hanson, through club member Mrs. Lafe Myers, donated a building which was placed in park to house the library until a new one could be built. Mrs. Robert Clark and Mrs. J.M. (Mary) Pearson took the lead. Mary took a class on “Library work” in Phoenix to be able to “start it out right.” (Club members managed the library until December 1922, when the City of Glendale took it over). By 1907, membership had increased to fifty members and it became impossible to continue meeting in homes, so the group began to think of acquiring its own clubhouse. On February 21, 1912, exactly 1 week after Arizona became the 48th state, the Club was recognized 501c3 non profit corporation with 85 members. The Glendale Woman's Club is a member of the

General Federation of Women's Clubs The General Federation of Women's Clubs (GFWC), founded in 1890 during the Progressive Movement, is a federation of over 3,000 women's clubs in the United States which promote civic improvements through volunteer service. Many of its activities ...

. The Glendale Woman's Clubhouse, at 7032 North 56th Avenue. in

Glendale, Arizona Glendale () is a city in Maricopa County, Arizona, Maricopa County, Arizona, United States, located approximately northwest of Downtown Phoenix. As of the 2020 United States census, 2020 census, it had a population of 248,325. History In the la ...

, was built in 1913. In 1912, $5 shares of stock were sold to build one of the first Woman’s Club clubhouses in Arizona. It was listed on the

National Register of Historic Places The National Register of Historic Places (NRHP) is the United States federal government's official list of districts, sites, buildings, structures and objects deemed worthy of preservation for their historical significance or "great artistic v ...

in 1989. It was designed by architect

Thornton Fitzhugh Thornton Fitzhugh (1864–1933) was an American architect. Among his major works are the Beaux Arts and Romanesque Pacific Electric Building in downtown Los Angeles, California, and a number others which are listed on the U.S. National Register ...

. The original structure cost $2947. and was constructed with California redwood in the Craftsman style. The clubhouse served as a Sunday meeting place for various church denominations, starting in 1914. It was used by the

Red Cross The International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement is a Humanitarianism, humanitarian movement with approximately 97 million Volunteering, volunteers, members and staff worldwide. It was founded to protect human life and health, to ensure re ...

during

World War I World War I (28 July 1914 11 November 1918), often abbreviated as WWI, was one of the deadliest global conflicts in history. Belligerents included much of Europe, the Russian Empire, the United States, and the Ottoman Empire, with fightin ...

for making bandages, sewing, and packing supplies. With

References

Women's club buildings in Arizona National Register of Historic Places in Maricopa County, Arizona Event venues established in 1913 History of women in Arizona 1913 establishments in Arizona Clubhouses on the National Register of Historic Places in Arizona {{Arizona-NRHP-stub