The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1900-06-24
MRS. JENNIE JUNE CROLY.
Something of the Work of the First
Newspaper and Club Woman.

New York Times.
In 1856, when there were no Sunday edi-
ions of daily papers, Ncah's Sunday Times
had a wide circulation. and enjoyed the
distinction of being a w~ide-awake, up-to-
date paper. Up to this time women had not
entered the field of Journalism, but in the
early summer of that year a certain young
woman had had an article published In a
New York city daily, which was favorably
received and which indicated her adapta-
bility for newspaper work By the autumn
of that same year she was a staff member
of Noah's Sunday Times, and was known
as Jennie June"
This was the beginning of the career of
Jennie June Croly, whose name since then
has become a household word, both in
America and in England, which is the land
Of her birth.
After forty-fve years of active newspa-
per and club work. in both of which fields
Mrs. Croly was the first woman, she is
about to take leave, for an indefinite peri
cd, of the land which has been her home
since childhood, and return to that of her
birth.
The woman's Press Club was founded by
Mrs. Croly in 1883, when there seemed to be
a demand for an organization which should
of whom, by this time, there was a goodly
number. Mrs. Croly was elected president
of the club, and she still fills that Office.
Her club work began in 1868, when she
called together a number of women and
laid before them the plans for organization.
They were enthusiastically received, and
from this small seed of thought developed
"Sorosis," the first of women's clubs. Since
that time Mrs. Croly has been actively en-
gagged in club work. She was the first pres
ident, and is now honorary president Of the
New York State Federation of Women's
Clubs. While declining the same office in
the General Federation, which was estab-
lished in 1890. she founded and was the
editor of the The Woman's Cycle. the first
number of which was published in Sep
TENDER 1889. and this journal became the
organ for the foundation work of the fed
Grafton.
When Mrs. Croly started this work she
was obliged to abandon that of a different
nature in which she had been engaged for
thirty-fve years. Daring the first year of
her newspaper work she had started a
duplicate correspondence, which later be-
came the syndicate system now In use. Be
ginning with five well-known journals. her
correspondence increased until her letters
appeared in leading papers in every State
In the Union. Among those which she re-
tanned throughout the entire period were
the Louisville Journal. Hartford Times.
San Francisco Call and Washington Star.
For fifteen years she was the regular New
York correspondent OF the Baltimore
American and the Richmond whig.
The first columns devoted to women were
started by Mrs. Croly In the New York
Dispatch and Noah's Sunday Times under
the headings Gossip with and for Ladies'
and "Parlor and Sidewalk GOSSIP, She
remained with the latter paper for five
years as assistant editor and dramatic
critic. She was connected also with the
staff of the New York Times UNDER Mr.
Raymond for nine years. She left that posi-
ton TO accept the editorship of the Weekly
illustrated News. This shortly afterward
became a monthly magazine, but She re-
tanned her place with it for t-wenty-seven
years.
In fact. there are few New York naners
or magazines with which Mrs. Croiy has
not at one time or another been connecfed
she was editor for some years OF I,esliess
Monthly and editorial contributor To fbe
Weekly: was regularly EMPLOYED ON the
world Tor twelve years and on the Granhic
Tor elgnt years; was regular contributor for
the Herald. the Tribune and the Round To.
bic, for which journal she wrote an article
that was copied in every important paner
and translated into every Euronean lar.
guage- Other magazines which she bas
edited are Godey's. Graham's and the
Home Maker. 'e
During the first years of her work Mrs
Croiy used other pen names besides that IF
Jennie June, some of which are Mar
saret Maybel." "~Satanella." Went Vtdi,,
and Evergreen" In addition to her vas,
amount OF newspaper work she has written
a number OF books. the last one being n,,h-
iisned IN 1893, and the amount of lahor
wnich 1t involved will be a lasting nroor ~
her interest IN the subject. This Is enfitIed
Inc History of the woman's Club Move
ment in America" ~