Evening star., 1949-07-24
Wonnen's
Clubs
August Luncheon
Will Roise Funds
For Womun's S Clinic
By Frances Kuhn


The phantom luncheon" Of the
Woman's Clinic, Inc, to be given
in August will realize more funds
for the continuance of one Of the
most outstanding philanthropic
projects in Washington.
The "luncheon"-there won't
really be one-will also mark the
celebration of the 6oth anniver-
sary of the clinic. Established in
1890 by DR.. Ida Heiberger, 1t has
been operated exclusively by wom-
an physicians for the treatment
of women and children.
One of the original motives in
the foundation of the clinic was
an effort to prove the ability and
responsibility of woman phy-
sicians.
Since that time, it has al
ways had woman physicians in
Washington on its staff in addi-
ton to nurses and Mrs. Edgar T.
Brown.
Mrs. Brown has been a close
worker for the clinic for more
than 35 years and is now the
hostess at its office at 4704 Georgia
avenue. The widow of a former
newspaperman and the daughter
of a doctor. Mrs. Brown has de-
voted her life to trying to do
something for the other fellow"
In that she has certainly sue
ceeded. Hers is the only room
with bed but more than once
she has turned over her quarters
to a woman who needed it.
In addition to her work at the
clinic, Mrs. Brown is one of the
charter members Of the Travellers
Aid Society and until just a few
years ago was in charge of the
decoration of the society's Christ
mas tree at Union Station. She
Is a charter member of the Wom-
ans City Club and is active in the
work of the Soroptimist Club. She
also holds very unusual position
as an honorary member of the
Union Printers international
Baseball League. Her husband
was one of the organizers of the
league.
One dollar is the maximum fee
at the clinic. Other fees are 25
cents. so cents and IS cents.
Those fees pay for a complete
physical examination and any nee
essary prescriptions. Any treat
ment given is without charge.
Why does the clinic have such
low fees? Because it is designed
for those who can't afford the
"exhorbitant price of SO at the
average doctors office" Any pa
tient entering the clinic who is
found in need of disqualification
is sent to a local hospital.
Services of the doctors on duty
are volunteered. At the present
time the physicians there are DR..
Edna F. Patterson and DR.. Cecile
L. Fusseld. Many other promi-
nent local doctors have given
their services. Among them are
the late DR.. Isabel Lamb. DR.. A.
Frances Foye and DR.. Lauretta
Cress.
Members Of the clinic call DR..
Patterson it's guiding light" A
former superintendent, she re-
turned to the organization last
year. In addition to her work
there she gives frequent lectures
on health to those receiving help
from the organization.
The Woman's Clinic receives no
outside contributions and the
funds with which it operates are
derived from the efforts OF the
members. At it's annual party,
individual card parties, DR.. Pat
terson's lectures and musicales.
for which local artists donate
their services, those attending
contribute for the upkeep Of the
clinic.
Miss Mildred Clum, chairman
Of the Ways and Means Commit
tee is being assisted in the ar
rangements for the phantom
luncheon" by Mrs. Marie Payne
and Miss Ethel Eyres.
Officers of the clinic are Mrs.
Rosetta B. Shaw. president; Mrs.
Gladys B. Middlemiss. first vice
president; Miss Clum, second vice
president; Mrs. Ruth H. Snod-
grass, secretary; Mrs. Broan,
treasurer. Mrs. Middlemiss is the
director to the District Federation
of Women's Clubs and Mrs. Brown
Is the alternate director.