Business and Professional Women's Foundation (BPW) is an organization that promotes workforce development programs and workplace policies to acknowledge the needs of working women, communities, and businesses. It supports the National Federation of Business and Professional Women's Clubs.

Current issues

* Successful Workplaces Movement *

Pay equity Equal pay for equal work is the concept of labour rights that individuals in the same workplace be given equal pay. It is most commonly used in the context of sexual discrimination, in relation to the gender pay gap. Equal pay relates to the full ...

* Support for women veterans *

Contraceptive Birth control, also known as contraception, anticonception, and fertility control, is the use of methods or devices to prevent unwanted pregnancy. Birth control has been used since ancient times, but effective and safe methods of birth contr ...

equity * Family time flexible leave *

Equal Rights Amendment The Equal Rights Amendment (ERA) is a proposed amendment to the United States Constitution designed to guarantee equal legal rights for all American citizens regardless of sex. Proponents assert it would end legal distinctions between men and ...

Structure

The work of BPW Foundation is supported through corporate partnerships, grants, and individual philanthropic donations. Its Combined Federal Campaign (CFC) number is 10506. It is governed by a board of trustees.

History

The legacy of Business and Professional Women/USA began in 1919. While mobilizing for

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 ...

, the U.S. Government recognized the need for a cohesive group to coordinate identification of women's available skills and experience. A Women's War Council, financed through a federal grant, was established by the

War Department War Department may refer to: * War Department (United Kingdom) * United States Department of War (1789–1947) See also * War Office, a former department of the British Government * Ministry of defence * Ministry of War * Ministry of Defence * Dep ...

to organize the resources of professional women. It was guided principally by executives of the

Young Women's Christian Association The Young Women's Christian Association (YWCA) is a nonprofit organization with a focus on empowerment, leadership, and rights of women, young women, and girls in more than 100 countries. The World office is currently based in Geneva, Swi ...

(YWCA). The National Federation of Business and Professional Women's Clubs was founded on July 16, 1919, at a meeting led by

Lena Madesin Phillips Lena Madesin Phillips (September 15, 1881 - May 22, 1955) was a lawyer and clubwoman from Nicholasville, Kentucky, who founded the National Business and Professional Women's Clubs in 1919. She enlarged her circle, traveling also to Europe, and in ...

of Kentucky. In the 1930s it became a charter member of the

International Federation of Business and Professional Women International Federation of Business and Professional Women (or BPW International) is a worldwide organization committed to networking among and empowering women worldwide. BPW International serves as a forum for professional business women with b ...

. BPW/USA became the first organization created to focus on the issues of working women. BPW worked throughout the 1930s to prohibit legislation or directives denying jobs to married women and lobbied successfully to legislatively end the legal practice of workplace preference for unmarried persons and, in the case of married persons, preference for males. BPW/USA was one of the first women's organizations to endorse the

in 1937. At the advent of

World War II World War II or the Second World War, often abbreviated as WWII or WW2, was a world war that lasted from 1939 to 1945. It involved the vast majority of the world's countries—including all of the great powers—forming two opposin ...

, BPW developed a classification system for women with specialized skills critical to the war effort and supported the formation of women's branches of the

U.S. Armed Forces The United States Armed Forces are the military forces of the United States. The armed forces consists of six service branches: the Army, Marine Corps, Navy, Air Force, Space Force, and Coast Guard. The president of the United States is the ...

. While

wage discrimination Economic discrimination is discrimination based on economic factors. These factors can include job availability, wages, the prices and/or availability of goods and services, and the amount of capital investment funding available to minorities for ...

has existed in the U.S. since women and minorities first entered the paid workforce, its prevalence was not felt until the massive influx of women sought work during World War II. Immediately following the war, th
Women's Equal Pay Act (1945)
- the first ever legislation to require equal pay - was introduced in the U.S. Congress. It was another 18 years before an equal pay bill made its way to the President's desk to be signed into law. BPW Foundation was incorporated in 1956 as the first foundation dedicated to providing resources to and about working women. It included research, information, career development programs, workshops and other training opportunities. The Marguerite Rawalt Resource Center, established in 1980 and put on-line 2006, is a major resource for information and documents on the history of women and women in the workplace. The establishment of "Status of Women" commissions in the U.S. in 1963 was due largely to BPW efforts. President

John F. Kennedy John Fitzgerald Kennedy (May 29, 1917 – November 22, 1963), often referred to by his initials JFK and the nickname Jack, was an American politician who served as the 35th president of the United States from 1961 until his assassination ...

recognized BPW's leading role in securing passage of the Equal Pay Act by giving BPW's National President the first pen he used when signing the Act into law. Virginia Allan initiated the "Young Careerist" Program to develop the business and presentation skills of young women between 25 and 35 years of age. The first National Legislative Conference, held in 1963 in D.C., later developed into BPW's current Policy & Action Conference, where members lobby Congress and the Administration on BPW's legislative issues. BPW tackled "comparable worth" by calling for newspapers to stop the occupational segregation in classified ads (clustering of women in a few restricted occupations of low-paying, dead-end jobs). Numerous state and municipal governments revamped their pay scales, recognizing dissimilar jobs may not be identical, but may be composed of tasks, educational requirements, experience and other characteristics that are equivalent or comparable. In 1986, San Francisco became the first city in the nation to approve a pay equity referendum, implementing $34 million in increases for employees in female and minority-dominated jobs. Continuing with BPW's focus on workplace issues, BPW lobbied Congress for passage of the

Family and Medical Leave Act The Family and Medical Leave Act of 1993 (FMLA) is a United States labor law requiring covered employers to provide employees with job-protected, unpaid leave for qualified medical and family reasons. The FMLA was a major part of President Bill C ...

, which finally passed in 1993. Discussions on comparable worth were expanded to include enforcement and strengthening of existing Equal Pay legislation. The Pay Equity Employment Act of 1994, followed by the Equal Pay Act (introduced in 1994) and the

Paycheck Fairness Act The Paycheck Fairness ActH.R.7 is a proposed United States labor law that would add procedural protections to the Equal Pay Act of 1963 and the Fair Labor Standards Act as part of an effort to address the gender pay gap in the United States. A Ce ...

(introduced in 1997) became BPW's focus legislation through the '90s. Then-Secretary of Labor,

Elizabeth Dole Mary Elizabeth Alexander Hanford Dole (née Hanford; born July 29, 1936)Mary Ella Cathey Hanford, "Asbury and Hanford Families: Newly Discovered Genealogical Information" ''The Historical Trail'' 33 (1996), pp. 44–45, 49. is an American attorn ...

, and First Lady

Barbara Bush Barbara Pierce Bush (June 8, 1925 – April 17, 2018) was First Lady of the United States from 1989 to 1993, as the wife of President George H. W. Bush, and the founder of the Barbara Bush Foundation for Family Literacy. She previously was ...

addressed BPW's members at the White House Briefing during the 1990 "Lobby Day" event. Subsequent speakers have included Senator

Tom Harkin Thomas Richard Harkin (born November 19, 1939) is an American lawyer, author, and politician who served as a United States senator from Iowa from 1985 to 2015. A member of the Democratic Party, he previously was the U.S. representative for Iowa' ...

, First Lady (Senator)

Hillary Clinton Hillary Diane Rodham Clinton ( Rodham; born October 26, 1947) is an American politician, diplomat, and former lawyer who served as the 67th United States Secretary of State for President Barack Obama from 2009 to 2013, as a United States sen ...

and Congresswomen

Rosa DeLauro Rosa Luisa DeLauro (; born March 2, 1943) is an American politician who has been the United States House of Representatives, U.S. representative for since 1991. She is a member of the Democratic Party (United States), Democratic Party. The dist ...

and

Eleanor Holmes Norton Eleanor Holmes Norton (born June 13, 1937) is an American lawyer and politician serving as a delegate to the United States House of Representatives, representing the District of Columbia since 1991. She is a member of the Democratic Party. Earl ...

. In 2005, BPW used its grassroots power to continue the Bureau of Labor and Statistics' (BLS) Working Women Series and to re-instate Lifetime TV on the DISH Network programming. Same year in October, BPW/USA launched Women Joining Forces: Closing Ranks, Opening Doors (WJF), a program to support women veterans as they transition from military to civilian life. This commitment made BPW/USA the first and only non-governmental agency to offer programming that supports women veterans. Workplace equity issues including

sexual harassment Sexual harassment is a type of harassment involving the use of explicit or implicit sexual overtones, including the unwelcome and inappropriate promises of rewards in exchange for sexual favors. Sexual harassment includes a range of actions fro ...

, opportunities for women

veteran A veteran () is a person who has significant experience (and is usually adept and esteemed) and expertise in a particular occupation or field. A military veteran is a person who is no longer serving in a military. A military veteran that has ...

s, work-life balance,

health care reform Health care reform is for the most part governmental policy that affects health care delivery in a given place. Health care reform typically attempts to: * Broaden the population that receives health care coverage through either public sector insur ...

, dependent care,

tort reform Tort reform refers to changes in the civil justice system in common law countries that aim to reduce the ability of plaintiffs to bring tort litigation (particularly actions for negligence) or to reduce damages they can receive. Such changes a ...

, increasing the

minimum wage A minimum wage is the lowest remuneration that employers can legally pay their employees—the price floor below which employees may not sell their labor. Most countries had introduced minimum wage legislation by the end of the 20th century. Bec ...

, lifetime economic security and pay equity continue to be BPW's targeted issues. In 2009 BPW Foundation merged with its sister organization BPW/USA.

List of BPW/USA National Presidents

*1919-1920:

Gail Laughlin Abbie "Gail" Hill Laughlin (May 7, 1868 – March 13, 1952) was an American lawyer, suffragist, an expert for the United States Industrial commission, and a member of the Maine State Senate. She was the first woman from Maine to practice law. She ...

*1920-1923: Lena Lake Forrest *1923-1925: Adelia Prichard *1925-1926: Olive Joy Wright *1926-1929:

*** *1929-1931: Marion H. McClench *1931-1935: Geline MacDonald Bowman *1935-1937: Charl Ormond Williams *1937-1939: Earlene White *1939-1944: Minnie L. Maffett *1944-1946: Margaret A. Hickey *1946-1948: Sally Butler*** *1948-1950: K. Frances Scott *1950-1952:

Sarah T. Hughes Sarah Tilghman Hughes (August 2, 1896 – April 23, 1985) was an American lawyer and federal judge who served on the United States District Court for the Northern District of Texas. She is best known as the judge who swore in Lyndon B. Johnson ...

*1952-1954: Helen G. Irwin*** *1954-1956:

Marguerite Rawalt Dr. Marguerite Rawalt (16 October 1895 – 16 December 1989) was an American writer and lawyer who lobbied in Congress on behalf of women's rights. She worked for the Internal Revenue Service for 30 years, and served on the board of directors f ...

** *1956-1958: Hazel Palmer** *1958-1960: Grace B. Daniels** *1960-1961: Fannie Hardy** *1961-1962: Katherine Peden** *1962-1963: Minnie C. Miles** *1963-1964: Virginia Allan** *1964-1965:

Dorothy Ford Dorothy Ford (April 4, 1922 – October 15, 2010) was an American actress and model active from the 1940s through the 1960s. She began her career as a model, largely owing to her height of and a 38-26-38-and-a-half figure. She went on to be ...

** *1966-1967:

Sarah Jane Cunningham Sarah Jane Cunningham and Suzie Villandry-Freeman are an American television writing and producing team. They began their careers writing for the Nickelodeon animated series ''The Wild Thornberrys''. Before moving on to the fellow Nicktoons sho ...

** *1967-1968: Mabel R. McClanahan** *1968-1969: Hope Roberts** *1969-1970: Myra Ruth Harmon** *1970-1971: Ruth M. Easerling** *1971-1972: Osta Underwood** *1972-1973: Jeanne C. Squire** *1973-1974: Jean L. McCarrey** *1974-1975: Marie B. Bowden** *1975-1976: Maxine R. Hayes**/**** *1976-1977: Jane Culbreth** *1977-1978: Piilani C. Desha** *1978-1979: Geraldine R. Eidson** *1979-1980: Julia K. Arri** *1980-1981: Dorine Chancellor** *1981-1982: Phylllis Harrison *1982-1983: Jeri S. Libner** *1983-1984: Polly Madenwald** *1984-1985: Winifred E. Lethbridge** *1985-1986: Anne Steinbeck** *1987-1988: Beth Wray** *1988-1989: Betty J. Forbes** *1989-1990: LaVerne F. Collins** *1990-1991:

Elizabeth Athanasakos Elizabeth or Elisabeth may refer to: People * Elizabeth (given name), a female given name (including people with that name) * Elizabeth (biblical figure), mother of John the Baptist Ships * HMS ''Elizabeth'', several ships * ''Elisabeth'' (sch ...

** *1991-1992: Pat Taylor** *1992-1993: Jo Etta Y. Wickliffe** *1993-1994: Dianne Studer** *1994-1995: Cindy L. Winckler** *1995-1996: Anna Vacca** *1996-1997: Candace G. Butler** *1997-1998: Joyce R. Hart** *1998-1999: Susan B. Dailey** *1999-2000: Robin J. Robinson** *2000-2001: Patricia Cornish** *2001-2002: Leslie R. Wilkins** *2002-2003:

Cindy Patterson Young Cindy may refer to: People *Cindy (given name), a list of people named Cindy, Cindi, Cyndi or Cyndy *Tugiyati Cindy (born 1985), Indonesian footballer Music * ''Cindy'' (musical), an off-Broadway production in 1964 and 1965 * "Cindy" (folk song ...

** *2003-2004: Carolyn V. Grady *2004-2005: Nancy L. Hurlbert *2005-2006: Roslyn A. Ridgeway** *2006-2007: Nancy Jackson *2007-2008: Barb Henton *2008-2009: Diane Polangin The "*" denotes the following: *Chair of BPW Foundation** *International President*** *International President-representing Australia Federation****

Notable members

* Amy Allbright, Member *

May Wallace Allen May is the fifth month of the year in the Julian calendar, Julian and Gregorian calendars and is the third of seven months to have a length of 31 days. May is a month of Spring (season), spring in the Northern Hemisphere, and autumn in the So ...

, Member *

Anne L. Anderson Anne, alternatively spelled Ann, is a form of the Latin female given name Anna. This in turn is a representation of the Hebrew Hannah, which means 'favour' or 'grace'. Related names include Annie. Anne is sometimes used as a male name in the ...

, Member * Gertrude Thomas Arnold, Member * Julia G. Babcock, Member * Elizabeth Balderston, Member San Mateo * Gladys H. Barndollar, founder and past president *

Annie Little Barry Annie may refer to: People and fictional characters * Annie (given name), a given name and a list of people and fictional characters with the name * Annie (actress) (born 1975), Indian actress * Annie (singer) (born 1977), Norwegian singer The ...

, Member San Francisco * Grace Thorpe Bear, Member New Mexico Fed. * Ruth Moench Bell, Member * Elisabeth Sara Benton, recording secretary San Francisco League * Myrtle Bernard, Vice-president * Cecelia Mae Beyler, for 3 years a member of Oregon State Board * Gertrude Richards Bliss, Member Los Angeles *

C. Louise Boehringer Cora Louise Boehringer (1878 – September 11, 1956) was the first female superintendent of schools in Yuma County, Arizona. She has been called "the mother of the Arizona educational system". In 2008 she was inducted into the Arizona Women's Hal ...

, National Vice-president (for Arizona), National and State Member Bl *

Pauline Suing Bloom Pauline Suing Bloom was a reporter and feature writer, founder of ''The Spokane Woman''. Early life Pauline Suing Bloom was born in Council Bluffs, Iowa, on January 7, 1883, the daughter of Henry B. Suing and Teresa Paschel. Career For years, Pa ...

, Member * Ada Margaret Brayton, First vice-president of Calif. Fed., Member and president of Pasadena * Imogen Harding Brodie, member of the Professional Woman's League of Portland * Leta May Bryan, Member El Centro, California * Emilie Henry Burcham, President * Euna Pearl Burke, honorary member * Nellie T. Bush, Member * Mary Ryerson Butin, Member * Sadie M. Callan, Member * Lenore Sollender Campbell, Commissioner of Recreation of Los Angeles Club * Mary Jane Canter, president of Federated League (1928–29) * Lillian M. Carse, Vice-president * Bessie Chamberlain, Member Pasadena Club * Clara F. Chladek, President * Edna E. Christofferson, Member * Zulu Clements, Past President California Federation, Director, Treasurer and First-Vice President San Francisco, former editor of "The Business Woman and Business Women's News" * Felice Cohn, Member Reno Club * Emma Coldiron, Member Walla Walla Club * Anne D. Cooper, Member * Inez Mabel Crawford, Member San Mateo Club * Mary Sinclair Crawford, Member National Association * Clara R. Cushman, Member *

Alma Jeannette Danford Alma or ALMA may refer to: Arts and entertainment * ''Alma'' (film), a 2009 Spanish short animated film * ''Alma'' (Oswald de Andrade novel), 1922 * ''Alma'' (Le Clézio novel), 2017 * ''Alma'' (play), a 1996 drama by Joshua Sobol about Alma ...

, Member * Myrtle Ramey Davis, Member *

Naomi Deutsch Naomi Deutsch (November 5, 1890 - November 26, 1983) was a professional Registered nurse, the organizer and director of the Public Health Unit of the Federal Children's Bureau of the Department of Labor of Washington, D.C. Early life Naomi Deutsc ...

, Member *

Allie Dickerman Allie is a unisex given name, a nickname and, more rarely a surname. It is a diminutive form of several names beginning with ''Al-''. It may refer to: Given name or nickname Female * Allie (wrestler) (born 1987), Canadian professional wrestler ...

, National Member * Eva Hunt Dockery, National Fed., State chairman legislation, Idaho Club *

Edith Daggett Rockwood Edith Daggett Rockwood (born 1884) was an American writer. Early life Edith Daggett was born in Klamath Falls, Oregon, in 1884, the daughter of Morris Henry and Rose Daggett, descendants of the colonial Putnam family. Morris Henry Daggett was a K ...

, Organizer, Yuma, Arizona * Jeannette M. Drake, Member * Elaine Anderson Dudley, Member Goodwill Industries Club * Nannie C. Dunsmoor, president of the Professional Women's Club * Charlotte Penniman Ebbets, Member Santa Barbara Club * Clarice McGlauflin Elliott, local, state and national Member * Augusta Louise Eraser, president San Diego Club, honorary member San Diego Junior Club, Past state pres. Calif. Fed. * Jessie A. Eraser, Member * M. Winnifred Feighner, Member * Alice R. Fischer, Member *

Helen G. Fisk Helen Graves Fisk (1895–1986) was an American vocational support executive who was active in service bureaus in Pasadena and Los Angeles from the 1920s. For many years, she was assistant director at the Pasadena Vocation Bureau where she was ...

, president Pasadena Club, Member Los Angeles Service League * Minnie Flanigan, Member * Jennie Fortune, Member Capital City Club, National Fed. *

Abigail Keasey Frankel Abigail Keasey Frankel (died August 15, 1931) was a prominent club and civic worker of Portland. When the Oregon Federation of Business and Professional Women was formed, she was its first President. Early life Abigail Keasey was born in Fayette, ...

, first President of State Federation of Oregon * Blanche Galloway, Member * Helena M. Gamble, Member *

Florence Gardner Florence ( ; it, Firenze ) is a city in Central Italy and the capital city of the Tuscany region. It is the most populated city in Tuscany, with 383,083 inhabitants in 2016, and over 1,520,000 in its metropolitan area.Bilancio demografico an ...

, Member * Mary E. Gartin, Member * Mary Gervais, founder and first president * Ruth Beatrice Gibson, Member * Harriet A. Haas, Member * Mozelle Hair, Member * Carrie E. Hall, Member * Ceil Doyle Hamilton, Member * Winifred M. Hausam, for 2 years Vocational Guidance chairman, L. A. County Fed., Vocational Guidance chairman, California State Fed., Member Pasadena Club * Alta L. Hawker, Member * Bertha R. Hays, president and past secretary, Member National Fed. *

Grace Raymond Hebard Grace Raymond Hebard (July 2, 1861 – October 1936) gained prominence as a Wyoming historian, suffragist, pioneering scholar, prolific writer, political economist and noted University of Wyoming educator. Hebard's standing as a historian in pa ...

, Member Wyoming Club * Elizabeth Heinline, Member *

Mary Hughes Dame Mary Ethel Hughes GBE (née Campbell; 6 June 18742 April 1958) was the second wife of Billy Hughes, Prime Minister of Australia from 1915 to 1923. She was the daughter of a well-to-do grazier, and grew up in country New South Wales. Sh ...

, Member * Mattie R. Hummell, President of Idaho State Club * Emma W. Lillis Humphrey, Member * Ruth M. Huntington, Member * Sarah M. Jacobus, Member * Lotta Hetler James, Hanford Club * Kate L. Fick Jeancon, Member San Diego Club * Amelia F. Johnson, State Chairman of Legislation California Federation *

Bessie M. Lill Bessie is a feminine given name, often a diminutive form (hypocorism) of Elizabeth, Beatrice and other names since the 16th century. It is sometimes a name in its own right. Notable people with the name include: People *Bessie Abott (1878-19 ...

, One of organizers and first president of Madera Club, State Secretary (1928) of Women's Federation * Adda Bradford Manker, Member Upland Club * Retta F. Martin, Member Boise Club * Rena B. Maycock, Member *

Ona F. Meens Ona Jane Foley Meens (March 27, 1886 - August 21, 1980) was head resident of California Hall and director of men's dining hall at the University of Redlands, California, United States. Early life Ona Jane Foley was born in Somerset, Kentucky, on Ma ...

, Member *

Rebecca B. Mellors Rebecca B. Mellors (November 7, 1899 - 1989) was an educator. Early life Rebecca B. Mellors was born in Weir, Kansas, on November 7, 1899, the daughter of Thomas Mellors and Annie Willey. Career Rebecca B. Mellors was an educator. In 1927 she was ...

, Member * Evelyn Melvin, Member Salmon Club * Blanche Funk Miller, Member *

Eleanor Miller The Chipettes are a group of three female anthropomorphic chipmunk singers: Brittany, Jeanette and Eleanor who first appeared on the cartoon series '' Alvin and the Chipmunks'' in 1983. In this and related materials, the Chipettes served as f ...

, Member * Mabel Louise Mills, honorary member Glendale Club * Mary Frances Mooney, Member * Cassie C. Moreland, Member * Rinda Shortridge Morse, Member San Mateo Club * Estella Smith Mulliner, Organizer and first president, Idaho Falls Club *

Jacqueline Noel Jacqueline Noel (June 28, 1886 – 1964) was librarian for the city of Tacoma, Washington. She was a leader in promoting the colonial history of the United States and helped to expand Washington State's public library system. Noel is also credite ...

, Member * Marion Campbell Orr, president *

Adelina Otero-Warren María Adelina Isabel Emilia "Nina" Otero-Warren (October 23, 1881 – January 3, 1965) was a woman's suffragist, educator, and politician in the United States. Otero-Warren created a legacy of civil service through her work in education, politi ...

, Member * Lillian McNeill Palmer, founder of the Women's Business and Professional Club in San Francisco * Matilda Peterson, Life Member * Kate Pier, was the only honorary member of the Milwaukee Business Women's Club * Julietto Pierce, Member * Cornelia D. Plaister, State Chairman, Educational Committee * Alma E. Plumb, Member * Adelia Prichard, For two years National president * Maude Hancock Prichard, Member Capital City Club * Cornelia Douglas Provines, Member * Ada E. Purpus, president of the Laguna Beach Business and Professional Woman's Club *

Mildred Chick Pyle Mildred may refer to: People * Mildred (name), a given name (including a list of people and characters with the name) * Saint Mildrith, 8th-century Abbess of Minster-in-Thanet * Milred (died 774), Anglo-Saxon prelate, Bishop of Worcester * Henry M ...

, Member * Frances Effinger Raymond, president Nationally Affiliated League *

Ida M. Reagan Ida M. Reagan (September 12, 1875 - February 19, 1971) was the first librarian of the Butte County Free Library. Early life Ida M. Reagan was born near Oroville, California, on September 12, 1875, the daughter of George Washington Reagan (1828-1908 ...

, Member * Ethel Emily Redfield, Member * Margaret Reeves, Member Capitol City Club * Eve Richardson, president * Charlotte Roberson, Member * E. Ruth Rockwood, Member * Mary McMillan Rodney, Member * Frances Eastman Rose, Member * Margaret Ruse, Member Santa Fe Club *

Rachel Irene Seibert Rachel Irene Benshoof Seibert, Ph.G., (September 3, 1876 – November 29, 1967) was a clubwoman. Early life Rachel Irene Benshoof was born in Blue Grass, Iowa, on September 3, 1876, the daughter of Jacob "Jake" A. Benshoof (1831–1926) and Mary A ...

, State Treasurer of the Chehalis Business and Professional Women's Club * Elizabeth Seymour (publicist), one of the five founders San Diego Club *

Florence Elizabeth Shindler Florence ( ; it, Firenze ) is a city in Central Italy and the capital city of the Tuscany region. It is the most populated city in Tuscany, with 383,083 inhabitants in 2016, and over 1,520,000 in its metropolitan area.Bilancio demografico an ...

, First president Southern District California Fed. *

Orfa Jean Shontz Orfa Jean Shontz (November 1, 1876 – May 6, 1954) was an American attorney and Judge#United States, Municipal Judge. She was the first female referee of the Juvenile Court of Los Angeles County. She was the first female in California to "sit ...

, president * Anna B. Smith, Former County Treasurer, Director, State Fed. Club, National Member * Lucetta Amelia Smith, President of local club, Member National Fed. * Mary E. Smith, Member * Susan T. Smith, president 1921-23 Calif Fed. * May Ella Hand Snow, Member * Grace M. Sparkes, Member * Lillian Spongberg, Member * Mary Jane Spurlin, Member * F. Josephine Stevenson, president of Pasadena Club, for one year, state organization chairman of the State Federation * Grace S. Stoermer, Member * Isabel Seal Stovel, Member * Nina E. Steunenberg, Member * Clara F. Strong, charter member and president * Nora Early Summers, Member * Jennie Lasby Tessmann, Member * Monica B. Thompson, Member * Margaret Todt, Member * Jessie F. Treen, Member * Helen Ella True, Member *

Miriam Van Waters Miriam Van Waters (October 4, 1887 – January 17, 1974) was an American prison reformer of the early to mid-20th century whose methods owed much to her upbringing as an Episcopal Church (USA), Episcopalian involved in the Social Gospel movement. ...

, Member Los Angeles Club * Dotha S. Varker, Member *

Fanny Maughan Vernon Frances "Fanny" Maughan Vernon (November 24, 1872 - March 28, 1940) was an American educator. She was a prominent clubwoman and Democratic National committeewoman of Utah. Early life Frances "Fanny" Maughan was born in Logan, Utah, on November ...

, chairman of Legislative Committee, state legislative chairman * Frances Vogel, Member *

Margaret Ward Margaret Ward (c. 1550-30 August 1588), the "pearl of Tyburn", was an English Roman Catholic Church, Catholic martyr who was executed during the reign of Elizabeth I of England, Elizabeth I for assisting a Clergy, priest to escape from prison ...

, Member * Ida V. Wells, president of the Professional Women's Club * Lillian M. Wendemuth, Interested in the activities of Business and Professional Women, State Publicity chairman, Member National Federation League of San Francisco * Sarah Elizabeth Wenk, Corresponding Secretary of Northern District Club and second vice-president of California Federation, president * Nina May Westmore, Member * Anna Musselman Westover, Member * Reah Whitehead, Member Seattle Club * Marian Tracie Whiting, Member Service League *

Josephine Clancey Wice Josephine may refer to: People * Josephine (given name), a given name (including a list of people with the name) * Josephine (singer), a Greek pop singer Places * Josephine, Texas, United States * Mount Josephine (disambiguation) * Josephine Co ...

, Member * Elsie K. Wilcox, For third term president of Culver City Club * Emily D. Wilkie, Member Berkeley Club * Mabel Walker Willebrandt, one year chairman of Legislation, Los Angeles County Club * Bird M. Wilson, Member * Edna Josephine Wilson-Olive, Former recording secretary, California Federation Club, Recording secretary Southern District California Fed. * Una R. Winter, president Southern District Calif. Fed., president Upland Club * Maude Wolff, Member *

Bessie J. Wood Bessie is a feminine given name, often a diminutive form (hypocorism) of Elizabeth, Beatrice and other names since the 16th century. It is sometimes a name in its own right. Notable people with the name include: People *Bessie Abott (1878-19 ...

, president *

Belle Wood-Comstock Belle Jessie Wood-Comstock (November 20, 1880 - May 22, 1961) was an American physician and author of medical advice books. Early life Belle Jessie Wood-Comstock was born on November 20, 1880, in Fargo, Wisconsin, the daughter of William Wood an ...

, Professional Woman's Club of Los Angeles *

Dora Wright Dora may stand for: *Dora (given name) Places United States *Dora, Alabama *Dora, Arkansas *Dora, Missouri *Dora, New Mexico * Dora, Oregon *Dora, Pennsylvania *Mount Dora, Florida Other countries *Lake Dora (Tasmania) *Lake Dora (Western Au ...

, charter member * Emma Russell Yearian, Member Salmon Club * Mary Yost, active member of the Business and Professional Women's Club of Palo Alto

California Federation

The California sub-organization, the California Federation of Business & Professional Women's Clubs, has been especially large and influential. Zulu Clements was its president.

References

External links

Business and Professional Women's Foundation
{{Authority control Business organizations based in the United States Women's political advocacy groups in the United States Women's occupational organizations Women's clubs in the United States

Current issues

Structure

History

List of BPW/USA National Presidents

Notable members

California Federation

See also

References

Further reading

External links