Washington Women's History Consortium
Women's Clubs and Organizations
Lena Allen, President, 1907-1909
Washington State Federation of Women's Clubs
Mrs. H.W. Allen, the sixth President of the Federation, is a native of New York. She was born in Prosher Falls, Lawrence County.
During her years as a resident of Spokane she was very active in club work, being a member of the Athenaeum Club and its
President 1906-07. She was unanimously elected President of the State Federation in Spokane.
The Federation's historical gavel, made from the wood of an apple tree planted by Marcus Whitman and presented to the
organization by the Sorosis Club of Spokane, was wielded for the first time by Mrs. Allen when she called the Bellingham
convention to order Oct. 6, 1908. The second convention during her term was in Seattle, June 22-25, 1909. This was the
year of the Alaska-Yukon-Pacific Exposition in Seattle.
It had been voted to change the annual meeting date from spring to fall, and the Bellingham meeting was in the fall. But it
was deemed advisable to have the meeting in Seattle in June while the Exposition was in progress.
This administration will always be marked because it mothered one of the most outstanding projects of the Federation --
The Education Loan Fund, of which Mrs. Allen was the proponent. It was in effect as follows: "That a fund shall be
established by the Washington State Federation of Women's Clubs to be known as a Girls Scholarship Fund, which funds
shall be used for the purpose of educating, or aiding to educate worthy girls, who have not means, along the lines of
their special talents or ability."
Mrs. Allen was a member of the State Commission at the Panama Exposition, having been appointed by Governor Mead. He also
appointed her a member of the State Conservation Committee.
The Pure Food Committee gave a report for the first time, stating that the Washington food law was very good and closely
followed that of the federal law, but enforcement was necessary and improvements could be made. An initiatory step taken by this committee, relative to the wrapping of bread in waxed paper, resulted in a law to that effect being passed by the state legislature. Many of the bakers put up a resistant fight contending that waxed paper was dirty, that its cost was prohibitive and that it was not good for the bread, but their arguments did not prevail.
Food Councils were organized in many towns and cities with representatives from the health department, large food stores
and church groups, clubs, PTA and other organizations as members.
The Civics Committee specialized in health problems. A wide spread interest in Tuberculosis all over the United States
caused physicians to start a vigorous campaign against the dread disease. Education for prevention seemed the best attack and this committee sent out circulars to club women in the state, asking them to promote instruction in the schools to help stamp out tuberculosis, and to agitate the cleaning of stagnant pools and water holes to prevent malaria.
It was at this time, that the name "Forestry Committee" was changed to that of "Conservation Committee," and was to embody
the work of conserving all natural resources of the state.
The Historical Committee was still trying to gather stories of historical value from the various localities over the state,
asking particularly that the many beautiful legends of the Indians of Puget Sound be preserved.
The Committee on the Help for the Blind was rewarded for its efforts and felt it was a great achievement when it was able
to report that the School for the Deaf and Blind had been divided.
The Music Committee gave detailed reports of the work of individual clubs and various clubs contributed greatly to the
programs at the conventions.
New committees formed were Committee on State Institutions, Press Committee, and Committee on the Interests of the Home.
Fifteen new clubs Joined the organization the first year and 21 the second, making a total of 126 clubs in the Federation
at the end of Mrs. Allen's term.
It was voted to pay the expenses of the Corresponding Secretary to board meetings and conventions.
Dues were raised from 10 cents to 15 cents per capita.
A resolution was passed in favor of the establishment of a Girls' Home and Manual Training School. (Such a school had been
started in Seattle and it was hoped it might become a state institution.)
Sources