History
Chartered, September 17, 1926
Federated (County, State, and District) 1926
Endowment Fund Completed 1927
Foundation Fund Completed 1938
The Julian Woman’s Club is a member of the General Federation of Women’s Clubs, and the California Federation of Women’s Clubs. Thus, our history is rooted in that of our “parent” organizations.
1868: GFWC’s roots can be traced back to 1868 when Jane Cunningham Croly (1829-1901), a professional New York journalist, attempted to attend a dinner at an all-male press club honoring British novelist Charles Dickens. Croly was denied admittance based upon her gender. In response, she formed a club for women called Sorosis.
1890: Jane Croly, founder of Sorosis, took action to form the General Federation of Women’s Clubs.
1898: GFWC unanimously passed a resolution against child labor. With the help of Jane Addams, in 1901, she headed the Federation’s Child Labor Committee to strengthen child labor laws.
1899: The Chicago Woman’s Club supported the juvenile court law, the first ever to be passed in the United States. Julia Lathrop led this club effort and was appointed by President William Howard Taft to head the Children’s Bureau in 1912.
1901: The 56th Congress of the United States chartered GFWC and designated that the Federation be headquartered in Washington, DC.
1906: GFWC member Alice Lakey spearheaded a letter writing campaign, which resulted in the passage of the Pure Food and Drug Act.
1910s: GFWC supported legislation for the eight-hour workday, workplace safety and inspection, and workmen’s compensation.
1921: GFWC created the Indian Welfare Committee, which worked to improve both education and health facilities on reservations, as well as preserving Native American culture.
1922: GFWC Clubwomen purchased 1734 N Street, NW in Washington, DC to serve as the Federation’s International Headquarters.
1926: The Julian Woman’s Club was chartered. The Julian Woman’s Club was organized September 11, 1926, by Mrs. H. L. Hildreth, wife of the Dr. Hildreth of Julian. Miss Josephine Seaman, California State Federation Chairman presented a Roberts Rules of Order book and a gavel to the newly formed club. The Julian Woman’s Club closed the Charter membership rolls in November with sixty members.
Our first projects involved: removing tin cans along our roads and cleaning back lots filled to overflowing with trash; thwarting cows and goats from roaming on the roads; preventing town lots from being sold as an Auto Park; and, paving our streets. We also helped organize the Junior Woman’s Club, Girls Scouts, Subdebs, High School Y’s, Tri Y’s, Future Farmers, CEA’s and the Democratic Club. Later projects included a youth center, establishing a county dump, cleaning up the cemetery, bringing electricity to Julian, and creating Frank Lane Park. The first Wildflower Show was held in 1926 and, except for some years in World War II, has been held every May.
1930s: Having founded over 474 free public libraries and 4,655 traveling libraries, women’s clubs were credited by the American Library Association with establishing 75 percent of America’s public libraries.
1934: GFWC began a 10-year study to review the question of the Equal Rights Amendment (ERA). In 1944, GFWC adopted a resolution in support of the ERA, which the Federation continues to support today.
1941: The Julian Woman’s Club purchased its clubhouse. The building was purchased for $350.00, with $100 down and installment payments of $10.00 per month. A photo of the original building is in the Clubhouse. It had a pot-bellied stove in the center of the room, a dry sink at the side, a faucet (but no water), and a bucket underneath the sink to catch the water. The Clubhouse has been renovated several times and is now a charming building, used for meetings and events.
1944: Through the GFWC “Buy a Bomber” campaign during World War II, state federations sold war bonds worth $154,459,132 – enough money to purchase 431 planes.
1945: GFWC was one of the five women’s organizations chosen to participate in the conference to form the United Nations. GFWC representatives supported ratification of the United Nations Charter.
1953: The Julian Woman’s Club started the Julian Pioneer Museum.
1960: Brighten the Night was a nationwide Federation campaign for street lighting to prevent crime and accidents.
1961: GFWC’s Women’s Crusade for Seat Belts program resulted in the installation of more than one million seat belts over the course of one year.
1988: Toward the end of the 1980’s, the Julian Woman’s Club expanded our fundraising events to include a Quilt Show, over the July 4th weekend, and a Holiday Home Tour in December.
1990s: GFWC actively supported the passage of the Violence Against Women Act; the Americans with Disabilities Act; the Family and Medical Leave Act; and legislation supporting handgun control.
2000s: GFWC members contributed $180,000 for a fully-equipped ambulance for use by the New York Fire Department, in response to the loss of equipment suffered during the terrorist attacks on September 11, 2001.
2021: The Julian Woman’s Club discontinued the Holiday Home Tour due to 2021 Covid pandemic. In its place, a Holiday Boutique was established that same year. The Wildflower Show, Heritage Quilt Show and Holiday Boutique continue to be annual fundraising events.