University Missourian. [volume] (Columbia, Mo.) 1908-1916, 1912-11-29
AGREAT CLUB OF WOMEN
What the Highly Organized Chicago Club
is Doing for the Betterment of Social
Conditions in That Ctv.

Few persons outside the realm of
clubdom have any idea of how much
work is undertaken today in great
cities by clubs of women, or to what
extent the civic life of a city is in
fiuenced by these organizations.
1t is about twenty-five years since
the organization of the National Fed
Grafton of Women's Clubs and since
that time many, which were then
small clubs devoted to self-culture
alone, have developed into large,
complex departmental clubs having
largely for their purpose the better
ment of society. The one fact that
stands out above all others in cOnsid-
ering one of these great departmental
clubs like that. for instance, of the
Chicago Woman's Club, whose varied
activities give it national interest,
is that it it re-eminently a working
club. Being the oldest, largest, and
club. as it is called-and drawing it's
membership of 200 women from all
parts of the city, it represents and
focuses every phase of civic under
taking.
A visitor to his club would step
from Michigan avenue into the Fine
Arts Building and after being whirled
10 the ninth floor would find himself
in the midst of large rooms, notable
at once for their harmony OF coloring
and for their simplicity. One would
be sure that carefully selected COM
mittees have deliberated long in
choosing the fine oil paintings and
water-colors which aGorn the walls
and in selecting appropriate furniture
and draperies. which give an air OF
quiet elegance 10 the entire suite Of
rooms, composed of three large ones
overlooking the lake with a library,
hoard-room and dining room in the
rear
If cur visit should happen to fall
upon q regular club day we would
realize at once that we were in the
ridest OF peopla who were doing
things. : dainty luncheon is being
served and of the four or five hum
dred people. mostly women. present,
IN n
pleasant social occasion. but here
and there are groups of well-known
social and educational workers who
have come in by appointment or who
have remained after addressing meet
ings to discuss their work-and to
plan the myriad activities which go
TO make up that great network of
social betterment which spreads it
self from the center TO the circumfer-
ence of the great city.
Among those who frequently COM
bine committee work with relaxation
here are Miss Jane Adams of Hull
House and Miss Mary Mcdowell of
the University of Chicago Settlement,
with other well-known settlement
workers of the city and of the uni
verities: Mrs. Catherine Waugh Nc
Culloch, vice-president of the Illinois
State Suffrage Association. whose
Headquarters are on the same floor
and Mrs. Ella Flagg Young, superin-
tendent of the city schools.
A few of the large interests of the
club illustrate it's practical methods
in adapting itself to the immediate
needs of city life.
During the last year the Civics
Committee of the general club, realiZ-
ing the need of first-hand knowledge.
brought from New York young wo-
man, who, speaking the various IAN
guages of the Ghetto. went among the
people and studied their conditions
and needs. Making a house-tO-house
canvass. she discovered the ignor-
ance of the tenants as to their duty
toward the city and the neglect on
the part of the city authorities to do
theirs. BY urging and threatening
the one and teaching the other bet
ter conditions have been brought
about.
After three months trial the under
taking was found TO be so beneficial
y, cor;r, rnr cbil1rop ,ud in iYpnroy-
ing the housing conditions that $500
was raised TO continue the work
Perhaps no one undertaking of the
club has been productive of more
satisfaction to the members nor con-
trihutnd TO the nleasure OF a greater