The Penn's Grove record., 1923-11-09
State Federation
of WOmen'S Clubs
History of the Federation Read
By Mrs. VIM. Stevens at
Tuesdays Meeting

tuesdays Meeting
What is the New Jersey State Fed
Grafton of Women's Clubs and what
has it attained? To reply briefly, it
is a democracy having for its citizens
the club women of New Jersey. 1t
has achieved two groups of accom-
p~lishments, one tangible and evil
denced in the increased numbers and
influence; the other not so easily
classified but none the less as power
full and important. For through this
organization, women from the north,
south, east and west of the State
have come to each other; and to work
together for the common good. The
motto of the organization might well
be "each for all and all for each," so
thoroughly does the spirit of democ-
racy permeate all the history of each
section of the work and of each ad-
ministration.
Perfect good fellowship united with
practical work, is the history of the
organization in one short sentence.
Great beyond the scope of a short re-
view, has been the work of the New
Jersey women in their largest organi-
cation; but greater still, and of even
finer value has been the subtle infu-
ence which has come to thousands Of
homes from this association. The
Spirit of tolerance; the desire to
strive for the best and the attainment
of high ideals; these with the increase
of sympathy and of fellowship are
after all the vital forces of such an
organization.
Organization Meeting
By the invitation of the Woman's
Club of Orange, nearly one hundred
and fifty women representing clubs
of New Jersey assembled in the club
rooms of Union Hall, Orange, on Fri
day morning, November IS, 1894, to
discuss the advisability of forming a
State Federation. The object of the
Federation "tO bring the women's
clubs of the State into communication
for acquaintance and mutual helpful
ness" The delegation present repre-
sented SO clubs; these formed the
charter members of the Federation:
today the organizations number 200
clubs and approximately $4,000 mem
bers.
Mrs. Charles B. Yardlev, of Orange.
was elected the first president and the
prompt success of the organization
was largely due to her untiring efforts
and unf1agging interest. Mrs. Yard
ley was made Honorary President at
the close of her termn of office and
she has kept her interest in all its
affairs through all these years; at
tending nearly every meeting, always
bringing a cordial word of greeting
which makes it possible for the newer
coupled with a magnetic personality
members to realize why the Fedora
ton prospered and grew under its
first leader.
These First Years Were Formative
The Federation grew by leaps and
bounds and increased in popularity in
every section of the State. The first
annual meeting was held in Newark
by invitation of the clubs of that city,
and the gathering was a revelation to
many, proving as it did, by the several
interesting reports from clubs doing
a variety of educational and cultural
work, how excellent a thing is a fra
ternal interchange of thought. 1t was
at this meeting in Newark that the
first of a long list of good works for
public betterment was spoken of. A
paper telling of the advantages of
Travelling Libraries was read and a
discussion followed. From this can
be traced the starting in New Jersey
of its splendid system of such libraries.
Other subjects brought to the atten-
ton of the women that day We're
Health Culture. Household Economics
and Forestry, all of them destined to
come again and again for attention
before anything of value was accom-
plished.
Organization of Departments
After the first two years the need
for concerted action for a division of
the labor into committees and special
groups became apparent. and under
the second administration with Miss
Gaines as president. this work was
ACCOMPLISHED. The first departments
Town improvements. Ki~ndergarten.
Libraries. Reciprocity Bureau and
Education. All of these. excepting the
one whose work was completed, are
still on, the list and their number has
been increased from time to time until
last Year Book has the list include
Art. Civics. Conservation. Education.
Home Economies, Industrial and So
cial Conditions. Literature and Ii
braries. and Music. These depart
ments have had several sub-commit-
tees as the needs for special work
have occurred; amonp them one for
the George Jr. Republic. another for
Pure Food. for Sane Independence
Dav Celebrations. and ORGANIZATION;
also Child Labor. Civil Service. Drama
and a State College for Girls.
This method of subdividing the
work has been most beneficial: for it
has bronpht to the service women who
were willing to specialize in these
subjects; and thew have devoted their