“I Pledge to Sustain its Good Work and Guard Its Reputation”

“I Pledge to Sustain its Good Work and Guard Its Reputation”

The Constitution printed in the Annual Announcements outlined the process of gaining membership into the Chicago Woman’s Club. In 1885, prospective club members needed explicit endorsement from two club members, a majority vote of acceptance, and an annual payment of dues. The process aimed to protect the good reputation of the club while also effectively limiting the group to white women of means. Portraits of the first five presidents of the CWC depict proper well-to-do Victorian clubwomen. When middle class African American Fannie Barrier Williams first attempted to gain membership in 1894, the local press followed the controversial story with great interest.

"Annual Announcement of the Chicago Woman's Club, 1885." Loyola University Chicago. Women & Leadership Archives. Chicago Women’s Club. Box 1, Folder 1.

Image of Club Presidents: "Book of the Chicago Woman's Club, 1900." Loyola University Chicago. Women & Leadership Archives. Chicago Women’s Club. Box 15, Folder 1.

Image of Fannie Barrier Williams: “Mrs. Fannie Barrier Williams, Member of the Chicago Woman’s Club, Newspaper Correspondent and Author.” http://digitalgallery.nypl.org/nypldigital/dgkeysearchdetail.cfm?strucID=210767&imageID=1252568.

Newspaper: Chicago Daily Tribune. November 14, 1894.