Charter Members 1897
Austin:
American History Club
Pathfinders Club*
Cleburn:
Magazine Club
Corsicana:
XIX Century Club
Dallas:
Current Events Club
Pierian Club
Shakespeare Club
Standard Club
Dennison:
XXI Club*
Denton:
Ariel Club
Fort Worth: Woman’s Wednesday Club
’93 Club*
Galveston:
Wednesday Study Club
Houston:
Women’s Club
Ladies Reading Club
McKinney:
Owl Club
Sherman:
Shakespeare Club
Terrell:
Social Science Club
Tyler:
Quid Nunc Club
Waco:
Literary Club
Woman’s Club
* no delegate - sent letter of application
GFWC TEXAS: A HISTORY
Made with Xara
GFWC Texas has a rich heritage, a tapestry of state and national
accomplishments woven through the centuries. GFWC Texas is also
known for its history of strong, independent women who blazed trails in
the arts, conservation, education, home life, international issues, and
public awareness. Through the activities of Texas clubwomen, small
towns and larger communities became better places to live, work and
play. Club women all over the state banded together to form one of the
largest state federations in the orbit of the General Federation of
Women’s Clubs www.GFWC.org
Towards the end of the nineteenth century women around the world
were stretching the boundaries of their lives by obtaining degrees of
higher education, working outside the home, becoming involved in
politics and embracing causes that would enhance the lives of others
and ultimately change the world. By the early twentieth century the
growing women’s club movement promoted social reforms, education
and cultural improvements. It was in these clubs that the women
discussed the events of the day, wrote and read papers on various
topics of interest, learned parliamentary procedures and became
comfortable speaking and appearing in public. The club women in
Texas were not to be left out of this dynamic women’s club movement.
Actually GFWC Texas began with a trip to the State Fair in Dallas. In
the Fall of 1894, while the husbands “took in the fair”, the delegates of
the “Woman’s Congress” formulated the idea of combining the various
literary, music, garden and other women’s clubs into one statewide
organization. This concept of federation, an interchange of thoughts
and efforts between clubs, took hold and May 13-14, 1897 delegates
from 18 clubs met in Waco and organized the Texas Federation of
Women’s Clubs and in 1899 voted unanimously to affiliate with the
General Federation of Women’s Clubs.
Our badge of office
In 1951 a State President's Pin was designed for and
presented to TFWC by Linz Brothers Jewelers of Dallas. The pin
is to be worn by the president during her two year term and is
presented to the incoming president as part of the installation
ceremony. Each member of the state Executive Committee is
also presented with a pin representing her office. Over the years
these pins became scratched, broken even lost. A new set of
pins was made for the 1998 Installation of Officers.
Part of the Installation Ceremony at both the district and
state level is the presentation of the President's pin. Over the years each district had
its own District President's Pin. In 2010 new pins were designed so that all the
district presidents had pins of the same design and are presented to the incoming
president at her installation in her district.
Texas is the
only state federation
that has a building
designed specifically
as a state federation
headquarters. This
Georgian Revival
building is located at
2312 San Gabriel in
Austin and was
completed in 1931.
"The Fed", as it is known around the city of Austin, is
located a few blocks from the University of Texas campus
and marks the cornerstone of the historic Judge Hill
neighborhood. In 1985 the TFWC Headquarters was
officially listed on the National Register of Historic Places,
designated a Texas Historic Landmark and an Austin
Historic Landmark.
The building has an office for the GFWC Texas
Office Manager and State President as well as an
apartment for the president and another for members of
the Executive Committee. Both offices have been
remodeled to facilitate a workable lay-out and furnished
with up-to-date equipment so that both women can get
their work done; the office manager on a daily basis and
the president when she is in town.
The President's Suite has been remodeled and
updated as well to accommodate a traveling president.
Painted on the living room wall and visible as one enters
the suite is the famous quote from Clara Driscoll, "In order
that the club women of Texas may go about their splendid
work with a lighter
heart, I give them
the Federation
Headquarters."
Many plans were
introduced to raise
money to pay off
the indebtedness
of the
headquarters.
However, by 1938
raising money
became very
difficult and it was possible that the club women might
loose their building. Mrs. Clara Driscoll agreed to loan the
Federation $92,000.00 at 3% interest. The next year Mrs.
Driscoll, a club woman herself and because of her faith in
the organized woman's club movement, converted the
loan into a gift. Mrs. Clara Driscoll saved the Alamo and
saved the Texas Federation of Women's Clubs!
In addition to
providing office space for
professional staff and
apartments for the State
President and members of the
Executive Committee, the
building also houses the
TFWC Women's Library, a
collection of books by or about Texas women with
research time available by appointment. The building has
rooms of beautiful antiques, object d'art and furnishings
donated by members.
Where we live and work
The structure of the state federation is parallel to that of
GFWC; elected officers for two year terms beginning in the even
numbered years; President, President-elect, First Vice President
Dean of Reporting, Second Vice President Dean of Membership,
Secretary. In addition GFWC Texas has a state Chairman of
Trustees and state Scholarship Chairman who are members of the
Executive Committee. In lieu of an elected Treasurer, there is a
Financial Officer appointed by the president and an appointed
Parliamentarian both approved by the Executive Committee.
In its early days, the state was divided into districts, each
district having one major city (which is why Dallas and Ft. Worth
are in two different districts) easily accessible by public
transportation such as train or bus and later automobile. In the
beginning of the 1960-62 administration, maybe map of districts
the state was divided into 14 districts and each district decided
their own name in many cases the name symbolizing their
geographic or historic area;
Alamo District with the major city San Antonio
Capitol District... Austin
Caprock... Lubbock
Heart of Texas... San Angelo
Key... Marshall
Magnolia... Beaumont
Mesquite... Abilene
Pioneer... Ft. Worth
San Jacinto... Houston
Santa Rosa... Wichita Falls
South Texas... Corpus Christi
Top of Texas... Amarillo
Trinity... Dallas
Western District... Midland-Odessa
By 2004 two districts, Heart of Texas and Santa Rosa,
dissolved and their clubs merged with other districts.
Districts work in parallel with the state: elected officers,
appointed board of directors with a board of directors meeting in
the fall and a convention in the spring. Some districts have an
annual summer workshop.
The traditional club year is September through May clubs
meeting once a month for a business meeting and program. Each
club has the autonomy to determine their own course of study
and decide on which projects to participate. The programs fall into
the traditional six program service areas outlined by GFWC: Arts,
Conservation, Education, Home Life, International Outreach and
Public Issues. In 1953 GFWC Texas created a seventh department
Texas Heritage and is the only state federation to include the
history of the state in their course of study. Every club is
encouraged to report their activities annually at their district
conventions. The state conventions are designed for celebrating
the years' activities and reward outstanding programs, projects
and club women. The convention in the even numbered year is the
Installation Convention when the new administration is installed.
The women's clubs of the late nineteenth and early
twentieth centuries were mostly study clubs the members
studying Shakespeare and the classics. As a need arose in their
community the members tackled social issues; street lights, a
hospital, clean water, sidewalks, railroad crossing barriers, and
public libraries. In fact 75% of the public libraries in the United
States were founded by federated women's clubs; 85% in the State
of Texas! Now in the twenty-first century, GFWC Texas club
women are expanding their efforts to include community service
and civic improvements in their programs and projects. In 2008
GFWC adopted Domestic Violence Awareness and Prevention as
their signature project and the Texas club women are active in this
vital program.
How we operate
TFWC Historic Foundation
In 1978 a forward step was taken when
the members of the Texas Federation gave the
responsibility for the maintenance and upkeep
of the headquarters to a special group of
clubwomen; the Trustees. On January 17, 1978
the TFWC Historical Foundation was
established as a trust between TFWC and the
TFWC Trustees. Each district elects a Trustee.
This group of twelve women elects their own
chairman who has a seat on the state Executive
Committee. The Trustees are responsible for the
maintenance and operation of the building.
They have a professional building manager on
staff that has his office at headquarters. The
building and gracious and elegant rooms are
available for weddings, receptions and
corporate meetings. www.themansion.com
85% of the public libraries in Texas were
established by federated women's clubs
Texas is the
only state federation
that has a building
designed specifically
as a state federation
headquarters. This
Georgian Revival
building is located at
2312 San Gabriel in
Austin and was
completed in 1931.
"The Fed", as it is known around the city of Austin, is
located a few blocks from the University of Texas campus
and marks the cornerstone of the historic Judge Hill
neighborhood. In 1985 the TFWC Headquarters was
officially listed on the National Register of Historic Places,
designated a Texas Historic Landmark and an Austin
Historic Landmark.
The building has an office for the GFWC Texas
Office Manager and State President as well as an
apartment for the president and another for members of
the Executive Committee. Both offices have been
remodeled to facilitate a workable lay-out and furnished
with up-to-date equipment so that both women can get
their work done; the office manager on a daily basis and
the president when she is in town.
The President's Suite has been remodeled and
updated as well to accommodate a traveling president.
Painted on the living room wall and visible as one enters
the suite is the famous quote from Clara Driscoll, "In order
that the club women of Texas may go about their splendid
work with a lighter
heart, I give them
the Federation
Headquarters."
Many plans were
introduced to raise
money to pay off
the indebtedness
of the
headquarters.
However, by 1938
raising money
became very
difficult and it was possible that the club women might
loose their building. Mrs. Clara Driscoll agreed to loan the
Federation $92,000.00 at 3% interest. The next year Mrs.
Driscoll, a club woman herself and because of her faith in
the organized woman's club movement, converted the
loan into a gift. Mrs. Clara Driscoll saved the Alamo and
saved the Texas Federation of Women's Clubs!
In addition to
providing office space for
professional staff and
apartments for the State
President and members of the
Executive Committee, the
building also houses the
TFWC Women's Library, a
collection of books by or about Texas women with
research time available by appointment. The building has
rooms of beautiful antiques, object d'art and furnishings
donated by members.
Where we live and work
