Des Plaines Woman's Club
Compiled history tells us that the Des Plaines Woman's Club has been in existence since the year of 1894, but it was on October 3, 1912, that a meeting was called and a permanent organization was formed and application was made for membership in the Seventh District Federation. So our Club is in its forty-fifth year. We are not only a member of the Seventh District, but members of the Illinois Federation of Woman's Clubs and the General Federation of Woman's Clubs, on which the sun never sets, eleven million members in forty-eight countries.
The object of the Woman's Club back in 1898, according to Article 1 of the constitution, is to be "the intellectual improvement of its members," and today, 57 years later, we still read in Article 2 of our present constitution the object of our Club shall be intellectual and betterment of civic conditions, and thusly our interest has rapidly expanded until at the present time, the Woman's Club of Des Plaines occupies an important place in the city's welfare and growth.
In May, 1915, the Boy Scout movement was organized in the Central School through the solicitation of Mrs. Ransom Kennicott and Mrs. John H. Longley, and Superintendent Edwin D. MacLuckee was selected as first Scout Master. the first clean-up day was inaugurated, and during the same year, a proposition was presented to the village board, stating that the Woman's Club would beautify the band-stand. Today a little triangular park at the intersection of Jefferson Street, Park Place and Lee Street remains a tribute to the Club's endeavor.
In the years 1919 to 1921, when Mrs. Frank Borchers, a charter member of the Club, was President, the Des Plaines Nurse and Welfare was organized through the interest and efforts of the Club's Department of Child Welfare and Social Conditions. Mrs. Borchers has continued through the years her active interest in the Nurse and Welfare.
During the years 1921 to 1923, when Mrs. Katherine Jiencke was President, eight trees were planted in memory of home-town boys who died or were killed in World War I - one on the Library grounds and seven in Memorial Park, with a name-plate placed at the base of each tree.
When Mrs. Harry T. Bennett served as President from 1923 to 1925, an active civics committee reported that every club member but one voted in the November election in 1924. How I wish that I could be sure that each one of our members now takes advantage of our great American privilege to vote on each election. The first baby clinic sponsored by the Club was held in December, 1924.
In the years 1925 to 1927 when Mrs. W. H. Forsythe was President, through the interest and cooperation of Woman's Club members, the Parent-Teachers' Association was organized, and in 1925 the first Girl Scout Troop was organized, with many Club members taking an active part in this growing organization.
During the time Mrs. Albert Opper was President in 1927 to 1929, $100 was given to the Girl Scout Building Fund. The Club was represented on the first Community Chest Committee.
In the years 1929 to 1931 when Mrs. A. Fred Longren was President, the Garden and Conservation Departments were very active. The Club was hostess to the Fall Meeting of the Seventh District at the newly-completed Congregational Church.
When Mrs. C. W. M. Brown was President in 1931 to 1932, the Club observed the 200th anniversary of the birth of George Washington with a special program.
During Mrs. Jonas J. Twitchell's term as President, 1932 to 1933, the Junior League of the Des Plaines Woman's Club was founded. The first meeting was held at the home of Mrs. C. W. M. Brown on February 16, 1933, with 30 members present. This very fine organization is known now as the Junior Woman's Club of Des Plaines, and their very fine philanthropic work in our community is known to all of us.
It was during the years 1934 to 1935 when Mrs. Leonard J. Detwiler was President that Des Plaines celebrated its Centennial, and the Des Plaines Woman's Club won first prize for its float.
Mrs. Leland E. Terry was President from 1935 to 1936, at which time the Literature Department was established.
During the time Mrs. Fred W. Traeger was President in the years 1936 to 1938.
The the Music Department was established with study group meetings held regularly, Club's Silver Anniversary Celebration opened the 1937-38 club season and the Club was the first club granted the use of the fine new Municipal Building for its regular meeting place.
During the Presidency of Mrs. Lester H. Thome from 1938 to 1940, a class in international relations proceeded each regular meeting, and a civic and public welfare committee sponsored a class of instruction in jury service for women.
Mrs. Savena Gorsline served as President from 1940 to 1942 and two outstanding art exhibits were sponsored. For the 1941-43 season the Club moved its meeting to the Rand Park Field House at Rand Park, our present meeting place. These were war years and a Red Cross Unit for Des Plaines was organized by the Civic and Public Welfare Departments, with Mrs. R. L. Saylor as Chairman. Regular classes were conducted throughout the year in home nursing and first aid and a Red Cross workroom. Booths manned by club members sold war stamps.
Mrs. E. R. Wuerttemberger was President from 1942 to 1944. In these later war years the War Service Department was added. Besides the Red Cross work, members secured blood donors, packed Red Cross packages and worked on salvage drives. Honorary memberships were established this year and we now have thirteen (13) that have been thus honored that have been active members of the club for twenty-five (25) years or more and who have done some thing outstanding for the club and for the community.
During the years 1944 to 1945 when Mrs. W. C. Howard was President, a Department of International Relations was added and, together with Civics and Education, held monthly study classes.
Mrs. Fred W. Traeger again served the Club from 1945 to 1946 and a Des Plaines Nursery for the care of children 2 to 6 years old whose mothers were employed in defense plants was established.
In the years 1946 to 1948, Mrs. Byron C. Foote was President. The Club was very proud when Mrs. E. R. Wuerttemberger was elected President of the Seventh District in 1947. Outstanding philanthropic work was done in 1948. Over $2800 was collected from the sale of Christmas seals, and a donation of over $500 was made to the Park Ridge School for Girls.
During 1948 to 1950 when Mrs. W. Russell Jacobs was President, robes were purchased for the Club Chorus, and our Club membership passed 200.
Mrs. Ralph A. Milliman was President from 1950 to 1952. During this time two new member chairmanships were added to our board, Conservation and Motion Picture, and Mrs. F. V. Collins, House Chairman, maintained our first bulletin board. Our Public Service Department was also started and one of the main projects was the mak- ing of the much-needed cancer dressings for the A.C.S., and the first year 40 dozen dressings were made and this is still a very active department with between 100 dozen to 160 dozen dressings made each year. Our fortieth year was celebrated in 1952, and the outstanding achievements of the Club were prepared by Mrs. Tom Montgomery. It was from her history that it has been possible to prepare this outline.
During the years 1952 to 1954, Mrs. Rexford Hawley was President of the Club. This year the name plates of all members were introduced and these are worn at all club meetings by the members. With Mrs. Wm. Gard, 48 members were taken in in 1952, and our first membership tea was started for new members with the Board as hostesses assisting the Membership Chairman. In 1953 a Garden Department was started again, and with the Art and American Home, Music, Literature, we now have four very active departments that have meetings throughout the Club year numbering 26. The Drama Group was also launched this year and put on its first sketch at one of the club meetings. Entertainment was also provided for the men at the U.S. Air Force at Schiller Park.
During the years 1954 to 1956 Mrs. Harold G. McKinley was President. It was at this time we sent our first Representative to Safety Council. Our Public Service Department became more active with representation at all Public Health meetings. During her term of office Mrs. McKinley represented the Club at the Mississippi Valley Conferences and the General Federation of Woman's Club Conventions. The Club sends the President and First Vice President to the State Conventions.
Mrs. Albert L. Baker was elected President in 1956.
Through the efforts of the Executive Board and our 266 members the Club is still progressing and climbing ahead, made possible not only by us, but the forethought of all that were before us. We are happy to be a part of this wonderful community and to all our little contributions to all community projects, namely: American Red Cross, Cancer Control, Community Chest, Des Plaines Nurse and Welfare, Boy and Girl Scouts, Park Ridge School for Girls, Wheeling School for the Blind, Y.M.C.A., Mothers' March of Dimes, and many other philanthropies of the Seventh District and the I.F.W.C.
