Evening star., 1935-02-03
CITY CLUB FORMED
BY WOMEN IN 1871
HAS WIDE EFFECTS
Recreation, Vote for District
and Charity Are Among
Varied Activities.

The Women's City Club, organized
In 1919, has been identified since its
inception as one of the most promi-
nent civic and social organizations in
the District.
Judge Mary O'Toole, one Of the pres
ent directors of the club, conceived
the idea of the formation of q Wom-
ans City Club in Washington, which
would promote broader sympathy ana
better understanding among women,
and advance the civic and social well
fare Of the District.
Notices of meeting to be nelo
October 9, 1919, were mailed to 90
women, and 80 of them attended. each
pledging to interest at least 10 friends
and bring them to the next meeting.
One hundred more women were pres
ent at the second meeting OF the
group. and nearly all reported friends
who were interested, but unable to
attend that particular session. TWO
hundred additional members were
gained at the third gathering OF the
group, and by November IL, 1919, ATS
women had been admitted to member
ship in the organization.
Original Officers.
Officers elected for the first term
included Judge O'Toole, president;
Mrs. Ellen Spencer Mussey, first vice
president; Mrs. George Eastment, sec
ond vice president; Miss Alice M.
Heaven, recording secretary; Miss G.
Lamar, corresponding secretary, and
Mrs. Laura A. Bradley, treasurer.
The Civics Committee, one OF the
foremost sections of the club, Is par
ticularly interested in the Recreation
Department Of the District. Under
the leadership of Mrs. H. L. Parkin-
son, the committee has promoted a
civic standards campaign to encour-
age safety, improvement in appear
ance, and local interest, in various
Fairgrounds.
The committees activities have
taken several forms-one of them be-
ing to have the wives Of the various
Presidents of the United States since
Taft plant trees on local Fairgrounds.
This year Mrs. Roosevelt planted a
tree on the Mcmillan Playground. Re-
Gently the Civics Committee took part
in a program with the American Au-
tomobile Association and the Police
Department when civic standards
certificates were awarded to those
Fairgrounds which measured up to
certain safety standards.
Included in the program Of the
Civics Committee at present are the
following: National representation for
the District, old-age security, ade-
quate Parole Board funds, social
service department for Gallinger
Hospital, study of the Weir report on
recreation in the District, study of
the proposed reorganization of the
District government and study of a
domestic service school for the Dis
trict. The group is also sponsoring a
study of electric light bulbs sold in the
District.
Organizations Benefited.
st. Mary's Industrial School,
Travellers Aid. Caney Greek School,
Red Gross, Japanese Relief Fund,
Girl Scouts and the Community
Chest are some Of the organizations
which have benefited by aid from the
Women's City Club. A room was fur
nished for children at the Central
Union Mission and upon the visit of
Nine. Curie to this country in May,
1921, the club raised 5000 toward the
purchase of radium to be presented
to her.
Present officers of the club are:
Mrs. John S. Bennett, president: Mrs.
Dorothy K. Butler, first vice presi-
dent; DR.. A. Frances Foye, second
vice president; Mrs. Merritt O..
Chance, corresponding secretary;
Mrs. Frank G. Stewart, recording
secretary, and Mrs. William Partridge,
treasurer.
Directors are Mrs. Frank A. Birg-
field, Mrs. William Lee Corbin, Mrs.
Mary liant Couch, Mrs. Clara May
Downey, Mrs. Grattan Kerans, Miss
M. Pearl Mccall, Miss Elva Nc
Namara. Mrs. Gladys B. Middlemiss,
Judge Mary O'Toole, Mrs. Harry Lee
Parkinson, Miss Nell v. Price, Dean
Grace Hays Riley, Mrs. Gus A.
Schuldt, Mrs. William w. Spaid and
Mrs. Caroline B. Stephen.