Selections from Woman's Club of Tallahassee (N2021-4)

SOCIAL--Chairman, Mrs. W. G. Starry, Co-Chairman, Mrs. Jack Levins; Mrs. Jack Booth; Mrs. W. J. Boynton, Jr., Mrs. M. R. Clements, Mrs. Prentiss Huddleston, Mrs. Robert E. Lee.

PUBLICITY--Chairman, Mrs. C. A. Cheek, Co-Chairman, Mrs. Theodore W. Weeks

DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION

Chairman...Mrs. Julius F. Parker Co-Chairman...Mrs. J. Broward Culpeper

DIVISION OF ADULT EDUCATION--Chairman, Mrs. Evelyn K. Csikos; Miss Frances Champion, Mrs. Amos P. Godby, Mrs. Roy E. Lealman, Mrs. LEster P. Robinson, Mrs. D. E. Williams.

DIVISION OF CHARACTER EDUCATION--Chairman, Mrs. Angus Laird; Mrs. Thomas D. Bailey, Mrs. George G. Crawford, Mrs. James G. Gramling, Mrs. Malcolm J. Longsdon, Dr. Margaret R. Sandels.

DIVISION OF EPSILON SIGMA OMICRON--Chairman, Mrs. Millard F. Caldwell; Mrs. Joseph E. Banks, Mrs. Joseph Y. Cheney, Mrs. T. D. Croft, Mrs. Thord Marshall, Mrs. J. W. Sealey.

DIVISION OF GUIDANCE--Chairman, Mrs. Wallis L. Walker; Mrs. Strachan W. Barrett, Mrs. Joseph M. Doggett, Miss Marjorie Gretsch, Mrs. A. B. Martin, Mrs. C. V. Smith.

DIVISION OF PUBLIC EDUCATION--Chairman, Mrs. Doak S. Campbell; Mrs. Robert Frank, Miss Louise King, Miss Ida Raa, Mrs. S. E. Teague, Mrs. George R. Winchester.

DIVISION OF SCHOLARSHIPS & FELLOWSHIPS--Chairman, Mrs. C. D. Hasbrouck; Mrs. Edson J. Andrews, Mrs. Fred J. Ferrell, Mrs. J.K. Lawton, Mrs. D. C. Redfern, Mrs. Ben T. Waddill.

DEPARTMENT OF INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS

Chairman...Mrs. James S. Rickards Co-Chairman...Mrs. Henry B. Cooley

Mrs. Michael P. Balwan, Mrs. Ralph H. Barbour, Mrs. L. F. Branan, Mrs. W. Oris Buchanan, Miss Margie Burks, Mrs. Earnest W. Cason, Mrs. Derrell L. Clark, Mrs. R. V. Coleman, Mrs. O. C. Collins, Mrs. L. C. Crabtree, Mrs. George Currie, Mrs. James D. Durham, Mrs. Clarence W. Edney, Mrs. Richard B. Eide, Mrs. J. M. Feinberg, Mrs. Paul F. Finner, Mrs. Homer G. Gra-

[9]

FFWC History....continued

as hostess while Mrs. Meade A. Love, Quincy Woman's Club, was President, 1932-1934. In the days of deep economic depression it was not easy to keep club contacts, yet the women's groups continued to sponsor libraries, help with school problems, beautify communities and assist with many types of welfare work. Extension was in the background because promotion of growth in service by existing clubs was deemed most vital. There were now 228 clubs.

In 1934, Mrs. Robert Shearer, Sorosis Club, Orlando, was elected, but passed away in July. She was succeeded by Mrs. T. C. Moore of Miami Woman's Club, then First Vice-President.

Referring to her activities in visiting every District in the state in addition to speaking to many individual clubs and to writing many aarticles for magazines, she wrote, "Being President of so great an organization as the Florida Federation makes the 24-hour day seem entirely too short", but she added, "There is thrill after thrill, and it is impossib le to estimate the joy one has in serving". "Club Institutes" were growin in popularity, and there was a general unification of the clubs of the state. Clubhouses were being used for community centers, nurseries and schools, and each was the "center of the social and cultural life in every city or town to the smallest community.

Mrs. John. J. Kellum, Woman's Club of Tallahassee, who had travelled the highways and byways with Mrs. Moore, now became President in 1936-1938. She continued to take the Federation to the clubs by speaking in every District. With the theme, "Good Citizenship" she advocated "Every club member a student of the Constitution of the United States", and put into practice her recommendation by serving actively on 15 state commissions and organizations.

When Mrs. J. Ralston Wells, First Vice-President, succeeded to the presidency in 1938 she had five goals: 15,000 membership, $25,000 in Endowment Fund, 25 new clubs, 250 subscriptions to the GFWC Clubwoman and "Every clubwoman a thoughtful citizen in action". She acheived all but the first, and she almost reached it. The membership climbed to 11,500, and Florida ranked seventh among the states in increase. The score cards indicated more women as registered voters and she noted "an increased respect showmn by men for our efforts". The publication of a progam of work booklet was started and a radio program, "Thoughtful Citizens in Action", was presented monthly on almost every station in the state.

Wartime activities were paramount during the administration of Mrs. Thurston Roberts, Woman's Club of Jacksonville. She served as Chairman of Women's Division of War Savings and also as Chairman of Consumer Interests of State Defense Committee. In spite of the curtailment due to war the Federation grew to 12,862 and 22 new clubs were added. Over the state clubs sewed for the Red Cross, were wactive in Bundles for Britain, bond sales and entertain ment of service men and work in victory gardens.

Along with community service, programs of music, literature and conservation of forests and beautification of communities were increasing. Mrs. Roberts was named chairman of the nominating committee for GFWC. She led a delegation of 50 Florida clubwomen to the Golden Jubilee Convention in Atlantic City in May, 1941 and directed Florida's participation in that historic event.

FFWC History....continued

When she passed away in June, 1960, she bequeathed $1,000 to the Endowment Fund of the FFWC.

The second wartime President was Mrs. Ralph Austin Smith, Woman's Club of Sanford, 1942-1944. By this time the FFWC was a highly organized group with eight departments and 29 divisions , and clubwomen designed their programs to fit war needs. Clubs were organized for wives of servicemen, active campaigns were conducted to enlist women in Women's Army Corps, Waves, Spars and Marines. Mrs. Smith serbved on a number of state wartime boards, among them the committee to sponsor erection of the memorial at Madison, Florida to Captain Colin Kelly who lost his life the day war was declared on Japan. She presented a war stamp book, already started with a stamp, to each club to stimulate purchase of war stamps and bonds. Through her efforts a young woman accepted the Nursing Scholarship voted by the FFWC early in her administration.

This was a time of trial for clubs when gasoline rationing made travel to meetings difficult. Nevertheless, all Districts held meetins and the Federation grew to 162 Senior clubs and 48 Junior clubs and 22 County Federations. Many clubs took the lead in organizing their communities for war work, and the common problems of women in other countries aroused a deep interest in international relations. There were now 1,085 Juniors actively participating in Federation work.

Women were deeply involved in war work and the pinch of rationing in food, clothing and gasoline made their problems greater in 1944-1946 when Mrs. Joseph L. Gray, Woman's Club of Lakeland, served as Federation President. Hardships seemed to spur the organization members to new efforts to meet the challenges. Mrs. Gray traveled 40,000 miles by bus, train, automobile and plane to meet with state district and club groups. Following her objective to draw the Juniors into closer cooperation, they were invited to join the President's Conference and later held one of their own.

The Federation now totaled 25,899 of which 1,764 were Juniors, a gain of almost 4,000 members. The war had drawn the women into closer cooperation than ever before, and their unity of service was to earmark their future activities. Clubwomen had sold over four million dollars' worth of bonds in the Sixth War Loan, and more than five million dollars in Victory Bond Sales. The Juniors of the state had purchased an iron lung for use in Florida.

The need for a State Headquarters was evident, and a business office was set up in the Seminole Hotel in Jacksonville. Mrs. Gran, as state Chairman of Youth Conservation for GFWC, set up an All-State Sponsoring Committee of non-Federation peoples, both men and women, and also a State Clearing House Committee made up of state Presidents of each main youth serving organization. Although the state did not adopt the GFWC Youth Conservation program, individual clubs were activated into greater community service.

The transfer from wartime activities to peacetime efforts occupied the clubs during 1946-1948 when Mrs. L. J. McCaffery, North Miami Woman's Club, was President. International Relations Department work became paramount with forums and discussions on world affairs and the administration concluded with

FFWC History....continued

a program, "Assemblry of Women of the Americas". Greater emphasis was placed on Fine Arts, and welfare work stressed education for better human relations, rehabilitation of physically and mentally ill, and prevention of disease.

The Royal State Park was presented to the United States Government by Mrs. McCaffery on December 6, 1947, with President Harry S. Truman, Senator Spessard Holland, Senator Claude Pepper, Secretary J. A. Krug and other notables present. Mrs. W. S. Jennings was cited at the dedication ceremonies for her foresight in securing the acreage and the Federation was complimented for keeping the park open to the public. On April 16, 1948 a plaque was unveiled.

To bring Presidents and Chairmen the plans of GFWC a mimeographed booklet was prepared by the state President. She was appointed Dean of Presidents by Mrs. J. L. Blair Buck, President of GFWC. In recognition of Mrs. McCaffrey's outstanding community service, she was named the first Outstanding Woman of Dade County and presented with a silver plaque.

The Federation now numbered 21,200 members in 248 clubs. The constant efforts of the clubwomen to raise the standards of education in Florida were bearing fruit. The Education Chairman was a member of the Continuing Council on Education. The Florida statutes------"kindergartens, when organziaed as public school or public school classes....shall be supported and maintained by state, county, district, federal or other lawful sources...."and clubs pushed local boards to take advantage of the ruling. Teachers' salaries were raised, several clubwomen-mothers were placed on school boards. "The Clubwoman of Florida have exerted a gigantic influence toward equal educational opportunities for all", wrote the Education Chairman.

The GFWC came to Florida for the first time while Mrs. A. T. McKay, Orlando Sorosis Club, was President. In 1949 the national group convened in Hollywood Beach with Mrs. L.J. McCaffrey as general chairman. This has often been referred to as one of the most glamorous and beautiful of GFWC conventions.

Sub-Junior groups of High School girls were formed and held their first State Convention in Jacksonville in March, 1950. The Division of Pan American Relations was added to the International Relations Department. The Federation won the GFWC award for the largest number of subscriptions to the GFWC Clubwoman and also the first prize for the press book.

Clubs worked hard on the Build a Better Community Contest sponsored by the GFWC and the Kroger Grocery Company. The Marianna Senior and Junior Clubs and the Sorosis Juniors and Seniors of Orlando received national awards. During the two years 78 students were awarded $21,417 in scholarships by the state and individual clubs, and three scholarships amounting to $1,500 were given to foreign students. Program building contests were held for clubs. There were 271 member clubs with 185 Senior clubs of which 138 owned their own clubhouses. Mrs. McKay's theme, "Women Alert", was typical of the wide range of club activities throughout the state.

Mrs. L.J. McCaffrey was elected Recording Secretary of the General Federation of Women's Clubs at the convention in Boston.

Mrs. Raeburn C. Horne, Madison Woman's Club, chose the theme, "Service", when she assumed the presidency in 1950, and the program of the club activities was

R E S O L U T I O N

It is with a deep and sincere feeling of sorrow that we, the members of the Woman's Club of Tallahassee, record the passing of our beloved member, Betty J. Corder, on December 22, 1971.

WHEREAS, for more than four (4) years, Betty Corder was a loyal and faithful member of the Women's Club of Tallahassee serving as Reservations Chairman,

NOW, THEREFORE, be it resolved, that we, the members of the Woman's Club of Tallahassee, meeting in January, 1972, pay tribute to Mrs. Corder. Her friendliness and kindness endeared her to not only members of her family, but to all who knew her.

RESOLVED FURTHER, that this Resolution be spread upon the minutes of the Woman's Club of Tallahassee as a lasting memorial to her, and be it

RESOLVED FURTHER, that the deepest sympathy of this group be sent to her husband, Mr. Charles F. Corder, along with a copy of this Resolution.

Respectfully submitted,

WOMAN'S CLUB OF TALLAHASSEE Mrs. Lee W. Elgin, Jr., President

By______________________ Mrs. R.J. Riebold, Chairman Resolutions Chairman