The Women's Civic League is an organization founded in 1911 in

Baltimore Baltimore is the most populous city in the U.S. state of Maryland. With a population of 585,708 at the 2020 census and estimated at 568,271 in 2024, it is the 30th-most populous U.S. city. The Baltimore metropolitan area is the 20th-large ...

, Maryland to promote the welfare of the citizens of

Maryland Maryland ( ) is a U.S. state, state in the Mid-Atlantic (United States), Mid-Atlantic region of the United States. It borders the states of Virginia to its south, West Virginia to its west, Pennsylvania to its north, and Delaware to its east ...

, generally, and Baltimore, specifically. Throughout the course of the twentieth century, the League has been involved in grassroots projects that encourage the citizens of Baltimore to organize to rejuvenate their city from the neighborhoods up to the government as well as from the government down. This group spread awareness about issues within the city and encouraged attendance at committee fundraisers through the publication of pamphlets, flyers, and, especially, through updates in the Baltimore

Afro-American African Americans, also known as Black Americans and formerly also called Afro-Americans, are an Race and ethnicity in the United States, American racial and ethnic group that consists of Americans who have total or partial ancestry from an ...

newspaper.

Flower Mart

One of the most recognized events that the Women's Civic League is known for in Baltimore is the annual Flower Mart held in Mt. Vernon Place in the city's cultural and historical district. The Flower Mart was first held the same year that the League was formed, but it took place before the official founding.Women's Civic League, Baltimore, "Flower Mart," 1961-1963 Originally, the Home and Garden Committee was responsible for holding the event, which provided fund-raising as well as cultural value. The Flower Mart became under the control of the League in 1912 when the Home and Garden Committee joined with the newly formed Women's Civic League. This event has been held yearly since its founding with the exception of two years during

World War I World War I or the First World War (28 July 1914 – 11 November 1918), also known as the Great War, was a World war, global conflict between two coalitions: the Allies of World War I, Allies (or Entente) and the Central Powers. Fighting to ...

. It remains today a May tradition in Baltimore, but has expanded to include booths from various committees and organizations around the city.

Publications

The Women's Civic League has made a priority of educating Baltimoreans about the city of Baltimore. Its members have written and published pamphlets that offer reference guides to the city's political leaders, community businesses, and city policies. One of their annual publications is the Know Your City pamphlet that provides readers with a business directory, helpful facts about the city, and lists of locations of parks and landmarks. The preface of the Know Your City pamphlet describes the reason for its publication; the Women's Civic League was founded to improve the welfare of Baltimore citizens. If the life of people in Baltimore is going to change, the League believed, the people needed knowledge. The intent of the pamphlets this organization produced was to spread knowledge to the average Baltimorean about his or her city.

References

{{Reflist

External links

Women's Civic League, Inc. of Baltimore
Women's organizations based in the United States Organizations based in Baltimore Organizations established in 1911 Women in Maryland 1911 establishments in Maryland