Julia Ward Howe (oil on canvas), 1906. Courtesy of Schlesinger Library
September 19, 2013
The archives of the Schlesinger Library include several collections that highlight the women’s club movement and the lives of its founding members. Organized and directed by women, the mission and objectives of the clubs varied, but most provided ample opportunities for self-improvement and voluntary civic work. The earliest clubs were formed shortly after the Civil War, and by the late 19th century, clubs had rapidly spread across the nation.
