page_title: Spinsters of San Francisco
section_title: History
hierarchical_section_title: Spinsters of San Francisco / History
caption_attribution_description: English: 1919 California Street, The deYoung House
context_page_description: Spinsters of San Francisco is a historical, social and philanthropic women's organization aimed at cultivating volunteerism in young women and helping the San Francisco, California community through fundraising.
  Nonprofit by charter, the group consists of approximately 195 college educated, unmarried women who sponsor and raise funds for a designated local charity. The charity is selected by vote of the membership each year.
  Spinsters of San Francisco was founded in 1929 as a sister organization to the Bachelors of San Francisco.
context_section_description: Spinsters of San Francisco was founded on November 6, 1929 by Miss Patricia Tobin (Mrs. Sheldon Cooper), who hosted the first meeting to the founding membership of thirty five women in the ballroom of her family's home, the de Young House at 1919 California Street, San Francisco. Miss Patricia Tobin was the daughter of Mr. Joseph Tobin and Mrs. Joseph Tobin (née Constance deYoung) and the granddaughter of Robert Tobin, founder of Hibernia Bank and M. H. de Young, founder of the San Francisco Chronicle and benefactor of the M.H. de Young Memorial Museum.
  The first charity was Travelers Aid San Francisco (now Compass Family Services), selected in 1957. Since then, many other charitable groups have been the beneficiaries of Spinsters of San Francisco patronage such as Youth Advocates Safe Place Program, The Girls After School Academy, Edgewood Center for Children and Families, and the Bayview Hunter's Point YMCA "Just for Girls Program."
  The young socialite DeDe Halcyon Day in Armistead Maupin's Tales of the City series, is a Spinsters of San Francisco alumnae. The Spinsters of San Francisco organization is mentioned multiple times within the series including mention that DeDe and husband Beauchamp met at the Spinsters of San Francisco Holiday Ball.
  Today, Spinsters of San Francisco has a powerful and varied membership dedicated to work, community and networking. The membership is involved with many philanthropies and social organizations participating in other notable organizations such as Art Point, Bravo, Encore!, Symphonix, the YBC, the Junior Committee to the Women's Board of the CPMC (Glitter Ball) and the Junior League.
  Members of the organization (fondly referred to as Spinnies) are often found in the leading San Francisco lifestyle magazines such as the Nob Hill Gazette's Most Eligible List published annually.
caption: 1919 California Street, The deYoung House
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