Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1931-04-05
WASHINGTON CLUB
HISTORY REVIEWED
10th Anniversary Party Plans
for Tomorrow Recall Prog
resS of Women'S Society.
BY FLORENCE SEVILLE BERGMAN

The Washington Club Is to have O
birthday party tomorrow in celebration
OF its fortieth anniversary. Although
women individually do not become en-
thusiastic over achieving four decades,
women collectively are and have every
reason to be proud of this compare
lively venerable age For In an era
such as our postwar period, during
which established institutions (many OF
them dating back five times 40 years
and more) have toppled on all sides, il
Is just cause for congratulatlon when
an organization not only survives but
increases in health, wealth and num-
bers and finds itself better of in every
way than it was at 81 or 80 years of
existence.
AS matter of fact, the Washington
club is one of the Oldest women's or
carnations in this city, the Daughters
of the American Revolution being its
senior by six months. The Washington
Club was incorporated April 6, 1891,
having had its inception in the decire
of a small group of women . little
earlier for a club of their own, which
might yield as much enjoyment as
mems clubs then in existence were pro-
viding for their members. And in an
age noted for its lip service t. good
deeds, it is rather remarkable that the
incorporators OF the Washington Club
had the courage to state the objects of
the budding organization as literary
purposes, mutual improvement and the
promotion OF social intercourse" This
group seems to have absorbed the
Cobweb Club. . little group of women
which had met weekly at the home OF
MRS. Margaret J. M. Sweat, one OF the
incorporates of the Washington Club.
The first president of the new organi-
sation was Mrs. Elizabeth Blair Lee,
who for IL years rendered those unre-
hitting services which are so vitality
important In putting a club on firm
basis. The membership of the club was
originally 100. residents OF Washington,
soon limited TO $50.
First Home Was Modest.
The club was at home in mooeSt
quarters at the Richmond Hotel for its
frst two years, with nothing but a
oiano, desk, stationery and q few
chairs. In 1893 the organization moved
to the Hotel Everett, and the next year
had purchased home Of its own at
ITO I street, which 1t occupied for 20
Long before this period had elapsed,
however, the club outgrew its quarters
deavoring to find a suitable home.
Their efforts were rewarded in the
ACQUISITION of the building at 170l X
street, which the club still occupies.
This house has a colorful history, de-
spite Its youth as buildings go, and the
distinction of former occupants has
melIowed its atmosphere, given 1t an
aura of intangible personality. 1t was
built about 1870 for Hallet Kilbourne,
whose wife and daughter. Mrs. Frank
Gordon. were early members OF the
club This house was one Of three In
what was in the early days called
"Shepard's Row." as Boss" Shepard,
krax, f. ~$ sAF "a w6-
ington in the post-Civil War period
Chis efigy in bronze stands on Penn
sylvania avenue in front of the District
Building) occupied the house at the
corner of K street and Connecticut
avenue.
Senator Stanford Had House.
In 1888 Leland Stanford, one of Call
fornia's Senators, resided at 1701 *
street, which was then an English base
ment type of house. with a grass ter
race and steps up to the second-hoor
entrance (now the Washington Clubs
tea ROOM. Senator Edward Murphy
Of Troy, N Y, succeeded Senator Stan
ford as resident for a brief period and
was in turn replaced in occupancy OF the
building by Representative Edward Nor
rell of Pennsylvania member of the Fifty
Sixth and Fifty-Seventh Congresses.
The latter made few changes, taking
1O6A bAAC 8EGOAAA~uOOA &AlA
immortalized his occupancy Ito date
by putting up the iron fence and the
stained-glass window In the front door,
both bearing his initials, Z. M At
least these are said to have been added
by Representative Morrell, although
they could very well have been the
work Of Senator Murphy. When the
fortunes Of politics removed Repre-
sentative Morrell, Vice President Fair
banks bought the house for his resi-
dence while serving in that capacity,
and shortly thereafter the Russian EN-
baSSy was installed under. Ambassador
Bakmetieff. until 1918. The following
year the Washington Club took posses
sion.
No small part Of the Washington
Clubs successful 20 years is due TO its
presidents. Succeeding Mrs. Lee In
January, 1905, Mrs. Stephen o. Richey
held the office until her death, in 1919,
when Mrs. Wallace Radcliffe became
president for four years. Mrs. Radcliffe
Is known to many Washingtonians, as
her husband, the late DR.. Radcliffe was
pastor Of New York Avenue Presby-
terrain Church for many years Mrs
Radcliffe was succeeded by Mrs. Fulton
Lewis, who as a daughter OF a member
had grown up in the club, and repre-
sented the second generation. Mrs.
Lewis daughter is also q member, and
cumstance OF three generations, all
members of the same club at the same
time. She was followed by Mrs. John
j. Myers, 1925: Mrs Wendell Phillips
Stafford. 1927 to 1929. and Mrs Rich
ard Grain Dean, 1890. Now again
Mrs. Lewis is president
Has 6,ooO-VOlume Library.
Soon after the Washington Club was
formed each member was asked TO
present one book as a nucleus for a
library. such concerted effort being
given great Impetus in 1905. when, after
the death Of one Of the members Mrs.
j. Mills Brown. her library Of 1900
volumes was received as q bequest.
Mrs. Frank @. Carpenter later gave her
valuable collection of books on lives
of prominent women, a splendid addi-
ton TO the biographical section. In
1918 the library had grown TO 1000
volumes. and now numbers over 5000.
One hundred and fifty books are In
constant circulation, and last year q
new feature Of club life was inaugu-
rated in the Book Chats.
From the very beginning the Wash