20th Century Materials Initiative
Washington Women's History Consortium

Washington Women's History Consortium

Women's Clubs and Organizations

Mrs. Lloyd Mitchell, Junior Director, 1952-1954

Washington State Federation of Junior Women's Clubs


Mrs. Mitchell called her first Mid-Year Board meeting on January 24, 1953 in Wenatchee with 32 in attendance. There were 65 clubs with a membership of 1,550. Mrs. Theo Mays served as Junior Advisor.

The first GUIDEPOST was prepared with each club paying $1 per copy, and all new clubs receiving complimentary copies.

Washington Juniors ranked sixth in the U.S. for stamp donations.

Clubs were asked to work towards the abolition of the Electoral College method. They also went on record favoring the State Library Building Resolution. If passed, it would not increase taxes but would come from the income realized on sale of timber in Washington.

Votive candles were needed for soldiers in Korea.

A resolution was adopted at Mid-Year Board meeting in Bremerton to request State Legislature, State Safety Council and City Councils to make adequate provision to render locking mechanisms on unused ice boxes ineffective.

Convention 1954 was in Wenatchee with 217 attending. A container was passed among delegates for donations to the "Aid Korean Children" drive, and $80 was collected.

It was moved that the pencils from the "Loot Bags" be collected and given to "Pencils Please."

A resolution was adopted as a state project to censor and enforce a ban on objectionable comic books.

A bylaw revision passed to allot a maximum of S600 for expenses to send the President to GFWC Board meeting following her election, and to attend one or more GFWC conventions during her term. The funds were to come from the travel fund.

Blind welfare continued as a state project. A preschool clinic was sponsored, recreational equipment purchased and tape recordings made by clubs.

A nursing scholarship was awarded a senior girl, replacing the scholarship loan fund.

The "Advisor of the Year" award was introduced, and 100% Honor Roll for clubs participating in all phases of Federation was started.

Clubs gave individual scholarships, worked for youth, acted as various leaders of youth groups, worked for libraries, hospitals and kindergartens.

Mrs. Mitchell served as GFWC Youth Chairman in 1953-54, attending conventions in Washington, D.C. and Denver.

Sources

This biographical sketch, compiled by WSFWC's The History Resource Committee, appeared in The First 100 Years 1886-1996: A Condensed of Washington State Federation of Women's Clubs.

WSFWC's The History Resource Committee

Washington State Federation of Women's Clubs Resource Committee.

Corroborative Source Material

  • Biographical Histories by Serena Mathews and Leona Burke McCulloch
  • District and State Minutes
  • Club Member Books Club Yearbooks
  • The Washington Club Woman

Additional Reading

If you would like to do additional reading or research on the history of Women's Clubs consider the following:

  • Houde, Mary Jean, Reaching Out, A Story of the General Federation of Women's Clubs, 1989.
  • Wells, Mildred White, Unity in Diversity, The History of the General Federation of Women's Clubs, Published by the General Federation of Women's Clubs, 1965.
  • Wells, Mildred White, Unity in Diversity, The History of the General Federation of Women's Clubs. Volume IL Published by the General Federation of Women's Clubs, 1975.
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