If^p2\J THE HISTORY of the ILLINOIS FEDERATION of WOMEN'S CLUBS 1894-1928 "Not luithout thy wondrQiis story can be writ the nation s glory, Illinois, Illi- nois/' in the world of club women, be- cause the club movement had its birth in this great state. te ^•^|«r^pr jy K^^r^ ^ ^^Bfc^ifvi, f ^ ,^ wtx^^ iniii^^^HiH' v| ^ftiji^ ^^9 ^^^^^^^^^^J^^f__ ---=ri:;^:^^ mM^ Hi HI ^H ^J^^^^JSI^ "^"'Sf '^^M wBm 1 ^^^^^^^^HB^B^jP' >« ^^H i 1 THE PIONEER OF WOMEN'S CLUBHOUSES. The Home of the Friends in Council, Quincy, Illinois, Acquired in 1878 and, so far as known, the Oldest Women's Clubhouse in the United States. "A body of organized women in every community who can be depended on to promote ivhatever leads toward the bet- terment of life." Alice Ames Wintee. Foreword, When planning this work, we attempted to give every administra- tion the same amount of space but it was soon found impossible to carry out such a plan and do justice. In two instances, Presidents served over longer periods of time and hence had greater opportunities for service and more work to report. Details of some administrations must of necessity take more time in the telling than others; advan- tages and conclitions made achievements more possible under one President than under another ; some initiated plans and work and others carried them out; in certain sessions legislative measures could be forwarded; in others, little could be accomplished. Sometimes the reports are of things accomplished; sometimes of things proposed. We have made every effort to give each administration credit for its own work. Up to 1905-06, the Year Book reports were written by the incoming chairmen; after that date, by the retiring chairmen and this change may have led to some confusion. After 1914, no reports were .published in the Year Books which accounts for the absence of some data in the later administrations which might have been interesting. We wish to express our appreciation to Mrs. W. J. Burgess, Excutive Secretary, who supplied much missing material; to the Past State Presidents who supplied the material for the Sketches and such details of their administrations as they could recall; to the twenty-five District Presidents for the data concerning the organiza- tion of their districts and to all other club women who graciously responded to our appeals for information. Eecognition is also given to the History of the General Federation of Women's Clubs by Mrs. Mary I. Wood ; to the Historical Sketches of the Maine Federation by Georgia Pulsifer Porter ; to the Year Books of the Illinois Federation ; to the History of the Friends in Council of Quincy and to the Eeports of the Ladies' Education Society of Jack- sonville of 1839 and 1849, which latter belong to Mrs. Eugenia M. Bacon of Decatur. To Mrs. Bacon the Editor is especially indebted for the use of valuable material, for unlimited time which she has given and especi- ally for her generous and svmpathetic advice and counsel. M. G. P. THE HISTORY of the ILLINOIS FEDERATION of WOMEN'S CLUBS 1894-1928 Ffe 22^929 IIN/VERS/Ty OF lumoi Compiled by MAUDE G, PALMER Published By Authority of The Board of Directors of The IlUnois Federation of Women's Clubs 192 8 GENERAL FEDERATION OF WOMEN'S CLUBS PRESIDENTS 189U-1894— Mrs. Charlotte Emerson Bro^Ti.* 1894-1898— Mrs. Ellen M. Henrotin (Mrs. Charles).* 1898-1902— Mrs. Rebecca Douglas Lowe.* 1902-1904^Dimies T. S. Denison (Mrs. Charles Halbert), 15 West Eleventh Street, New York Citv, New York. 1904-1908— Mrs. Sarah S. Piatt Decker.* 1908-1912— Eva Perry Moore (Mrs. Philip North), 3414 Ha^\'thorne Boulevard, St. Louis, Missouri. 1912-1916— Mrs. Percy V. Pennybacker, 2606 Whitis Avenue, Austin, Texas. 1916-1920— Mrs. Josiah Evans Cowles, 1101 West Adams Street, Los Angeles, California. 1920-1924— Mrs. Thomas Gerald Winter, 2833 Lake of the Isle Boulevard, Minneapolis, Minn. 1924-1928 — Mrs. John Dickinson Sherman, Estes Park, Colorado. *Deceased. ILLINOIS FEDERATION OF WOMEN'S CLUBS PRESIDENTS 1894-1896 MRS. H. H. CANDEE 620 Twentv-sixth St., Cairo 1896-1898 MRS. ROBERT HALL WILES Del Prado Hotel, Chicago 1898-1900 MRS. ROBERT BRUCE FARSOK St. Charles 1900-1902 MRS. THADDEUS P. STA?s^VOOD 721 Foster St., Evanston 1902-1904 MRS. GEORGE ROBERT BACON 156 Oakdale, Decatur 1904-1906 *MRS. JAMES FRAKE Chicago 1906-1908 MRS. GEORGE WATKINS Woman's Club, Chicago 1908-1910 MRS. FRANCIS D. EVERETT 314 Linden Park Place, Highland Park 1910-1913 MRS. CLARENCE GILBERT GOODWIN 2629 E. 74th St., Chicago 1912-1914 MRS. FREDERICK A. DOW. . . .143 S. Washington St., Hinsdale 1914-1916 MRS. CHARLES H. ZIMMER!\rAN. .715 N. Central Ave., Chicago 1916-1919 MISS JESSIE L SPAFFORD 501 N. Prospect St., Rockford 1919-1921 MRS. WILLIAM H. HART 803 S. Main St., Bent^on 1921-1923 MRS. EDWARD S. BAILEY 2212 E. 70th St., Chicago 1923-1926 MRS. GEORGE THOMAS PALMER 1525 Lowell Ave., Springfield 1936-1928 MRS. WALTER WEBSTER SEYMOUR 7126 Euclid Ave., Chicago ♦Deceased, April 38, 3 909. K 'i 676977 ANNUAL MEETINGS Organized at Chicago 1894 First Annual Meeting at Peoria 1895 Second Annual Meeting at Springfield 1896 Third Annual Meeting at Jacksonville 1897 Fourth Annual Meeting at Chicago 1898 Fifth Annual Meeting at Quincy 1899 Sixth Annual Meeting at Eockford 1900 Seventh Annual Meeting at Decatur 1901 Eighth Annual Meeting at Champaign and IJrbana 1902 Ninth Annual Meeting at Cairo 1903 Tenth Annual Meeting at Danville 1904 Eleventh Annual Meeting at Joliet 1905 Twelfth Annual Meeting at Chicago 1906 Thirteenth Annual ]\Ieeting at Bloomington 1907 Fourteenth Annual Meeting at East St. Louis 1908 Fifteenth Annual Meeting ^at Oak Park 1909 Sixteenth Annual Meeting at Peoria 1910 Seventeenth Annual Meeting at Galesburg 1911 Eighteenth Annual Meeting at Aurora 1913 Nineteenth Annual Meeting at Evanston 1913 Twentieth Annual Meeting at Springfield 1914 Twenty-first Annual Meeting at Eockford 1915 Twenty-second Annual Meeting at Champaign and Urbana .... 1916 Twenty-third Annual Meeting at Chicago 1917 Twenty-fourth Annual Meeting at Peoria 1919 Twenty-fifth Annual Meeting at Chicago 1930 Twenty-sixth Annual Meeting at Chicago 1931 Twenty-seventh Annual Meeting at Springfield 1933 Twenty-eighth Annual Meeting at Chicago 1933 Twenty-ninth Annual Meeting at Moline 1934 Thirtieth Annual Meeting at Decatur 1935 Thirty-first Annual Meeting at Chicago 1926 Thirty-second Annual Meeting at Danville 1937 Thirty-third Annual Meeting at Chicago 1938 THE HISTORY of the ILLINOIS FEDERATION OF WOMEN^S CLUBS Thirty-four Years of Growth and Achievement 1894-1928 I THE AWAKENING Organization, as we now conceive it, is of rather recent develop- ment. In the earlier days, when the American population was largely rural; when the means of transportation was undeveloped; when in- dustry was in its infancy and manufacture consisted largely of the work of the lone artisan with the aid of one or two apprentices who were members of his household, the uniting of individuals for a com- mon end was unusual except for religious and political purposes or to perform the ritual of the ancient fraternal lodges. Unions for cultural purposes, as we now understand them, would have been re- garded as idealistic if not unmanly and out of keeping with the stem business of living. The appreciation of an obligation to the com- munity was not yet born, for the community life had not yet developed its latter day complexities. The words "civic" and "social" had little use in the language of the people. Yet in these days of isolated living, when the earlier settlers were engaged from the rising to the setting of the sun in the making of a place and a home in the forests or on the prairies, the man of the household was a gadder and one of wide social contacts compared with the women of the day. In his necessary visits to the grist-mill and the general store ; in his exchange of labor in harvesting, thresh- ing and barn raising; at the occasional court days and market days and at political gatherings, he had contact with his fellow men and an opportunity for the exchange of ideas and opinion. He was the author of that famous phrase, perpetuated by his mid-Victorian grandsons, that the "woman's place is in the home" and the demands upon her, in the ceaseless domestic struggle of the pioneer, were so great that she had no time or disposition to argue the question. Even if her circumstances were more fortunate and the demands upon her less exacting, the participation of women in "men's affairs" was unconventional in a day which was highly conventional and the customs of her time convinced her of the truth of the idea, which she had acquired from Webster's spelling book and had laboriously worked upon her sampler: "Homestaying birds are happiest." Aside from the purely social affairs of her day, the only things which justified a woman venturing beyond the confines of her home in her activities were those which appealed to her emotions rather than to her intellect or her public spirit. She could with propriety 8 render service in caring for the sick, in religious service and the ex- tensions of missions and she could engage in teaching the young and her activities were thus confined. She might be a leading spirit in the establishment of hospitals or infirmaries, of orphanages or schools, but even in these she rarely acted independently of the su- perior experience of her liege lord. There seemed to be a prevailing notion that in her contact with the sordid affairs of every-day, com- munity life she would lose something of that intangible charm that was known as "feminine." Her freedom was restricted and her intellectual initiative all but suffocated in an affectionate endeavor to protect and shield her from the realities of life. Whatever outlet women had in expressing themselves had to be along these rather limited lines; but even so, this self-expression was greatly broadened by the occurrence of the Civil War. This great, national calamity, which came closer to our homes than any other war has or probably ever will, justified women in giving themselves to public service, in preparing bandages, dressings and food for the sick and wounded and in rendering other forms of wartime service. This common aim and common purpose not only caused the minds of women to pursue the same trend, but it brought them continuously in actual contact and developed an intimacy of relationship and un- derstanding which is one of those benefits which frequently remain to partly compensate for widespread misfortune. It is generally recognized that the Civil War caused American women to know American women as they had not before. It caused a leveling of the class distinctions which we had inherited from our European an- cestors and which were perpetuated by our early American forebears. It gave us a glimmering of the fact that "the Colonel's lady and Mrs. O'Grady are sisters under the skin.'' At any rate, the Civil War is recognized as having given the impetus to united service on the part of women, and women's organizations became quite the common thing during the period of reconstruction and from then on. If the War of the Rebellion exercised this stimulating influence on the women of the entire nation, it is natural to assume that it made an unusually deep impression upon the women of Illinois for in many ways Illinois held a conspicuous place in the great national conflict. It was the State of Lincoln, the war president, of Grant, the great commander and victorious chief and of many statesmen and soldiers whose activities led up to the war and whose leadership aided in its carrying out and successful termination. Lincoln is said to have recognized that he could count upon his adopted State for over- filled quotas of troops however recruiting might lag in many other states. The percentage of soldiers to the population of Illinois was extremely high, a fact tragically significant to the women of the commonwealth. Further, Illinois had been the political battle.ground of Lincoln and Douglas in the days which led up to the Rebellion and the fair-minded historian recognizes that, but for the loyalty and influence of Douglas prior to his untimely death, the battle front would probably have been in the \^cinity of Springfield, Bloomington. Jacksonville, Quincy, Decatur and Danville rather ths^n south of 9 Cairo. The war meant much to Illinois and the war influence in Illi- nois — good or bad — was consequently tremendous. The organization of women, for religious, missionary, temper- ance, philanthropic and, gradually, for aesthetic and cultural pur- poses, was so general after the period of reconstruction that a search for the pioneer at that time is difficult and confusing. Clubs and societies developed simultaneously in various parts of the State and the instances of conspicuous achievment are largely those of compara- tive degree which will be treated in the general history of the State Federation which will follow. There is a chapter in the woman^s history of Illinois, however, Avhich is singularly interesting on ac- count of the isolated evidences of a desire for self-expression result- ing in purely pioneer clubs and organizations. Here there is no great national event to serve as the underlying motive power. Here we must assume only that desire for development, the desire for "self expression" (to use again a sadly hackneyed phrase) which women, as well as men, have always felt and which doubtless developed the more strongly on account of suppression and repression until it broke the bounds of conventionality and laid the foundation for the days to come. Thus, sporadically, the women's clubs of Illinois came into existence. So far as we know, Illinois may fairly claim one of the first organizations of women in the Nation, in the Ladies Education Society of Jacksonville, certainly one of the oldest, if not the very oldest, of those clubs now in existence. In this day of our intellectual and physical freedom, when the restrictions of stag's and mid-Victorian prejudices have been cast off and when women are privileged to go as far as they choose in the affairs of everyday life and may come back without having lost their ■entire feminine bloom — in this day, it does not appear especially daring or spectacular to organize or join "a ladies association for educating females." In 1833, however, this doubtless required much of the stuff that pioneers are made of — for "educating females" was not recognized universally in that day as an entirely desirable or orthodox diversion or occupation. No doubt, the entire project smacked of "higher education" wdiich even in a later day has caused strong men to raise their eyebrows doubtingly. To get the setting and significance of this first woman's club, one must bear in mind that, in 1833, we were witnessing "an epic in homespun" — Andrew Jackson was president and crude and virile democracy Avas causing great indignation among the aristocratic and the conservatives. Many established customs and traditions were being knocked over and out of the "OTeckage was coming a truer sense of equality and a sounder democracy. It was no time, in rather con- servative Jacksonville, for women to show any evidence of being ad- vanced. John Eeynolds, fourth governor of Illinois, had succeeded Ninian Edwards. Cook County had been created only two years be- fore and 39 of our existing Illinois counties had not yet been dreamed of. It must be borne in mind that when the Ladies Education So- ciety of Jacksonville began to function the following counties in Illinois had not been carved out of the big areas which constituted 10 the few original counties of the State: Stephenson, Winnebago, Boone, McHenry, Lake, Carroll, Ogle, DeKalb, Kane, DuPage, Lee, Whiteside, Bureau, Kendall, Grundy, Will, Kankakee, Livingston, Marshall, Starke, Henderson, Woodford, Ford, DeWitt, Logan, Men- ard, Cass, Brown, Scott, Christian, Moultrie, Douglas, Jersey, Rich- land, Williamson, Saline, Hardin and Massac. The Ladies Education Society apparently had a definite pur- pose — that of bringing young women from the east and training them to be teachers — and it appears that the new organization was closely akin to the Jacksonville Female Academy. That institution was opened in 1833 with Miss Sarah C. Crocker as principal and Miss Crocker was the first vice-president of the pioneer society during the same year. It will be recalled that Illinois College for men had been organized at Jacksonville in 1829 with the aid of a group of young men from Yale University and it was probably the purpose of the Ladies Education Society to provide for the women in Illinois the same advantages Illinois College offered to men. If so, the society deserved to live as it has. It doubtless had a significant influence on the educational development of Jacksonville in the early days. The other original officers were Mrs. C. Tillson, president; Mrs. C. W. Baldwin, secretary and Mrs. H. Batchelder, treasurer. During 1926- 27, the officers of the society, now 94 years old, were Mrs. Ensley Moore, president; Dr. Josephine Milligan, vice-president; Mrs. W. F. Wilson, secretary and Mrs. C. H. Eammelkamp, treasurer. It would be tremendously interesting to follow the ^history of Illinois and the progress of the women of Illinois through the century this organization has functioned. Such a review is, of course, impossible in the limited space of this booklet. In view of the part which women have come to take in the poli- tical life of the nation, with one woman having been elected in the Illinois Eepublican Primary for Congressman-at-Large, three women in the Congress of the United States, women judges of the higher courts, with one woman senator in Illinois and several in the lower house of the Legislature and woman's participation in government steadily growing, one smiles as one reads the minutes of the Sixth Annual Report of the Ladies Association for Educating Females (1839) and comes to the remarks of President Edward Beecher, of Illinois College : "It has always been the policy of the devil to put down and keep down the female mind, and he was wise. The wisdom from above always counteracts this effect and plans to elevate women. * * * Formerly young men taught school for $6.00 per month — not so now. The great west is open — the young men are employed in other ways. Then send females for they are best suited to the work and Providence seems to be directing the public mind to them. "Another providential indication is that the accustomed em- ployments of females have been stolen away from them by the intro- duction of machinery.* And when there is danger of the inaction of body and mind the better employment of teaching comes in. ♦ Just how machinery had at that time stolen away the employment of females is not clear. The sewing machine was not invented until 1848. 11 "It is observed that a spirit of impatience is manifesting itself in certain quarters amongst the female ranks. The offices of males are aspired after and it may be doubted if there be not danger of a civil war or something worse. For why not send our wives to Con- gress and stay at home ourselves if they are better qualified. But here is employment for them and that will meet the difficulty." Edward Beecher was the son of Lyman Beecher and the brother of Henry Ward Beecher and Harriet Beecher Stowe who had much to do with bringing on a civil war; but not because women aspired after the offices of males. If Edward Beecher should visit us now, would he feel that we are undergoing "something worse?" Proud in the possession of perhaps the oldest existing woman's club in the United States if not in the world, we turn to another pioneer organization in Quincy. This is the "Friends in Council" which was organized in 1866 and which has the. distincton of having acquired its own clubhouse as early as 1878 — just 50 years ago. With the increasing recognition of the importance of a permanent home for women's clubs and as centers of their activities, the story of this Quincy organization becomes very significant. The society developed in 186G from a group of women who gathered together to read "The History of the Else and Influence of Eationalism in Europe" and followed up with the reading of "Progress of Eeligious Ideas," the works of Plato and Epictetus for the purpose of "enlarging and increasing our resources for culture, improving in the power of concentration and in conversation." Grad- ually the aim of self-culture gave way to more modern things and we find the Friends in Council voicing the sentiment: "Do not let false public opinion, prejudice or indifference keep us from using the ineans this day of enlightenment gives; or from the knowledge of what the men and women of our time are doing and may we be actors with them in elevating our community, etc." — this quotation being credited to 1869. During the programs of subsequent years, esthetic and cultural subjects vie for attention with "Education of Women," "Physiological Questions," "Woman's Suffrage" (1869), "Capital Punishment," "Study of American Political Parties." Fortunately the history of the "Friends in Council" was published in 1916. Aside from the fact that this club was one of the first to our knowledge to have a clubhouse of its own, the interesting history outlines the ad- vancement of feminine thought and the broadening of women's in- terests in a most enlightening and elucidating way. It is deplorable that so many chapters of the early history of Illinois women's clubs are forever lost. If there could be, from each of the older clubs a history as complete as that of the "Friends in Council," the collection would be of inestimable value not only for l,he student of women in the world's work ; but to the student of his- tory and the student of social development and community affairs. Perhaps such histories exist, tucked away in garrets and basements, forgotten by those now entrusted with club affairs. At any rate, they have not been forthcoming in spite of an earnest effort to secure them. The onlv ray of consolation the club women of Illinois can gain from 12 this irreparable loss is the fact that, it' such a colleetiou were ob- tainable, this chapter would doubtless be extended to unwarranted length — well into the heart of the present volume. Such records tell step by step wliat women have been thinking for decades past — the mind of Illinois women in the making. By common consent, Illinois is credited with the oldest woman's club in the United States — the Ladies Education Society of Jack- sonville — antedating by 35 years the Sorosis of New York, through which the General Federation of Women's Clubs came into being. So far as is known, the following clubs take precedence in the nation, after the Jacksonville club: Maternal Association, Oregon, 1838; Alphadelphian, New York, 1846; Ladies Physiological Society, Mas- sachusetts, 1848; Ladies Library Association, Michigan, 1852; Ladies Library Association, Massachusetts, 1855 and the Mutual Improve- ment Society, Maryland, 1857. Thus the midwestem prairie state antedates the original colonies in women's clubs, followed five years later by a sister on the Pacific Coast. Of the other Illinois women's clubs which have served their com- mimities for fifty years or more, are the Women's Library Club, of Glencoe, 1874; the Cairo Woman's Club, 1875; the Chicago Woman's Club, 1876; Pana Woman's Club, 1877; the Millard Avenue Woman's Club, of Chicago, 1878; Peoria Woman's Club, 1878. 13 THE ORGANIZATION OF THE GENERAL FEDERATION No State Federation history covild 1^0 complete without some reference to the organization of the General Federation which had its birth in the Sorosis Club of New York. This interesting story is told by Mrs. Mary I. Wood m her History of the General Federa- tion, from which we are quoting. Sorosis was among the pioneer women's clubs and was organized in 18G8 by Mrs. Jennie June Croly, a newspaper woman. The story is told that the Press Association was giving a complimentary dinner to Charles Dickens while a visitor in New York and that the women press representatives were not in- vited. This so incensed them that they formed an organization of their own and called it "Sorosis." It was not confined, however, to this one grou2>, and as the years went on, it grew in power and in- fluence, drawing to itself many women of widely different interests, views and experience. In January, 1889, in anticipation of the twenty-first birthday of the organization the following March, it was decided to mark this ver}^ unusual occasion by holding a convention of all the women's clubs then known to be in existence and accordingly the following call was sent out: "In March of the present year (1889) Sorosis, the pioneer woman's club, attains its majority. It is proposed to celebrate its twenty-first anniversary by a convention of clubs to meet on the 18th, 19th and 20th days of March next, and in pursuance of this object a delegate from your club is cordially invited to be its repre- sentative, and assist, by a report of your methods and tlieir results, in furthering the larger aims of the convention. The topics to be discussed will be: "1. The enunciation of the woman's club idea and its point of departure from the society. 2. The data upon which to gauge the extent to which, in twenty-one years, club life has grown among women. 3. In what it consists, and how it differs from the club life of men. 4. The methods and their operation. 5. Results obtained and outlook for the future. 6. The influence exerted upon the com- munities in which they exist. The associated life of women is now an established fact. Twenty-one years of growth have demonstrated it. This life has produced its first flower in a bond of good fellow- ship to which every good club woman responds." This call was sent to ninety-seven clubs, and on the 20th of March, in Madison Square Theater, New York City, there assembled delegates from sixty-one of these clubs while letters were received from six others. It was upon this occasion that Mrs. Ella Dietz Clymer, Chairman of the first Advisory Board, and afterwards President of Sorosis, made use of the phrase that afterward became the motto of the General Federation: We hole for unity, hut "unity in diversity." 14 Much enthusiasm was manifested at this meeting in the idea of federation and a committee was appointed to draft a constitution and present a plan of organization, which should he ratified the fol- lowing year. The committee named was a very remarkable group of women whose influence in many lines of thought and work had been felt throughout the country. x\mong them were Julia Ward Howe, Jennie June Croly, May Wright Sewall, Charlotte Emerson Brown, Dr. Julia Holmes Smith, of Illinois, and Mrs. Clymer. The Advisory Board began work immediately. Correspondence was opened with clubs and club women ; applications for membership were received; and a plan for organization with constitution and recommendations was adopted and made ready for the Eatification Convention held April 23, 24 and 25, 1890. at the Scottish Eite Hall, Madison Avenue, New York. The invitation to this convention was sent only to such clubs as had already applied for membership in the new General Federation of Women's Clubs. Each club was asked to send two representatives and all club presidents became, by virtue of their office, unless the club decided to elect another person, vice-President of the General Federation. A delegate was also invited to come and report on the club work. It was expected that both representatives would be empowered to act for their club. A short, written report of club work was asked for, to be mailed, if no representative attended. In reply to this invitation seventeen states responded, sending sixty-three delegates, of which Illinois sent four. Dr. Julia Holmes Smith, Chicago Woman's Club, Mrs. E. Emmerson and Mrs. Ellen Mitchell of the Fortnightly of Chicago, and Miss Mary L. Ehodes of The Sorosis of Jacksonville. In May, 1891, the first Council Meeting was called at East Orange, IST. J. The purpose of the Council Meeting, was to hear from representatives of the different federated clubs any suggestions or recommendations they might have to make, to consider proposed changes in the constitution and to provide for the appointment of committees to act with the Advisory Board in making out a program for the Biennial Meeting to be held in Chicago in 1892. The composition of this Council was most democratic, since each president of a federated club, either in person or by written message, became a member of it, and thus each club was permitted a share in the deliberations of the Council Meeting and, through recommenda- tions submitted to the Biennial Convention, of the entire body of the General Federation itself. The first Biennial Convention was held in Chicago in the old Central Music Hall, May 11, 12, 13, 1892, with the Palmer House serving as Headquarters, although the Chicago club women enter- tained many of the delegates in their owti homes. The delegate body numbered 297, the membership including 185 clubs located in 29 different states. Among the Illinois women who played a prominent part in this meeting were : J\Irs. Ella Flagg Young, later Superin- tendent of the Chicago Public Schools, Mrs. Julia Plato Harvey, who was elected Vice-President, Mrs. Lindon W. Bates who was a member of the Board of Directors, Mrs. Clara P. Bourland, State Chairman J5 of CoiTespondeiice, and Mrs. Ellen Henrotin, who, at the next Bien- nial, held in Philadelphia, was elected President. ^ Mrs. Henrotin, Vice-President of the Woman's Auxiliary of the World's Fair, spoke on Woman's Congresses at this first Biennial. She also made the opening address at the World's Fair Council meeting the next year. As acting President of the Congress of Women held during the Fair, of which there had been two hundred and ten groups meeting and twelve hundred sessions, she had addressed each of them upon matters touching world wide subjects. She was, indeed, a great organizer. The following Vice-Presidents and Delegates from Illinois clubs answered the roll call at the first Biennial : Chicago Woman's Club V-P. Dr. Sarah Hackett Stevenson.. Chicago. Del. Mrs. Celia Parker WooUey, Chi- cago. St. Mary's Club, Chicago V-P. Miss Laura Hayes, Chicago. Del. Miss Alice West, Chicago. The Monday Conversazoine, Jackson- ville V-P. Mrs. Frank Hine, Jacksonville. Del. Mrs. Emerson Glover, Jackson- ville. Illinois Woman's Press Association, Chicago V-P. Mrs. Mary Irene Dye, Chicago. Del. Miss Emily Kellogg, Chicago. Society for Promotion of Physical Culture V-P. Mrs. H. M. Wilmarth, Chicago. Del. Mrs. Egerton Adams, Chicago. Heliades Club, Chicago V-P. Mrs. Mary E. Haven, Chicago. Del. Mrs. Agnes Vallie Sherwood, Chicago. The Every Wednesday Club, Chi- cago V-P. Mrs. Frederick Dickinson, Chi- cago. Del. Mrs. Paul Selby, Chicago. Round Table, Quincy V-P. Mrs. F. M. Butterworth, Quincy. Del. Mrs. Emma Wilcox, Quincy. The Woman's Club of Rogers Park.. V-P. Miss Flora M. Foote, Chicago. Del. Mrs. Cox, Chicago. The Woman's Club of Decatur V-P. Mrs. M. M. T. Randall, Decatur. Del. Mrs. Ella C. Fiebrook, Decatur. The Every Wednesday Club of Spring- field Monday Club of Rockford Friday Club of Chicago Sorosis of Jacksonville V-P. Mrs. Belle Paxton Drury, Jack- sonville. Del. Mrs. Mary Turner Carriell, Jack- sonville. Friends in Council, Chicago V-P. Mrs. Mary W. Coleman, Chicago. Del. Mrs. Elizabeth Kingman, Chi- cago. Woman's Literary Club, Ravenswood. V-P. Mrs. Bassett, Chicago. Del. Martha Simonds, Chicago. The Woman's Club, Aurora V-P. Mrs. Van Arsdale, Aurora. Del. Mrs. T. N. Holden, Aurora. The Calleri Club, Streator V-P. Mrs. J. C. Barlow. Streator. Del. Mrs. Walter Reeves, Streator. 16 Friends in Council, Quincy V-P. Mrs. Anna B. McMahan, Quincy. Del. Mrs. M. H. Buel, Quincy. The Alternate Club, Chicago V-P. Mrs. Julian Hequenbourg, Chi- cago. Del. Mrs. C. H. Merrick, Chicago. The '84 Club, Rockford V-P. Mrs. J. P. Warren, Rockford. Del. Mrs. Mary U. Lee, Rockford. The Klio Club, Chicago V-P. Mrs. Herkett Hutchins, Chicago. Del. Mrs. Eva Baker, Chicago. The Century Club, Rockford V-P. Mrs. H. W. Taylor, Rockford. Del. Mrs. Henry Freeman, Rockford. The Woman's Club of Elgin V-P. Mrs. Lois A. Wilcox, Elgin. Del. Miss Fannie LeBaron, Elgin. The Wednesday Club, Jacksonville. .V-P. Miss Marriam Morrison, Jack- sonville. Del. Mrs. Fitz Simmons, Jacksonville. The Woman's Club of Evanston V-P. Mrs. E. B. Harbert, Evanston. Del Mrs. C. M. Singleton, Evanston. The Kenwood Fortnightly. Chicago. .V-P. Mrs. James N. Steel, Chicago. Del. Mrs. Oliver C. Ely, Chicago. The Atlantis, Quincy V-P. Mrs. Anna L. Parker, Quincy. Del. Mrs. J. S. Castle, Quincy. The Vassar Home Study Club V-P. Mrs. C. W. Bassett, Quincy. The Woman's Club of Princeton V-P. Mrs. Margaret D. Trimble, Princeton. Del Mrs. C. J. Richardson, Prince- ton. Espana, Chicago V-P. Mrs. Lucy G. Cowles. Chicago. Del. Mrs. F. B. Marshall, Chicago. The Peoria Woman's Club The Woman's Literary Club of Irv- ing Park The Woman's Library Club, Glencoe.V-P. Mrs. John Nutt. Since the Columbian Exposition, or World's Fair, was in the making, the club women, in the months following the Chicago Bien- nial, planned to hold a Council Day at the Congress of Women to be held at the Exposition, in the spring of 1893. May 18th was the day chosen and hundreds of clubs in thirty-one states, with a membership of fully twenty thousand women, were represented by delegates and other members. The combined attractions of the Fair and the Council Day brought together a more notable gathering of American women than ever previously assembled. Briefly, this is the story of the beginning of the General Federa- tion, an organization which, so far as we know, has no counterpart anywhere in the world, either in power, influence or membership. The women, whose high ideals and far reaching and constructive plans were consummated in the General Federation possessed real vision but it is to be doubted if the broadest vision could have forseen the results of to-day. True, twenty-two years of club work, effective, not only along cultural lines but along those of civic and national interest, had passed and in the passing had laid a foundation built on facts and realities, so there was a real basis for the hopes and expectations of the founders. In 1868, when Sorosis was organized, the men of New York predicted an early demise but those who have lived to see the growth of the federation movement must appreciate that the General Federation was a very sturdy infant, even at birth. 17 THE FIRST BIE:NtNIUM. Governofof Illinois, President of the U. S., 1893—1897. 1893—1897. John P. Altgeld. Grovek Cleveland. Mrs. Isabella Laning Candee. 1894—1896. Brownsville, Fayette County, Pennsylvania, was the birth place of the first President of the Illinois Federation, Mrs. Isabella Laning Candee, whose home, for many years has been in Cairo. Mrs. Candee moved to her adopted state in 1855, settling in LaSalle. .She was married in 18(38 and has one son and one daughter, five grandchildren and five gTeat grandchildren. She attended Monticello Seminary in 1863 and 1863 and Rock- ford Seminary, now Rockford College, in 1864 and 1865, later teach- ing for two years in the LaSalle Public Schools. Mrs. Candee is the only living member of the founders of the Cairo Woman's Club, established over fifty years ago, and is Honorary President of the Cairo Public Library, founded by the Woman's Club in 1877. She was President of the Club for six years and President of the State Federation. She was an alternate member from Illinois on the Board of Lady Managers of the Chicago World's Fair and a member of the Illinois Women's Exposition Board. As Chairman of the Decorative Art Department she handled the large collection of ceramics, ecclesiastical embroideries, wood carvings and women's work in weaving and kindred lines, which was in the Illinois State Building. She also ex- hibited her own ceramics and wood carving. Mrs. Candee is also Honorary President of the Diocesan Branch of the Woman's Auxiliary to the Board of Missions of the Episcopal Church, having served over a period of fifty years consecutively as Diocesan Secretary, Treasurer or President until age and ill health compelled retirement from active service. The Illinois Federation of Women's Clubs was organized at a meeting called by Mrs. Clara P. Bourland, first State Chairman of Correspondence from Illinois for the General Federation, and one of the first group of club women to serve in this capacitv. The organ- ization meeting was held in the rooms of the Chicago Woman's Club, then situated on the fifth floor of the building on the northeast corner of Wabash Avenue and Washington Street, on October the eleventh, 1894. In the preceding April, the subject of state federation had been discussed at a meeting of the clubs of Cook County, also held in the rooms of the Chicago Woman's Club, and called together by iMrs. Kate G. Huddleston, Corresponding Secretary of that organization. The representatives present at this meeting voted in favor of fonning a state federation. 18 Mrs. Julia Plato Harvey, President of the Chicago Woman's Club, 1891-1892, and at this time Vice-President of the General Fed- eration, and Mrs. Bourland, attended the General Federation Bien- nial of 1894 which was held in Philadelphia in May. Here, the sub- ject of state federation was discussed in nearly all the state meetings. Five state federations were reported as having been organized, name- ly: Utah, Maine, Iowa, Massachusetts and the Social Science Federa- tion of Kansas which was afterwards reorganized as the Kansas Fed- eration of Women's Clubs. Mrs. Harvey and Mrs. Bonrland both urged that a state federa- tion should be organized in Illinois. They felt that the experience of the 1894 Biennial proved conclusively that if the federation move- ment was to be made effective it must be formed on state lines ; that "the General Federation was so large that it constituted at best, a vague connection between the clubs and thus fostered uncertainty of purpose." During the summer of 1894, Mrs. Bourland corresponded with the clubs of the state, and encouraged by the very earnest desire of the Illinois delegates to the 1894 Biennial and by the action of the clubs of Cook County, she issued a call for a meeting of the representa- tives of all clubs in the state of which she had knowledge. The Chicago Woman's Club invited the representatives to be its guests during the organization meeting. The group was composed of the presidents of the then existing clubs of the state and was called to order by the President of the hostess club, Miss Ada C. Sweet. Mrs. Bourland was elected chairman and presided over the two days ses- sions. A large number of the women had come uninstructed but after listening to the presentation of the subject of federation as made by many able speakers, an informal ballot showed an almost unani- mous vote in favor of a state federation. A committee was then ap- pointed to prepare a constitution which was later adopted and officers elected. THE FIEST CONSTITUTION^ AND BY-LAWS OF THE I. F. W. C. Article I. This association shall be called the Illinois Federation of Women's Clubs. Article II. The object of this Federation shall be mutual counsel and sym- pathy among the different organizations represented and the promo- tion of higher social and moral conditions. For better execution of these objects, district federations mav be formed in each Congressional district under the direction of the Vice-President of that district. 19 Article III. The officers of this Federation shall he a President, a Vice-Presi- dent for every Congressional District, a Eecording Secretar}', a Cor- responding Secretary and a Treasurer, who shall constitute a Board of Directors. The officers of the Federation shall be officers of the Board of Directors. Officers shall be elected by ballot of the delegates at the annual meeting, and shall hold office until their successors are elected. A majority of the delegates present shall be required to elect. The duties of these officers shall be the same as pertain to the same offices in similar organizations. At the meeting of the organi- zation the Vice-Presidents shall elect the President, a Eecording Sec- retary, a Corresponding Secretar}^ and a Treasurer. Ever after these officers shall be elected by ballot. Article IV. The annual meeting of the Federation shall be on the second Thursday in October and shall be called by printed notification to the different clubs. A meeting of the Board of Directors shall be held the day before the general meeting. Nine shall constitute a quorum. Article V. Any woman's organization recommended by the Board of Direc- tors may join this Federation by the appointment of three delegates to attend the general meetings, and the payment of the annual fee. Any other club composed of men and women may also join the Fed- eration upon the same conditions. Article VI. An annual fee of three dollars shall be required of every club joining the Federation, to be paid at the annual meeting, before the election of new officers. Any club neglecting to pay this fee for one year shall be dropped from the roll of membership. Article VII. Standing Committees may be appointed by the Board of Direc- tors according to its discretion. Article VIIL These By-Laws may be amended at any meeting of the Federa- tion, the amendment having been presented to the Board of Direc- tors in writing by any properly accredited delegates and by the Board presented to each delegate in the call for the meeting. 20 Article IX. In the conduct of the meeting Eobert's Kuleri of Order shall be the authority. At tliis time there were 22 Congressional Districts in Illinois, the state being reapportioned in 1900. List of Clubs with Presidents and Delegates at the Organization of the Illinois Federation of Women's Clubs, October 11-12, 1894. Art-he Pres. Mrs. H. J. Hall, Chicago. Del. Mrs. J. R. Laing, Chicago. Alternate Pres. Miss R. S. Rice, Chicago. Del. Mrs. C. L. Park, Chicago. Atlantis Pres. Mrs. Anna L. Parker, Quincy. Chicago Woman's Club — 1876 Pres. Miss Ada C. Sweet, Chicago. Del. Mrs. Kate G. Huddleston, Chi- cago. Champaign Social Science Club Pres. Mrs. S. A. Forbes, Champaign. Del. Mrs. Julia Burnham, Champaign. Catholic Women's National League. .Pres. Mrs. Isabelle O'Keefe, Chicago. Del. Mrs. James E. Eagle, Chicago. Del. Mrs. J. Sullivan, Chicago. College Club Del. Mrs. M. E. Luther, Streator. Del. Miss Virginia LeRoy, Streator. Cairo Woman's Club and Library As- sociation— 1875 Pres. Mrs. Isabella L. Candee, Cairo. Clionian Club Pres. Mrs. Mary C. Bourland, Pontiac. Clinton Woman's Club Pres. Mrs. L. Howard, Clinton. Del. Miss Jeannette Welch, Clinton. Evanston Woman's Club Pres. Mrs. Elizabeth Harbut, Evans- ton. Eclectic Club Pres. Mrs. E. O. F. Roler, Chicago. Del. Mrs. H. S. Boyd, Chicago. Elgin Woman's Club Pres. Mrs. L. A. Wilcon, Elgin. Del. Miss Le Baron, Elgin. Every Wednesday Club Pres. Mrs. F. Dickenson, Chicago. Del. Mrs. Mary J. Selby, Chicago. Era Nata Club Pres. Mrs. R. D. Beacham, Streator. Friends in Council Pres. Mrs. W. H. Reed, Chicago. Del. Mrs. C. H. Kingman, Chicago. Friday Club Pres. Miss Caroline Kirkland, Chica- go. Del. Mrs. H. B. Butter, Chicago. Friends in Council 1866 Del. Mrs. Wm. D. Whitemore, Quincy. Fortnightly Del. Miss Mary Ainsworth, Moline. Hull House Woman's Club Pres. Miss Mary E. McDowell, Chicago. Del. Mrs. Alphea Fuller. Chicago. Hawthorne Club Del. Miss E. B. Frost, Galesburg. Harvard Woman's Club Pres. Mrs. J. F. Olmstead, Engle- wood. Homer Club Pres. Mrs. Anne E. Bosworth, Evan- ston. Del. Mrs. E. H. Ellis. Evanston. Home Club Fortnightly Pres. Mrs. J. Hodgkins, Englewood. Del. Mrs. Charles Salmon, Engle- wood. Irving Park Woman's Club Pres. Mrs. George E. Bender, Irving Park. Del. Miss C. C. Hotchkiss, Irving Park. 21 Illinois Press Association Del. Mrs. Marie S. Prowig, Chicago. Kenwood Fortnightly Pres. Mrs. Oliver C. Ely, Chicago. Del. Mrs. James N. Steel, Chicago. Klio Club Pres. Mrs. Hiram Baker, Chicago. La Harpe Woman's Club Pres. Mrs. Florence Hinigate, La Harpe. Del. Mrs. A. L. Hyatt, La Harpe. Luther League Del. Miss Emma L. Weidner, Chicago. Lake View Woman's Club Pres. Mrs. L A. Hagerty, Lake View. Del. Mrs. J. B. Myers, Lake View. Monday Club Pi-es. Mrs. J. S. Rybuen, Ottawa. Del. Mrs. C. C. Swift, Ottawa. Municipal Order League Pres. Mrs. H. W. Duncanson, Chi- cago. Del. Mrs. Negus. Chicago. National Council of Jewish AVomen. . Pres. Mrs. H. Solomon, Chicago. Del. Miss Sadie Amencan. Chicago. Nike Club Pres. Miss Frances McMullen, Chi- cago. Del. Mrs. G. S. Banister, Chicago. National Association Household Eco- nomics Del. Mrs. John Wilkinson, Chicago. National Woman's League Del. Mrs. J. Fortune, Chicago. Del. Miss M. Donahue, Chicago. Clio Club Pres. Mrs. Amelia Weed Holbrook, Chicago. Del. Mrs. Edward Mysenberd, Chi- cago. Peoria Woman's Club— 1878 Pres. Mrs. Clara P. Bourland, Peoria. Del. Mrs. Virginia B. Bash, Peoria. Portia Club Pres. Mrs. L. L. Ormsby, Argyle Park. Del. Mrs. M. F. Woods. Argyle Park. Pekin Woman's Club Del. Mrs. Emily P. Schneck. Pekin. Del. Mrs. Conrad Luppin, Pekin. Progressive Club Pres. Mrs. L. R. Gardiner, Ottawa. Q. J. S. P. Club Pres. Mrs. Jos. Hainsworth, Chicago. Del. Mrs. David S. D-^vine, Chicago. River Forest Woman's Club Pres. Mrs. Catherine D. Buell, River Forest. Del. Mrs. John Hoyt, River Forest. Ravensw^ood Woman's Club Pres. Mrs. Mary E. Rogers, Ravens- wood. Del. Mrs. M. D. Wiswell, Ravenswood Rogers Park W. C Pres. Dr. Harriett B. C. Alexander, Rogers Park. Del. Mrs. E. H. Ailing. Rogers Park. South Side W. C Pres. Mrs. Almon Brooks, Chicago. Del. Mrs. M. J. Parker, Chicago. Social Science Club Pres. Mrs. L. J. Busey, Champaign. Del. Mrs. J. L. Ray, Champaign. Phvsical Culture Club Pres. Mrs. J. H. Nolan. Chicago. Woman's League Pres. Mrs. Addie M. H. Ellis, Chicago. Del. Mrs. Celia P. Woolley. Chicago. Woman's Club Pres. Mrs. G. O. Barnes, Lacon. Woman's Club of Millard Ave. — 1878.. Del. Mrs. Minnie S. Hawkins, Chi- cago. Woman's Club of Decatur — 1887. .. .Pres. Mrs. Eugenia M. Bacon, Deca- tur. Del. Mrs. Mary E. Haworth, Decatur. West End Woman's Club Pres. Mrs. A. E. Clark. Chicago. Del. Mrs. George Sherwood, Cliicago. 22 Mrs. Bourland was urged to accept the presidency but declined to allow her name to be used as a candidate feeling it would be un- fair to the General Federation to resign in the middle of her term of office as State Secretar}- of Correspondence. It is interesting to note here that Mrs. Bourland was the first President of the Peoria Woman's Club, originally The Peoria Ladies' Art Society wliich was organized in 1878 and whose presiding officer she gontinued to be for twenty-five years. She was a most able woman, prominent in many fields of activity', and with Mrs. Caroline Brown, an old friend, conceived the idea of both the Chicago Woman's Club and the Peoria Woman's Club. She is now living, 1928, with her daughter. Professor Caroline Bourland, in Xorthhamptou, Mas- sachusetts. Mrs. Isabella Laning Candee of Carlo was then elected first President of the Illinois Federation of Women's Clubs. Mrs. Candee had done notable work as a member of the Woman's Board of Illi- nois for the Columbian Exposition. In addition, she was personally very popular so her election was most acceptable to the state at large. The other officers elected were : Mrs. Clara M. J. Farson, of Chicago, Corresponding Secretary; Mrs. Emily Prett}Tnan Schenck, of Pekin, Eecording Secretary and Mrs. Celia Parker Woolley, Chicago, Treas- urer. A Board of Directors consisting of one Vice-President from each Congressional district was elected. The women on this board were : Mrs. Alpha A. Fuller, ^Mrs. Hannah G. Solomon, Miss Francis Dusenberry, Mrs. Sarah A. Carpenter and Mrs. James E. Eagle all of Chicago; Dr. Harriet C. B. Alexander, Eogers Park; Mrs. M. H. Da\idson, LaGrange; Mrs. Francis P. Forsythe, Aurora; Mrs. Alice Bradford Wiles, Freeport; Miss Eu B, Frost, Galesburg; Mrs. Georgia G. Cook, Ottawa ; Mrs. S. T. Busey, Urbana ; Mrs. Virginia Bash, Peoria; Mrs. Anna L. Parker, Quincy; Mrs. Kate Butler, Clin- ton; Mrs. Chas. E. Hay, Springfield; Miss Ada Kepley, Effingham and Mrs. Mary E. Creelman, Cairo. We feel that the story of the first annual meeting held in Peoria, in the beautiful club house of the Peoria Woman's Club in October 1895, and the first annual report of the Corresponding Secretary, Mrs. Farson, are so important to this history that they should be repeated almost verbatim. This material is taken from The jSTew Cycle of December 1895 and January 1896, published in Xew York, Mrs. Jennie C. Croly, Editor. It was the only organ, at that time, of the federated club movement and was largely devoted to the activities of the various state federations. The meeting was called to order by the President, Mrs. Candee. The various formalities attending a meeting of this kind were carried out. Tlie distinguished guests were Mrs. Mumford, of Philadelphia, first Vice-President of the General Federation and Mrs. Philip North Moore of St. Louis, Corresponding Secretary of the ^Missouri Federa- tion, who were introduced to the convention. The Secretary called the roll and 120 delegates responded. The clubs represented were: Alternate, Catholic Woman's League, Every 23 Wednesday, Friday, Hull House, Harvard, Kenwood Fortnightly, Klio Association, Lawndale Literary, Lake View, National Household Economic Association, National Jewish Woman's Council (Chicago branch). Nineteenth Century Clio, Kogers Park, Woodlawn, News- paper Woman's, South Side Woman's, all of Chicago. Also, Batavia Woman's Columbian; Beethoven, Havana; Woman's Club, Cairo; Champaign Social Science; Calleri, Streator; Clioniau Society, Pon- tiac; Columbian of Sycamore; Catholic Woman's League, Peoria; Decatur Woman's Club ; Dialectic, Pontiac; Danville, Literature Class; Eyery Wednesday, Springfield ; E Ea Natta, Streator ; Elgin Woman's Club; Emmerson Club, Effingham; Home Fortnightly, Englewood; Hawthorne, Galesburg; Woman's Club of La Harpe; Monday Club, Ottawa; Monticello Woman's Club; Mosaic Club of Galesburg; Peoria Woman's Club; Portia Club of Argyle, Parke and Edgewater; Pekin Woman's Club ; Paris Woman's Club ; Eavenwood Woman's Club ; Woman's Eeading Club of Eiverside; Sesame Woman's Club, Wau- kegan; West Side Eeading Circle, Aurora; Woman's Club, Eiver Forest; Social Science, Champaign; Shakespeare, Freeport; Atlantis, Quincy ; Tuesday, Ottawa ; Tuesday, Pana ; Woman's Progressive Club, Ottawa; Woman's Clubs of La Grange, Henry, Aurora and Wilmette ; Woman's Literary, Irving Park ; Woman's Literary, Savana; Wednesday Club, Jacksonville; Phidian Art, Dixon; Moline Chapter, D. A, E. ; Hinsdale Woman's Club ; Lacon Woman's Club ; Monmouth Fortnightly; Jacksonville Sorosis; Evanston Woman's Club; Monday Conversational Club, Jacksonville; Springfield Woman's Club; The Fortnightly, Moline; Village Improvement So- ciety, Lewiston; Toulon Club; New Era, Peoria; Illinois Keely League, Gold Cure and Illinois Press Association. Mrs. Farson, in her report, says: "The subject of state federa- tion has long been pondered and discussed by the club women of Illi- nois. In April, 1894, the Chicago Woman's Club, through its Cor- responding Secretary, Mrs. Kate G. Huddleston, called a meeting of the federated clubs of Cook County. Delegates were sent from all of the clubs. A largely attended meeting was held both afternoon and evening. So much interest was shown, that when the invitation of Mrs. Clara Bourland of Peoria, Chairman of State Correspondence of the General Federation, was received to attend a meeting of the Women's Clubs of Illinois at Chicago, October 11, 1894. for the ob- ject of organizing a state federation, no doubt of the advisability or the success of the movement was felt. "Mrs. Bourland, in her call for the meeting, so clearly stated the necessity that interest was at once inspired. This preliminary meet- ing was held with such success that a State Federation was organized with the usual officers, the intention being that each of the Con^^i'cs- sional districts of Illinois, 22 in number, should have as a representa- tive a vice-president. The truth is, we have been able to secure only 18 vice-presidents, consequently some districts are not represented. T wish that we might have a complete list of the Women's Clubs of the state, and that each woman would consider it her special duty to 24 report to the Corresponding Secretary all clubs in her vicinit}'. We have now in the association seventy nine clubs and many others have indicated their desire to join us. I have not been able to ascertain the exact number of women this brings us in touch with, but think from 8,000 to 10,000. Our largest club, the Chicago Woman's Club, has 650 members; the smallest club reported has 20 members. We luive nuiny clubs numbering from 150 to 300. "We have many clubs that do literary work entirely. Many that are doing practical and literary work combined. The jDrogrammes of work sent by the clubs are most interesting. Topics of the day, all domestic affairs, all matters of historj' and travel, are discussed. We have clubs that have f oimded libraries, clubs that have established hospitals, clubs that care for destitute children. In fact, I could not mention any good work that the women of this Federation are not en- gaged in. I think the tendency of the club movement is to reach out into the work of the world and be less confined to work that is for self culture alone. The motto of one club is : •■ 'How empty learning, how vain is art. But as it mends the life and guides the heart.' ''Our largest club, the Chicago Woman's Club, has celebrated its nineteenth birthday and is already a power in the great city of our State. All through Illinois are women who are personally interested in this club ; many have been members, and, in fact, helped to sow the seed from which this thrifty plant has grown. Among them, allow me to mention Mrs. Bourland, President of the Peoria Woman's Club. The Chicago Woman's Club as you well know, is divided into six de- partments, which labor separately in their chosen fields; at the same time, believing there is strength in union, they are one on all occasions. In the days long past this club placed in the county institutions women physicians and matrons in the jails. Their committees were ever at our State Capital ready to battle for every bill before the Legislature tending to improve the position of women and children. All educational matters were their care. While meeting many re- buffs they were never discouraged but went on with the good fight. To them belongs the honor of placing the first woman on the Chicago Board of Education, where they have ever since retained at least one member. "They have the honor to count among their members the Presi- dent of the General Federation of Women's Clubs, two Trustees of the State University, two members of the Board of the State Female Juvenile Offenders' Home. One possession of which they are very proud is that so many women who are presidents and workers in other clubs in the State belong to the C. W. C. I have taken the liberty to speak thus extendedly of this club as it is one of the oldest and largest, and one in which we are all interested. "There is one kind of club that I find lacking in our association and one that to me looks like a club that should have an important part to perform; it is the Village Improvement Society. Certainly there is no subject in which wom.en are more interested. I know of one such society where the President attends to every detail of the .«. « V » « ;# 25 welfare of her home village; she has, by her o^vn efforts, and those of her helpers, made the town a model of neatness and order. A library has been founded, a stock company formed to build a town hall and other wonders performed. I hope our club women will become inter- ested in this work. * * * Wliat are we going to accomplish? Do we simply wish to meet together once a A'ear to read and discuss papers — something most of us do at home twice a month for nine months in the year — or are we coming together to learn how we shall exert the greatest influence for good and for the advancement of our beautiful State of Illinois? When we think of the large number of women interested can we not meld a great power ? Allow me to quote from Mrs. Bourland's call of last year. " '* * * Many questions of grave concern to all women arise in the management of State institutions, in the conduct of the public schools and in all matters pertaining to public improvement. In municipal, town and village improvement, in public and domestic sanitation, in disseminating a knowledge of the principles of good citizenship and in influencing the reform of local politics, the efforts made by a State Federation will be far more potent for good than any amount of individual influence exerted toward the accomplishing of. the desired results.'" REPORT OF THE TREASURER. Annual dues from 70 clubs $210.00 Expenses. To H. C. Marsh & Son, printing, etc $43.75 To postage for Corresponding Secretary 18.00 To Treasurer's book 30 To Mrs. Candee, money advanced for first meeting 12.00 To Mrs. Mumford, travelling expenses 60.00 Postage for Treasurer 2.50 136.55 Balance on hand $73.45 Celia p. Wooli.et, Treasurer. Dated October 6, 1895. Both reports were accepted and ordered filed. "Short reports limited to two minutes each were given by twenty clubs, showing the aim and extent of their work." Mrs. Shattuck, of Chicago, moved that a Nominating Committee of five members be appointed by the chair. Seconded. Mrs. Solomon asked to amend the motion b}' having the Nominating Committee increased to nine. The amendment was carried. The selection of a State flower and badge for the new federation had been referred to a committe of which Mrs. Emily L. Ailing was chainnan. She reported that the flowers which seem to best repre- sent the State of Illinois are the golden rod, the maize and the iris. "The shield or banner from the State seal can be successfully com- bined with any of these flowers thus affording space for a motto or the initial letters of the Federation. Your committee has considered several designs confonning to these ideas, three of which are sub- 26 mitted herewith for your consideration. * * * If a State flower is to be chosen your committee suggests that the State arms could be engraved on a shield or triangle combined with a flower." "A lengthy discussion was indulged in which brought out many opinions. "The chair -named the following JSTominating Committee : Mrs. J. D. Harvey, Chicago ; Miss Post, Galesburg ; Mrs. Wheeler. Spring- field; Mrs. ]3arbour, Pekin; Mrs. John Frances, Peoria; Mrs. Wit- kowski, Chicago; Mrs. Julia Mills Dunne, Moline; Mrs. Frances Owens, Woodlawn, Chicago, with a request to report on call of the meeting the following morning, at ten o^clock." The meeting was called to order at 2 p. m., by the President, Mrs. Candee and "the following program was rendered : An essay by Mrs. Linden W. Bates, of the Fortnightly, Chicago, on 'The Aims and Methods of Literary Clubs.' Music. 'The Elvolution of the Study Class,' Mrs. Marcia L. Gould. Music. Ten minutes was given to the discussion of some of the practical suggestions in Mrs. Gould's address, which was participated in by Mrs. Shattuck, Mrs. Mumford, Miss Head, Miss LeBaron and Miss McDowell. "Mrs. Hannah G. Solomon of the National Council of Jewish Women, Chicago, read a paper on 'The Practical Eesults of Club Life.' Meeting adjourned to convene again at. 8 p. m." The program w'as opened in the evening with music. "Mrs. Mary E. Mumford, Philadelphia, First Vice-President, General Fed- eration of Women's Clubs, spoke on 'Some Practical Work in Civics.' Music. Mrs. Bourland then introduced Bishop Spaulding who made a few remarks. 'The Slums and the State', Mrs. Julia ]\Iills Dunne, Moline, Illinois Women's Press Association. 'The Public Schools and Citizenship,' Mrs. Alice Braford Wiles, Freeport School Board, Preeport; after which Mrs. Wiles introduced the following resolu- tions." Whereas, We, as women are deeply interested in all that per- tains to the welfare of children, and as citizens w^e recognize that the public school is second only to the home in its influence upon in- dividual and national life; therefore. Resolved^ That the Federation of Women's Clubs of Illinois pledges its united effort to the support of all that is good and the eradication of all that is bad in the public school system of the State. Resolved, further. That to accomplish this end we will visit pub- lic schools in our own cities and study educational questions with ref- erence to local conditions and endeavor to secure the election of dis- interested and non-political members of Boards of Education. Resolved, further. That each club in the Federation be asked to report at the next annual meeting, uniting upon some special plan of school work which may be particularly interesting to it because in Ime with the special work for which the club was organized. The evening program closed with a talk by Dr. Abby Fox Eooney, of Quincy, on "Civic Responsibility of the Individual." At the morning meeting of the 11th, Mrs. Patton, of Springfield, invited the Fedration to hold its next annual meeting in that city. 37 The invitation was accepted. Mrs. Solomon presented Mrs. Wiles' resolution, read the night before, and after amending by striking out the word "non-political," and much discussion, it was incorporated in the minutes. Mrs. J. D. Harvey, Chairman of the Xominating Committee, reported two tickets, the old ticket and a new one. As the result of the ballot, the following officers were declared elected : President, Mrs. Isabella Laning Candee, Cairo; Eecording Secre- tary, Miss LeBaron, Elgin; Corresponding Secretary, Mrs. Clara M. J. Parson, Chicago Woman's Club ; Treasurer, Mrs. Mary E. Haworth, Decatur. The Vice-Presidents of the Congressional Districts were: Miss Jane Addams, Mesdames Hannah G. Solomon, James E. Eagle, Lucy Flower, P. P. Bichardson and W. J. Chalmer of the first six districts of Chicago; P. H. Davidson, LaGrange, 7; J. S. Wilcox, Elgin, 8; Alice B. Wiles, Preeport, 9 ; E. B. Prost, Galesburg, 10; Julia Griggs, Streator, 11 ; Miss Jane Head, Danville, 12 ; Mesdames S. T. Busey, Champaign, 13; Virginia Bash, Peoria, 14; Anna L. Parker, Quincy, 15 ; Palmer Matthews, Carlinville, 16 ; James W. Patton, Springleld, 17. District 18 had no representative. Mrs. Ada Kepley. Effingham. 19 : 20th and 21st Districts had no repre- sentatives; Mrs. Laura B. Eittenhouse, Cairo, 22. It was moved and carried that any vacancies for Vice-President be tilled by the Board. At the afternoon session, Mrs. Candee thanked the delegates for her re-election, declaring the officers duly elected and qualified to enter upon their duties for the new year. She also asked for a meet- ing of the new Board of Directors on adjournment of the convention. Unfinished business included the settlement of the question as to whether or not the State Federation should become a member of the General Federation. Mrs. Bash moved that if the Illinois Fed- eration has been invited to join the General Federation that it accept the invitation. It was so decided. Mrs. Grain moved that the Presi- dent be empowered to represent the State at the General Federation at Atlanta. Mrs. Candee stated that it would be impossible for her to attend and suggested that the matter be left to the Board. The program continued with music and talks on "Preventive Education of the Unfit," by Miss Julia Lathrop, Illinois State Board of Charities, Eockford ; and "Education as a Preventive of Crime and Pauperism." by Mrs. Lucy L. Flower, Trustee Illinois State Uni- versity. Chicago. The Committee on Eeciprocity submitted a list of recommenda- tions as follows: Fiisf — The Secretary of the State Federation shall furnish each club in the Federation with a list of all the clubs connected with that body. Second — That each club having a printed programme shall fur- nish a copy of the same to all other clubs on that list. Third — That any club desiring a paper upon a given topic can apply either to the secretary of the club or directly to the essayist. 28 Four/li — That any club inviting an essayist or speaker to appear before it shall provide for the expenses of such essayist or speaker. Fifth — That membership in any club of the Federation shall en- title the holder to admission in any other federated club, upon pre- sentation of her membership ticket to the secretary of that club. A list of papers for loan purposes is next given, some of the sub- jects being, "Conversation as a Lost Art;" "jSTo Work, iSFo Pay;" "What Shall We Do With the Tramp?" "Holidays, Their Use and Abuse." Only thirty-six were listed. In a courtesy resolution which Mrs. Solomon introduced, it is : "Resolved, That we extend our heartfelt appreciation for the many courtesies extended and assure them (the women of Peoria) that their kindness will live in the memory of the Federation, and that their grace and charm as hostesses is but another proof to us that club life in no way detracts from the possibilities of perfect womanhood." The Flower and Badge Committee thought "if we adopted the badge of the State arms and a wreath of maize — it was a State badge that had not yet been adopted — we could combine the sentiment of the flower with the design." However, no action was taken, so it was moved that the matter be referred to the Board with power to act. The Board also reported that "it was the unanimous opinion of that body that the resolution offered by Mrs. Wiles and adopted at the morning session covered all the work possible to be accomplished during the coming year." The following resolution was also presented and adopted unani- mously, that: "Wheiieas, The continued atrocities committed by the Turks against the helpless women and children of Armenia have filled the civilized world with pain and horror; be it Resolved, That we free American women, members of the Illinois ■Federation of Women's Clubs, use every means of influence and help- fulness in our power to secure this long oppressed people liberty of thought and life." A vote of thanks was given to the citizens of Peoria for their kindness and to the press "for their dignified and kind reports of the meeting." The meeting adjourned to meet at Springfield, Illinois, the second Thursday in October, 1896. The Committee on Program for this first annual meeting in- cluded, Mrs. Candee, Mrs. Celia Parker Woolley and Mrs. Anna L. Parker. Committee on Arrangements, Mrs. Clara M. J. Farson, Mrs. Martha Howe Davidson, Mrs. Alice Bradford Wiles and Mrs. Eollo G. Wheeler, Mrs. Louise M. Hanna and Mrs. Wachenheimer of Peoria. Quoting directly from a letter received from Mrs. Candee in March, 1926, written to the Editor, tlie writer says, "The first two years of the Illinois State Federation under the administration of Mrs. H. F. Candee, of Cairo, as President, were spent chiefly in cor- respondence with the women's clubs of the state, securing new niera- 29 bers and arousing more interest in the Federation idea, both State and General. The Secretaries, Mrs. Clara M. J. Farson, Chicago, and Mrs. Emily Schenk, of Pekin. aided greatly in this work and were untiring in their efforts. During the second year, the outstanding effort of the Federation was a plea to the State Legislature for an appropriation for a Woman's Dormitory at the University of Illinois to house women students for whom no provision whatever was made as to adequate homes and comfort during attendance at the Univer- sity. "Mrs. John A. Lutz of Lincoln, chairman of that committee, and otlier members were indefatigable in their efforts to obtain an appropriation for a suitable building for the young women concerned. '■'But the influence of the then new Federation was. powerless against the lack of interest in the higher education of women at that time and the active opposition of some in power at the University, so the project failed, greatly to the disappointme'nt of all concerned. It is a great satisfaction to the pioneers of that day to have lived to witness a different attitude of mind toward education of women generally and in the State Universities, in particular. That the phenominal growth and powerful influence in every direction for betterment of our own Federation under the direction of the wisest and best equipped women of the State has had much to do with it, we are truly thankful. Long after we elder workers have passed on it will continue with the passing years." The program of the Second Annual Convention which was held in Springfield, October 7, 8, 9, 1896, in the Hall of Representatives, shows a few changes in the personnel of the Board of Directors, Mrs. Elgin H. Eay of Champaign taking Miss LeBaron's place as Record- ing Secretary and Miss LeBaron taking Mrs. J. S. Wilcox's place as a District Tice-President. ^Irs. ^Martha A. Davidson, of Chicago, re- placed Miss Jane Addams and Mrs. Julia Duncan Kirby. of Jackson- ville, took the place of Mrs. Palmer ^Eatthews, of Carlinville. Headquarters for the meeting were at the old Leland Hotel. Mrs. E. A. Hall was Chairman of Arrangements and was assisted by Mesdames J. W. Patton. Stuart Brown, W. R. Beall, M. S. Kimball, J. P. Altgeld. G. X. Black. E. A. Snively, E. S. Walker, W. E. Moore. X. B. Wiggins and Misses Olive Eggleston and Louise Enos. An evening reception to the delegates and visitors was given by Governor and Mrs. Altgeld at the Executive Mansion. A trip to Lincoln's Monument was made on Friday afternoon. The program of speakers was limited to the club women them- selves and those taking part in a session devoted entirely to educa- tional subjects were : Mrs. George Irving Brown, Freeport, speaking on "History- and Future of Compulsory Education in Illinois;"' Mrs. Linda B. McMurry. Xormal, '•'Purpose of Xature Study in Elemen- tary Schools:" Miss Frances LeBaron, Elgin, '"'Relation of Public Libraries to Public Schools." Mrs. Wiles. Chairman of Education. gave her report and Mrs. Corrinne Brown, of Chicago, discussed it. 30 Another program was devoted to club work or "Some Club Prob- lems.'^ Mrs. Annie Fremont Guinan, of Qnincy, spoke on "What is the Legitimate Work of the Woman's Club?" Mrs. Laura A. Miller, of Cairo, "Shall Clubs be Limited in Number?" Mrs. George Page, of Peoria, "Is the Department Club the Most Effective Form of the Woman's Club?" Governor Altgeld addressed the meeting and Mrs. Ellen M. Hen- rotin, President of the General Federation, talked on "The Value of Federation to the Individual Club." Miss Ellen G. Starr, of Hull House, made an address on "The Eelation of Art to Life." 31 THE SECOND BIENNIUM. Governor of Illinois, President of the U. S., 1897—1901. 1897—1901. John E. Tanner. Wm. McKinley. Mrs. Egbert Hall A\'iles. 1896—1898. Mrs, Eobert Hall Wiles was born in Boston and educated in private schools there. She graduated later at Cornell University, at Ithaca, in 1875. The next year she married Mr. Wiles and came to Freeport, Illinois, to live. Two children, a son and a daughter were born to her. Mrs. Wiles comes from distinguished ancestry, numbering three Colonial Governors among her forebears as well as John Bradford, "Continental Agent" of the Continental Congress in Boston during the Eevolution. She was Founder and first President of the Freeport Woman's Club, President of the Illinois Federation, Chairman of the Educa- tion Department and of the Philosophy and Science Department of the Chicago Woman's Club. Her chief interest and affiliation has been with the D. A. E. and patriotic societies, holding membership in a great many, some of which are the Descendants of Colonial Governors, Mayflower De- scendents, Colonial Dames, Founders and Patriots of America and U. S. Daughters of 1812. Of several of these she has been National President. She has been a member of the Freeport Board of Education and was Vice-President of the Woman's World's Fair Board. The following officers were elected at the Springfield Convention for one year, which was the custom at that time : President, Mrs. Robert Hall Wiles, Freeport; Vice-President at Large, Mrs. Isabella Laning Candee, Cairo; Recording Secretary, Mrs. Elgin Hays Ray, Champaign; Corresponding Secretary, Mrs. Marc Sherwood, Chicago; Treasurer, Mrs. Mary E. Haworth, Decatur; Chairman of State Cor- respondence for the General Federation, Mrs. Clara M. J. Farson, Chicago. The list of A^ice-Presidents whose terms expired in one year were : Mesdames Fannie B. Richardson, Chicago, 1 ; George Sherwood, Chi- cago, 5; Miss Fannie LeBaron, Elgin, 8; Mesdames Mary Codding Bourland, Pontiac, 11; Wm. E. Fithian, Danville, 12; Laura A. Kline, Henry, 14; Jas. W. Patton, Springfield, 17; Miss Laura D. Bishop, Paris, 19; Miss Ida Evans, Mt. Vernon, 20; Mrs, Laura Rittenhouse, Cairo, 22. Those whose terms expired in two years were : Mesdames Chas. M. Higginson, Riverside, 2 ; Fred A. Smith, Chicago, 3; Miss Mary McDowell, Chicago, 4; Mesdames Wm. A. Starin, Waukegan, 7; J. L. Hartwell, Dixon, 9; Marcia Louise Gould, Moline, 10; Jeannette B. Crea, Monticello, 13; J. M. Keefer, Ma- 32 comb, 15: Thos. Worthington, Jacksonville, IG : L. B. Bennett, Green- ville, 18.' The Vice-Presidents also served as chairmen of committees, Mrs. Fred A. Smith for Progi'am; Miss Francos LeBaron for Education; Mrs. C. J. Eichardson for Philanthropy; Mrs. Thos. Worthington for Arrangements and Mrs. Mary A. Haworth for Credentials. At the meeting of the Board of Directors held November, 1896, the following clubs were admitted to membership : Nineteenth Cen- tury Club, Oak Park ; Shakesperian Club, Mt. Vernon ; Fairbury Bay View Reading Club; Home Culture Club, and Clio Reading Club at Mattoon. The Philanthropy Committee was the second to be appointed, with Mrs. James Patton, of Springfield, Chairman. Mrs. Patton re- signed the same year and was succeeded by Mrs. C. J. Richardson, of Princeton. At the meeting of the Board of Directors held February, 1897, five more clubs were taken into the Federation. These were : The Bryn Mawr Woman's Club ; Riverside Friday Club ; Woman's Club of Austin; Maywood Woman's Club; Fortnightly of Jacksonville. From the minutes of the Board Meeting of April, 1897, we learn that Colonel Francis W. Parker had invited the Illinois Federation of Women's Clubs to cooperate with the Illinois Child Study Society in holding the coming annual meeting of the Child Study Congress ; that the President of the Federation had accepted the invitation, and that the women's clubs of northern Illinois had, by voluntary contribu- tions, raised the sum of $200.00 toward defraying the expenses of G. Stanley Hall, as speaker for the Congress. The new clubs admitted at this meeting were: Reviewers' Matinee (place not given); Ossoli Club of Highland Park; River- side Woman's Club; Maywood Twentieth Century Club; The Neigh- bors of Kenilworth; Woman's Literary Club of North Chicago; The Coterie of Lake Forest ; Tuesday Reading Club of Pittsfield ; Woman's Club of Beardstown; Delavan Woman's Club; Tuesday Club of Kewanee. Clubs were knocking on the door for admittance in ever increas- ing numbers. At a Board Meeting held on October 19, 1897, immedi- ately preceding the Annual Convention, the following clubs were ac- cepted : "The Sevens" of Moliue ; Mendota Woman's Club ; Ohalla Culture of Lodi : Mt. Carroll Woman's Club; Urbana Twentieth Cen- tury Tourist Club: Dixon Woman's Club; Clayton Woman's Reading Club; Anti-Rust of Springfield; Kewanee Tuesday Club; Chicago Woman's Columbian Club; Metropolis Woman's Literary Club; Mat- toon Study Class; Galena Fortnightly Club; Paris Friends in Coun- cil; The Matheon of Chicago; Wenona Woman's Literan^ Club; Chicago Association of Young Women's Clubs; Champaign County Housekeepers' Association; Carrollton University Extension Club; Chicago IJniversity Settlement Club; Chicago Woman's South Side Study Club; Lewiston Tuesday Club; Avon Portia Club. 33 Mrs. Wiles, in her closing remarks at this Board Meeting, ex- pressed the hope that a meeting of the new Board of Directors be held either Friday or Saturday morning so that another called meet- ing would not be necessary immediately. The Third Annual Meeting was held at the State Street Presby- terian Church, Jacksonville, October 20, 21, 22, 1897. At this time the Federation was made up of 258 clubs, representing a membership of about 15,000, and there were 255 delegates present, representing 115 clubs. The delegate body moved that the Board appoint the Standing Committees of Art, Literature and Music. It was also suggested that a Sub-committee of Literature be appointed to take care of the library interests of tlie state. A committee was appointed to attend the meeting of the Associated Charities and Corrections. A resolution was passed in regard to the care of dependent children. At this time the Federation gave little attention to anything ex- cepting education work. The General Federation had been organ- ized for cultural work and the first resolution adopted for any outside practical activity was presented by Mrs. Wiles as Chairman of the Educational Committee of the Illinois Federation at the Louisville Biennial in 1896. The resolution read as follows : Whereas, The time is ripe for the adoption by the General Fed- eration of Women's Clubs of a subject which shall be a central point of interest and work for all clubs represented ; therefore, be it Resolved, That we recommend to the clubs a study of the science of education and of educational conditions existing in their home cities, to the end that the united influence of women's clubs may be exerted for the betterment of the state system of education from the kindeTgarten to the university. Resolved, further. That we especially urge effort to emphasize systematic instruction in ethics in the public school curriculum. Resolved, further. That the Board of Directors be asked to ap- point a committee to make these suggestions effective. (Signed) Alice Bradford Wiles, Chairman. Mary H. Wilmarth. Margaret J. Evans. The next fall Mrs. Wiles became President of the Illinois Feder- ation and work for traveling libraries and compulsory education was begun, while the interest in a Woman's Hall at the University of Illinois was continued. Helpful relations with the Northern, Middle and Southern Branches of the Illinois State Teachers' Association were established, and a half day was allotted at all their meetings for speakers from the Illinois Federation. Subjects under discus- sion at these sessions were those in which the teachers and the club women were mutually interested. The following resolutions were passed by the Board, and later by the Convention: The Illinois Federation of Women's Clubs en- dorses and earnestly urges legislation by the General Assembly of Illinois permitting the expenditure of school funds for the main- tenance of vacation schools and playgrounds and the immediate estab- lishment of a Truant School for Chicago." 34 Also, "An appropriation by the next General Assembly which shall make it possible to provide for the proper home life of the women students of the University of Illinois, and for the effective support of a Department of Household Economics." Also, a resolution in regard to traveling libraries for niral com- munities. In response to a number of letters from club women throughout the state to the President, Mrs. Wiles, regarding her attitude on the formation of district organizations, she replied that she had "neither requested, advised nor expressed a desire for such action: That the desirability of a District Federation of Women's Clubs in any given Congressional District of Illinois is a question which only the mem- bers of such clubs can intelligently and wisely decide; that if the local club women thought a District Federation so desirable that they wished to take the responsibility of forming one I was glad to ap- prove what they thought best." The Jacksonville pTOgram was also in the hands of the club women and was given over to three subjects, education leading as usual, with philanthropy and club problems coming in for their share of attention. Some of the subjects and speakers were: "Educational Probleius as Seen Through the Women's Clubs of Illinois," Miss Le- Baron ; "Ideals in Education," Mrs. Anna L. Parker; "Eelation of Child Study to the Public Kindergarten," Mrs. Mary Codding Bour- land; "Education as a Moral Factor," Mrs. Gertrude B. Blackwelder. Mrs. Pichardson gave her report as Chairman on Philanthropy and was followed by Mrs. J. C. Barlow who spoke on "Associated Charities;" Mrs. Patton, "Needs of Dependent Children;" Mrs. Clara P. Bourland, "Influence of Clubs on Civic Life." Mrs. Lambert, Jacksonville, spoke on "Literary Clubs and their Methods of Study;" Mrs. Lucy Fitch Perkins, Chicago, "Work of the Central Art Asso- ciation;" Miss Katherine Sharp of the University, "Traveling Li- braries in Country Districts;" Miss Ada C. Sweet of the Illinois Au- dubon Society, "A Plea for the Birds." Mrs. John Vance Cheney, of Chicago, Mrs. Edward Poby and Miss Mary A. Wadsworth were also on the program. Three receptions were given the delegates, one at the home of Mrs. J. E. Bradley at 4 :30 on the first afternoon and another at 6 :30 the same day at the residence of Mrs. Belle Short Lambert. On the evening preceding, Mr. and Mrs. E. F. Bullard were at home at the Female Academy. Mrs. J. E. Bradley, wife of the President of Illinois College, was general chairman and was assisted by Mrs. Thomas Worthington, who was also a member of the Federation program committee, and by Miss Maria Fairbanks, Mrs. Edward Tanner and Mrs. W. H. H. King. Among the interesting newspaper accounts in the Jacksonville papers of that week is this : "The absence of all that pertains to the vulgarly ^strong-minded' woman was most refreshing. Female suf- frage was not even mentioned and many ladies privately expressed their desire to have the men do the voting. Grand Mrs. Eoby said, 'I 35 belong to an organization which has for its motto, 'They that rock tiie cradle rule the world' and that is glory enough for me/ ' " At the Jacksonville meeting the following officers were elected: President, Mrs. Eobert Hall Wiles; Vice-President at L>arge, Mrs. Anna L. Parker: Kecording Secretary, Mrs. Frederick Le Eoy, Streator; Corresponding Secretary, Mrs. Virginia Bash, Peoria; Treasurer, Miss Sarah Maria Fairbank, Jacksonville; State Chair- man of Correspondence G. F., Mrs. Clara M. J. Farson. Vice-Presidents of Districts were: Mesdames Almon Brooks, Chas. M. Higginson, Frederick A. Smith, Emma E. Andree, George Sherwood and Julien E. Hequembourg, all of Chicago; Mesdames Wm. A. Starin, Waukegan, 7; Albert J. Hopkins, Aurora, 8; J. L. Hartwell. Dixon, 9; Marcia Louise Gould. Moline, 10; C. J. Eichard- son, Princeton, 11; George G. Mabin, Danville, 12; Jeannette B. Crea, Monticello, 13 ; E. A. Wallace, Havana, 14 ; J. M. Keefer. Ma- comb, 15: Thos. Worthinfirton, Jacksonville, 16; Alice G. Wells, Deca- tur, i: : L. E. Bennett, i&reenville, 18 ; W. F. Purtill, Mattoon, 19 ; George W. Evans, Mt. Vernon, 20; Phebe Alice Taylor, Cairo, 22, The Fourth Annual Convention, over which 'Mis. Wiles presided, wa5 held in Central Music Hall, Chicago, on invitation of the Fed- erated Women's Clubs of Cook Count};, October, 18-19-20, 1898. Delegates to the nimiber of 311 represented 166 clubs which showed a very splendid interest and growth among the women of the state. Mrs. Penoyer L. Sherman, mother-in-law of Mrs. John D. Sher- man, (President of the General Federation 1924-28) and President of the Chicago Woman's Club gave the address of welcome. IVIrs. William B. Lowe, of Atlanta, President of the General Federation, made an address. For the first time we note the name of Mrs. Henrv^ M. Dunlap. of Savoy, who, as chairman of a sub-committee on the Interest of Women Students at the University of Illinois, made a report. Mrs. Dunlap has long given devoted service to the cause of education, especially in the field of Household Economics. Also, for the first time we see Art stressed : "Art as a Factor in Education ;" "Art in the Home;" "Art in Conduct and Conduct as Art." An address on "Interdependence of Progressive Influences in the Community," was given by Miss Phebe S. Sutliff, President of Eock- ford College and of the Eockford Federation of Women's Clubs. The sub-topics, handled by ten women among whom were Miss Jane Addams, Miss Mary McDowell and Mrs. Martha Foote Crowe, As- sistant Professor of English, Universitv of Chicas^o, were : The Home, The Church, The School, The Press, the Librarv, The Art Museum, The Woman's Club, The Concert, The Drama, and The Social Settle- ment. Another notable on this program was Mrs. Mary Hartwell Catherwood who talked on "The History Around Us." The name of Mrs. Louise B. Stanwood, President of the Illinois Federation (1900-1902 ) appears for the first time. She discussed "Society Unity Through the Club." We have always recognized, though sometimes deplored, the importance of "The Cup of Tea as a Factor in Club 36 Life'' but we have never seen it dignified by having a place on a con- vention progi-am before. Mrs. Bella H. Dimmick of Quincy was the speaker. Impromptu discussion (if time allowed) was to be given to the following resolutions, pro and con, alternating: Resolved, "That a college education is advisable for girls." Resolved, "That household economics and music should be offered in a college course." A ver}^ daring and progressive step must have been taken at this meeting when a resolution was adopted which required the Federation to petition the Legislature "to remedy, so far as possible, the present defects in the laws of Illinois regarding dependent and delinquent children." A motion was also adopted, "that the incoming Board appoint a committee on industrial problems affecting women and chil- dren." The committee was to "create centers in various towns for the employment of women ; to co-operate with the committee ap- pointed by the Association of Young Women's Clubs to establish such a center in Chicago known as the 'Business Women's Exchange.' " A delegate inquired if there were any clubs in the state o^vning club houses, to which Mrs. Jackson, of Eiver Forest, replied that the club of that suburb owned its home. Mrs. Bacon, of Decatur, stated that a stock company made up of club women in her city had been organized, had put up a building and had rented it to the Decatur Woman's Club. It is to be regretted that later this building passed out of the possession of the club and that for some time they have had no permanent home. While we can find no mention made of the club house owned by the Quincy Friends in Council at this time, we wish to make it a mat- ter of record, as we have done elsewhere in this History, that they owned a home in 1878 and that, so far as the General Federation has been able to learn, this is the oldest club house in the United States, used exclusively by women. 37 THE THIRD BIENNIUM. Mrs. Kobekt Bruce Farson. 1898—1900. Mrs. Eobert Bruce Farson was born in St. Charles, Illinois, where she now lives, and in a very charming old house. For many years, however, and during the early days of the Federation, she was a resident of Chicago. Her family consists of her husband and one son. She attended school in St. Charles, Galesburg, Bloomington and Chicago. Mrs. Farson was the second person, we believe, to hold the office of G. F. Secretary for Illinois, or, as it was called at that time, State Chairman of Correspondence. She was the first Corresponding Secre- tary for the Illinois Federation, third President of the Federation; Secretary and Vice-President of the Chicago Woman's Club, Presi- dent of the St. Charles Woman's Club, Chairman of Library Exten- sion for the I. F. W. C. and President of the Kane County Federation. Mrs. Farson was Founder of the St. Charles Public Library and served as its President. She is interested in all civic and educational movements, and active in the social and cultural life of St. Charles. The following officers were elected in Chicago: President, Mrs. Eobert Bruce Farson (Mrs. Clara M. J.) Chicago; Vice-President at Large, Mrs. Anna L. Parker, Quincy; Eecording Secretary, Mrs. Frederick Le Eoy, Strcator; Corresponding Secretary, Mrs. John A. Lutz, Lincoln ; Treasurer, Miss Sarah Maria Fairbank, Jacksonville ; State Correspondent for G. F., Mrs. Eugenia M. Bacon, Decatur; Honorary Vice-President for two years, Mrs. Clara P. Bourland, Peoria. The Vice-Presidents whose terms expired in one year were Mes- dames Almon Brooks, 1 ; Alzina P. Stevens, 3 ; George Sherwood, 5 ; Wm. A. Starin, Waukegan, 7 ; Miss Effie Shaw, Mt. Carroll, 9 ; Mes- dames C. J. Eichardson, Princeton, 11; Saidee Gray Cox, Blooming- ton, 13; Ida C. Burns, Monmouth, 15; Alice G. Wells, Decatur, 17; W. F. Purtill, Mattoon, 19; Sarah E. Hallam, Centralia, 21. Those serving for two years were : Mesdames Florence Allen Ingalls, Eiver Forest, 2 ; Dessa Worthington, Chicago, 4 ; Miss Rebecca F. Rice, Chi- cago, 6; Mesdames A. J. Hopkins, Aurora, 8; Clara J. Coulson, Gales- burg, 10; George G. Mabin, Danville, 12; Fredrica W. Bayne, Lacon, 14; Thos. Worthington, Jacksonville, 16; Charles D. Hoiles, Green- ville, 18; George W. Evans, Mt. Vernon, 20; Phebe Alice Taylor, Cairo, 22. At the meeting of the Board of Directors, iSTovember, 1898, it was voted to print the list of clubs according to Congressional Dis- tricts, counties and names. Vacation Schools and Truant Schools were endorsed at this meeting. At the Board Meeting in May, 1899, the Library Committee re- ported the establishment of the first travelling libraries, stating that Geneva and Elgin were collecting the 10th and 11th district libraries 38 for Kane County work. The Millard Ave., Woman's Club and the Culture Club of Chicago reported placing their 2nd and 3rd district libraries in Bureau and Champaign Counties. Up to this time only two libraries had travelled, Burlington and Hampshire having ex- changed. At this Board Meeting a Eeciproeity Committee was ap- pointed to have charge of the excliange of club papers and programs, lists of essayists with subjects and prices, lists of reference books and other material which might be needed. The work of the committees during this administration, much of which was entirely new, was devoted to Art, Education, Music, Literature, Libraries, Legislation, Philanthropy, Industrial Conditions and Reciprocity. The first year book, a small affair of sixty-nine pages about 6% by 5% inches, pink in color, made its appearance. It contained a list of officers, short articles on "Duties of Vice-Presi- dents" — there was no precedent to go by in those days, it was all an untried field — "Suggestions for Work in the Illinois Federation of Women's Clubs" by the President, Mrs. Parson, reports and sug- gestions from the various committees, nine in number, the constitu- tion, "Revised and Adopted at the Annual Meeting, 1899," lists of clubs and their officers and the report of the treasurer. The Education Committee's work was the most important at this period, as it had been in the past, and as it was to continue to be for sometime to come: That was the "creation of public sentiment in favor of improvements and reforms in educational matters throughout the state." A set of resolutions prepared by a committee of the State Teachers' Association, acting with the Education Committee of the State Federation, was presented at the meeting of the Federation in Quincy in October 1899 and unanimously adopted. The particular objects for which this joint committee planned to work, were : making kindergartens a recognized part of the public school system and urging their establishment wherever practicable; the establishment of special schools for truant incorrigibles and defec- tives; the more effective enforcement of the compulsory education law; the improvement in the sanitary conditions of school buildings by more frequent and thorough inspection ; the improvement in school buildings that a sense of the beautiful might be cultivated; the im- provement of study courses under the guidance of experts; the sub- jection to severer tests of culture and professional efficiency the ap- plicants for teachers' certificates. The Philanthropy Committee suggested outlines for child study and for organized charity work ; the Literature Committee made sug- gestions for local history, sociology, methods of work, speaking with- out manuscript, voice culture, limiting number of papers; the Com- mittee on Art suggested "some things to know about pictures," an outline study in contemporary art arranged by Lorado Taft, school room decoration with a list for reading. For the first time traveling picture galleries were sent out by this committee. The Music Com- mittee suggested the study of the history, theory and philosoph}' of music, "even in clubs which do not have a music department," the 39 establishment of band concerts in public squares, organ recitals and Sunday concerts, choral unions, public singing, books on music and music journals in club libraries, making the music for the club meet- ing fit into the day's program, patronage and support of good concerts. The Library Committee, also a very active one, recommended the establishment of public libraries wherever possible; making the city library a township library; supplying books which would supple- ment school work; arranging special library rooms for younger chil- dren; providing entertaining reading for inmates of public institu- tions; the building up of a special reference library for the clubs, including year books, reports of Federation meetings and other or- ganizations ; provision for traveling libraries for rural districts. Traveling libraries were being successfully conducted at this time in LaSalle, Cook, Stephenson, Kane, Champaign, Bureau, Macon and McHenry Counties and were proving of "inestimable value." The committee was also interested in the creation of state traveling li- braries. The Industrial Committee recommended subscribing to a "labor reform paper;" attendance at meetings of working people, especially during strikes; purchase by public libraries of periodicals relating to economic and industrial subjects; the securing in each locality of the number of children of compulsory school age and how the time is spent of those attending "fourteen weeks or less of school;" ascer- taining what products are purchased chiefly by women and the con- ditions of their manufacture; promoting the enactment of a postal savings bank bill by Congress. The Committee on Legislation felt that it was not its province "to prepare bills but to suggest the lines on which legislation is apparently needed and to ask for them the careful consideration of the clubs." The committee suggested working for the appointment, by the Legislature, of a library commission with a sufficient appropri- ation to admit of aid to traveling libraries; the necessity for better accommodatio2is for women at the State University; the removal of all children between the ages of two and sixteen from the poor houses of the state; the need of a state reformatory, on the best approved plan, exclusively for boys under sixteen; proper care of epileptics; extension of compulsory school attendance for children under fourteen to full school year to harmonize with existing labor law; desirability of joint and equal parental guardianship of children." The Committee on Literature and History had established a Bureau of Eeciprocity and Information, loaning manuscripts, sug- gesting study courses and offering a list of lectures and lecturers. Mrs. Farson reported that sixty-six libraries were now in circulation. The Fifth Annual Meeting of the Federation was held in the Presbyterian Church in Quincy, October 18, 19, 20, 1899. Mrs. Susan W. Tibbetts was Chairman and was assisted by Mrs. W. D. Whitmore, Dr. Abby Fox Eooney and Mrs. W. L. Ellis. A drive around the city was given the delegates and this was followed by a reception by the Quincy Women's Clubs at the Country Club. Mrs. Edward J. Parker 40 made the address of welcome. Mrs. Stanwood and Mrs. Dunlap talked on educational subjects; Mrs. Nellie M. Kedzie, of Peoria, talked on ''Teaching Household Economics." "Aesthetic Conscience,'"' "Art in Common Things" and "Music in Women's Clubs/' followed by a con- cert, was the program for the first evening. "Interdependence of State and General Federations," was Mrs. Bacon's subject on Thurs- day morning, followed by talks on "The Evolution of a Program," "Else, Progress and Future of the Traveling Library in Illinois," and "Preventive Legislation in Illinois." Professor Albion W. Small discussed "Practical Charity ;" Mrs. Eleanor C. Barlow, "Indiscrimin- ate Alms-giving;" and Mrs. Henrotin, "The Consumer's League." Officers elected at Quincy were: President, Mrs. Eobert Bruce Farson, Chicago; Vice-President at Large, Mrs. Seely Perry, Eock- ford; Eecording Secretary, Mrs. Saidee G. Cox, Hudson; Corres- ponding Secretary, Mrs. John A. Lutz, Lincoln; Treasurer, Mrs. Edward C. Lambert, Jacksonville; General Federation Secretar}^ for Illinois, Mrs. Eugenie M. Bacon, Decatur; Honorary President, Mrs. Clara P. Bourland. The Vice-Presidents whose terms expired in 1900, were : Mes- dames Florence A. Ingaels, Eiver Forest, 3; Dessa Worthin,gton, 4, and Eebecca F. Eice, 6, both of Chicago; A. J. Hopkins, Aurora, 8; Clara J. Coulson, Galesburg, 10; George G. Mabin, Danville. 12; Anna Schipper, Lacon, 14; Thos, Worthington, Jacksonville, 16; Charles D. Holies, Greenville, 18; George W. Evans, Mt. Vernon, 20; Phebe Alice Taylor, Cairo, 22. Those whose terms expired in 1901, were : Mesdames H. E. Briggs, 1 ; John C. Eobinson, 3 ; James Maxwell, 5 ; Nathaniel C. Sears, 7, all of Chicago. Miss Effiie Shaw, Mt. Carroll, 9; Mesdames C, J. Eichardson. Princeton, 11; J. E. Stewart, Champaign, 13; Ida Carey Burns, Monmouth, 15; Alfred Orendoi-ff, Springfield, 17; C. E. Wilson, Mattoon, 19; Sarah A. Hallam, Centralia, 21. Mrs. Fred A. Smith served as Chairman of the Program Com- mittee; Mrs. Clara P. Bourland, Nominating Committee; Mrs. James E. Keith, Chicago, Credentials. Among the legislative bills worked for during Mrs. Parson's ad- ministration, the following were enacted into laws: The Juvenile Court Law; The Department of Children; Truant School Bill: Vaca- tion School and Parental School. The Federation joined with the Teachers' Institute and the Farmers' Institute in working for a li- brary commission. An appropriation for a girls' dormitor}^ at the University was asked for and granted by the Legislature. The following resolution was adopted : "That the coming Phil- anthropic Committee be instructed to examine the question of form- ing, in this Federation, an auxiliary to the National Civil Service Eeform League, and if they deem it wise to do so. that they be em- powered to appoint, with the approval of the President, a sub-com- mittee, which shall be such auxiliary." At the Biennial Meeting of the General Federation held in Mil- waukee in the spring of 1900, a very serious situation had been pre- 41 cipitated. Mrs. Eebecca Douglas Lowe, President, had, by virtue of her oflBce. and vrithout knowing that the New Era Club of Boston was an organization of colored women, admitted them to membership. Her action had to be ratified by the Board of Directors who refused to accept the club after learning the facts. At this time individual clubs and federations were admitted upon an equal footing which was an unnatural formation and, in itself, gave rise to much dissatis- faction. Upon this tense situation, which probably could have been adjusted at this meeting, was added the question of colored member- ship. Dr. Celia Parker Woolley, a Chicago minister, and prominent in the Illinois Federation, was an ardent advocate of "no color line,'' hence her appearance at the convention, without her delegate's badge, to offer as a visitor, the following protest : •'As a member of one of the federated clubs belonging to the Illi- nois Federation and the General Federation, I desire to record my earnest protest against the exclusion of the representative of the New Era Club of Boston. Mrs. Josephine St. Pierre Rutlhi, at the meeting in Milwaukee last June. "This action is to be condemned on grounds both constitutional and ethical. The Xew Era Club had paid its dues and received a receipt of membership and its representative had fulfilled all the legal requirements of the case. Afterwards, by the action of the governing board acting on their own responsibility and far exceeding their authority, the New Era Club was refused representation in the Feder- ation because it was a body ui colored women. "The General Federation is a national organization. Its spirit as well as its name should be national. Its only test of admission lies in the work and personal character of the women seeking member- -ship therein. To exclude a body of women because of their racial descent is to violate those principles of human helpfulness and uni- versal sisterhood which we profess. Such action is to be further deplored for its reactive effects upon the club movement itself, for the distrust and disappointment it arouses among all lovers of justice and humanity." The matter was referred to the Illinois Board to be brought be- fore the next annual convention if deemed wise. However, at the next Board Meeting, December 20, 1900, it was moved '"'that the wisdom of the Board is that the Board do not bring up this question at the annual meeting in 1901." At this meeting endorsement was given to the work of ^Irs. Florence Kelly as Chief Factory Inspector. It was moved to request Governor Tanner to continue ^liss Julia Lathrop as a member of the State Board of Charities and Corrections. The Committee on E(!visions was instructed to arrange some plan whereby two tickets might be prepared to submit to the delegates at the next convention. .\t the Board Meeting held on ^Fav Ifi. 1901, the Legislative Chairman, ^frs. Flower, reported that the bill for Compulsory Kinder- garten and ^Manual Training had passed the Legislature and had been vetoed bv the Governor; that the bill for a State Home for Delin- 42 quent Boys had passed and was considered most important. The bill Constituting the Parents Equal Guardians of the child had also passed. At this time the chairmen of the various standing committees were made members of the Board. In referring to the admission of clubs of colored women, Mrs. Farson spoke of the suggestion of Mrs. Lydia Williams, of Minnesota, which was to the effect that each state federation decide for itself whether or not these clubs shall be ad- mitted. The Sixth Annual Convention was held in Eockford, in the Second Congregational Church, October 17, 18, 19, 1900. The Local Board was made up of Mrs. Seely Perry, Chairman, Miss Mary J. Beattie, Mrs. Thos. Ferguson and Mrs. George Wood- ruff. "Open house" was held at the various Eockford clubs one after- noon, a reception at Eockford College another afternoon and an even- ing reception given by the Eockford Federation at the church. A conference of standing committees was held the first after- noon with the club women taking part in a very interesting program. The name of Mrs. Henry T. Eainey, of Carrollton, appears for the first time when she discussed "The New Philanthropy." To those of us who have conducted and taken part in club institutes, who have appreciated how valuable an adjunct they can be made to our club life, it is extremely interesting to read of a program dealing Tvdth practically the same subjects which we have been using (1924-1938). A conference of Club Presidents considered "Club Work, Methods and Aims," and the topics discussed were : "Minor Morals of Club Life," with Courtesy, Individual Eesponsibility and Loyalty as sub-topics; ^'Eelation of the Club to Other Organizations, Charities, etc," ; "The Club as a Social Force," and "Divorce of Politics from Civics." A discussion on "How May the Church be Influenced by the Woman's Club Movement?" was taken part in by several speakers, Mrs. Bacon and Mrs. Catherine Waugh McCullough among them. Mrs. Elia W. Peattie talked on "The Trend of American Social Life." Mrs. Potter Palmer on "Messages from the Paris Exposition," and Miss Jane Addams on "Social Economics at the Paris Exposition." 43 THE FOUETH BIENNIUM. Governor of Illinois, President of the U. S., 1901—1905. 1901—1905 EiCHAED Yates. Theodore Eoosevelt. Mrs. Thaddetjs P. .Staxwood. 1900—1902. Mrs. Thaddeiis P. Stanwood was bom in Waterford, Wisconsin, her mothers family coming there as pioneers and building the town. The family came to Bockford in 1859 and lived there for some years, and until they moved back east. Mvf-. Stanwood received her early education in the East Rock- ford High School, later going to Vassar College where she graduated in 1880. She taught in the old Chauncey Hall School for boys in Boston before her marriage. She lives in Evanston and her family consists of her husband, one son and two daughters. She is a charter member of the Evanston Woman's Club. Her interests outside of club work are educational, church and civic. At the meeting held in Bockford the official term of sert'iee had been changed from one to two years and those elected were : President, Mrs. Thaddeus P. Standwood of Evanston; Vice-President at Large, Mrs. Seely Perry, of Bockford; Corresponding Secretary, Mrs. Susan W, Tibbets, Quincy; Becording Secretary, Mrs. Saidee Gray Cox, Hudson; Treasurer, Mrs. Edward C. Lambert, Jacksonville; Illinois Secretar}^ for the General Federation, Mrs. Eugenia M. Bacon. The Vice-Presidents were: Mesdames H. E. Briggs, 1; C. E. Curtis, 2 ; John C. Eobinson, 3 ; Laura Dainty Pelham, i ; James Maxwell, 5 ; John Worth a', 6 ; Xathaniel Sears, 7, all of Chicago. Mrs. Jennie Ellwood, Dekalb, 8 ; Miss Effie Shaw, Mt. Carroll,' 9. Mesdames Flora B. Graham, Aledo, 10; H. M. Trimble, Princeton, 11 ; Xettie M. Kenage, Kankakee, 12 ; J. E. Stewart, Champaign, 13 ; Anna Schipper, Pekin, 14; Ida Carey Burns, Monmouth, 15; Thos. Pitner, Jacksonville, 16 ; Alfred Orendorif, Springfield, 1 7 ; Estelle Beach Davis, Litchfield, 18 ; C. E. Wilson, ^Mattoon, 19 ; Sarah A. Hallam, Centralia, 21; Mary B. Wenger, Cairo, 22. Chairmen of Standing Committees, which now numbered eigh- teen, were: Mesdames Alfred Bayless, Springfield, Education; S. T. Buse3% LTrbana, Domestic Science; Chas. T. Gildersleeve, Hudson, Philanthropy; James M. Flower, Chicago, Legislation; Caroline P. Brazee, Bockford, Literature ; Florence A. Ingalls, Eiver Forest, Library Extension; J. G. ]\IcMurphy, Oak Park, Art; George A. Coe, Evanston, ]\Iusic ; Dessa Worthington. Chicago. Industrial ; Chas. F. Millspaugh, Chicago, Beciprocity; Albert W. Hester, Buena Park, Program; Mary E. Kates, Bloomington, Xominating; James Frake, Chicago, Bevision; John C. Bundy, Evanston, Printing; E. S. Chea- 44 ney, Petersburg. Auditing; Bella Dimick, Quincy, Credentials; Chas. A. Armstrong, Springfield, Transportation and Arrangements; Miss Julia Lathrop, Civil Service. The progress of this administration is more or less covered in the following paragraph by Mrs. Stanwood in her article, "Looking Back- ward." "In reality each year sees the Federation patiently and per- sistently pushing various enterprises and the successful conclusion rarely lies in the administration which began any of them." Mrs. Stanwood also stated in a private letter to the Editor, when asked to give some notes on her administration; "It was early in the history of the Federation and we were engaged in strengthening the organization to insure its permanency and to respond to the expressed desire of the membership for help if the call had volume enough to require attention. We added a committee or two and offered certain schemes for serious and continuous study — in music, I remember especially. But it was all very primitive and simple — very few pre- cedents or examples." The Seventh Annual Meeting was held in Decatur, in the First Presbyterian Church, October 16, 17, 18, 1901. Mrs. Florence J. McConnell was Chairman of the Local Board and was assisted by ]\Iiss Mary L. Johnson, Secretar}^ and Mesdames L. F. Leavenworth, A. T. Summers, J. Tobe Ward, Frank Hamsher, J. G. Badenhausen, Frank H. Rhoades, J. W. Evans, India McAllister, Ellen C. Philbrook and Miss Lillian B. Irwin. A reception was given by the Decatur Woman's Club, in their rooms, to the delegates and visitors on Wednesday afternoon. The program was very well arranged in the form of general conferences, the major subjects being those of Domestic Science, Edu- cation, Philanthropy, Press, Libraries, Legislation, Literature and Industrial. For the first time a "Parliamentary Law Drill" was held and was conducted by Mrs. John D. Sherman, of Chicago. The state having been reapportioned in 1900, its twenty-two Congressional Districts being divided into twenty-five, the question of redistricting the State Federation along the same lines was an important matter of business and the following recommendation con- cerning the matter was presented by Mrs. Frake and adopted : "In order that the Federation may live up to the meaning of Article IV, Section V, it will be necessary for the clubs to be rearranged into twenty-five districts to correspond with the new districting of the state by the Legislature. Many of the districts now bearing an odd number will be changed into an even number and new ones will be •created. To avoid confusion next year when a general election must be held, the Executive Board recommends that this year all the dis- tricts elect Vice-Presidents, the even numbered districts to elect for one year to meet this emergency and the odd numbered districts to elect for two years, as they would do under the terms of the old! article. That this amendment be operative only for this year, and after this year the old terms of the article be adhered to." Accord- ingly, all districts held the necessary meetings for the nomination of 45 Vice-Presidents, the names of the candidates being given to the nom- inating committee (for the state). Mrs. George Watkins, later district and State President, urged the desirability of using school houses after four o'clock, and during the evening, for the discussion of civic, educational and philanthropic questions by the parents. The following resolution on Indian "Welfare was presented and adopted : Whereas, The education given to American Indian girls at the Government schools is not, under present conditions, of the highest and most lasting benefit to them, be it Resolved, That their welfare is worthy the consideration of club women and that it be made a subject of study with a view to mutual helpfulness." At the Xovember Board Meeting the Civil Service Auxiliary, which had been made a part of the Philanthropy Committee, was formed into a separate committee. At the February 1902 Board Meeting it was voted to have a Finance Committee, the members of said committee to be appointed by the President. The University of Illinois, in response to the efforts of the club women, founded a Department of Domestic Science. For the first time we hear of a suggestion for the formation of rural clubs in the Federation, and that the membership should pre- ferably be made up of both men and women because such organiza- tions prosper to a greater extent in the country than clubs of women alone. "The club is the college of the middle aged" and sometimes the only college which youth may attend. In addition to the many prominent Illinois women already listed we begin to note the names of those who have achieved more or less renown in state and national affairs since those earl}" days, names of those, who personally, or through their families, have become indis- solubly linked with the public life of our state; also names of men who have become prominent in almost even* walk of life. Many of these women never held an office in the Federation but they con- tributed greatly to the life of twenty or thirty years ago. They helped to mold the Federation, and by the force of their personali- ties, by their devoted and unselfish interest in the upbuilding of the cultural and civic life of the state, they have left an impress which shall never be forgotten. The same officers who were elected at Eockford for two years continued to serve. The Vice-Presidents for 1901-02 were: ]\Ies- dames Claribel Schmitt, 1: George Watkins, 2; T. J. McGrath, 3; W. E. Watt, 4; C. E. Curtiss, 6; Albert W. Holmes, 7; Laura Dainty Pelham, 8; John Worthy, 9, all of Chicago; Wm. M. Welch. Eogers Park, 10; Alonzo P. Daniels, Downers Grove, 11; Wm. L. Elwood, De Kalb, 12 ; Dorothy K Law, Dixon, 13 ; May I. Whitham, Aledo. 14; Miss Xellie C. Tompkins, Avon, 15; Mrs. Anna Schipper, Pekin, 16, ]Miss Charlotte B. Capen, Bloomingtou, 17; ^lesdames W. F. Kenasra, Kankakee, 18; Florence J. McConnell, Decatur, 19; T. J. Pitner, Jacksonville, 20 ; Melle Williams, Tavlorville, 21 ; T. R. 46 Murphy, Upper Alton, 22; Adda M. Webb, Vandalia, 23; P. T. Champman, Vienna, 24; Mary B. Wenger, Cairo, 25. Chairmen of Standing Committees for 1901-1902 were: Mes- dames Alfred Bayless, Springfield, Education; S. Noble King, Bloomington, Domestic Science ; Seely Perry, Chicago, Literature ; John B. Sherwood, Chicago, Art; Geo. A. Coe, Evanston, Music; H. W. Trimble, Princeton, Library Extension; Saidee G. Cox, Hud- son, Philanthropy; Harriett M. Van Der Wart, Chicago, Industrial; George Watkins, Chicago, Legislation; Chas. F. Millspaugh, Chicago, Eeciprocity; Albert W. Hester, Buena Park, Program; Edward C. Lambert, Jacksonville, Credentials; Jas. E. Keith, Chicago, Print ing; S. C. Stanton, Chicago, Revisions; Nellie Epler Mills, Virginia, Auditing; L. T. M. Slocum, Chicago, Transportation; Miss Julia Lathrop, Chicago, Civil Service. The Eighth Annual Convention was held in Champaign-Urbana, in University Hall, October 15, 16, 17, 1902, by invitation of the women's clubs of both cities. The members of the Local Board were : Mesdames S. T. Busey, Chairman, S. W. Shattuck, F. L. Bills, M. W. Buse.y, Ozias Piley, H. M. Dunlap, Dean Kinley and Miss Mary Willie, Secretary. An evening reception with a musical pro,gram was tendered the delegates by the ladies of Champaign and Urbana. The first session was on Tuesday evening when the Literature Committee held an open conference with addresses on "The Divine Eight of Culture." "Readings from Shakespeare and Prayer," "Thoroughness and Concentration" and "Wordsworth's Philosophy of Life." Nearly all the talks were made by the chairmen them- selves or b}^ other club women. We note the name, for the first time, of Dr. Josephine Milligan, of Jacksonville, v/ho talked on the "Care of Epileptics by the State." Mrs. Demies T. Denison, President of the General Federation, was present and urged that the State Presi- dent be always considered the head of her delegation at meetings of the General Federation, and that club presidents be delegates to those meetings whenever it was possible for them to go. There was a membership of about 25,000 in the Federation at this period enrolled in 246 clubs. For the first time, invitations to the annual meeting were sent to the officers of the General Federation and to the presidents of other state federations. The Library Com- mittee reported 225 libraries in circulation throughout the state. A long discussion took place on the proposed plan of increasing the dues of the clubs to the Federation from a flat rate to a per capita fee of ten cents but it failed to carry. The following resolutions of importance were adopted : Whereas, The history of the last year in Illinois has demon- strated the basal necessity of a wise merit law to control appoint- ments in all branches of the organized business of the state, and Whereas, The enactment of such law must be preliminary to any useful change in the method of carrying on the public charities, and 47 Whereas^ The public charities are the most important single item in the business of the state, and their effective and humane administration an imperative public duty, Therefore Be It Resolved, That the Federation through its Civil Service Committee, endeavor to co-operate with other bodies of citizens in devising plans for such organization under a merit law as shall appear to promise the best medical and nursing care and the highest degree of efficiency and economy in the administration of the state charities. WiiEEEAs, The reports of the factory inspector, and the investi- gations of the industrial and other committees working along the same lines, show that child labor is greatly on the increase in Illinois, and that its increase is not only an injustice to the child and a! menace to its future, but a most destructive and perplexing element in present day economic conditions, and that its continuance is a serious hindrance to the growth and prosperity of the commonwealth, Therefore Be It Resolved, That the Illinois Federation of Women's Clubs deplores the existence of this evil, which is dwarfing the lives of the children who are to become the future citizens of this commonwealth, and since one of the avowed aims of the Federation is the protection and defense of helpless childhood wherever found, it here and now pledges itself to support such measures as will re- lieve this unnatural and cruel condition, with all the skill and en- fluence that lies in its power. A resolution was also adopted asking the Legislature to establish a farm colony for epileptics. Mrs. Van Der Wart called attention to the bill to secure for tax paying women the right to vote for certain officers, and to participate and vote in certain meetings and on certain matters. Mrs. Catherine Waugh McCullough of Chicago discussed the bill. She was asked, "What was the object, when drafting this bill, in limiting the women voters to tax paying women?" Her reply was, that "there was a particular injustice to tax paying women ; that the bill did not take the ballot from other women because they never had it ; if the Legis- lature ohjected it could strike out the word 'taxpaying;' the Legis- lature mifjht stand for this when they. would not stand for a bill to give all women the right to suffrage. ' The bill was endorsed as read. 48 THE FIFTH BIENNIUM. Mks. Eugenia M. Bacon. 1902—1904. Mrs. George E. Bacon, long a resident of Decatur, was born in Bowling Green, Indiana. She came to Tuscola, Illinois, in 1861, and was married there, at the home of an aunt, March 31, 1874, to Lieut. George R. Bacon, of the First U. S. Cavalry, and a graduate of West Point. Mrs. Bacon had one son who died when he was eight years old and Mr. Bacon died in 1911. Lieut. Bacon resigned from the Army in 1878 and the family moved to Champaign and later to Decatur. Mrs. Bacon served as an officer in the Decatur Woman's Club for over ten years, five of which she gave to the presidency. She also served two terms as G. F. State Secretary for Illinois before she be- came President, which she did in 1902. For one year each she was Chairman of Printing, Library Extension and Legislation for the I. F. W. C. She was also Assistant Editor of the first Bulletin published by the State Federation. Her most notable service was given on the Library Extension Commission of which she was the only woman, and where she served for ten years. She was largely in- strumental in having the Commission formed, appearing before the Legislature in its interests for many years. In addition to her club activities, Mrs. Bacon has been prom- inently identified with the civic, church and educational interests of Decatur. She is a member of the D. A. E., P. E. 0., Delphians; Woman's Civic League; President of the Woman's Society of the Congregational Church. She has done much in promoting an interest in good literature especially in Bible study from a literary standpoint. The officers elected at the Champaign-Urbana meeting, and who, with one exception, served for the term of two years, were : Presi- dent, Mrs. Eugenia M. Bacon; Vice-President at Large, Mrs. E. C. Lambert; Corresponding Secretar}-, Mrs. F. M. Wright, Urbana; Re- cording Secretary, Mrs. Frank Gates Allen, Moline; Treasurer, Mrs. Dorothy N. Law, Dixon; Secretary for the General Federation in Illinois, Mrs. George Watkins. Mrs. Frank L. Bills of Urbana took the place of Mrs. Wright almost immediately and continued to serve throughout the administration. The Vice-Presidents for 1902-1903 were: Mesdames Claribel Schmitt, 1; Thos. A. Banning, 2 ; T. J. McGrath, 3; W. E. Watt, 4; Hattie A. Morse, 5; Anna L. Wright, (Oak Park) 6; Albert W. Holmes, 7 ; S. C. Stanton, 8 ; John Worthy. 9, all of Chicago ; Laura B. Fessenden, Highland Park, 10 ; Alon5:o P. Daniels, Downers Grove, 11; Xorman F. Tliompson. Rockford, 12; Lizzie Kehr, Ster- ling, 13 ; J. H. Pattee, Monmouth, 14 ; Giles Clayberg. Avon, 15 Martha W. Spurck, Peoria, 16; Percy B. Bckhart, Bloomington, 17 W. E. Fithian, Danville, 18 ; Florence E. M'Connell, Decatur, 19 Henry F. Carriell, Jacksonville, 20 ; Melle Williams, Taylorville, 21 ; 49 George B. Dodge, Upper Alton, 22; Adda M. Webb, Vandalia, 23; Sarah A. Poor, Vienna, 24; Mary B. Wenger, Cairo, 25. The Chairmen of Standing Committees for the same period were: Mesdames Wm. J. Eoberts, Chicago, Reciprocity; H. M. Trimble, Princeton, Library Extension; Harriett Van Der Wart, Industrial; P. S. Peterson, Domestic Science; J. B. Sherwood, Art; Frank L. AYean, Education; John D. Sherman, Kevisions; C. S. Stanton, Finance; Henry A. Phillips, Literature; J. W. Hiner, Music and Calvin S. Case, Program, all of Chicago; Marie E. Good- win, Naperville, Credentials; D-r. Josephine Milligan, Jacksonville, Philanthropy; Miss Bess M. Doolittle, Chicago, Transportation. At a Board Meeting held during the Champaign Convention it was decided to compile and publish a History of the Hlinois Fed- eration for which the sum of $25.00 was later appropriated. The period covered was from 1894 to 1903, Mrs. Henrotin and Mrs. Bacon serving as historians. The little book covered fourteen pages and was six by four and three quarters inches in size. The opening paragraph stated that "This brochure is by no means a full history of the Illinois Federation of Women's Clubs, but is intended to set forth the benefits of membership in it, by briefly sketching some of the results which have been accomplished by united effort during eight years of organization." At the January Board Meeting it was decided that all the Treas- urer's vouchers be signed henceforth, by the President and Chair- man of Finance. Also that the Finance Committee be listed as a Special Committee composed of Board Members. Mrs. Bacon, in her first "Outlook," stressesd the necessity of con- centrating all legislative work on compulsory education and child labor laws. The wisdom of her position was shown in the passage of these laws by the Legislature at no very distant date. She also suggested concerted action on Civil Service Reform and a State Library Commission. The Federation, at this time, was prepared to offer to such a commission, 250 libraries containing 12,000 volumes. The President called attention to the fact that there were 236 clubs with a membership of 24,000, paying dues of $686.00 in the Federation for the .year 1902-1903. Also that there were 48 clubs with a membership of 8,000, paying a per capita fee of ten cents, or $800.00, in the General Federation, which was more than the state was receiving for all its expenses. It seemed neither just nor loyal to the State as the General Federation depended for lier existence upon the state organizations. The JsTinth Annual Convention, over which Mrs. Bacon presided, was held in Cairo, at "the Opera House, October 19, 20, 21, 22, 1903. The members of the local Board were: Mrs. Mary B. Wenger. Chairman ; Miss Effie A. Lansden, Secretary and Mesdames Isabella L. Candee, Wm. A. Butler, John M. Lansden, Andrew Lohr, J. E. Strong, Samuel White, M. F. Gilbert, W. B. Gilbert, E. S. Dewey, John A. Miller and Miss Bessie M. Turner. On Tuesday evening a 50 reception was given by tlie Cairo Woman's Club in their rooms in the Library Building and on Wednesday afternoon an excursion around the city was given the visitors. Mrs. Candee, the first President of the Federation, made the address of welcome at the opening session and reminded the delegates how the Federation had gi'own in nine years. The noted guests on this occasion were : Mrs. Kobert J. Burdette, Vice-President of the General Federation ; Mrs. Philip N". Moore, President of the Mis- souri Federation and Dr. Yamei Kin, the first Chinese woman to be graduated in medicine. The Library Extension Committee held one of the first places on the program, giving special attention to public libraries in the small towns and to traveling libraries. Mrs. Francis D. Everett, afterwards State President, was one of the speakers on this program. The Domestic Science Committee was represented by three prominent women, first among w'hom, was Mrs. Sara Tyson Borer, Principal of the Philadelphia Cooking School, who talked on Domestic Science as "A Promoter of Higher Education;" '^Domestic Science in the Colleges and Universities," by Miss Isabel Bevier, Dean of Household Science, University of Illinois and "The Influence of the Domestic Science School on the Home Life," by Mrs. Lynden Evans, President, Chicago School of Domestic Arts and Science. We also note the name of Mrs. Laura B. Evans, of Taylorville, Chairman of the Sub- Educational Committee, who, for several years was a Trustee of the University of Illinois. The subject for General Discussion w^as: "To what extent should Women's Clubs take up the study of civics in their yearly program ? How far and in what way should they use their influence toward securing better legislation and municipal improvements?" A gavel made from walnut, originally a part of a cabin occupied by General Grant while in Cairo during the Civil War, was presented to Mrs. Bacon. The standards used for the first time in Cairo for marking the district organizations, were presented to the Federation by the Decatur Woman's Club. During this meeting a Committee on Forestry was added to the list of Standing Committees. The same officers continued to serve and the Vice-Presidents for Chicago were : Mesdames Katherinc Storv Westf all, 1 ; Thos. A. Banning, Wheaton, 2; C. E. Herrick. 3 ; W. E. Watts, 4; Miss Ger- trude Barnum, 5; Mesdames Anna L. Wright, 6; George E. Colby, 7; S. C. Stanton, 8; A. W. Hester, 9; Laura D. Fessenden, High- land Park, 10; James L. Nichols, ISTaperville, 11 ; Norman F. Thomp- son, Eockford, 12; Lizzie E. Kehr, Sterling, 13; J. H. Pattee, Mon- mouth, 14; Alida E. Boydston, Galesburg, 15; Martha W. Spurck, Peoria, 16; Edmund O'Connell, Bloomington, 17; Wm. E. Fithian, Danville, IS; M. W. Busey, Urbana. 19: Henry F. CaiTiell, Jack- sonville, 20 ; Wm. L. Mounts, Carlinville, 21 ; George B. Dodge, Upper Alton, 23; Euth Eexwinkle, Vandalia, 23; Sarah A. Poor, Vienna, 24; A. D. Caldwell, Carbondale, 25. 51 At the end of Mrs. Bacon's term as President she was made Honorary President for two years. The Chairmen of the Standing Committees for this ]jeriod were : Mesdames Frank L. Wean, Education; Elwood McGraw, Library Extension; Truman G. Palmer, Philanthropy; James Frake, Legis- lation; Henry L. Frank, Civil Sen-ice; H. M. Van Der Wart, In- dustrial; Wm. J. Eoberts, Beciprocitv; Calvin S. Case, Program; John C. Hessler, Art; Albert G. Lane, Finance ; C. D. Wright, Print- ing; John D. Sherman, Revisions; P. S. Peterson, Forestry, all of Chicago ; H. M. Dunlap, Savoy, Sub-Committee on Education ; Hugh Barr Smith, Jacksonville, Domestic Science; 0. B. Spencer, Kanka kee, Music; J. L. Polk, Champaign, Literature; ^larie E. Goodwin, Xapenille, Credentials; Miss Eliza Shaw, Dixon, Auditing; Miss Bess M. Doolittle, Chicago, Transportation. The Board at its April, 1901 meeting recommended to the Legis- lative Committee the endorsement of the bill increasing the age of consent from fourteen to eighteen years. The Tenth Annual Meeting was held in Danville at the First Presbyterian Church. October 17. 18, 19. 20, 21, 1904. the Woman's Club of that city acting as hostess. The Local Board consisted of Mrs. Wm. E. Fithian, Chairman, Miss Eva Sherman, Secretary and Mesdames G. M. McDowell, Chas. Straw, J. M. Guy, S. L. Fox, E. E. E. Kimbrough, Jules Strauss, C. W. Feldkamp, A. Snyder, D. W. Bell and M. W. Thompson. On Tuesday evening a reception was held in the rooms of the Woman's Club and on Wednesday afternoon a trip was taken to the Danville branch of the Xational Soldiers' Home. Mrs. Bacon was the recipient of another gavel, presented jointly by- the Danville Woman's Club and the Clover Club. This was made from a cherry tree grown under the balcony upon which Lincoln stood when he addressed the citizens, in 1858, during the famous Lincoln and Douglas debates. Among the honored guests at this convention, were : Mrs. Sara Piatt Decker, alwaA's a very popular and much beloved woman, and President of the General Federation ; also Dr. Emily Brainerd Ryder, organizer and President of the Bombay, India, Sorosis. Among the prominent speakers were : Lorado Taft, David Felm- ley, Raymond Robins and Graham Taylor. We also note Judge Richard S. Tuthill of Chicago, who talked on "^Miat is most needed in Illinois today is the work of saving children from becoming crim- inals;" Mrs. A. F. Clift, Chairman of the Jail Committee of the Lake View Woman's Club, who had devoted nine years to jail work and who read a paper on "My Work in Chicago Jails." An evening meeting was devoted to Civil Service, those on the prosram being, Alfred W. Cooley, U. S. Commissioner, who talked on "The Xational Civil Service Law," Merritt Starr, "The necessity for a State Law," Hoyt King, "The Campaign for a State Law." The delesrate body voted that "A delegate shall represent but one organization." 52 It is interesting to note at this convention that almost the identi- cal discussion took place regarding the sending of legislative bills to the clubs for their approval or disapproval as took place at the con- vention of 192G. The following bills were endorsed: A bill for the creation of a Library Extension Board. A bill for the creation of a Commission on Forestry. A bill creating a State Park from the Pine Tree Tract in Ogle County. A bill for the Eegistration of Graduate Nurses. Endorsement was also given to the "Age of Consent Bill" raising the age from 14 to 18 years. And after much discussion the "Suffrage Bill" was endorsed. The following resolution was passed : "That the Illinois Fed- eration urge its Congressional delegation to use its influence with Congress to have national legislation enacted that will give a Depart- ment of Education whose head shall be a cabinet officer." Among the bills for which the Federation had worked, the Child Labor and Compulsory Education Bills were passed by the Legisla- ture. The Chicago Civil Service League of Men bought 8,000 I. F. W. C. leaflets for distribution. The Constitution was revised and adopted. There were 346 club members and 30 speakers present at this meeting. During Mrs. Bacon's administration there was much growth in public interest among the club women and, for the first time, they appeared in large numbers before the members of the Legislature in support of the bills which had been endorsed by the Federation. The Board Members serving with Mrs. Bacon later formed an association which enjoyed several reunions. A joint committee composed of the representatives of the Philan- thropic, Civil Service and Legislative Committees was formed whose province it was to enlist the interest of club women in the State Charitable Institutions in their vicinity and to induce friendly visit- ing at those places. It was also suggested that every federated club appoint a legislative committee Avhich would help with the work of the state committee. Mrs. Frank Gates Allen, Eecording Secretary, in closing her re- port in the 1904-05 Year Book, refers to the preservation of the Federation records and mentions the fact that in the comparatively short history of the organization, the records had twice narrowly escaped being destroyed by fire. She says, "As the records of a society are among its most valued possessions, I would recommend that the next recording secretary be directed to keep the books in a safety vault and make two copies of the minutes of the board meet- ing, one copy always to be deposited with the records. In this way the history of the Federation may be safely preserved." 53 THE SIXTH BIENNIUM. Governor of Illinois, 1905— 1913. Charles S . Deneen. Mrs. James 1904- A. Frake, -1906. President of the U. S., 1901—1909. Theodore Roosevelt. Mrs. James Frake, by whose name stands a star denoting that she is no longer with us, served the Federation from 1904-1906, She was a member of the Chicago Board of Education, was President of the West End Woman's Club and a leading member of the Chicago Woman^s Club. Mrs. Frake was particularly interested in anything which had to do with children and was prominent in the movement that resulted in the Child Labor Law, the establishment of the Milk Commission and the Juvenile Court. She died in April, 1909, leav- ing a husband and two children. The officers elected at the Tenth Annual Meeting held in Dan- ville, were : President, Mrs. James A. Frake, Chicago ; Vice-Presi- dent at Large, Mrs. George Watkins, Chicago; Corresponding Secre- tary, Miss Bess M. Doolittle, Chicago; Recording Secretary, Mrs. Frank L. Bills, Urbana; Treasurer, Mrs. Robert Alexander, Joliet; General Federation Secretary, Mrs. Dorothy N. Law, Dixon; Honor- ary President, Mrs. Eugenia M. Bacon. The District Vice-Presidents included : Mesdanies Katherine Story Westfall, 1 ; Henry S. Jaffrey, 2 ; C. E. Her rick, 3 ; Miss Laura Bass, 4; Miss Emma Pischel, 5; Mesdanies C. E. Blake, Maywood, 6; George E. Colby, 7 ; Luther Conant, Oak Park, 8 ; A. W. Hester, 9 ; C."H. Betts, Ravenswood, 10; J. L. Nichols, Naperville, 11; Miss Kate F. OTonnor, Rockford, 12 ; Mesdanies Lizzie E. Kehr, Sterling, 13; Frank Gates Allen, Moline, 14; Alida E. Boydston, Galesburg, 15; Evelyn E. Jones, Henry, 16; Edmund O'Coiinell, Bloomington, 17; Orson B. Spencer, Kankakee, 18; M. W. Busey, Urbana, 19; M. Lilienstein, Petersburg, 20; Wm. L. Mounts, Carlinville, 21; Albert M. Jackson, Upper Alton, 22; Ruth Rexwinkle, Vandalia, 23; Sara F. Black, Flora, 24; Andrew S. Caldwell, Carbondale, 25. Those serving on the Standing Committees were: Mesdames Madeline W. Sikes, Education; Elwood McGraw, Library Extension; Truman B. Palmer, Philanthropy; K. D. Vander Ploeg, Music; Henry L. Frank, Civil Service; Wm. J. Roberts, Reciprocity; John C. Hessler, Art ; Frederick K. Tracy, Transportation ; John D. Sher- man, Revisions, all of Chicago; Eugeiiia M. Bacon, Decatur, Printing; Marie E. Goodwin, jSTaperville, Credentials ; H. J. Bohn, Morgan Park, Forestry ; Francis D. Everett, Highland Park, Program ; Mary Codding Bouiiand, Pontiac, Literature; R. N. McCauley, Blooming- ton, Domestic Science; C. G. Hopkins, Champaign, Sub-Committee, Education ; Dr. Marion K. Bowles, Joliet, Legislation ; Miss Annie L. Nicholes, Industrial and Miss Grace Temple, Aiuliting. At the November, 1904, Board Meeting, the following resolu- tion was adopted : 54 "That the President of the I. F. W. C. formulate a letter con- cerning the duty of the individual clubs to their District Vice-Presi- dents, and to the State Federation, and that such letter be sent to each club president, and that the substance of this letter be incorpor- ated in the President's message which is printed in the Year Book." The President, Mrs. Frake, presented the subject of an official magazine for the State Federation, requesting the opinion of mem- bers of the Board as to the advisahility of having such an organ, adding that the project was under consideration by experienced club women who would publish such a book or magazine if the idea met with sufficient encouragement. Mrs. John D. Sherman explained what such a magazine would be, that it would contain full reports of Federation work and would be both desirable and helpful to clubs throughout the state. No action was recorded, however. "What is the best mode of procedure for getting clubs to join the Federation." was generally discussed, as was also the benefits of a District Federation. It was decided "That the surplus of last year amoun'cmg to $155.69, with the additional sums of $2.S0 and^ of $12.00 for in- terest, a total of $170.49, be set aside as a sinking fund which may be added to as a surplus occurs, or may be drawn upon in an emer- gency." It was also moved and carried "That the incoming chairmen of committees request the outgoing chairmen to make condensed re- ports of their past two years' work with suggestions for future work, same to be handed to the President at the October meeting and later published in the Year Book." During 1904-1905 new standing committees devoted to Pure Food and Civics had been added to the Federation. This was done at the request of Mrs. Decker, President of the General Federation, who wished the State Federation committees to conform to those of the larger organization. The Springfield Woman's Club initiated a thorough and systematic study of the History of Illinois which ap- peared in a carefully prepared outline available to all clubs on appli- cation. In the report of the Educational Committee interest was urged for Consolidated Eural School Districts, Manual Training and Domestic Science in schools. School and Traveling Libraries, Free High Schools for Eural Children and Parents' Associations. Out of the latter has grown the state wide Parent-Teachers' Association, a very fine organization. The Philanthropy Committee urged the es- tablishment of permanent or detention homes for feeble minded young people of the State. Much attention was given to forestry in all its phases. At the May, 1905, Board Meeting a request for a Suffrage Extension Committee was laid on the table. Interest in traveling libraries and library work had been grow- ing to such an extent that work was started in earnest by the Library Committee for the creation of a Library Extension Board 55 with a sufficient appropriation by the State to obtain such libraries by purchase, and to provide for their expert administration. The Federation at this time owned 328 traveling libraries. Statistics showed that there were 34 counties in the State with no library facilities whatever. The Eleventh Annual Meeting of the Federation was held in Joliet, with Headquarters at Hotel Munroe, October 17, 18, 19, 20, 1905, on invitation of the Joliet Federation of Women's Clubs. The Local Board was made up of Mesdames E. J. Murphy, Chairman, Eobert Alexander, Secretary, and Harriet B. Carson, Albertina Grosss, Grant Houston, W. jSTevens, Leonard G. Wilson, J. J. Gaskill, George J. Munroe, Albert Weaver, Frank Chamberlain, 0. H. Staehle, Clarence Davidson, W. C. Barber, C. C. Eowett and Hubert Stevens. On Tuesday evening a reception was held at the home of Mrs. Murphy, President of the Joliet Federation. Domestic Science, Education and Library Extension still pre- dominated as subjects of discussion and held important places on this program. For the first time Tuberculosis was given attention and Dr. Wm. E. Quine, President of the Illinois State Medical Society talked on "The Preventability and Curability of Pulmonary Tuberculosis and the Duty of the State and of Individual Citizens in Eelation Thereto." Yery little attention, if any, had been given to public health up to this time, but it was destined to play a more and more important part in the work of the Federation as time went on. A very fine musical program was given at this meeting, four club choruses, those of Hull House, Lake View, Englewood and Chi- cago Culture taking part. Mrs. Bertha Smith-Titus directed the LaJse View and the Chicago Culture Club choruses, Mrs. W. D, Bel- knap, Englewood and Mr. Frank M. Jeffords, Hull House. The names of other well known Illinois people appearing on this program were : The Honorable Eichard J. Barr, then Mayor of Joliet, and later a power in the State Senate; General Alfred Oren- dorff of Springfield, President of the State Historical Society; Dr. Livingston Lord, President of the State Normal School at Charles- ton; Mrs. John D. Sherman, Eecording Secretary of the General Federation; Honorable Frances W. Parker; Judge 0. E. Carter; Prof. S. H. Clark, University of Chicago; Mrs. Margaret Drier Eobins, and Mrs. Ellen M. Henrotin. The officers elected at this meeting were: President, Mrs. James A. Frake, Chicago; Vice-President at Lai-ge, Mrs. George Watkins, Chicago; Eecording Secretary, Mrs. Frank L. Bills, Urbana; Cor- responding Secretary, Miss Grace Temple, Chicago; Treasurer, Mrs. Eobert Alexander, Joliet; General Federation Secretary, Mrs. Dorothy N". Law, Dixon; Honorary President, Mrs. Eugenia M. Bacon, Decatur; Official Parliamentarian, Mrs. John D. Sherman, Chicago. Vice-Presidents of Congressional Districts, were : Mesdames James Witkowsky, 1 ; Henry S. Jaffrey, 2 ; Alexander McCollom, 3 • 56 Miss Laura Bass, 4; Mesdames Martha Wake, 5; C. E. Blake, May- wood, 6; John E. Best, Arlington Heights, 7; A. E. Martin, 8; Donald L. Morrill, 9 ; C. H. Betts, 10 ; Lillie B. Hollenbeak, Elgin, 11; Miss Kate F. O'Connor, Eockford, 12; Mesdames H. D. Bentley, Freeport, 13; Frank Gates Allen, Moline, 14; Fannie V. Tompkins, Avon, 15; Dr. Harriet M. Owens, Princeton, 16; Mesdames Celia Pruen, Forest, 17; Orson B. Spencer, Kankakee, 18; Miss Georgia Hopkins, Shelbyville, 19; Mesdames M. Lilieustein, Petersburg, 30; Charles S. Deneen, Executive Mansion, Springfield, 21; Albert M. Jackson, Upper Alton, 22 ; Aden Knoph, Olney, 23 ; Sara F. Black, Flora, 24; W. N. Butler, Cairo, 25. Chairmen of Standing Committees were: Mesdames Wilbur S. Jackson, Chicago, Education; Frank Hasher, Sub-Committee, Urbana; Evelyn E. Jones, Henry, Library Extension; E. IST. Mc- Cauley, Bloomington, Domestic Science; Geo. W. Plummer, Chicago, Pui-e Food; A. G. Lane, Chicago, Civics; E. J. Murphy, Joliet, Philanthropy; Dr. Marion K. Bowles, Joliet, Legislation; Mesdames Frank E. Ford, Chicago, Music; Mary Codding Bourland, Pontiac, Literature; Harry S. Hyman, Chicago, Civil Service; Miss Annie E. Nichoies, Chicago, Industrial; Mesdames Charles S. Clarjv, Chicago, Eeciprocity; Francis D. Everett, Highland Park, Program; M. L. Eau, Chicago Heights, Art; Horace Kauffman, Oregon, Forestry; Georgia C. Caldwell, Chicago, Auditing; FTederick K. Trac}', Chi- cago, Transportation ; F. B. Cornell, Elgin, Credentials ; Alvin Scott, Naperville, Printing; Lizzie E. Kehr, Sterling, Eevisions. The 1905-1906 Year Book carried the reports of the retiring chairmen, giving work accomplished instead of future plans of the new chairmen. The change was made for two reasons; one because the experienced chairmen were better able to present the work and its needs; second, because it was thought the change would hasten the completion of the Year Book. The Literature Committee completed a "Book List for Children of the Federation of fourteen years and younger." They urged story telling in schools and libraries. The study of the History of Illinois was inaugurated as a special piece of work for the committee with Mrs. Edwin S. Walker, President of the Springfield Woman's Club, in cbarge. Many copies of the syllabus were distributed at Joliet. Two hundred manuscripts were on file in the Eeciprocity Bureau. The Art Committee was pushing the study of public school art and had prepared a model collection to loan to clubs for use in school rooms. This committee was also offering loan collections of paint- ings, American pottery and pictures of American Sculpture, accom- panied by lectures on the various subjects. The Twelfth Annual Meeting was held in Chicago, at the Uni- versity, October 16, 17, 18, 19, 1906, on invitation from the clubs of the First, Second, Third and Fourth Districts. The Local Board was composed of Mesdames George B. Car- penter, Chairman and Katherine S. Westfall, Herman J. Hall, James Witkowskv, L. C. Doty, Henry S. Jaft'rey, Wm. E. Gallagher. F. W. 57 King, C. E. Herrick, W. A. Blodgett, John F. Thompson, A. B. Bogg and Miss Clara Dixon. Tuesday evening there was an informal re- ception after the program and on Wednesday afternoon another re- ception was given with gallery tours to the studios of prominent artists which were open to the visitors. Among the prominent people on the program of this convention we find the names of Enos A. Mills, Naturalist; Mrs. Sara Piatt Decker, Miss Jane xA.ddams, E. G. Cooley, Superintendent of the Chicago Public Schools ; Dr. Halsey C. Ives, Director of the Museum •of Fine Arts, St. Louis ; Prof. James E. Angell, Dr. Harry Pratt Judson, Dr. Caroline Hedger. Miss Sophonisba Breckinridge and Miss Anna Nicholes pled for "equal pay for equal work for the work- ::ng girl" and urged that the club women petition Congress to pass measures equalizing pay to women workers who do the tasks of men for less wage. They also urged that laws be passed to guard girls' Hves in factories. A very interesting talk by Mrs. Elia W. Peattie on the kind of literature, supposed to be "moral and instructive" which was served to young people provoked much amusement and response. For the first time we see the name of Mrs. George W. Plummer, so long con- nected with the Federation as Parliamentarian, listed as Chairman of Pure Food. There was much newspaper talk at this convention about the women who had the "office fever" and who were seeking the Presi- dency, but as only one candidate out of the twelve nominated by their admiring friends, stayed in the race and saved the day for the Fed- eration, the fever could not have been ver}^ serious. This candidate was Mrs. Watkins who was elected without opposition. The delegate body not only endorsed but pledged itself to work for the following legislative bills : For an Act, providing punishment for wife desertion. Entitling Chicago women to vote for municipal officers and measures. Authorizing the Governor to set aside an appropriation for State Forester or forestry officer. To establish a State Colony for Epileptics. Concerning the Nurses' Eegistration Bill. Eesolutions were passed favoring "protection for girls under the age of 18 years who are employed in the needle and textile trades" and one favoring the work of the Audobon Society of the State. Much interest was created by the address of Mrs. Julius Gold- zier on "Postal Savings Banks." 58 THE SEVENTH BIBNNIUM. Mrs. George Watkins. 1906—1908. Mrs. George Watson is one of the six State Presidents who does not claim Illinois at her native state, having been bom in Cleveland^ Ohio, and coming to Illinois in 1860, settling in Quincy. From that city she came to Chicago to reside and has since made her home there, living at the present time at the Auditorium Hotel. She is a widow and has no children. Mrs. Watkins has had many club affiliations beginning with the Chicago South Side Club of which she was one of the Founders, later becoming its Treasurer and President. She also served as President of the Second District, I. F. W. C, Chairman of Legislation, first Chairman of Public Health, Vice-President at Large and President of the State Federation, G. F. State Secretary, and Chairman of Legislation for the General Federation. She is a trustee of the Sarah Hackett Stevenson Memorial and was sent by the Governor as a delegate to the National Conference of Charities three times. She is a member of the Chicago Woman's Club and has served as Chairman of Legislation and of Eevisions for that organization. She was one of the charter members of the Woman's City Club and one of the organizers of the Cook County League which was formed for the purpose of expediting legislative work before clubs had legislative committees. The officers elected at the Twelfth Annual Meeting in Chicago, were : President, Mrs, George Watkins, Chicago ; Vice-President at Large, Mrs. Francis D. Eiverett, Highland Park; G. F. State Secre- tary, Mrs. Frank L. Bills, Urbana ; Recording Secretary, Mrs. Kather- ine S. Westfall, Chicago; Corresponding Secretary, Mrs. Richard A. Young, Casey; Treasurer, Mrs. W. F. Keith, Danville; Parliamen- tarian, ]\frs. John D. Sherman. The District Vice-Presidents were : Mesdames James Witkow- sk}'-, 1 ; John O'Connor, 2 ; Alexander McCollom, 3 ; J. W. Hough, 4 ; Martha Wake, 5 ; C. W. Wright, La Grange, 6 ; John E. Best, Arling- ton Heights, 7; Sallie C. Hallowell, 8; Donald L. Morrill, Buena Park, 9 ; Louis J. Pierson, Wilmette, 10 ; Ralph D. Hollembeak, Elgin, 11; Minne Starr Grainger, Belvidere, 12; H. D. Bentley, Free- port, 13; J. H. Pattee, Monmouth, 14; Fannie V. Tompkins, Avon, 15 ; Mary L. Locke. Henry, 16 ; D. P. McCracken, Paxton, 17 ; Miss Livonia R. Kay, Watseka, 18; Miss Georgia Hopkins, Shelbyville, 19 ; Mesdames Hugh Barr Smith, Jacksonville, 20 ; Charles S. Deneen, Springfield, 21; Finis P. Ernest, East St. Louis, 22; Aden Knoph, Olney, 23; Minnie L. Brown, Flora, 24; W. N. Butler, Cairo, 25. Chairmen of the Standing Committees included : Mesdames Madeline W. Sikes, Chicago, Education ; T. A. Clark, Urbana, Sub- Committee; Evelyn N. Jones, Henry, Library Extension; Miss Helen 59 Louise Johnson, B. S. James Millikeu Universit}-, Decatur, Domestic Science; Mesdames, James Frake. Chicago, Pure Food; Frederick K. Tracy, Chicago, Civics; E. J. Murphy, Joliet, Phihinthropy ; Morton W. Thompson, Danville, Legislation; Frank E. Ford, Chicago, Music; Harry S. Hyman, Chicago-, Civil Sen'ice; Eaymond Robins, Chicago, Industrial; Frank Pearson, Chicago Reciprocity; T. D. Palmer, Chicago, Program; L. B. Powell, Chicago, Art; Horace G. Kauffman, Oregon, Forestry; Georgia C. Caldwell, Chicago, Audit- ing; Henry S. Jaffrcy, Chicago, Transporation ; F. B. Cornell, Elgin, Credentials; Edward L. ^Miirfey, Chicago, Printing; Lizzie E. Kehr, Sterling, Revisions. ^Ye leam, through the message of the President, that it will be "the purpose of her administration "to strengthen the work under its various heads and at the same time to guard against the waste of time and energy- by attempting more than can be well done." Stress is laid upon the educational and legislative work of the Federation with a plea for continued interest in the operation of tho Juvenile Court Law, the Child Labor Law and the Compulsory Education Law, with a reminder that merely passing the laws is not enough — that they must be enforced and no harmful amendments added which may weaken them. The Educational Committee, for the first time, suggested the use of school houses for community purposes, higher standards for teachers and industrial arts in high schools. The sub-committ«e plead for dormitories for girls at the University, citing the fact that there was little room in the Twin Cities for "the 700 girls and 2,500 men" then enrolled. This does not seem like a great number today (1928) with over 10,000 students taking part in the life of the University. The Music Committee had compiled a new list of Illinois composers and urged the study of their compositions ; also an interest in public school music, club choruses and a music exchange. The Thiri:eenth Annual Convention was held in the Second Presbvterian Church of Bloomington, on invitation of the Woman's Club,'on October 15, 16, 17, 18,'' 1907. The Local Board consisted •of Mrs. Sarah J. DeMotte, Chairman, Miss Charlotte C. Probasco, Secretary, and Mesdames Howard D. Humphreys, Dudley C. Smith, Wm. L. Evans, James C. Means, Henry D. Spencer, Harry S. Eck- hart, Oscar Mandel, B. P. Marsh, George P. Davis and Misses Mabel Gray and Mary L. Kimball. On Tuesday afternoon there was a tea at the library following a round table discussion. On Wednesday afternoon the delegates were taken for a drive over the city, tea following at the country club. On that evening a reception was given for them at the Court House. The programs for the day sessions were in charge of the various standing committees, thus affording an opportunity for each commit- tee to present its work to the Convention. In addition to the prom- inent club women who spoke, addresses were made by George 0. Currie, Professor of Germanic Philology, Northwestern University; Dr. Frank P. ISTorbury, Member Civil Service EiXamining Board ; 60 Miss Mary Ahern, President Illinois Library Association; Miss Anne Shaw Falkner, later Mrs. Marx Oberndorfer, Chairman of Music for the General Federation for four years, and prominently identified -with the musical life of Chicago; A. T. Boison, Forestry Service; Dr. A. L. Winton, U. S. Department of Food Inspection; Dr. Shailer Matthews and Rev. Florence Buck. The first Civic Conference was held at this meeting, the topics under discussion being "Protective Work for Children," Mrs. Joseph T. Bowen and Miss Breckinridge speaking; "Chicago Woman's Out- door Art League," Mrs, Chas. F. Millspaugh; "Vacation Schools," Mrs, A. W. Bryant. A trend away from purely cultural subjects and those pertaining to the home began to show itself very decidedly in this program for we note such subjects as "The State Civil Service Law;" "How Do We Care for Girls in Illinois," by Miss Lathrop; "The Illinois In- dustrial School for Girls," Mrs. Henry Solomon; "Industrial Edu- cation for Girls," Mrs. Henrotin; "The Immigrant Girl in Our Large Cities," "Some Equivocal Eights of Labor," "Industrial Edu- cation," Miss Addams; "Civics by Children" and "Civic Improve- ment" by Mrs. John O'Connor. If we had any comment to make it would be that there were too many talks made along practically the same line of thought. At this meeting the Educational and Sub-Educational Commit- tees were combined, as well as Literature and Reciprocity, Creden- tials and Printing. Domestic Science was changed to Household Economics. The Educational Committee opened up a greater field for progressive work by presenting the subject of "Industrial Edu- cation" as a part of the State's educational system. The resolutions adopted at Bloomington concerned : A Sane Fourth of July; Bill Board Advertising; Establishment of Public Comfort Stations wherever needed ; Study of the Dependent Girl and assisting with Industrial School for Girls; the standards of food and education to be adopted by the State; annual medical examination of all children; employment of women physicians in all state institu- tions where there are women and children; dormitories at the University for girls. The Legislative Committee reported that three bills out of eight endorsed by the Federation had passed the Legislature. These three were: An Amendment to the Compulsory School Law; The Nurses' Bill and a Bill for an Act to Define and Punish Crimes Against Children. The Civics Committee, with Mrs. Tracy as Chairman, offered a very comprehensive and excellent plan of work suitable for all localities and all clubs. The Pure Food Committee worked against food adulteration. The Industrial Committee urged club women to work for a state law for the protection of those employed from dangerous and hazardous machinery. At the Board Meeting immediately following the Convention, three special committees were appointed, two in accordance with resolutions passed at the Convention and the third formed upon the 61 request of the Public Healtli Committee of the Gleneral Federatiou. The work of the last named committee was to be particularly directed to the education on the cure and prevention of tuberculosis and also the educational work of the Social Hygiene Association of Chicago. The other two committees were : State Arbor and Bird Day and "To Care for Girls in Institutions." The matter of holding a biennial meeting instead of an annual one was discussed but no action taken. The officers who were elected in Chicago for two years continued to serve through 1907-1908. The Vice-Presidents for the same period were: Mesdames Charles F. Adams, 1; John O'Connor, 2; L. D. Doty, 3; J. W. Hough, 4; Wm. Healy, 5; C. W. Wright (La- Grange) 6; W. H. Wallis, 7; S. C. Hallowell, 8; L. M. Posing, 9; all of Chicago. Mesdames Louis J. Pearson, Wilmette, 10; C. F. Wade, Aurora, 11 ; Minne S. Grainger, Belvidere, 12 ; L. K. Wynn, Sterling, 13; J. H. Pattee, Monmouth, 14; C. E. Franing, Gales- burg, 15; Mary L. Locke, Henry, 16; H. A. Foster, Fairbury, 17; Miss Livonia E. Kay, Watseka, 18; Mesdames Edith Williamson, Tuscola, 19; Hugh Barr Smith, Jacksonville, 20; Miss lone Hay- ward, Pana, 21; Mesdames Finis P. Ernst, East St. Louis, 22; L. Landenberger, Olney, 23; Minnie L. Bro\vn, Flora, 24; H. C. Mitchell, Carbondale, 35. Chairmen of Standing Committees were: Mesdames Arnold L. Heap, Art and Fred K. Tracy, Civics, both of Chicago ; John T. Mason, Aurora, Civil Service; Wm. A. Blodget, Household Economics and F. W. King, Education, of Chicago; Horace G. Kauffman, Forestry, Oregon; Miss Mary McClain, TJrbana, Music; Mesdames Frank Pearson, Chicago, Literature aud Reciprocity; George R. Bacon, Decatur, Library Extension; Raymond Robins, Chicago, Industrial; A. S. Caldwell, Carbondale, Pure Food; T. D. Palmer, Chicago, Program; J. M. Guy, Danville, Philanthropy; Morton W. Thoinpson, Danville, Legislative; Edward L. Murfey, Printing and Credentials; Henry S. Jaffray, Transportation, and Miss Grace E. Temple, Auditing, all of Chicago; Mrs. Sain Welty, Bloomington, Revisions. Special Committee chairmen were: Mesdames George Watkins, Public Health ; F. K. Tracy, "State Arbor and Bird Day" and Han- nah Solomon, "To Care for Girls in Institutions." The Fourteenth Annual Meeting of the Federation was held in the First M. E. Church, in East St. Louis, October 20, 21. 22, 23, 1908. Those composing the Local Board were: Mesdames L. C. Haynes, Chairman, John E. Miller, Secretary, and x\lonzo R. Vick- ers, Glen F. May, E. E. Wilson, J. H. Rendelman, William Thrasher, John P. Metzger, Leslie Allen, Spencer Ellsworth, 0. A. Buck, Harvey Smith and E. Abt. On Monday evening, preceding the Convention a "Get Acquainted Social" was held for the delegates, and on Wednesday evening they were invited to a reception given at the City Hall. A trip to historic Monk's Mound, between East St. Louis and Collinsville, Vas also on the progi'am. 62 Mrs. Francis D. Everett presided over the District Vice-Presi- dents' meeting where the following topics were discussed: (1) The Selection of the District Vice-President; (2) The Relation between the Clubs of a district and their Vice-President; (3) What are the best means we have found of arousing the Club's interest in the Work of the Standing Committees; (4) District Organization: What it has accomplished and what it has failed to accomplish; (5) What is the Value of the Federation to the Smaller Clubs? (6) \\^ien, and where, and under Avhat conditions should the Dis- trict Vice-President attempt to organize a new club ? Mr. Enos Mills talked on "Our Nation's Forest Eeserves;" Dr. Caroline Bartlett Crane on "The White Woman's Burden;" Pro- fessor Percy H. Boynton, "The Social Message of George Eliott;'' Mrs. Alice P. Norton, on "Home Economics and the New Educa- tion;" John D. Shoop on "Vacation Schools;" Dr. David Kinley on "Some Social Obligations;" and Professor George H. Meade, on "The Social Value of Industrial Legislation." We note, for the first time, the name of Mrs. Minne Starr Grainger, of Belvidere, who served as President of the Twelfth Dis- trict, 1906-1908, and became President of the Federation in 1910. Her interest in the work has never ceased and, as Mrs. Clarence G. Goodwin, she has renewed her connection at various times, serving continuously as Finance Chairman, from 1933 to 1927, and as Busi- ness Supervisor and Courtesy Member of the Board for 1927-28. Miss Jessie Spafford is also a newcomer at this meeting, speaking on "The Conferences of the preceding Biennial of the General Feder- ation." Miss Spafford served as President of her district from 1908- 1910, as chairman of various committees and as President of the State Federation, 1916-1919. Mrs. John T. Mason, having served for two years as Chairman of Civil Service, appears for the second time on the program. She did splendid work for that department over a period of many years, later serving in the same caparity in the General Federation, and for four years as Chairman of Legislation for the State Federation, 1924-28. 63 THE, EIGHTH BIENNIUM. Governor of Illinois, President of the U. S., 1905—1913. 1909—1913. Charles S. Deneen. William Howard Taft. Mrs. Francis D. Everett. 1908—1910. Pekin, Illinois was the birthplace of Mrs. Francis D. Everett, whose famil}', however, moved from the state when she was only six years old. She returned to Illinois in 1894, making her home in Highland Park. Mrs. Everett was married twice, a son, George Hawley Bowen, being born of her first marriage. This son, a physician in Chicago, died in 1926, leaving a widow and one child. Before her marriage to Mr. Everett, she was for some years a school principal and superintendent and served in the latter capacity in Highland Park for four years. ]\'Irs. Everett's first important club connection was with the Ossili Club of Highland Park, whose President she became. Next she was Chairman of Program for the Illinois Federation, then Vice-Presi- dent at Large, and then President. These activities were immediately followed by affiliations with the General Federation, first as State Secretary for Illinois; then Director, which was practically the same position under a new name ; Chairman of the Program Committee and then Corresponding Secretary, in all covering a period of eighteen years when she was in active service with the exception of the bien- nium of 1902-1904. This is a unique distinction. Mrs. Everett's interests and affiliations outside of club work, and during the same period, have largely been devoted to religious and educational matters. She has served as Recording Secretary of the Illinois Equal Suffrage Association; Superintendent of the elementary department of the Highland Park Presbyterian Church School ; Presi- dent of the Woman's Missionarv Society of the same church ; member of the National Board of the Y. W. C. A. ; President of the High- land Park Conncil of Eeligious Education, and member of the Board of Directors of the Highland Park Public Library for twenty-seven years. The officers elected at the Fourteenth Annual Meeting in East St. Louis, were : President, Mrs. Francis D. Everett, Highland Park ; Vice-President at Large, Mrs. Andrew S. Caldwell, Carboudale; Ee- cording Secretary, Mrs. Finis P. Ernest, East St. Louis; Correspond- ing Secretary, Mrs. Edward L, Murfey, Chicago; Treasurer, Mrs. Eichard A. Young, Casey; G. F. State Secretar}^, Mrs. Katherine S. Westfall, Chicago. Before the club year was closed, however, Mrs. Frank L. Bills of Urbana took the place of Mrs. Ernest and Mrs. Fred- erick K. Tracy took the place of Mrs. Westfall. The District Vice-Presidents for this period included : Mesdames Charles F. Adams, 1 ; Laura E. E. Fischer, 2 ; L. D. Doty, 3 ; Jessie 64 H. Gaebler, 4; Wm. Healy, 5; David W. Beggs, 6; W. H. Wallis, 7; Etta E. Brainerd, 8; Donald L. Morrill, 9; Charles H. Thompson, 10. all of Chicago; Mrs. Charles F. Wade, Aurora, 11; Miss Jessie I. Spafford, Rockford, 12; Mesdanies L. K. Wynn, Sterling, 13; J. E. Webster, Monmouth, 14; Edward C. Franing, Galesburg, 15; W. R. Curran, Pekin, 16; R. N". McCauley. Xormal, 17; Morton W. Thompson, Danville, 18; Edith G. Williamson, Tuscola, 19; T. J. Schweer, Beardstown, 20; Miss lone Hayward, Pana, 21; D'r. Louise Eavold, Greenville, 22; Mesdames L. E. Landenberger, Olney, 23; P. 0. Johns, Metropolis, 24; H. C. Mitchell, Carbondale, 25." Par- liamentarian, Mrs. John D. Sherman, Chicago. The Chairmen of the Standing Committees were: Mesdames Arnold L. Heap, Chicago, Art; E. M. Henderson, Chicago, Civics; John T. Mason, Aurora, Civil Service; Wm. A. Blodget, Chicago, Household Economics; F. W. King, Evanston, Education; Harvey C. Adams, Danville, Forestry; Miss Mary McClain, TJrbana, Music; Mesdaines Daniel M. Cobb, Highland Park, Literature and Pie- ciprocity ; Edmund A. Curtis, Decatur, Library Extension ; Dr. Eachelle S. Yarros, Chicago, Lidustrial; Mesdames I. D. Page, Princeton, Pure Food; Minne Starr Grainger, Belvidere, Program; J. M. Gu.y, Danville, Philanthropy; George E. Bacon, Decatur, Leg- islative ; Albert E. Martin, Chicago, Printing and Credentials ; Robert P. Cummings, Chicago, Transportation ; John H. Beers, Chicago, Eevisions and Miss Grace Temple, Auditing. The Chairmen of the Special Committees were : Mrs. George Watkins, Public Health ; Mrs. Hannah Solomon, "Girls in Institu- tions," and Mrs. G. J. Charlton, "To Investigate Management of State Institutions under Civil Service." The first official publication of the Federation, "The Bulletin," was issued in February 1909 and met with immediate interest and favor. Mrs. Everett became editor in chief with Mrs. Bacon assisting and Miss Grace Temple acting as business manager. The subscrip- tion reached the seventeen hundred mark before the second number was published. It was issued three times a year. Most excellent work was done during this administration through the Committees on Library Extension, Education and Industrial Con- ditions. The first committee was in possession of 225 travelling libraries, averaging fifty books each which had been given by the clubs of the Federation. The Federation was actively engaged in sup- porting a Library Extension bill prepared by the Legislative Com- mittee and which became a law, July first, 1909. It presented to the State of Illinois its libraries and trunks valued at $5,000.00 when the law went into effect. Mrs. Eugenia M. Bacon. Past President of the Federation, was largely instrumental in the passage of the bill, having appeared before the Le,gislature time after time in its support. Mr. Francis G. Blair, in speaking before the Oak Park Conven- tion in 1909, announced the appointment of two members of the new Library Commission, saying that when the Library Board met to make the appointments, the name of one woman came to the minds of all, because to her, more than to any other one person, was clue the 65 passage of the bill. Her fine co-operation with the Library Board and her fourteen years of continuous service were greatly appreciated. That woman was IMrs. Bacon and she continued to be a member of the Commission for ten years. Mrs. Eaymond Robins, as Chairman of the Industrial Committee, called a conference at Hull House to consider the industrial, health and safety conditions under which men, women and children were working. Many noted social workers took part and the subjects dis- cussed were: "Women Workers and the Social Costs of the New Industrialism," "Social Safeguards Through Union Organization," "Employers' Liability for Trade Injuries," "Protected Machinery Leg- islation" and "Limitation of Hours for Women's Work." It is interesting to note that the Industrial Commission, ap- pointed later by Governor Deneen to help in the enactment of laws for the health, comfort and safety of the working men and women of Illinois, earnestly considered the questions discussed at this con- ference. Notable work was also being done in an educational way by the Public Health Committee which had been changed from a Special to a Standing Committee, and which was stressing tuberculosis, venereal disease and narcotics. The Education Committee urged industrial education, ethical instruction and medical inspection in the public schools, and worked for a bill to exclude fraternities and sororities from the secondary and elementary public schools of the state. The Fifteenth Annual Convention of the Federation was held in the First Congregational Church, Oak Park, November 9, 10, 11, 12, 1909, on invi'tation of the Sixth District. The Local Board was made up of Mesdames David W. Beggs, Honorary Chairman, A. W. Bryant, Chairman and John C. Swinson, Walter Ferrier, John C. McDonald, Andrew P. Coon, C. H. Zimmerman, Mark Henry, Charles A. Danz, W. J. Burgess, Frederick K. Tracy, Charles W. Mann, Eobert L. McCall, Thomas White, Alexander L. Parker, Charles Lane, P. D. Konald, C. W. Poorman and Miss Florence Beckett. On Tuesday afternoon an informal tea was given by Mrs. Herman Winslow, Auvergne Lodge, Eiver Forest. On Wednesday a reception was given by the Nineteenth Century Club in their rooms in Scovel Institute and on Thursday another reception was held in the Oak Park Club House. There was present at this meeting the largest voting body recorded in the history of the Federation, 471 delegates being regis- tered. The program was an exceedinglv fine one in every respect and among the notable speakers were : Francis G. Blair, Superintendent of Public Instruction ; Wm. Hard of Everbody's Magazine who talked on "Snobbishness and Education;" Dr. Harvey W. Wiley on "In- fluence of Women's Clubs on Public Welfare ;" Mrs. Herman J. Hall, Curator of Chicago Academy Fine Arts; Joseph Mason and Wm. B. Moulton who talked on Civil Service ; Dr. Caroline Bartlet Crane on "The Call of the Almshouse:" Dr. Anna Howard Shaw on Social Heredity: Clifford Eoe who directed the campaign against the white slave traffic and Mrs. Maude Ballington Booth who was compelled to 66 divide her time between two audiences. Mrs. Bacon and Mrs. Wat- kins addressed the overflow meeting until Mrs. Booth could take her place. Eesolutions adopted at Oak Park concerned the Ten Hour Law for Women; TrafEc in Women and Girls; Adult Probation; Peace, "A one day peace program for each club, each year;" The press in regard to criminal and sensational matter; Supremacy of Law; The Hetch-Hetchy Valley ; Good Eoads. Also a resolution of sympathy on the recent death of Mrs. Evelyn Allen Frake, Past President of the Federation. The first Public Health Conference was held at this meeting, being dignified with a place on the evening program. Mrs. Ellen M. Henrotin, Dr. Mary G. McEwen and Dr. Anna E. Blount were the speakers. During this administration the Art Committee arranged a loan collection made up of originals of Illinois artists and this collection was sent throughout the state. The Civics Committee made a plea for good roads, stating that only 8 per cent of Illinois roads were improved and that they were the worst in the entire middle west. At this time there were 314 clubs in the Federation with a mem-, bership of 29,037. . The Legislative Committee reported that four of the seven Tbills endorsed by the Federation had passed the Legislature in 1909. One was the Library Commission Bill already referred to, two bills relat- ing to the suppression of the white slave traffic and one to revise the law relating to charities and corrections. The same officers continued to serve through 1910. The Vice- Presidents for this period were : Mesdames George P. Vosbrink, 1 Laura E. E. Fischer, 2 ; Freeman E. Brown, 3 ; Jessie H. Gaebler, 4 Amelia Grundverg, 5 ; David W. Beggs, 6 ; Wm. Severin, 7 ; Etta E Brainerd, 8 ; James P. Houston, 9 ; Chas. H. Thompson, 10 ; John F. Courtney, Lockport, 11 ; Miss Jessie I. Spafford, Eockford, 12 Mesdames Walter Dalzell, Eochelle, 13; J. E. Webster, Monmouth 14; ]Sr. 0. Crissey, Avon, 15; W. E. Curran. Pekin, 16; E. N. Mc- Cauley, Normal, 17; Morton W. Thompson, Danville, 18; Dora Her- rick, Farmer City, 19 ; T. J. Schweer, Beardstown, 20 ; J. Harvey Brown, Divernon, 21 ; Dr. Louise Eavold, Greenville, 22 ; Mesdames Chas. E. Hull, Salem, 23; P. 0. Johns, Metropolis, 24; George H. Mayer, Duquoin, 25. Standing Committees included Mesdames Howard T. Willson, Virden, Art; E. M. Henderson, Chicago, Civics; A. W. Bryant, Oak Park, Civil Service; Elmer Ei. Kendall, Chicago, Forestry; I. S. Blackwelder, Morgan Park, Education; E. M. Barnes, Macon, House- hold Economics; Frederick Tice, Chicago, Philanthropy; George E. Bacon, Decatur, Legislative; Florence Allin Ingalls, Eiver Forest, Library Extension; Daniel M. Cobb, Highland Park, Literature and Eeciprocity; H. H. Whitten, Peoria, Music; Dr. Eachelle S. Yarros, Chicago, Industrial; Mesdames George Watkins, Chicago, Public Health; Minne Starr Grainger, Belvidere, Program; C. H. Betts, Chicago, Pure Food; Eobert F. Cummings, Chicago, Transportation; 67 John C. Swinson, Chicago, Printing and Credentials; John H. Beers, Chicago, Eevision : Albert R. Martin, Chicago, Auditing. The Sixteenth Annual Meeting was held in Peoria, at the Peoria Woman's Club House, jSTovember 15, 16, 17, 18, 1910, the Club acting as hostess for the second time to the Federation. Mrs. Clara P. Bourland who helped to organize the Illinois Federation was Honorary Chairman of the Local Board and Mrs. Chas. F. White was Chairman. They were assisted by Miss Caroline Rice and Mesdames W. R. Curran, T. 0. Tanton, Milton Xewman, Howard Priestly, J. B. Bartholomew, J. Howard Sevmour, J. C. Poffen- berger, W. F. Wolfner, W. B. Watts, C. U."^ Collins, W. S. Parry, John H. Kuhl, W. C. Collins, J. A. Hunter, W. A. Hinckle and Misses Mary H. White, May Pinkney and Anna Resor. The Woman Teachers' Club gave an informal reception to the delegates in their club house on Wednesday afternoon and on Friday a drive over the city was given, stopping at the Country Club for tea. Thursday there was a reception at the Peoria Woman's Club. On Tuesday and Wednesday evenings veiy elaborate musical programs preceded the addresses which were given, on the first eve- ning by Dr. Harriet D. Chandler on Public Health, and on Wednes- day by Governor A. 0. Eberhart of Minnesota, who spoke on '^oman in the Life and Development of the State." Among the other speakers were : Mrs. Frances Squire Potter, Miss Mary E. ]\Ic- Dowell, Mrs. Ernest Vosburgh, Judge Stephen R. Foster, Dr. Wallace W. Atwood, Mrs. Elia W. Peattie, Miss Bertha M. Miller, and Mrs. Addison F. Broomhall, President Ohio Federation. Mrs. Howard T. Willson of Virden, prominently identified with club work for many years, presented the report of the Art Committee of which she was chairman. Mrs. George R. Bacon held a conference of Club Presidents who discussed ''The Relation of Club Women to the Public Schools," and Mrs. Andrew S. Caldwell presided over a meeting of the District Vice- Presidents, arrangement of the subject for discussion being most excellent. The whole program was a veiT practical one and conformed closely to the work of the Federation. Several important amendments were made in the constitution at this time, one stating the size of a club. Formerly, the minimum number constituting eligibility for membership in the State Federation was twenty. This number was now reduced to ten. A second amend- ment required that a person must have served on the Board of Direc- tors for one year to be eligible to election as an officer in the Federa- tion. A third changed the election of District Vice-Presidents so they might be nominated in their several districts and confirmed by the State Board. Up to 1908 a caucus would be held during the State Convention and Vice-Presidents would be nominated by the delegates. Other amendments included one making all former State Presi- dents voting members of the delegate l)ody, one requiring that dues must be paid by ^lay first and one making District Vice-Presidents members of the State Board of Directors. 68 The resolutions passed at this meeting referred to the press, voicing the hope that the Sunday comic supplements might be aban- doned; Industrial School for girls; National Floral Emblem, recom- mending that the state adopt a state flower; White Pine Forests; Child Saving, children selling merchandise on the streets and fac- tory inspection. The Forestry Committee, which had begun its work in 1903, was changed to the Conservation Department, and included in the scope of its work, soil, minerals, animal life, birds and waterways. The Committee on Philanthropy stressed the almshouse problem in the state, with special emphasis on the need of trained nurses, and the proper care and treatment of tuberculous inmates. 69 THE NINTH BIENNIUM. Mrs. Minne Staer Grainger. 1910—1913. Mrs. Clarence G. Goodwin, born Minne Starr of Belvidere, later becoming Mrs. Grainger, and known as Mrs. Minne Starr Grainger when President, has made her home for many years in Chicago, on the south side, where Dr. Goodwin, who died in the summer of 1926 was a practising physician. Mrs. Goodwin has no children. She was educated in the South Belvidere High School and the Illinois State Normal at Normal. Her first club position of importance was as President of the Ganesha Club of Belvidere. She then served as Vice-President of the Park Eidge School, President of the Twelfth District, I. F. W. C, Program Chairman of the State Federation and then President, fol- lowed by the office of General Fedration State Secretary. In 1923 Mrs. Goodwin became Chairman of Finance in the State Federation, assuming also the work of printing. In 1927 she became a courtesy member of the Board with the title of Business Supervisor and in general charge of the affairs of Headquarters. She is a trained parliamentarian and has served in that capacity for the Second District, the Chicago Woman's Club, Bryn Mawr, Woodlawn Study, South Shore Ed-so-phil Clubs and the Illinois Woman's Press Association. She is also a special teacher at the Baptist Missionary Training School. - The officers elected at the Peoria meeting were : President, Mrs. Minne Starr Grainger, Belvidere; Vice-President at Large, Mrs. P. 0. Johns, Metropolis; Recording Secretary, Mrs. Edward L. Murfey, Chicago; Corresponding Secretary, Mrs. John C. Swinson, Chicago; Treasurer, Mrs. John Harvey Brown, Divernon; General Federation Secretary, Mrs. Francis D. Everett, Highland Park ; Parliamentarian, Mrs. John D. Sherman, Chicago. The Vice-Presidents for Congressional District were: Mes- dames George P. Vosbrink, 1 ; 0. T. Hurlburd, 2 ; Freeman E. Brown, 3; John C. Bley, 4; Leila A. Martin, 5; Andrew P. Coon, 6; Wm. Severin, 7 ; Miss Hattie Damert, 8 ; Mrs. James P. Houston, 9 ; Dr. Alice Barlow Brown, Winnetka, 10; Mesdames John F. Courtney, Lockport, 11; J. W. Pettit, Ottawa, 12; E. L. Vaille, Rochelle, 13; E. C. Hiatt, Bushnell, 14; N. 0. Crissey, Avon, 15; Howard Priestly, Princeton, 16; E. N. McCauley, Normal, 17; Eichard A. Young, Casey, 18; Dora Herrick, Farmer City, 19; Jacob Dohm, Greenfield, 20; James Partridge, Pawnee, 21; Emma L. Tulley, Granite City, 22; Charles E. Hull, Salem, 23; J. B. Blackman, Harrisburg, 24; George H. Mayer, DuQuoin, 25. Standing Committees had been changed to Departments of Work and the Chairmen for those departments were: Mesdames Howard T. Willson, Virden, Art; Eobt. L. McCall, Chicago, Civics; A. W. 70 Bryant, Oak Park, Civil Service; Elmer E. Kendall, Chicago, Con- servation; I. S. Blackwelder, Morgan Park, Education; Alice P. Nor- ton, Chicago, Household Economics; C. H. Betts, Chicago, Pure Food; Miss Anna Nicholes, Chicago, Legislative; Mesdames Florence Allin Jngalls, Eiver Forest, Library Extension; Frank B. Cornell, Elgin, Literature and Eeciprocity; H. H. Whitten, Peoria, Music; George Watkins, Chicago, Public Health; L. L. Loehr, Chicago, Phil- anthropy; Miss Mary McDowell, Chicago, Industrial and Social Con- ditions. Standing Committee chairmen were: Mesdames Albert E. Martin, Chicago, Auditing; Harry S. Hyman, Chicago, Program; Chas. B. Young, Aurora, Printing and Credentials; Laura E. E. Fischer, Chicago, Eevisions; Miss Kate F. O'Connor, Eockford, Trans- portation. Special Committee, Bulletin, Mrs. Francis D. Everett, Chairman. During this administration the public health work was carried on very intensively and was directed along three lines, the most im- ])ortant and ambitious of which was the Tuberculosis Survey, the (irst attempt to survey an entire state. The committee also worked for the establishment of a Federal Health Service and continued their interest in the Social Hj'giene program begun several years before. The Tuberculosis Survey helped to lay the foundation for what was, for many years, one of the most efficient Tuberculosis Associations in the country, helping to reduce the mortality from the disease 50 per cent in fifteen years. The Federation can always point with pride to this fine piece of public health work. Dr. Mary G. McEwen was Chairman of the department when this work was carried on. The club women of this period also gave valuable aid to the cause of Civil Service as they materially assisted in placing the charitable institutions of the state under the Merit System. There was much agitation directed against unsanitary food shops and the Pure Food and Sanitary Food Laws were passed and upheld. Interest in general public affairs was urged through the Civics Committee which adopted a large and comprehensive program. Effective work for the proper care and education of girls was carried on. Efforts were put forth to secure new art collections and an interstate loan system was established. The music of Illinois composers was studied and the singing of "Illinois" was urged in all clubs, schools and places of pub- lic gathering. To conform to the resolution passed at Oak Park in 1909, con- cerning the Industrial School for girls at Park Eidge, and the Fed- eration's endorsement of this institution, a committee was appointed to raise funds for a building to take care of from twenty to twenty- five girls and to be known as Illinois Cottage. Mrs. Andrew P. Coon was the first chairman and was succeeded the second year by Mrs. Frederick K. Tracy. Mrs. Coon continued to work as ^dee-chairman, and these two women with their committee, were indefatigable in their efforts to raise the $10,000, at first thought sufficient for the work. It was soon found, however, that this amount would not be adequate to complete and furnish the building so another $5,000.00 71 was raised. As soon as the $15,000 was raised a Maintenance Fund was started, the income of which was to be used for the support and upkeep of the building. The site was chosen during Mrs. Goodwin's Presidency and the building completed and dedicated in September, 1914, just before Mrs. Dow left the chair. It stands as a monument to the good work done by Mrs. Henrotin, whose life had been given to the cause of protecting the dependent girl, and to the two administrations which made her "dreams come true.'' The Bulletin was enlarged and made to pay for itself. Mrs. Grainger was elected Editor in June, 1911. The Seventeenth Annual Meeting was held in Galesburg, No- vember 14, 15, 16, 17, 1911, in the Presbyterian Church and on in- vitation of the Sorosis and Oliver Wendell Holmes Clubs. The Local Board was made up of Mesdames A. 0. Eich, Chairman, and W. C. Smith, E. B. Sinclair, J. C. Toler, C. T. Childers, Josephine P. Grubb, H. E. Bates, Fred Dean, L. L. Steele, John Zoll, E. S. Tobey, T. C. Minehan, M. A. Overstreet, G. 0. Bechtel, E. C. Praning, A. L. Andrews, C. W. Warnock, C. H. Trask, N. E. Ives, and Misses Maude Main and Mary Scott. An informal reception was given the delegates at the Church Monday evening, and on Wednesday after- noon, the faculty of Knox College held a reception at Whiting Hall. Thursday evening the Galesburg Business Men's Club held open house. The program was splendidly arranged as to subject matter, the ■work of the Federation being prominently brought out through re- ports, speakers and conferences. An excellent musical program, added much to the pleasure of the delegates. Dr. Wm. A. Evans talked on "What Should Be Done for Tuberculosis Through Sani- toria and Open Air Schools?" Mr. W. L. Bodine's address was on "Conservation of Childhood," Miss Mary Snow, "The Essentials of Education." An interesting Symposium of Women was given one evening, the topics being: "Woman, the Public Guardian," "Woman the Physician," "Woman the Teacher," "Woman in Industry," "Woman in Music," "Woman in the Drama, and the Drama League," "Woman as a Journalist," "Woman as a Homebuilder," "Woman in Art." Mrs. Philip IST. Moore, President of the General Federation, and Mrs. Everett W. Pattison, Chairman of the Art Department of that organization, were honored guests, as well as Prof. Frances Squire Potter, of Minnesota. In addition to tlie special committee formed to take care of the Illinois Cottage Fund, two others were formed; a A^igilance Commit- tee of seven to co-operate with and protect the women of the State who earn their livelihood under the Civil Service law, and a Com- mittee on State Care for Dependent Girls. The Education Committee was stressing a more liberal allowance of funds for country schools and also for residence halls for women 72 at the University. In addition, the Committee was agitating the use of school buildings and their equipment for the whole community. The Legislative Committee reported that the shortening of the day to ten hours had not been followed by a reduction in wages as had been feared, and that a step toward sane Christmas shopping had been taken "when we can say that women can be employed only ten hours a day, no matter how rushing the business of an establish- ment may be." The Library Extension Committee was still assisting in the work of the Library Extension Commission which the Federation had done so much to establish, and had also just given six new libraries, con- taining 375 volum.es, to the State. The Civil Service Committee reported passage of the State wide Civil Service bill extending the merit system, the passage of which was largely due to the efforts of the club women. The Pure Food Committee reported passage of a sanitarj' law for which they had long been working; also a greater interest in the movement for the betterment of the nation's food supply. The Philanthropy Committee urged the proper food and care for infants that the infant mortality rate might be reduced, and a renewed interest in a larger and more adequate appropriation for the adult blind by the State. It also of- fered the use of slides and lectures to clubs. The resolutions passed at Galesburg concerned a Mod^^l Law for Eegistration of Births and Deaths ; Confidence in the management of the Illinois Industrial School for Girls; Eatification of general arbi- tration treaties with Great Britain and Ft-ance; Adequate and perm- anent State care of dependent girls; asking that the new Memorial Highway from the Atlantic to the Pacific be called "The Lincoln Memorial Highway." Total receipts for the year, ending November, 1911, were $3,996.79; disbursements, $2,024.83. There were 374 clubs with a total membership of 36,900. The officers for 1911-1912 were: President, Mrs. Minne Starr Grainger, Belvidere; Vice-President at Large, Mrs. John Harvey Brown, Divernon; Eecording Secretary, Mrs. J. Kibben Ingalls (Florence Allin) Eiver Forest; Corresponding Secretary, Mrs. John C. Swinson, Chicago; Treasurer, Mrs. George H. Mayer, Kinmundy; G. F. State Secretary, Mrs. Francis D. Everett, Highland Park. Mrs. George W. Plummer of Chicago took the place of Mrs. John D. Sherman as Parliamentarian. The Vice-Presidents of Congressional Districts were: Mesdames Frederick A. Dow, 1 ; 0. T. Hurlburd, 2; C. Houghton White, 3; John C. Bley, 4; Emma Henderson, 5; Andrew P. Coon, 6; Clifford Miller, Park Eidge, 7; Maurice C. O'Connor, 9; Dr. Alice Barlow Smith, Winnetka, 10; Mesdames J. W. Pettit, Ottawa, 12; H. D. Bentley, Freeport, 13; E. C. Hiatt, Bushnell, 14; Anne J. Wood, Quincy, 15; Howard Priestly, Princeton, 16; 0. P. Bourland, Pontiac, 17; Eichard A. Young, Casey, 18; Daniel P. Mclntire, Champaign, 19 ; Jacob Dohm, Greenfield, 20 ; Maud M. Baldwin, Litchfield, 21 ; 73 Em ma L. Tulley, Granite City, 22 ; Albert Watson, Mt. Vernon, 23 ; J. B. Blackman, Harrisburg, 24; Dr. Harriet M. Daniel, Murphys- boro, 25. The Chairmen of the Departments of Work were: Mesdames Stephen M. B. Hunt, La Grange, Art; Eobt. L. McCall, Chicago, Civics; Wm. Severin, Chicago, Civil Service; Elmer E. Kendall, Chicago, Consenation ; Laura B. Evans, Taylorville, Education; Alice P. Norton, Chicago, Household Economics; James C. Long, Geneva, Pure Food; Miss Anna Nicholes, Chicago, Legislative; Mes- dames, J. L. Eeilly, Chicago, Library Extension; Frank B. Cornell, Elgin, Literature and Reciprocity; Constance Barlow Smith, Urbana, Music; Miss Mary McDowell, Chicago, Industrial and Social Con- ditions; Dr. ]Mary G. McEwen, Evanston, Public Health; Mrs. Leon L. Loehr, Philanthropy. Chairmen of Standing Committees were: Mesdames Morton \\. Thompson, Danville, Auditing ; Chas. B. Young, Aurora, Bulletin ; Harry S. H}TTian, Chicago, Program; Thos. ^Vliite, Oak Park, Print- ing and Credentials; Miss Kate F. O'Connor, Eockford, Transporta- tion; Mrs. Andrew S. Caldwell, Carbondale, Eevisions. Chairmen of Special Committees were : Mesdames A. W. Bry- ant, Oak Park, Civil Sevice Vigilance Committee; George Bass, Chi- cago, State Care for Dependent Girls; Andrew P. Coon, Illinois Cot- tage Fund Committee. The Eighteenth Annual Convention was held in Aurora in the East Aurora High School, November 12, 13, 14, 15, 1912 by invita- tion of the Woman^s Club. The Local Board was made up of Mes- dames Alfred E. Walker, Honorary Chairman, Henrv' P. Grimm, Chairman and John T. Mason, Chas. F. Wade, F. T. Bell, Wm. E. Gillette, T. N. Holdeu, Ella Carlisle, J. 0. Mason, M. S. Eice, M. C. Eandolph, S. D. Seamans, L. A. Constantine, Joe Crego, C. S. Kil- bourne, E. D. Terry, Theodore Worcester, Pierce Burton, J. H. Bliss, A. J. Hopkins, S. D. Brown, N. C. Simmons, T. J. Parker, W. S. Mack, Alice D. Wernicke. Ajiother excellent program with much fine music was offered the delegate body and the auditorium of the new and modern High School proved a comfortable and convenient meeting place. An evening reception was held in the school house and the delegates were taken on a trip to the Geneva State Home for Girls. Among the prominent speakers were: Mesdames Percy V. Pennybacker, President, Olaf M. Guldin, Home Economics Chair- man and Imogene B. Oakley, Civil Service Chairman of the General Federation, and Mrs. Fred H. Cole, Ex-President of the Nebraska Federation. The Baroness Bertha Von Suttner, member of the Inter- national Bureau of Peace, Berne, Switzerland, talked on "Europe's Need of America in Peace Arbitration ;" Miss Virginia Brooks on "Women in the Municipality.'' Ernest Freunde, Miss Julia Lathrop and D'r. Caroline Hedger were also on the program. Names new at this meeting, but which later came to be well known, were those of Mrs. George Bass, President of the Chicago Woman's Club, and, during the next administration. Chairman of the 74 Local Board for the Chicago Biennial of the General Federation, Mrs. Eobt. L. McCall, Mrs. Wm. Severin, Mrs. Laura B. Evans, Mrs. Chas. B. Young, much beloved and later to die a very tragic death, Mrs. James C. Long, Mrs. Frederick W. Blocki, reporting as a dele- gate to the National Conservation Congress, Miss Kate F. O'Connor and Mrs. Morton W. Thompson. Mrs. Carrie Jacobs Bond delighted her hearers with her original songs and stories. The usual monotony of the District Vice-Presidents' session was varied by each of the re- tiring oflBcers talking on a different angle of club work. Conferences were held separately by the Art, Civics, Civil Service, Music and Pub- lic Health Departments. 75 THE TENTH BIENNIUM. Governor of Illinois, President of the TJ. S. 1913—1917. 1913—1921. Edward F. Dunne. Mrs. Feederick A. Dow. Woodrow Wilson. 1912—1914. Mrs. Frederick A. Dow, of Hinsdale, like so many other women who have served the Illinois Federation as its President, is a native daughter, having been born in Galena, in the extreme northwestern part of the state. Mr. and Mrs. Dow have no children. Her education was acquired in the Galena Public Schools, Nor- mal School at Normal and the Well's Schools of Pedagogy of Teachers in Oregon. During the war Mrs. Dow was prominently identified with the work of the State Council of National Defense, serving as Vice-Chair- man for the Woman's Division. She has been President of the Arche Club of Chicago, one of the largest and most important of the south side clubs ; President of the First District. I. F. W. C, and of the State Federation. She also served as General Federation Secretary for Illinois. She is at present a member of the Public Affairs Committee of the Chicago Woman's Club, a member of the Legislative Committee of that club and of the Hinsdale Woman's Club ; and is Chairman of the Kesolutions and Eevisions Committee of the Arche Club. Mrs. Dow is particularly interested in Garden Clubs, feeling that they are of vital interest to our Better American Home work, and she includes this subject among her lectures which she gives before organizations all over the state. She does not limit her activities to club work as she is one of the Vice-Presidents of the Illinois Eepublican Women's Clubs and Chair- man of its Program and Speakers Committee. The officers elected in Aurora, were: President, Mrs. Frederick A. Dow, Chicago; Vice-President at Large, Mrs. John Harvey Brown, Divernon ; Recording Secretary, Mrs. J. Kibben Ingalls, River Forest ; Corresponding Secretary, Mrs. Chas. EL Hull, Salem; Treasurer, Mrs. George H. Mayer, Kinmundy; G. F. State Secretary, Mrs. Minne Starr Grainger, Belvidere. The District Vice-Presidents for 1912-1913 were: Mesdames John F. Thompson, 1; Richard L. Pennington, 2; C. Houghton White, 3; Thos. E. Hickey, 4; Emma Henderson, 5; Chas. H. Zim- merman, G; Clifford Miller, Park Ridge, 7; Alma E. Schlain, 8; Maurice C. O'Connor, 9 ; John Harper Long, Evanston, 10 ; A. E. Walker, Hinsdale, 11 ; Edwin C. Page, De Kalb, 12 ; H. D. Bentley, Freeport, 13; Miss Elizabeth Martin, Monmouth, 14; Mesdames Anne J. Wood, Quincy, 15; A. B. McGill, Peoria, 16; 0. P. Bourland, Pontiac, 17; D. E. Styles, Momence, 18; Daniel P. Mclntyre, Cham- paign, 19; C. E. Smoot, Petersburg, 20; Maud M. Baldwin, Litch- field, 21; L. C. Haynes, East St. Louis, 22; Albert Watson, Mt. Ver- 76 non, 23 ; Morris Blasker, Carmi, 24 ; Dr. Harriet M. Daniel, Miir- physboro, 25. Official Parliamentarian, Mrs. George W. Plummer, Chicago. Tlie Chairmen of Standing Committees for the same year were : Mesdames Stephen M. B. Hunt, La Grange, Art; Moses L. Purvin, Chicago, Civics; Wm. Severin, Chicago, Civil Service; Fred W. Blocki, Chicago, Conservation; Laura B. Evans, Tajdorville, Educa- tion; Henry A. Morgan, Chicago, Household Economics; James C. Long, Geneva, Pure Food ; Eobert Bruce Farson, St. Charles, Library Extension; Benjamin E. Page, Highland Park, Legislative; George Thomas Palmer, Springfield, Literature and Reciprocity; Constance Barlow Smith, IJrbana, Music; 0. T. Hurlburd, Chicago, Industrial and Social Conditions; Dr. Mary G. McEwen, Evanston, Public Healtli; Mrs. 0. P. Johns, Metropolis, Philanthropy. The Chairmen of Standing Committees were : Mesdames Mor- ton W. Thompson, Danville, Auditing; Laura S. Eabb, Chicago, Bul- letin; Thos. White, Oak Park, Printing and Credentials; John C. Swinson, Chicago, Program; Andrew S. Caldwell. Carbondale, Ee- visions; Chas. B. Young, Aurora, Transportation. The Chairmen of the Special Committees were: Mesdames Minne Starr Grainger, Eesolutions; George Bass, Dependent Girls; Fred K. Tracy, Illinois Cottage Fund. During this administration, as during the preceding one, the work of public health was vigorously pushed and the tuberculosis sur- vey continued withjnuch success.^ It took tliree^ j^ears fo'^copniplete this- survej and a very comprehensive report of the work Is given by DrTTdsephine Milligan, of Jacksonville, of the sub-committee respon- sible for the work. This report is published in the 1914-1915 Year Boot, and al)rief resume of it shows that all the twenty-five districts in the state reported in some way on it; that nineteen districts re- ported from all their counties; that eighty-seven out of one hundred and two counties reported, and that nine counties reported all their townships. Dliring the legislative season of 1913 two objects were stressed_L, the Suffrage Bill and an appropriation for the Epij-epticj3«lony. The former gave our wdmeh suffrage'lrfter-is^'eral"d:?cades of endorsement but the intensive lobby of a certain group at this time created an opening wedge for universal suffrage that followed. The Nurses' Eegitration Bill also passed at this time. The chief interest of the Civics Department was centered upon the successful passage of a bill in 1915 permitting the use of pulalic schools for all gatherings of an educational nature. The Industrial and Social Department stressed the need of supervision of dance halls and the formation of local committees to censor and improve the five cent motion pictures theaters. The 1913 Legislature appropriated $125,000.00 for the erection of a residence hall for women at the State University and also in- creased the State School Fund by $1,000,000. MucL-&ratification was felt by members of the Federation over these_a£propriations as they had beenlargelylMtrimentM-in^ 77 The Nineteenth Annual Meeting of the Federation was held in Evanston, by invitation of the Tenth District, in the First Congrega- tion Church, Xovember 11, 12, 13, 14, 1913. The Woman's Club building served as Headquarters. The Local Board consisted of Mesdames John Harper Long, Honorary Chairman, Charles E. Clifton, Chairman and Wm. H. Farrington, Louis J. Pierson, A. P. C. Matson, Charles E. Steams, Carl S. Williams, W. E. Paddock, Wm. A. Lacy, A. F. McCarrell, Chester B. Cleveland, Eobt. H. Gault, George Bridge, J. A. Odell, E. L. Harpham, F. A. Vickers, Wm. S. Carson, J. A. Townsend, Chas. H. Betts, U. S. Grant, Wirt E. Humphrey, Howard Field, C. J. Bell, S. J. Llewellyn, L. E. Hildreth, A. D. Sanders. Courtesies were extended to the delegates by the Drama Club which gave an entertaimnent ; by the University Guild which re- ceived at the home of Mrs. James Patton ; by the Local Board which gave a reception in the Woman's Club House; by the Wilmette Woman's Club which gave an "At Home" ; by tea which was served every afternoon at the Woman's Club. An automobile ride through Evanston and to Northwestern University also gave great pleasure. Some of the speakers at the conferences, luncheon meetings and regular sessions were : Jens Jensen and Wm. G. Edens who talked on Conservation; Dudley Crafts Watson whose subject was, "Art and the American People," Alexander McCormick on "Civil Service in our Institutions," Dr. W. C. Bagley, University of Illinois, Mrs. Ella Flagg Young, Superintendent of Chicago Public Schools, Mrs. Grace Julian Clarke, Director of the General Federation, and Miss Helen Bennett. A symposium on "The New Civic Duty of the^^^lub Woman^^^_was_discussed byiIrsrt^theriue''Wirn:glT McCuTIough, author^ ofjth^^^nmois Equ!f^"Sufffage'13ill 7 Mrs. Grace Wilbur" Trout" wEo spoke orP^TriTe "WomanVTIlub and Its Opportunity;" Mrs. Sherman Booth, "Our Work at Springfield," Mrs. Antoinette Funk, "The New Citizenship." Addresses were also made at this session by Mrs. Medill ]\IcCormick and Miss Jane Addams. The Illinois Club Bulletin, the official organ of the Federation, was issued four times a year, and for the tv/o years 1913-1914, it met all expenses of its publication. During this administration the number of clubs increased from 386 to 500 and the membership from 42,000 to 60,000. The largest and, perhaps, the most important piece of work during this administration was the entertainment of the Biennial Convention of the General Federation in June, 1914. This proved to be one of the most successful meetings of the General Federation ever held. The Convention met in the Auditorium Theater and the Headquarters for officers and delegates was at the Congress Hotel. Members from clubs all over the State served on the various committees and money for the necessary expenses, amounting to $20,000.00, was raised through the clubs, and by gifts from individuals. 78 The members of the executive committee responsible for the Biennial were: Mesdames George Bass, Chairman; Frederick K. Tracy, John C. Swinson, George Watkins and Willis Wood, Vice- Chairmen; Andrew P. Coon, Eecording Secretary; J. Kibbon Ingalls, Assistant; Miss Grace Dixon, Corresponding Secretary; Mesdames Thos. White, Treasurer; Wm. Stow Heath, Assistant; Arnold N. Heap, Auditor; Albert Martin, Assistant; Francis D. Everett, Chairman Biennial Committee; Minnie Starr Grainger, G. F. State Secretary; Frederick A. Dow, Chairman State Advisory Committee. The Directors were : Mesdames Henry Solomon, John Mc- Mahon, Edwin T. Johnson, Calvin Case, Julius Eosenwald, George B. Carpenter, Donald Merrill and John T. Mason. The sum of $100.00 was given the State Federation from the treasury of the Local Biennial Committee, after completion of its work, and this sum became the nucleus of the Endowment Fund of the I. F. W. C. A pledge of $7,000.00 had been made by the State Federation to the endowment fund of the General Federation, and later this amount was raised by the chairman. Miss Jessie Spafford, and her conunittee. In addition, the sum of $1,815 was pledged and raised. During the same period that this $8,815.00 and the $30,000.00 for the Biennial expenses were being raised, the State was working on the Illinois Cottage Maintenance Fund. Having raised these sums for other purposes, it was indeed time to begin to thinly about raising a state endo^vanent fund, but it did not take shape until seven years later. The officers serving for the period 1913-1914 were: President, Mrs. Fl-ederick A. Dow, Chicago; Vice-President at Large, Mrs. Albert Watson, Mt. Vernon; Eecording Secretary, Mrs. Anne J. Wood, Quincy; CoiTesponding Secretary, Mrs. Chas. E. Hull, Salem; Treasurer, Mrs. Morton W. Thompson, Danville; G. F. State Secre- tary, Mrs. Minne Starr Grainger, Belvidere. Parliamentarian, Mrs. George W. Plummer. The Vice-Presidents of Districts were : Mesdames John Worthy, 1; Eichard L. Pennington, 2; James H. Hood, Chicago Heights, 3; Thos. Hickey, 4; Leila H. Martin, Wheaton, 5; Chas. H. Zimmer- man, 6 ; G. W. Halleman, 7 ; Alma E. Schlein, 8 ; F. H. Gansbergen, 9; John Harper Long, Evanston, 10; John T. Mason, Aurora, 11; Edwin C, Page, DeKalb, 12; A. G. Bumham, Dixon, 13; Miss Elizabeth Martin, Monmouth, 14; Mesdames Wm. Masters, Oneida, 15 ; A. B. Magill, Peoria, 16 ; N". D. M'Kinney, Bloomington, 17 ; D. E. Styles, Momence, 18; Miss Georgia Hopkins, Shelbyville, 19; Mesdames C. E. Smoot, Petersburg, 20 ; D. D. Shumway, Taylorville, 21 ; L. C. Haynes, East St. Louis, 22 ; Miss Beulah Scarborough, Mt. Carmel, 23; Mesdames Morris Blasker, Carmi, 24, and Wm. Hart, Benton, 25. The Chairmen of the Departments of Work were: Mesdames Flora Sims, IJrbana, Art; Moses L. Purvin, Chicago, Civics; W. J. Burgess, Chicago, Civil Service; Fred W. Blocki, Chicago, Conser- 79 vation; Fred L. Hatch, Spring Grove, Education; Henry A. Morgan, Chicago, Home Economics and Pure Food; A. E. Walker, Hinsdale, Legislative; Eobt. Bruce Farson, St. Charles, Library Extension; Wm, M. Gamble, Chicago, Music; George Thomas Palmer, Springfield, Literature and Eeciprocity; Eugenia R. Curry, Mt. Sterling, Public Health; Miss Harriet E. Vittum, Chicago, Indus- trial and Social Conditions; Mrs. J. C. Leishman, DeKalb, Philan- thropy. The Chairmen of Standing Committees were: Mesdames C. D. Babb, Homer, Auditing; Laura S. Eabb, Chicago, Bulletin; H. E. Chamberlain, Chicago, Printing and Credentials; John C. Swinson, Chicago, Program; George W. Plummer, Chicago, Eevisions; Chas. B. Young, Aurora, Transportation. The Chairmen of the Special Committees were : Mrs. Robert Bruce Farson, Finance; Mrs. Minne Starr Grainger, Resolutions; Mrs. George Bass, State Care for Dependent Girls; Mrs. Frederick K. Tracy, Illinois Cottage Ftind. Ninety-four Illinois clubs were reported in Evanston as belong- ing to the General Federation. The Conservation report given by Mrs. Blocki was excellent, and her plea for the protection of birds from slaughter for their plumage was especially interesting. Two new special committees were formed, one the Maintenance Fund Committee to support the Illinois Cottage at Park Rid,ge re- cently completed, and the other, called the State Institutional Visit- ing Committee, formed to investigate our State Institutions and re- port on conditions. The Illinois Club Bulletin was changed to the Federation Bul- letin and a very attractive state pin was de^ngned and offered for sale. — "^ Civics and Philanthropy were combined in one department and the committee was emphasizing two lines of work, the moving pic- ture show and the establishment of social centers. A bill for which the Federation had worked, providing for a state censorship, had been passed by both houses but it was vetoed by Governor Dunne. In response to a request from the Federation, and in compliance with the State Charities Act that there should be a board of three visitors for each state charitable institution, and that one member of each board should be a woman, the appointment of women visitors was made. The Departments ol Pure Food and Home Economics had been combined and were actively engaged in carrying out their motto, "Better Homes for all the People." The Music Department issued a booklet of Illinois Composers, the first State Federation to have listed its composers. At the sug- gestion of the Department many clubs were arranging for Annual Illinois Composers' programs. There was a growing demand, re- ported by the Art Department, for exhibits of original paintings, but all artists' loan exhibits, excepting that of the Chicago Society of Etchers, had been withdrawn on account of damage to pictures and 80 lack of sales. Eighty-nine exliibitions had been held in sixty Illinois towns, during the past year. The Twentieth Annual Meeting was held in Springfield, and for the second time, in the House of Representatives, State House, No- vember 10, 11, 12, 13, 1914, with the Springfield Woman's Club acting as hostess, and the Y. W. C. A. Building serving as Head- quarters. The Local Board was composed of Mesdames George Thomas Palmer, Chairman, Euclid B. Eogers, Adolph F. Kmuz, Pascal E. Hatch, J. H. Holbrook, Wni, E. Vredenburgh, James H. Matheny, Arthur E. Prince, James Y. Kelly, Eobert C. Lanphier, E. S. Walker, H. A. McKeene, Will T. Lewis, Will Taylcr, Walter M. Allen, Henry Abels, Logan Hay, Anais C. Smith, 0. B. Babcock, Ernest Helmle, IVancis P. Ide, Eoy W. Ide, A. S. Capps, W. S. Barber, C. J. Doyle, Frank D. Thompson, and Misses Mary and Maude Humphrey, Elda Smith and Mary Hudson. Courtesies were extended by the local club to the Board of the Federation to a dinner at the Country Club on Monday evening; by the Amateur Musical Club which extended invitations to all visiting delegates to a concert given by them the same evening; by Governor and Mrs. Dunne who received the Federation at the Executive Man- sion on Tuesday evening ; by the gentlemen of the Sangamo Club who were "At Home" at their club house on Wednesday afternoon; by members of the Amateur Art Club who received the visitors and delegates on Thursday afternoon at their club house; by Mr. A. D. Mackie, of the Springfield Street Eailway Company who furnished private cars to make a "Lincoln Pilgrimage." The State Historical Library, the State Museum of Natural History and the Public Health Exliibit prepared for the State Fair by Dr. C. St. Clair Drake offered much of interest to the visitors. Honored guests at the Convention were: Mrs. John D. Sher- man, Chairman of Conservation, G. F., and Mrs. W. E. Chivis, President Missouri Federation. Among the speakers were : Judge Hugo Pain who talked on "The School House as a Social Center,'' Wilhelm Miller, "Landscape Gardening Along tlie Lincoln Highway," Joel Hunter, Juvenile Court, Chicago, Senator Hugh S. Magill, Jr., on "The Woman in Legislature," Nicholas Vachel Lindsay, the poet, Mabelle Church Van Alstyne, Miss Helen Euggles, Eev. Myron T. Pontius and Dr. George Thomas Palmer, who talked on the recently completed "Springfield Survey." Eesolutions dealt with the Park Eidge School and the need for clubs to help maintain it ; Wider Use of School Houses as Social Cen- ters ; Insurance and Eetirement Fund for Teachers ; The Smith Lever Bill; Unit System in Education. Some of the legislative measures had to do with unemployment among women and girls; capital punishment ; child labor ; censorship board for motion pictures ; peace and bovine tuberculosis. 81 THE EL.EIVBNTH BIENNIUM. Mes. Charles H. Zimimermax. 1914—1916. Mrs. Charles H. Zimmerman has the distinction of being the only President of the Illinois Federation to be born in Chicago, or rather Austin, as her father, Wm. Ammerson, was one of the pioneers of that section long before it became a part of the great city. Mrs. Zimmerman who lives in Chicago, has been a widow for several years, has only one son, an instructor in engineering in the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, and two young grandsons. Her club career began as President of the Austin Woman's Club in 1907. She then became President of the Sixth District, I, F. W. C, and immediately on her retirement became State President. She is at present (1928) Chairman of Music for the State Federation. After Mrs. Zimmerman completed the courses in the public schools she took up the study of music as a profession and has served as organist in various churches and for various organizations. She ha? always been prominently identified with the Methodist Church, being at the present time one of the two women members of the Official Board of the Austin Methodist Church, in which capacity she has served for nine years. She is a past-president of the Home Missionary Society of her Church and a member of the Sunday School Board. The officers elected in Springfield and those who continued to serve were: President, Mrs. Chas. A. Zimmerman, Chicago; Vice- President at Large, Mrs. Albert Watson, Mt. Vernon; Recording Secretary, Mrs. Anne J. Wood, Quincy; Corresponding Secretary, Mrs. George Thomas Palmer, Springfield; Treasurer, Mrs. Morton W. Thompson, Danville; G. F. State Secretary, Mrs. Fred A. Dow, Chicago. The Vice-Presidents serving 1914-1915 were: Mesdames John Worthy, 1 ; Lambert 0. Wile, 2 ; James H. Hood, Chicago Heights, 3 ; A. W. Sullivan, 4 ; Leila A. Martin, 5 ; Harry J. Ilett, La Grange, 6; H. W. Halleman, 7; Inez Eogers Deach, 8; F. H. Gansbergen, 9; Wm. J. Fyff'e, Highland Park, 10; John T. Mason, Aurora, 11; George B. Gregory, Rockford, 12; A. G. Burnham, Dixon, 13; Miss Lillian Vertroes, Bushnell, 14; Mesdames Wm. Masters, AVataga, 15; J. B. Slinn. Chillicothe, 16; N. D. M'Kinney, Bloomington. 17; Howard Uran, Kankakee, 18 ; Miss Georgia Hopkins, Shelbyville, 19 ; Miss Ada Glenn, Ashland, 20; Mesdames G. J. Eivard, Assumption, 21; George Levis, Alton, 22; Miss Beulah Scarborough, Mt. Carmel, 23; Mrs. Delia Parker, Vienna, 24; Mrs. Wm. Hart, Benton, 25. The Chairmen of the Departments of Work were: Mesdames Elmer E. Hagler, Springfield, Art ; David B. Parr, Decatur, Civics and Philanthropy; W. J. Burgess. Chicago, Civil Service; C. W. Irion, Ottawa, Conservation ; Fred L. Hatch, Spring Grove, Education ; T. A. Vernon, Aledo, Home Economics and Pure Food ; A. E. Walker, 82 Hinsdale, Legislative; John D. Ladd, Cairo, Library Eixtension; Wni. M. Gamble, Chicago, Music; John H. Long, Evanston, Literature and Eeciprocity; Eugenia E, Curry, Mt. Sterling, Public Health; Thos. F. Hickey, Chicago, Social and Industrial Conditions. Standing Committee Chairmen were: Mesdames C. D. Babb, Homer, Auditing; Edward L. Muri'ey, Chicago, Bulletin; H. E. Chamberlain, Chicago, Printing and Credentials; Chas. E. Clifton, Evanston, Program; Geo. W. Plummer, Chicago, Revisions; Laura S. Eabb, Chicago, Transportation. Special Committee Chairmen were : Mesdames Inez E. Deach, Finance; Fred A. Low, Kesolutions; G. W. Halleman, Illinois Cottage Maintenance Fund; Albert Watson, State Institutional Visiting. For the first time the Year Book was divided into two sections and published separately. The first section appeared as the "Year Book." 1915-1916, containing names of officers and committees, in fact all the usual information excepting the Club Directory. The Directory 1916-1917 appeared later carrying the lists of clubs, officers and committees. The most progressive piece of work done by the Department of Education during the summer of 1915 was the holding of eight Government Canning Schools and the Department felt that the im- provement of rural schools was the greatest educational need in the state. The Public Health Department was active, working through the three committees of Child Hygiene, Social Hygiene and Anti- Tuberculosis. The Illinois County Tuberculosis Act. called the Glackin Bill, tlie most comprehensive passed by any Legislature in the United States, had become a law in June, 1915, and the club women were urged to see that its provisions were carried out as rapidly as possible. The first Baby Week was held and was the fore- runner of excellent work along this line. The Civics Department was very active, with a broad and far reaching program, combining work for beautifying home and school yards, boys' and girls' clubs, assisting with canning clubs and com- bining with other state wide organizations in the establishment of social centers. The Legislature had recently passed the Social Center Bill for which the Federation had worked very hard. Mrs. Willis J. Burgess, in reporting for the Civil Service Depart- ment, stated that the Board of Administration, which governs all state charitable institutions, had adopted a new salary schedule giving women the same salaries as men doing the same work. Also, it had been found that women attendants did better work than men in those positions and that preference was to be given women in the future. Mrs. Burgess, who served as chainnan of this committee for two years, later became Corresponding Secretary and afterwards Execu- tive Secretary, on salary, and has filled that office continuously, ever since. She has probably been more closely identified with the Fed- eration, over a longer period of time than any other one member, and has endeared herself to thousands by her sympathetic interest and co-operation. 83 The Conservation Department stressed interest in bird and wild- flower protection, home gardening, forestry, conservation of natural scener}-, waterway possibilities, way side planting, good roads and the Lincoln Highway. The failure of the Illinois Legislative Committee to recommend the passage of the bill for the purchase, by the state, of the White Pine Forest to be converted into a State Park, was a great blow to the club members. The White Pine Forest Bill Avas of peren- nial interest and it was a great disappointment that it never left the hands of the Committee at that time. It was finally bought by the state on September 18, 1927 for $62,500.00 Illinois stood at the head of the list in number of clubs belong- ing to the General Federation, 154, with 25,000 members or 40 per cent of state membership, which at this time approximated 62,000 in 530 clubs. The election of chairmen for the various departments was changed to conform to the time of election of corresponding chair- men in the General Federation. The bills which had passed the Legislature in 1915 and which the Federation had endorsed, were: Commitment and Care of the Feehle Minded ; State Pension Law for Teachers ; Schools as Social Centers ; Better Provision for Support of Wife and Children by Hus- band and Father; Abatement and Injunction Law; Abolition of Filing System in dealing with Prostitutes ; Care of the Blind ; Birth Eegistration ; Punishment of Adults Causing Delinquency and Crime in Children; Playgrounds for Towns and Small Cities. The Twenty-first Annual Meeting of the Federation was held in Eockford, in the Second Congregational Church, ISTovember 9, 10, 11, 12, 1915, the Eockford Woman's Club, Household Science Club and Catholic Woman's League acting as hostesses. The Honorary Chairmen were: Mesdames Norman F. Thomp- son, Ella G. Eoot, W. A. Talcott and Seely Perry. Miss Jessie I. Spafford was Chairman and was assisted bv Miss Isabelle Duffey and Mesdames George B. Gregor.y, Hugh T. Brown, W. B. Keeling, A. H. Fi-ost, W. B. Franklin. C. H. Knapp, B. B. Page, L. H. Clark, E. A. Clark, E. K. Welsh, T. G. Levings, Almond E. Case, G. N. Safford, D. E. Mead, W. W. Snyder, V. L. Page, Chas. E. Sheldon, Walter A. Forbes, C. E. Brantingham and E. G. Jones. Courtesies were extended by the Local Board which entertained- with a musical program and lecture recital at the Church on Monday evening. Visits were arranged to St. Elizabeth's Social Center, Mon- tague House and to Harlem Consolidated School, at that time con- sidered the best country school and community center in the country. The highlights on this very fine program were : Dr. Clara Har- rison Town, who spoke on "The Feeble Minded in onr Community ;" Professor Edwin D. Starbuck, State University of Iowa. "The Worth of a Child;" Nicholas Yachel Lindsey, Senator Morton D. Hull, Pro- fessor Edward J. Ward, University of Wisconsin; Dr. William Sadler whose address was "Faith and Fear in Eelation to Health ;" James H. Green, University of Illinois, "Boys' and Girls' Clubs;" Miss Anna May Price of the State Library ; Miss Helen Bosv/ell, Chair- 84 man of Education, G. F. ; Miss Kathleen O'Brennan, Society Editor of the Irish Times. Dublin, who spoke on "Woman's Work in Ire- land;" Miss Anne Hinrichson, "Jail Inspection in Illinois;" Senator Hugh S. Magill and Mrs. John D. Sherman, Chairman Conserva- tion, G. F. The oflBcers holding over, and those elected at Rockford, were: President, Mrs. Chas. H. Zimmerman, Chicago; Vice-President, Mrs. Wm. H. Hart, Benton ; Recording Secretary, Mrs. Geo. Thos. Palmer, Springfield; Corresponding Secretary, Mrs. W. J. Burgess, Chicago; Treasurer, Mrs. Moses L. Purvin, Chicago ; G. F. State Secretary, Mrs. Frederick A. Dow, Chicago. From 1896, until the Convention held in Eockford in 1915. we had a Vice-President at Large. At that meeting the by-laws were revised, eliminating the words "at Large." Vice-Presidents of dis- tricts were also changed to Presidents of Congressional Districts. The Presidents for 1915-16 were: Mesdames Chas. E. Cald- well, 1 ; Lambert 0. Wile, 2 ; Clarence Rainwater, 3 ; A. W. Sullivan, 4; Peter Kussman, 5; Harry Ilett, La Grange, 6; Duane McXabb, 7; Inez R. Deach, 8; Wm. M. Hopkins, 9; Wm. J. Fyffe, Highland Park, 10; Chas. H. Talbott, Marengo, 11; Geo. B. Gregory, Rockford, 12; J. M. Heald, Byron, 13; Harry R. Morgan, Aledo, 14: Geo. W. Thompson, Galesburg, 15; Miss Delia Miller, Peoria, 16; Mesdames Frank Funk, Bloomington, 17 ; W. R. Hunter, Kankakee, 18 ; John H. Chadwick, Tuscola, 19 ; Miss Ada Glenn, Ashland, 20 ; Mesdames John Harvey Brown, Litchfield, 21; George Levis, Alton, 22; J. J. Brown, Vandalia, 23; Lucas Parker, Vienna, 24; Fred G. Campbell, Marion, 25. Department Chairmen were: Mesdames Jas. W. Parker, Chi- cago, Art; David B. Parr, Decatur, Civics and Philanthropy; Felix W. Levy, Chicago. Civil Service; C. W. Irion, Ottawa, Conservation; Chas. B. Young. Riverside, Education; T. A. Vernon, Aledo, H. E. and Pure Food; Thos. F. Hickey, Chicago, Social and Industrial; John T. Mason, Aurora, Legislative; John D. Ladd, Cairo, Library Extension; John H. Long, Eivanston, Literature and Reciprocity; Forrest H. Kellogg, Kewanee, Music ; Dt. Violet Palmer Brown, Kan- kekee. Public Health. Standing Committee Chairmen included : Mesdames Richard L. Pennington, Chicago. Auditing ; Edward L. Murfey. Biilletin : Miss Anne Hinrichson, Alexander, Press; Miss Jessie Spafford, Revisions; Mesdames Chas. M. Carver, Oak Park, Pl-inting and Credentials ; Geo. E. Fouser, Chicago, Transportation; Geo. W. Plummer, Official Parliamentarian. Special Committee Chairmen included: Mesdames R. L. Pen- nington, Finance; Frederick A. Dow, Resolutions; Duane McNabb, Cottage Maintenance Fund ; Frederick A. Dow, Institutional Visit- ing; Wm. H. Hart, Endowment Fund. The Federated Women's Clubs of Urbana and Champaign were hostesses for the second time to the Federation when they entertained the delegates to the Twenty-second Annual Convention in Xovember 14, 15, 16, 1916. All meetings were held in the auditorium of the University. 85 The Honorary Chairmen of the Local Board were : Mesdames Mary E. Bnsey, H. H. Harris, D. M. Dunlap and the Missess Isabelle Bevier and Martha Kyle. Airs. Frank L. Frailey was Chairman and was assisted by Mesdames I. 0. Baker, A. S. Mason, G. T. Flom, H. S. Grindlev, F. E. Williamson, F. S. Goodman, D. P Mclntvre, L. B. Saffer, G. A. Miller, H. E. Temple, G. F. Way, L. H. Howser, M. S. Bryant, W. W. Earnest, Fi-ed Paigg, T. E. Saunder, J. S. Mason, Gus Freemen, F. 0. Sale, Eugene Davenport, Morgan Brooks, F. E. Baimmi. F. K. Eobeson, Will Sim, T. A. Clark, Constance B. Smith, Wm. Murray, George Busey, T. H. Leathers, John Busey, J. J. Han- more, Guy Stewart, Daniel Warwick, B. F. Stevenson, W. T. Bur- ford and Miss Eva Foote. Monday evening the delegates were entertained by the Players' Club of the University. The University also arranged several in- teresting exhibits, among which were an Art Exhibit, a Flower Show at the Floriculture Greenhouses, a Stock Show by the Department of Animal Husbandry and a Eegimental Drill. The decorations of the Auditorium were arranged by the Class in Floral Decoration of the University. The general subject of the program was "Conservation of Child- hood" and nearly all of the speakers dealt with some phase of the subject in their addresses. Music held a more prominent place than usual on account of the advantages offered by the University. Dr. Lawrence Erb, Director of the School of Music, and an organist of note, played several times. The Faculty of the School of Music gave a concert on Wednesday Elvening. Miss Lutie E. Stearns of Wisconsin talked on "The Problem of Eeading for the Adolescent Girl." Those from the University ap- pearing on the program were : Dean David Kinley, Dr. Euth Wheeler, Miss Fannie Brooks, and Dr. B. E. Hieronymous. Alder- man Chas. E. Merriam, of the University of Chicago, made an ad- dress, as did Hon. Ban-ett O'Hara, whose subject was "Protecting Childhood by Legislation." Prof. Lynn Harold Hough, of North- western, talked on "The Bible as Literature" and Mrs. C. Houghton White gave a beautiful dramatic interpretation of Barrie's "Eosa- lind." For the first time we note the Districts becoming publicly vocal, eight of the twenty-five publishing reports in the Federation Bulle- tin Convention IS^umber of 1916. The work of organization was slow in these units and while there were many clubs organized and func- tioning they had not gotten the spirit of the "District Federation" idea; had not yet felt the need of banding together, of having a full complement of officers and of holding regular meetings. The Dis- trict is. such an important part of the machinery of the State Fed- eration today we can scarcely realize that there was a time, and not so many years ago, when there were Districts which were represented on the State Board by a President but which practically had no organization. Every well organized and thoroughly functioning District has added a tremendous power to the State Federation. 86 At this time the Second District, now the sixth largest in the State, was reported as having had practically no organization in 1914, but in the two years intervening an organization of twelve working committees corresponding to the state committees had been formed so that there was no break from the individual club to the national organization. Mrs. Lambert 0. Wile was President. The Sixth District, Mrs. Harry W. Iletl, President, reported a Juvenile Protective League which cared for the children under four- teen in the Skinner School Neighborhood. She also reported on Chicago's "Light House/^ the Improvement Association for Blind People with whose occupational classes they were helping. This District is now the second largest in the Federation with a member- ship of nearly 6,000 club women. We hear one of the first notes of the war in the report of the Seventh District, which speaks of the interest in Eed Cross work. They had First Aid talks and then began to make hospial supplies which went into great warehouses for base hospitals when needed. They raised their money through contributions and card parties. They were also making a fight on campaign posters, the use of which was in violation of a city ordinance. Mrs. Duane McXabb was President. The Eighth District, tlie "settlement" district, while reporting that it had no Federation and was not organized, stated that its clubs were keeping in touch with one another through Eeciprocity Days at which time the State and General Federation work was presented to them. Among the special activities were the linen chests which pro- vided for the needs of the neighborhood and which seemed to have had an inexhaustible supply, the Hull House Club reporting the dis- tribution of 3,500 garments in two years. The Columbian Club, not now a member of either the District or State Federation, was start- ing on its twenty-fourth year of social service. It established a sum- mer cottage in the Fox Eiver Valley where one hundred women and children could enjoy a much needed vacation in the summer. The Hull House Woman's Club, with Mrs. Laura Dainty Pel- ham as President, in 1915 became a departmental club and did much in the distribution of children's books. Many parties for young people were given and the club budgeted money for the City Gardens and Juvenile Protection Association. Mrs. Inez Eogers Deach was President at this time. The Eleventh District President, Mrs. C. H. Talbott, told of a Eeciprocity meeting held by the Eush Creek Club, to which delegates came from miles around and which proved that "the rural club of today means push, prosperity and progress." There were forty clubs in the district. The Fourteenth District was looking forward to an interesting meeting which was to be addressed by Mrs. Pennybacker and Mrs. Zimmerman. It numbered seventeen clubs with 2,074 members. The Thursday Club of Keithsburg reported "splendid things in civic and 87 philanthropic work." Mrs. H. E. Morgan, the President, reported that they now had district chairmen who were ready to work. Mrs. G. W. Thompson, President of the Fifteenth District, re- ported a new District Year Book with all committees named, and that ten new clubs had been added to the organization within the last year. The Press Committee was taking care of club publicity in the local papers. The Health Committee had been directing Baby Weeks and was giving attention to Social Hygiene. Mrs. Fred Gregg Campbell, President of the Twenty-fifth Dis- trict said they had financed Chatauquas ; furnished free ice and pure milk for the poor; planned, inspected and judged school and home gardens. Also that her plans for the year centered around the work of the County Chairmen, each one of whom she was asking: "1. Try to organize one club at least in a community where there are no clubs. 2. Try to bring together all club officers in your county for one or more conferences. 3. Visit your clubs. The personal touch is a strong factor in Federation work." In these reports we see almost the first mention of "rural clubs" and "county chairman," 88 THE TWELFTH BIENNIUM. Governor of Illinois, President of the U. S., 1917—1921. 1913—1921. Frank 0. Lowden. Miss Jessie I. Spafford. Woodrow Wilson. 1916—1919. Miss Jessie I. Spaiford, was born in Rockford, Illinois, her im- mediate family coming from Xew Hampshire and Xew York. She attended Rockford High School, Vassar College, University of Chi- cago, University of Wisconsin and Zurich Polytecnic. Miss Spafford has been closely identified for many years with the club and civic life of her native city, having been President of the Woman's Club for something like twenty years. Under her efficient administration a club house was erected which is one of the handsomest and most complete in the state. She has been President of the Twelfth District, I. F. W. C, President of the State Federa- tion, Director to the General Federation and at present (1928) is a member of the Board of Trustees of that organization. She is par- ticularly interested in the Boys' Club and in general public welfare work in Rockford and was chairaian of the Organization Committee of the Woman's Division of the Council of National Defense during the war. The term of service for this administration was from November 1916, until June 1919, two and one-half years, owing to the fact that at the Convention in 1917, the date 'of the annual meeting was changed from November to May. In this instance the meeting was postponed until June, 1919. At the Champaign meeting Miss Jessie I. Spafford of Rockford was elected President and Mrs. John H. Chadwick of Tuscola, Vice- President. Those remaining in office were: Mrs. W. J. Burgess, Corresponding Secretary and Mrs. Moses L. Purvin, Treasurer, while Mrs. Zimmerman became G. F. State Secretary and Mrs. W. R. Hunter, Recording Secretary. The District Presidents for 1916-1917 were: Mesdames Chas. E. Caldwell, 1; Henry W. Hardy, 2; Clarence Rainwater, 3; Frank Jerome, 4; Miss Ruth Austin, 5; Mesdames Wm. J. Benson, 6; Duane McNabb, 7 ; Luther Conant, Oak Park, 8 ; Wm. M. Hopkins, 9 ; Mar- tin K. Northam, 10; Chas. H. Talbott, Marengo, 11; Dr. M. D. Brown. DeKalb, 12; Mesdames J. M. Heald, Byron, 13; A. S. Ed- wards, Moline, 14; Geo. W. Thompson, Galesburg, 15; W. K. Trim- ble, Princeton, 16; Frank H. Funk, Bloomington, 17; E. B. Griffin, Grant Park, 18; Ftank L. Frailey, Urbana, 19; Edgar D. Glandon, Pittsfield, 20 ; John Harvey Brown, Litchfield, 21 ; J. M. Daniels, Greenville, 22; J. J. Brown, Vandalia, 23; Chas. H. Melrose, Gray- ville, 24; Fred G. Campbell, Marion, 25. The Department chairmen for this period were : Mesdames Jas. W. Parker, Chicago, Art; Wm. H. Hart, Benton, Civics and Philan- thropy; Felix Levy, Chicago, Civil Sei"vice; W. L. Arnold, Chicago, 89 Conservation; Albert Evans, Chicago, Education; Eobt. Harlan, Free- port, H. E. and Pure Food; John T. Mason, Aurora, Legislation; T. B. Davis, Kock Island, Library Extension; E. L. Kellogg, Kewanee, Music; Gr. M. Kendall, Glen Ellyn, Literature and Eeciprocity; F. C. Starr, Chicago, Social and Industrial; Dr. Violet Palmer Brown, Kankakee. Public Health. At this time, the committees made up of one member from each district, were listed with the chairmen. Chairmen of Standing Committees were : Mesdames R. L. Pen- nington, Auditing; Chas. M. Carver, Printing and Credentials; Jos. McM. Steele, Program; Harry E. Chamberlain, Revisions, and N. La Doit Johnson, Press, all of Chicago, with the exception of Mrs. Carver, who lived in Oak Park. The Special Committee chairmen were : Mesdames R. L. Pen- nington. Finance; Chas. H. Zimmerman, Resolutions; Fred A. Dow, State Institutional Visiting; Clarence G. Goodwin (Minne Starr Grainger) State Reserve Fund; Howard T. Willson of Virden, Cen- tennial and Wm. Lyman. Chicago, Efficiency. In writing of this administration we are quoting almost verbatim from Miss Spafford's outline to us. She says, "It was distinctly a Var administration' because the Great War had already been in progress over two years and it was becoming increasingly evident that the United States must enter the conflict. The declaration of War in April 1917, the draft, the organization of camps, the organization of the civilian population, the war itself, the armistice, and the first seven months of reconstruction all came within the dates of this one administration. War colored every thought and action. "The disintegrating effects of the war were felt very early in the ckibs. hence it seemed wisest to have each chairman of a department concentrate the major efforts of the year on one project, in order to achieve some definite results. Among these were a housing law for the state; placing Illinois on the white list for registration of births and deaths; State Censorship of motion pictures; Americanization of alien women; suffrage for women. None of these bills became laws at this time though birth registration and national suffrage came very soon, (the latter in June 1919, known as the Nineteenth Amend- ment.) "In the early months of 1916 the Bulletin, the official organ of ■the Federation was changed from four issues a year to eight, and its size was greatly increased. "After April second, 1917, all efforts of clubs and club women were turned to -winning the war. Many clubs were changed into Red Cross Units, and club women everywhere were drafted in to war organ- ization — Councils of Defense, War Camp Community Service, Liberty Loan Drives and Food Conservation units. In one war time organiza- tion, where a careful estimate was made, it was found that four fifths of the active membership were club women. Meanwhile, the move- ment in its various branches was making almost daily demands upon the club units. The President, Miss Spafford, served as Chairman 90 of Organization on the Woman's Committee, Council of Xational De- fense, attending weekly meetings in Chicago." The Twenty-third Annual Convention was held in Chicago at Sinai Temple, Forty-sixth Street and Grand Boulevard, November 13, 14, 15, 1917, the club women of the first ten districts serving as hostesses. Mrs. Frederick A. Dow was Chairman of the Local Board and was assisted by Mesdames H. W. Cooley, Benjamin Auerbach, W. H. Buhlig, Edgar A. Hall, H. H. Baldwin, Wm. G. Cook, Henry Gertsley, Chas. S. Cornelius, Elizabeth Jeffers, Chas. S. Clark, James W. Parker, Lambert 0. Wile, Wm. J. Eoberts, Oliver L. Watson, Frederick W. Blocki, N. LaDoit Johnson, Harry J. Ilett, Jos. Mc- Clure Steele and Miss Ima Clarke. Courtesies included a visit to the beautiful Ida Noyes Hall at the University, Open House at the Arche Club, and an original play presented by the Chicago Woman's Club, entitled "The Kettle Sings'' or "The Domestic Conscience" by Caroline S. P. Wild. Among the speakers were: Dr. Mary G. McEwen, former Chairman of the Public Health Department who talked on "The Dawn of a ISTew Day for Women ;" Dr. Carolyn E. Geisel, "Woman's Greatest Need;" Earle Edward Eubank; Mrs. True Worthy White, "The Club Program in Community Life;" Mrs. Joseph T. Bowen, "The Council of National Defense;" Mrs. H. M. Dunlap; John D. Shoop; Arthur E. Bestor, "America and the World War;" Honorable Frederick DeYoung, "The Constitutional Convention;" Honorable Harold C. Kessinger, "The Challenge of the Changing World ;" Owen E. Lovejoy, "What Shall we do for the Children in Time of War." At this convention, war work for the Federation, as a whole, was organized. Very shortly after a Soldiers' Club was established at Rockford which was financed, furnished and managed entirely by club women. Two homes for protective work for girls were also established, one at Rockford and one at Waukegan. The sum of $1,000 was given for the furnishing of the Soldiers' Club at Rantoul. Approximately $15,000 was raised for these projects. In Rockford, 45,000 soldiers attended the club in eleven months, and sixty-two week end meals were served. In the midst of the war came the Illinois Centennial Celebration, marking in 1918 the' one hundredth anniversary of statehood. The Federation celebrated the occasion by giving an historical pageant in the Auditorium Theater, Chicago, May eleventh, for the benefit of its War Recreation Fund. Two thousand performers took part. The scenes and tableaux were largely the adaptation of Wallace Rice who had been appointed official pageant writer for the state by the Illinois Centennial Commission. Symbolical and allegorical scenes and char- acters appeared in connection with characters representing the earliest French settlers down through the great men who added to the glory of Illinois during the Civil War, through times of peace, the growth of industries, to the period of the Great AYar. The final scene de- picted these various industries, together with a united people, showing the alliance of Illinois and America with England, France and Italy, all combining with one object in view — World Democracy. 91 The event was an artistic and financial success, $3,500 being raised for Federation work. In November of that year came the Armistice and the sudden letting down of war work. Many clubs were disorganized and there was great need to re-enlist the women in Federation work. To that end four regional conferences were organized; one each in Chicago, Bloomington, East St. Louis and Springfield. Eleven members of the board made the trip down state paying all their own expenses. They were met evei^where by enthusiastic club women eager to get back to work. It was estimated that over 1,500 attended the four meeting's. There were two pieces of work left over from the war that the administration was most anxious to continue, and they were citizen- ship training and protective work for girls. As money was required for carrying them on, an extension fund was started for that purpose and at the annual meeting of 1919 it was named the "Jubilee Fund" and a goal set for $25,000.00 At the same convention, on recom- mendation of the President, dues were placed on a per capita basis and recommendations adopted to establish headquarters with a paid secretary. "As we look back over the disquieting years of the war, and the alarm felt, in many quarters, lest the war time organization would weaken and perhaps destroy the usefulness of the Federation, we gain new confidence in the permanence and strength of that organization. Councils, created for special purposes have passed out of existence, while the Federation is stronger than ever before." The officers serving with Miss Spafford from November 1917 until June 1919 were : Vice-President, Mrs. Frank Funk, Blooming- ton; Recording Secretary, Mrs. W. E. Hunter, Kankakee; Correspond- ing Secretary, Mrs. C. M. Carver, Oak Park; Treasurer, Mrs. Fred- erick W. Blocki, Chicago; C F. State Secretary. Mrs. Chas. H. Zim- merman. The Presidents of Congressional Districts were : Mesdames E. S. Bailey, 1; Henry W. Hardy, 2; A. W. Augur, 3; Frank Jerome, 4; Chas. E. Greenfield, 5 ; Wm. J. Benson, 6 ; Eansom Ennicott, 7 ; Luther Conant, 8; C. D. Jeifers, 9; Martin K. Northam, 10; H. J. Sawyer, Joliet, 11 ; Dr. Mareva D. Brown, DeKalb, 12 ; Mesdames W. P. Graham, Eochelle, 13 ; A. S. Edwards, Moline, 14 ; W. A. Spies, Abinscdon, 15; W. K. Trimble, Princeton, 16; Fred W. Longan, Lincoln, 17; E. B. Griffin, Grant Park, 18; Frank L. Frailey, TJrbana, 19; Edgar D. Glandon, Pittsfield, 20; J. T. Savage, Car- linville, 21; J. M. Daniels, Greenville, 22; A. T. Midget, Eobinson, 23; Chas. H. Melrose, Grayville, 24; Nellie Searing, Carbondale, 25. Department Chairmen included: Mesdames James W. Parker, Art; Guy Blanchard, Motion Pictures; Oliver L. Watson, Civil Ser- vice; W. L. Arnold, Conservation; Albert Evans, Education and Clarence Eainwater, H. E. and Pure Food, all of Chicago. Also Mes- dames Jos. F. Nachbour, Joliet, Industrial and Social Conditions; W. W. Whitmore, Bloomington, Legislative ; T. B. Davis, Eock Island, Library Extension; G. M. Kendall, Glen EUyn, Literature and Ee- 92 ciprocity; E. F. Burkholder, Streator, Music; Dr. Violet Palmer Brown, Kankakee, Public Health. Chairmen of Standing Committees were: Mesdames Edmund Graf, Auditing and Finance; Francis K. Vonficht, Bulletin; Jos. McC. Steele, Progi'am ; Lambert 0. Wile, Transportation ; X. La Doit Johnson, Press, all of Chicago. Also Mesdames George M. Bennett, Eockford, Printing and Credentials; John H. Chadwick, Tuscola, Eevisions. The Twenty-fourth Annual Meeting was held in the Auditorium of Mohammed Temple, Peoria, June 3, 4, 5, 1919, with headquarters at the Jefferson Hotel and the Federated Clubs of Peoria acting as hostesses. This was the third convention of the Federation to be held in Peoria. The Local Board was made up of Mesdames Harrison Monro Brown, Chairman, and John E. Keene, H. D. Eunnells, Franklin S. Davis, C. E. Nixon, Janet M. Dickson, A. T. Griffith. John Winzaler, A. B. McGill, L. B. Quick, H. E. Chubbuck, Jacques Bloom, E. E. Barbour, C. U. Collins, E. J. Bush, R. J Boynton, W. A. Wittick, W. H. Moors, E. D. Carey, Arthur G. Smith and Misses Lucy Way, Alberta Wolgamott, Bertha Case, Elizabeth Eiess, Minnie M. Peter- son, Catherine Lester and Irma Staebler. The outstanding social feature of this convention was the banquet, the first ever given for Illinois delegates at a Federation meeting, when 1,200 women sat down to dine together. Men were permitted to come to the Coliseum and sit in the balcony to hear the program, but they were not allowed a seat at the tables. Mrs. Brown introduced Mrs. Winter that night as the "present Vice-President and the next President of the G. F. W. C." — and she did become the next President. The same night the word was received from Washington that Congress approved the Suf- frage measure. It was a great occasion for the Illinois Federation. Coming so soon after the close of the war, and when the echoes of the AiTnistice Avere still being heard, the music of the convention had more or less of a martial air, while many of the topics discussed pertained wholly or in part to war activities. Dr. Caroline Hedger, always a favorite with Federation audiences, talked on "The Club Women in Americanization;" Grace Wilbur Trout discussed "The jSJational Woman's Voters' League;" Dr. Edward S. Divine of New York, "Impending Social Changes;" Dr. Allen D. Albert, "Com- munity Councils;" Dean Percy G. Boynton, University of Chicago, "Poetry and Politics;" Dudley Crafts Watson, "Art and True De- mocracy;" Mrs. Katherine Knowles Eobbins, "Better American Speech;" Dt. Wm. A. Evans, Public Health; Dr. Josephine Milligan, "Suggestions on How to Utilize Experience Gained in France, For Public Health Work in Illinois ;" Mrs. Thos. G. Winter, Second Vice- President of the G. F., "The Day and the Opportunity." Dr. Amaury Mars told "The most phenominal story of the war." Some of the temporary committees reporting were : Chicago Woman's Club Canteen Service ; War Service Committee and Soldiers' Club. All the departments held open conference meetings at four o'clock on Tuesday and Wednesday afternoon. 93 The Department of Social aud Industrial Conditions reported that it had put its efforts on three lines of work: the handicapped soldier and sailor and the civilian injured through industry. The Legislative Committee reported passage of the Vocational Education Bill which they had endorsed, interest in a Housing Bill, Motion Picture Censorship Bill, appropriation for the feeble minded and the Eight Hour Bill for women. The Music Department stressed Community ilusic with singing of patriotic songs. The Department of Public Health was very active and had added adult hygiene and public health nursing to its other activities. In co- operation with the Children's Bureau at Washington which was at- tempting to save 100,000 babies during 1918, and the Illinois C. N. D., the club women weighed and measured all children of pre-school age; they assisted the National Tuberculosis Association in its Mod- em Health Crusade movement for better health habits among school children, and they co-operated with the State Health Department in its Health Promotion Week. They were asking for the following pro- posed legislation: full time county health officers; medical inspection for schools; detention hospitals for venereal diseased delinquents; creation of an orthopedic hospital for victims of infantile parlysis. Some of the activities participated in at this time, largely war time measures, by clubs and districts, included the Liberty Loan, War Savings Stamps, Community Canning, Eed Cross work of all kinds, Canteen Service, Visiting Housekeeper for Americanization work, Memorial Tree Planting, War Gardens, Adoption of French Or- phans, sponsoring chatauquas, securing full time health officers, child welfare work, and incidentally, in addition, many of them carrying on a full time Federation program. Some clubs gave them- selves over entirely to war work while the individual members of other clubs gave their service to war organizations so the club might be kept as a club organization, and perhaps as a refuge from many needed war time demands. 94 THE THIETEENTH BIENNIUM. 1919—1921. Mrs. Wm. H. Hart. Mrs, Wm. H. Hart, the second President coming from southern Illinois, was born in Coulterville, this state, being educated at the Academy in that town, and at the Southern Illinois Normal School, Carbondale. She has lived for many years in Benton where she has a delightful home, so she has been closely identified with that part of the state during her life time. Her immediate family consists of her husband, two sons and two daughters, all of whom are married, we believe. She has been President of the Self Culture Class and of the Woman's Club of Benton; President of the Twenty-fifth District, Chairman of Civics and Vice-President of the Illinois Federation. During the war Mrs. Hart was county worker in the Council of National Defense and Chairman of the Liberty Loan for the Eighth Federal Eeserve District. She has taken a prominent part in mis- sionary work, in the Woman's Christian Temperance Union, Eed Cross, D. A. E., and League of Women Voters. At the Peoria Meeting Mrs. Wm. H. Hart, of Benton, was elected President; Mrs. John T. Mason, of Aurora, Vice-President, and Mrs. Martin Kent Northam, of Evanston, Eecording Secretary, Those re- maining in office, were : Mrs. Chas, M, Carver, Oak Park, Corres- ponding Secretary and Mrs. Frederick W, Blocki, of Chicago, Treas- urer. Miss Spafford was elected G. F. State Secretary. The Presidents of Congressional Districts for this year were: Mesdames Edward S. Bailey, 1; Chas. F. Eoss, 2; A. W. Augur, 3; Elliot W. Davis, 4; Chas. E. Greenfield. 5; Jessie J. White, 6; John F. Devine, 7; Balph T. Pickett, 8; C. D. Jeffers, 9; Chas. Ware, Kenilworth, 10; H. J. Sawyer, Joliet, 11; Miss Clara B. Goodwin, Mendota, 12; Mesdames W, P. Graham, Eochelle, 13; George E, Ockert, Eoseville, 14; A. C, Eoberts, Galesburg, 15; Miss Delia Miller, Peoria, 16; Mesdames Fred W. Longan, Lincoln, 17; L. F. W. Stuebe, Danville, 18 ; Frank L. Frailey, Urbana, 19 ; J, C, Grout. Winches- ter, 20; J, T, Savage, Carlinville, 21; Eugene Gaskins, Alton, 22; Mary E. McCauley, Olney, 23; P. T. Chapman, Vienna, 24; George W. Hess, Anna, 25. Parliamentarian, Mrs. Geo. W. Plummer. Chicago. Those serving as Chairmen of Departments for the same period, were: Mesdames J. W. Parker, Chicago, Art; F, J. Macnish, Oak Park, Civics; Guy Blanchard, Chicago, Motion Picture Survey; Oliver L. Watson, Chicago, Civil Service; W. L. Arnold, Chicago, Conservation; Albert Evans, Chicago, Education; D. W. Eedfield, Evanston, H. E. and Pure Food; Jos. F. jSTachbour, Joliet, Industrial and Social Conditions; E. M. Eeed. Chicago, Legislation; Miss Anna May Price, Springfield, Library Extension; Mesdames Walter S. Mc- »5 Gee, Chicago, Literature and Eeciprocity ; E. F. Burkholder, Streator, Music; Dr. Violet Palmer Brown, Kankakee, Public Health and Child Welfare. The Chairmen of Standing Committees were : Mesdames Guy Blanchard, Bulletin; Edmund S. Graf, Chicago, Finance; Edward S. Baile}^, Auditing; George M. Bennett, Rockford, Printing and Cre- dentials; Eobt. "e. Gillespie, East St. Louis, Press; A. H. Clement, Chicago, Program; John H. Chadwick, Tuscola, Eevisions; Frank H. Funk, Bloomington, Speakers' Bureau; Wm. D. Hurlburt, Chi- cago, Transportation. Special Committee Chairmen were : Mesdames Duane McJSTabb, Illinois Cottage Endowment Fund; Frederick Dale Wood, Chicago, Silver Jubilee Eixtension Fund ; Clarence G. Goodwin. Chicago, State Eeserve Fund; Frederick A. Dow, Chicago, Thrift; Miss Jessie Spafford, Eesolutions. For the first time the County Chairmen, of whom there were seventy-six, were listed. All of the counties outside of Cook, with the exception of the Sixteenth and the Twenty-fourth, were more or less organized. At the meeting of the Board of Directors, September 25th, 1919, authorization was given for the renting of room 634, Fine Arts Building, Michigan Avenue, Chicago, to be used as headquarters for the Federation. The office was opened on Monday, October the 6th, 1919. The Woman's Division, Council of National Defense, was disbanding and the Federation purchased necessary furniture from that organization. The Federation remained in the Fine Arts Build- ing imtil April 1st, 1920, when the office was moved to 127 Forth Dearborn Street, first occupying the front of the building on the sixth floor, then moving to the rear where more room was available, and later going to the eighth floor where the offices are now located (1928), in three rooms. Three distinct p-rograms of work were emphasized by the Presi- dent; Americanization, Thrift and Community Service. During 1919 the Illinois Bulletin passed from the hands of the Federation chairman and her committee, being taken over by a publishing com- pany and the name changed to the "Edict." " At the Convention of 1920 held at the Congress Hotel in Chi- cago, the most conspicious event was the celebration of the twenty- fifth anniversary of the founding of the Federation. It was called "The Illinois Federation of Women's Clubs in Eetrospect" and showed twenty-five years' work of the club women of the State. It was directed by Mrs. Ferdinanda Iv. Anderson, Mrs. Ernest B. Griffin giving the prologue. The setting was the Gold Ball Eoom of the hotel which was a veritable fairyland of beauty, Mrs. James W. Parker and her committee having left nothing undone to enhance the charm and artistic setting for this great event. The color scheme was carried out in silver and blue, the colors of the Federation. The last tableau was called "The Spirit of the Federation" Mrs. Hart and the twenty-five District Presidents representing the completion of the efforts of a quarter of a century. 96 Mrs. John T. Mason of Aurora was the Chairman of the Official Committee in charge of arrangements.* Among old and new friends of the Federation appearing on this program we find the names of Miss Harriet Vittum, who talked on "The Social Eesponsibilities of Women;" Mrs. George W. Plummer speaking for the Community Service Committee of the General Fed- eration of which she was chairman; Mrs. Ira Couch Wood, G. F. Chairman for Child Welfare; Katherine Knowles Eobbins, Annie P. Kenny, Jeannette Bates, Dr. Horace Bridges, Dr. Wm. S. Sadler, Mrs. Grace Wilbur Trout, Shailer Mathews. Mrs. Joseph T. Bowen, Mrs. Cyinis E. Perkins who spoke on "What Illinois has done for Art in the General Federation;" Dr. F. E. Moulton and Dr. W. H. Macpherson. The music was arranged by Anne Faulkner Oberndorfer and was devoted to Illinois composers. Governor of Illinois, President of the U. S., 1921—1929. 1921—1923. Len Small. Mrs. Wm. H. Hart. Warren G. Harding. 1920—1921. The old and new officers who served for this year were : Presi- dent, Mrs. Wm. H. Hart, Benton; First Vice-President; Mrs. Edward S. Bailey, Chicago; Second Vice-President, Mrs. H. J. Sawyer, Joliet; Eecording Secretary, Mrs. Martin K. Xortham, Evanston; Corres- ponding Secretary, Mrs. Henry W. Hardy, Chicago; Treasurer, Mrs. Oliver L. Watson, Chicago; G. F. State Secretary, Miss Jessie Spafford. There were 569 clubs in the Federation with a membership of 63,476. The District Presidents included : Mesdames A. E. Kaltenbrun, 1; Chas. F. Eoss, 2; Wm. J. Eoberts, 3; Elliot W. Davis, 4; M. E. Kultchar, 5; Jessie J. White, 6; Chas. 0. Sethness, 7; Ealph T. Pickett, 8; Auguste Babize. 9; Chas. Ware, Kenilworth, 10; M. W. Coultrap, Naperville, 11; Miss Clara B. Goodwin, Mendota, 12; Mes- dames, Hattie M. Ehersole, Sterling, 13; George E. Ockert, Eoseville, 14; A. C. Eoberts, Galesburg, 15; Miss Delia Miller, Peoria, 16; Fred H. Ballinger, Chenoa, 17 ; L. F. W. Stuebe, Danville, 18 ; Dan Macknet, Decatur, 19; J. C. Grout, Winchester, 20; A. M. Howell, Hillsboro, 21 ; Eugene Gaskins, Alton, 22 ; Mary E. McCauley, Olney, 23; P. T. Chapman, Vienna, 24; S. A. McKelvey, Sparta, 25. The Chairmen of Departments were : Miss Katherine Lester, Peoria, Art; Mesdames F. J. Macnish, Oak Park, Civics; Fi'ank L. Frailey, Urbana, Civil Service; W. Welsh, Des Plaines, Conservation; M. H. Lieber, Winnetka, Education; Jaques Holinger, Chicago, H. E. and Pure Food ; J. F. Nachbour, Joliet, Industrial and Social Con- ditions ; Morton W. Thompson, Danville, Legislation ; Miss Anna May Price, Springfield, Library Extension; Mesdames Fred G. Campbell, * No records are at hand which give hostesses or local board members for this convention. 97 Chicago, Literature and Eeciprocity; Anna Groff-Brvant, Galesburg, Music; Dr. Eva Wilson, Public Health and Child Welfare. The Standing Committee Chairmen were : Mesdames Edward L. Murfey, Chicago, Edict; Edmund S. Grai?, Chicago, Finance; Geo. M. Bennett, Eockford, Printing and Credentials ; X. C. McLean. East St. Louis, Press; E. B. Griffin, Kankakee, Program; John H. Chad- wick, Tuscola, Revisions; Frank H. Funk, Bloomington, Speakers' Bureau ; Wm. D. Hurlburt, Chicago. Transportation. Mrs. McXabb, Miss Spafford and ]\Irs. Wood continued to serve as chairmen of their respective committees, while the new chairmen were: Mesdames Wm. J. Benson, Thrift; John C. Roth, Community Service and Edmund S. Graf, House, all of Chicago. County organization work had been stressed and there were now eighty counties with chainiien. Mrs. Jolm T. ]\Iason of Aurora liad succeeded ^Irs. Plummer as Director, the latter having been made Corresponding Secretary of the General Federation and the office of Director having superseded that of G. F. State Secretary. The Twenty-sixth Annual Convention was held in the Drake Hotel, Chicago, "May 24, 25, 26, 1921. The theme for the occasion was "Service to the Community." Mrs. Edmund A. Graf was Chair- man of the Local Board and was assisted by Mesdames W. J. Roberts, Oliver Watson, George Bennett, A. E. Kaltenbrun, Charles Ware, Jos. F. ISTachbour, Rose Murfey, Frank Johnson, Jessie White, Ernest Griflfin and Miss Anna M. Price. A banquet was held on the first evening with Mrs. Pennybacker as the guest of honor and speaker. An Open Forum on American Citizenship devoted to "The For- eign Born Woman" was held with Mrs. Pennybacker, Miss Grace Abbott and Mr. Frank Comerford taking part in the discussion. Mrs. Henry W. Cheney spoke on "A Joint Lobby ;" Colonel John V. Clinin, "American Women in Politics;" Mrs. George Bass, "Votes for Women;" Miss Juliet L. Bane, "Home Bureau and Women's Clubs." Honorable Lynden Evans was also a speaker. The temporary com- mittees of Thrift, Student Fellowship. Near East Relief and Service Star Legion reported. Part of a session was devoted to the "Discus- sion of the Policies of the Federation'' "A'^alue of Publicity," "Re- Organization." and "Finance." Much lovely music featured the sessions in addition to a very fine concert arranged by Mrs. Orben- dorfer on Thursday evening. The outstanding achievement of this administration and of this Convention was the launching of the $100,000 endowment fund, long the hope and dream of the leaders of the Federation. The income from clubs, first based on a flat rate, and then on a ten cent per capita fee, had never been sufficient for the needs of the organization and it was nece-ssary to augment this income if any broad and comprehensive program of work was to be accomplished. The first one hundred dollars for such an endowment had been given, as stated earlier in this History, by the Local Board of the Chicago Biennial, at which time the State Reserve Fund Committee was appointed. 98 The goal of this fund had now been set at $100,000 and the movement was launched, amid great enthusiasm at this meeting in May, 1921. The sum of $10,000 had been left from the Silver Jubilee Fund which was finished, that committee abolished and the State Endowment Fund created with Mrs. Samuel Horner of Chicago as the first and only chairman up to the time of her death in February, 1928. This committee was one of two where the chairman was asked to succeed herself until the work was accomplished. Mrs. Homer was untiring in her efforts to help raise this fund and directed the investment and management of it for almost seven years. Aside from the fact that her death was a severe loss to her friends, and to the members of the Federation, it seems indeed a pity that she could not have lived to see the completion of a work to which she gave so much of her self, time and energy. 99 THE FOURTEENTH BIENNIUM. 1921—1923. Mrs. EIdwaed S. Bailey. Mrs. Edward S. Bailey was born in Tuscaloosa, Alabama, com- ing in 1900 to Chicago where she has since made her home. Mr. Bailey is living but they have no children. Mrs. Bailey was educated in a private school, later going to Tus- caloosa College for Girls. She graduated from the Alabama Central Female College. Her club affiliations in her native state included the Treasurer- ship of the Alabama Federation, Founder and Presidency of the Tuscaloosa "Up-to-D'ate" Club and Secretaryship of the Kettledrum Society. Since coming to Chicago she has served as Art and Literature Chairman of the South Side Club, President of the Southern Woman's Club, Stonewall Chapter U. D. C, First District, I. F. W. C, Vice- President of the Illinois Federation, President of Chicago and Cook County Federated Womens' Organizations. Mrs. Bailey's interests outside of club work have been in con- nection with the Greater South Side Chamber of Commerce, the Salvation Army. Southern Educational Alliance, Junior School for Boys' Welfare and civic work, generally, serving on seven boards and three committees. At the Twenty-sixth Annual Convention, held at the Drake Hotel, Chicago, May 1921, Mrs. Edward S. Bailey of Chicago was elected president ; Mrs. Earnest B. Griffin, Grant Park, First Vice-President ; Mrs. Frank L. Frailey, Urbana, Second Vice-President; Mrs. Eugene Gaskins, Alton, Recording Secretary; Mrs. Henry W. Hardy, Chicago. Corresponding Secretary; Mrs. Chas. F. Ross, Treasurer. The Presidents of Congressional Districts were : Mesdames A. E. Kaltenbrun, 1 : Walter W. Seymour, 2 : Wm. J. Roberts. 3 : A. G. Jackson, 4; M. R. Kultehar, 5; John C. Wilmot, 6; Chas. 0. Seth- ness, 7; Edgar J. Stewart, 8; Auguste Babize, 9; Jas. A. Campbell, 10; M. W. Cbultrap, Naperville, 11; Samuel E. Bradt, De Kalb, 12; Hattie M. Ebersole, Sterling, 13; Wm. J. Sweeney, Rock Island, 14; A. R. Chandler, Galesburg, 15; Martha Steinmetz, Pekin, 16; 0. P. Bourland, Pontiac, 17; Warren R. Hickox, Kankakee, 18; Dan Macknet, Decatur, 19 ; A. L. Adams, Jacksonville, 20 ; A. M. Howell, Hillsboro. 21; Henry Xeedles, Granite City, 22; Harry W. Farson, Salem, 23; Jas. B. Blackman, Harrisburg, 24; S. A. McKelvey, Sparta, 25. Parliamentarian, Mrs. Plummer, Chicago. Conforming to the reorganization plans of the General Federation as presented at the Biennial held the previous summer in D'es Moines, the Illinois Federation divided its work into six departments with various divisions functioning under those departments, instead of the eleven groups as had been the arrangement for some time. It was not intended by this reorganization to wipe out any interests or 100 activities, but as certain things seemed more or less important in different localities, and at different times, it was thought that this arrangement might enable chairmen to emphaize the work that was most important both as to time and location. Hence, the program for this period was carried out on the following lines: Department of American Citizenship, Mrs. Robert Bruce Farson, Chairman, with the Division of Americanization, Mrs. Henry Holver- scheid, Hinsdale; Community Service, Mrs. John R. Oliver, Chicago; Motion Pictures, Mrs. R. D. Cunningham, Evanston ; Training in Citizenship, Mrs. F. J. Macnish, Oak Park. Department of Applied Eiducation, Mrs. M. H. Lieber, Winnetka, Chairman, with the Division of Conservation, Mrs. Theron F. Colton, Chicago ; Education, Mrs. Clarence Balke, Highland Park ; Library Extension, Miss Anna May Price, Springfield ; Home Economics, Mrs. W. E, Fribley, Chicago. Fine Arts, Mrs. Jas. W. Parker, Chairman, with Division of Art, not filled; Literature, Miss Helen Bagg; Music, Miss Olga Menn, all of Chicago. •Miss GTrace Dixon was Chairman of Legislation which included the Division of Civil Ser\'ice of which Mrs. Chas. Anderson was in charge, both residing in Chicago. The Department of Press and Publicitv, ]\[rs. Ceo. W. Plummer, Chairman, included, Edict Maga- zine, Mrs. Frank Johnson, Glen Ellyn ; Speakers' Bureau, Mrs. Fred A. Schwarz, Chicago ; State Press, Mrs. !N^. C. McLean, East St. Louis. The Department of Public Welfare with Mrs. Wm. H. Hart as Chair- man, combined Child Welfare, Mrs. E. P. Welles, Evanston; Health, Dr. Eva Wilson, Manhattan; Indian Welfare, Mrs. J. Marc Fowler, Chicago ; Industrial and Social Conditions, Mrs. H. W. Hartough. The Standing Committees with their Chairmen were: Advisory, Mrs. Edward S. Bailey; Credentials, Mrs. C. W. Wade, Aurora; En- downment, Mrs. Samuel Horner, Chicago ; Finance, Mrs. Edmund S. Graf: Auditing, Mrs. John T. ]\Iason; House, Mrs. Frank John- son; Printing, Mrs. Thos. 0. Wallace, Chicago; Program, Mrs. Samuel Slade, Chicago; Resolutions, Mrs. H. M. Brown, Peoria; Re^^sions, Mrs. Albert Watson, Mt. Vernon; Transportation, Mrs. L. F. W. Steube, Danville. The Chairmen of the Special Committees were: Miss Myrtle Carpenter, Chicago, Friendly Co-operation with Ex-Ser\'ice Men; Miss Mabel Poole. Chicago, Over Seas Unit; Mrs. M. K. Northam, Service I^eague. Eighty-four counties were listed as having chairmen. The Re- tiring State President was made a member of the Board of Directors. Chairmen of divisions had no vote but were expected to "sit in" at the Board meetings. The Illinois Federation, for the first time, was incorporated under the laws of the State of Illinois, January 1923, the incorporators be- ing the fifty members of the Board which consisted of the officers, the twenty-five district presidents, the director of the General Federa- tion, the chairmen of the Departments of Work and of Standing Committees. 101 The summary of this year showed that there were 589 clubs in the Federation with a membership of 67,704. Of course the figures for membership in any administration are not entirely accurate as many women belong to more than one federated club and are counted as members in each of those clubs. In the previous year 166 Illinois clubs were reported as belonging to the General Federation. "The outstanding features of the administration of the Illinois Federation, 1921-1923,^' to quote directly from the President, Mrs. Bailey, "were the establishment of the Indian Welfare Division, the Committee on Friendly Relations with Ex-Service Men, the Legisla- tive Forum and the Woman's Pageant of Progress. Special effort was given to Junior Membership (the movement just inaugurated by Mrs. Winter) and the Park Kidge School for Girls. Work on the endowment funds for the State and General Federations were actively begun, $5,000 having been pledged by Illinois to the General Federa- tion. County Federations were fostered. The greatest achievement was the number of clubs brought into membership." The following very wise policy was established at this time : "It is recommended that the policy of the State Federation be to make no financial appeals to the club women except for the business of the Federation. For A^ears past we have been asked to finance other organizations, indiscriminately, while our own has suffered. Let us set our own house in order. Of course it is your privilege to give aa generously as you choose to all appeals, but first contribute to your endowment fund, the General Federation Home, and last, but not least, subscribe to your magazine." For the first time an executive committee was formed consisting of the President and seven other members of the Board. During this period women of the Second District had become greatly interested in saving the Field Museum and for the sake of securing the attention of the public and demonstrating what might be done in its restoration, they raised the sum of $7,000 and restored one corner of the building. Mrs. Albion L. Headburg of Chicago, prominent in club and art circles was the first, and has been the only chairman of this committee, 1928. Mrs. Headburg was indefatigable in her efforts, not only in help- to raise this amount but in agitating public sentiment for subsequent bond issues designed for complete restoration. The name of the com- mittee, was, "Eestoration of Columbian Art Building." The Twenty-seventh Annual Meeting was held in the historic State House in Springfield, in the House of Eepresentatives Avhich had been the setting for two previous Conventions of the Federa- tion. The dates were May 23, 24, 25, 1923, and the members of the Woman's Club served as hostesses. The Local Board consisted of Mrs. George Thomas Palmer, chairman, and Mesdames E. R. Coggs- well, Albert Trapp, S. A. Bradley, Frances P. Ide, James A. Day, Paul Taft, James A. Jones, J. R. Leib, Burton Reid. Mary Berdan Tiffany, Will Starne, H. M. Solenberger, E. E. Hagler, Wm. R. Vredenburgh, and Mrs. CD. Wright, President of the club. 102 The Board of Directors and the Local Board enjoyed dinner to- getlier at the Illini Country Club on M^onday evening. On Tuesday afternoon Mrs. Small and her daughter, Mrs. Inglish, received all the delegates and visiting club women at the Executive Mansion from four until six. On Wednesday evening a banquet was held at the Leland Hotel and on Thursday afternoon following adjourmnent a drive was taken around the city, ending with a reception in the rooms of the Springfield Art Association. The program of this meeting, while still showing some effects of the war, was largely devoted to the practical business of the Federa- tion and is extremely interestmg in comparison with those of a decade before on account of the very different subjects under discussion and the amount of attention given to the financial and organization side of the federation work. Among the prominent speakers were: Mrs. Eose V. S. Berry, Chairman of Fine Arts for the General Federation, who gave a bril- liant address; Mrs. Edwin S. Johnson, of Chicago, equally brilliant, whose subject was "Leadership and Loyalty;" Mrs. Marx Oberndorfer, Chairman of Music of the General Federation; Mrs. F. J. Macnish, Chairman of Americanization, who had made a personal investiga- tion of conditions at Ellis Island, talked on "Ellis Island and Its Eelation to Immigration Legislation." One session was devoted to a "Discussion of the policies of the I. F. W. C," in which "Junior Membership," "The Value of Publicity," "How We May Work More Efficiently," and "How We Shall Finance the I. F. W. C." were the subjects stressed. Mrs. Ernest B. Griffin, First Vice-President, was in charge of a session devoted to the "Women in the State at Large," and the sub- jects under discussion were, "How and Why We Have the Home Bui-eau and Do We Want It?" "Good Eoads and What They Mean to Women," "The Business Side of the Home" and "Forestry Plans for Illinois," Some of the old friends on the program welcomed by the dele- gates were: Mrs. Eobert Bruce Farson, President, 1898-1900, Mrs. H, M. Dunlap, Miss Grace Temple, Mrs. Wm. H. Hart, who talked on County Chairmen, a subject for the first time enjoying the dignity of a place of importance, and Mrs, Howard Willson, President of the Springfield Art Association. The Endowment Fund, recently created, also had a place for the first time, Mrs. Samuel J. Horner presenting the subject. Among the new faces are those of Mrs. J. Marc Fowler, later to become President of her district and First Vice-President of the Federation, and one who gave long and faithful service to the organization : Mrs. Chas, J. Trainor, a board member for four years, first as Department Chairman and afterwards serving as Treasurer; and Mrs. John E. Oliver, Sixth District President, 1927-1929. Mrs, James Campbell reported that over $9,000 had been subscribed through the Federa- tion for Near East Eelief. Mrs. Chas. W. Eoss, the Treasurer, re- ported expenditures of $8,256 and receipts of $15,284, 103 Kesolutions dealt with the suppression of vice about military and naval stations and with placing copies of the Ten Commandments and the Golden Eule in the schools of the state. Endorsement was given to the stand taken by Mr. Will Hays, Director of Motion Pic- tures in barring Arbuckle films. Mrs. Bailey, Mrs. Griffin, Mrs. Frailey and Mrs. Gaskins con- tinued to serve through 1922 and 1923, while Mrs. Hardy became Treasurer and Mrs. A. M. Howell, retiring president of the Twenty- first District became Corresponding Secretary. Mrs. Harrison Monro Brown, Peoria, was elected Director to the General Federation. The District Presidents were: Mesdames Thos. P. Casey, 1; W. W. Seymour, 2; Martin Strand, 3; Arthur G. Jackson, 4; M. K. Kultchar, 5; John C. Wilmot, 6; Allen Elrod, 7; Miss Clara Daum, 8 ; Mesdames H. L. Hartenstein, 9 ; Jas. A. Campbell, 10 ; W. H. Doolittle, Woodstock, 11; Samuel E. Bradt, DeKalb, 12; W. H. Coppins, Dixon, 13; W. J. Sweeney, Rock Island, 14; Robert, A. Chandler, Galesburg, 15; Martha Steinmetz, Pekin, 16; Carl Vroo- man, Bloomington, 17; G. F. Patterson, Milford, 18; Flo Jamison Miller, Monticello, 19 ; A. L. Adams, Jacksonville, 20 ; Ari'etus Burt, Pana, 21 ; Henr}- Needles, Granite City, 22 ; Harry W. Farson, Salem, 23; J. B. Blaekman, Harrisburg, 24; Paul R. Colp, Marion, 25. The Chairmen of Departments and Divisions of Work were : Mesdames Chas. J. Trainor, Chicago, American Citizenship, with F. J. Macnish, Oak Park, Americanization; John R. Oliver, Oak Park, Community Service; Albert Trapp, Springfield, Motion Pictures; Wm. H. Cade, Chicago, Training in Citizenship. The members of the Applied Education Department remained the same, as did the Department of Fine Arts, with the addition of Mrs. Chas. W. Leigh of Chicago, who assumed the chairmanship of Art. There were no changes in the Department of Legislation and only one in Press and Publicity, Mrs. Wendell R. Doolittle, of Chi- cago, taking the place of Mrs. Frank Johnson, of Glen Ellyn. Mrs. H. W. Hartough, of Chicago, became Chairman of Public Welfare with Mrs. A. S. Edwards, of Moline, serving as Chairman of Birth Registration; Mrs. Walter H. Atwater, Etvanston, Child Wel- fare; Dr. Eva L. Wilson, Manhattan, Health; Mrs. J. Marc Fowler, Indian Welfare; Mrs. W. E. Simonds, Galesburg, Industrial and Social Conditions. Mrs. Bailey, Mrs. Wade, Mrs. Horner, Mrs. Graf, Mrs. Johnson, Mrs. Wallace and Mrs. Watson remained chairmen of their respective committees, while Mrs. James A. Campbell, of Evanston, became chairman of Auditing; Mrs. Martin K. Northam, of Evanston, Pro- gram ; Mrs. Hattie M. Ebersole, Sterling, Resolutions, and Mrs. Chas. M. Woodman, of Chicago, Transportation. Miss Carpenter and Miss Poole remained as heads of their com- mittees, wliile the Service League was dropped and Restoration of Columbian Art Building, with Mrs. Headburg as Chairman, was added. 104 The Twenty-eighth Annual Convention of the Federation was held in Aryan Grotto, Chicago, May 23, 23, 24, 1923, with Chicago club women acting as hostesses. Headquarters was at the Congress Hotel. The members of the Local Board were : Mesdames Edmund S. Graf, A. M. Howell, Allen Elrod, Thos. P. Casey, H. L. Harten- stein, Jas. A. Campbell, W. J. Sweeney, Paul E. Colp, Arthur G. Jackson, Chas. J. Trainor and Walter W. Seymour. An Artists' Eeception was held at the Chicago Art Institute on Tuesday afternoon to which all the delegates and visitors were in- vited. On Wednesday evening the "Pageant of Woman's Progress" was given, depictin,g the "history of women from the early cave dwell- in,g days, when women guarded the fire of the home from the brutish force of men, to the final exemplification of women's work today as conducted through the various avenues of the Federation of Women's Clubs." The Pageant had been written by Miss Bertha Isles for presentation at the Municipal Pier the year before and was directed by her. Mrs. Thos. G. Winter, President of the General Federation, was the guest of honor and spoke on Tuesday evening on "Spiritual Forces." Mrs. H. G. Eeynolds, President of the Kentucky Federa- tion, brought a greeting from her State and Mrs. Marx Oberndorfer was in charge of a very lovely musical program. Dr. Lee A. Stone talked on the "Folly of Ignorance," Dr. John A. Lapp, "Training in Citizenship," Mr. W. N. Pelouze, "St. Lawrence Deep Waterway." Miss Helen Bennett, Miss Genevieve Forbes and Dr. Wm. A. C'olledge spoke for the Department of Press and Publicity. The Convention came to a close on Thursday night when a huge banquet was held in the Columbian Arts Building with Mr. Lorado Taft as the chief speaker. Mrs. Headburg, Mrs. Parker and Mr. Pelouze were also on the program. An interesting side light on this banquet was that the food was all cooked and brought over in great metal containers from the Chi- cago Beach Hotel. The meeting was held in this building to in- terest the women in its restoration. Uufortunately it was a very chilly evening, the building was unheated and the acoustics were such that it was very difficult to hear. However, with all these handicaps it was an unusual and interesting affair. 105 THE FIFTEENTH BIENNIUM. Governor of Illinois, President of the U. S^ 1921—1929. 1923—1929. Lbn Small. Calvin Coolidge. Mes. George Thomas Palmer. 1923—1926. Mrs. George Thomas Palmer was born in Alton, Illinois, living there until her marriage, when she removed to Chicago. Springfield, however, has been her home for many years. Dr. and Mrs. Palmer have no children. Mrs. Palmer's club career began as President of the Springfield Woman's Club. Her next official position was as Chairman of Litera- ture and Eeciprocity of the Illinois Federation, then one year each as Corresponding and Eecording Secretary of the Federation. After an absence from the Board of several years she was elected President for two years and re-elected for a term of one year. This was fol- lowed by two years as Director from Illinois on the General Federation Board. Mrs. Palmer has also held various chairmanships on the Board of the Twenty-first District, I. F. W. C, and on the Board of the Springfield Woman's Club, the work of Junior Membership being the last to claim her attention. She served as Chairman of the Local Board during two State Conventions held in Springfield. During the war Mrs. Palmer was chairman of food conservation for Springfield, and deeply interested in Red Cross work. She has been President of the Anti-Rust Club, Progress Circle of Kings Daug- ters. The Springfield Improvement League and is now President of the Sangamon County Union of Republican Women and a Board Member of the Springfield Urban League. She was one of the two women members of the Springfield Planning and Zoning Commission and has always been greatly interested in civic affairs. She has been a life long member of the Episcopal Church, and active in the work of that organization. The term of service for this administration was from May 1923 to May 1926, Mrs. Palmer having been re-elected in 1925 for one year, the first and only President to be re-elected. For the second time in the history of the Federation there was only one candidate for President, Mrs. Frances D. Everett having been unopposed, also. In fact there was only one ticket in the field, the Chicago women graciously conceeding the honors to '^•'down- state/' Those serving for the period of 1923-1924 were: President Mrs. George Thomas Palmer, Springfield ; First Vice-President, Mrs. Wal- ter W. Seymour, Chicago ; Second Vice-President, Mrs. N". C. McLean, East St. Louis; Recording Secretary, Mrs. S. A. McKelvey, Sparta; Corresponding Secretary, Mrs. A. M. Howell, Hillsboro; Treasurer, Mrs. Henry A. Hardy, Chicago. 106 Mrs. Harrison Monro Brown, of Peoria, having resigned, Mrs. Bailey, while President, was appointed to sen-e out her term of Gen- eral Federation Director. Mrs. Plummer was re-elected Parliamentarian. The Presidents of Congressional Districts for the same period, were : Mesdames Thos. P. Casey, 1 ; John S. Maurer, 2 ; Martin Strand, 3; Arthur G. Jackson, 4; M. R. Kultchar, 5; J. Marc Fowler, 6; Allen Elrod, 7; Jessie Dabe, 8; H. L. Hartenstein, 9; Frederick W. Blocki, 10; W. H. Doolittle, Woodstock, 11; Chas. H. Williams, Streator, 12; W. H. Coppins, Dixon, 13; W. H. Bissell, Viola, 14; Eobt. A. Chandler, Galesburg, 15 ; Martha Steinmetz, Pekin, 16 ; Carl Vrooman, Bloomington, 17; G. F. Patterson, Milford, 18; Flo Jami- son Miller, Monticello, 19; J. Marshall Miller, Jacksonville, 20; Ar- retus Burt, Pana, 21; G. W. T. Eeynolds, East St. Louis, 22; Harry W. Farson, Salem, 23; Douglas Naney, Flora, 24; Paul R. Colp, Marion, 25. The Chairmen of the Departments of Work and their Division Chairmen were : Mesdames Chas. J. Trainor, American Citizenship with Henry Weber, Pekin, Americanization; A. W. Larison, Lincoln, Community Service; Boy F. Hoadley, Yorkville, Motion Pictures; Wm. Harrison Cade, Chicago, Training in Citizenship; Mrs. M. H. Lieber, continued as Chairman of Applied Education with the same division chairmen holding over. Mrs. Charles E. Caldwell became Chairman of Fine Arts, assisted by Mesdames Charles W. Leigh, Art; E. J. Murray, Music and Miss Helen Bagg, Literature, all residents of Chicago. Miss Dixon continued as Chairman of Legislation with Mrs. Frank S. Goodman, of Champaign, handling Civil Service. De- partment of Press and Publicity included : Mesdames Frank R. Cain, Highland Park. Chairman and Edna C. Masters, Wataga, Edict Maga- zine ; Chas M. Conkey, Chicago, Speakers' Bureau ; James W. Carney, Galesburg, State Press. The only change in the Department of Pub- lic Welfare, under Mrs. Hartough, was that in Child Welfare, Dr. Anna R. Panes, of Chicago, taking Mrs. Atwater's place. The Standing Committees and their Chairmen included Ad- visory, Mrs. Palmer and Mesdames C. F. Wade, Credentials; Clarence G. Goodwin, Finance; H. W. Hartough, Auditing; Thos. 0. Wallace, Printing; W. J. Sweeney, Program; Hattie M. Ebersole, Resolutions and Revisions; Chas. 0. Sethness, Membership; Chas. M. Woodman, Transportation. The Chairmen of Special Committees remained the same with the exception of Overseas Unit, Miss Marjorie Valentine, Great Lakes TJ. S. N. Hospital, replacing Miss Poole. There were ninety-four county chairmen listed. Realizing the necessity for a strong financial basis for the Federa- tion and the absolute need for an augumented and steadily increasing income if the proper work were to be done, and if the Federation were to take its rightful place in the life of the state, the new administra- tion immediately began working for the Endowment Fund and the emphasis on this need never ceased through the entire term of three years. While the progress was slow, and often times disheartening, 107 the fund grew in two years from $20,000 to $40,000, and by the end of the third year of Mrs. Palmer's term, the sum of $G0,000 had been reached. Like a snow ball it began to grow with the splendid as- sistance of the district presidents and when the rank and file of club women really understood its need and purposes. Mrs. Palmer, in outlining the policy for her administration said, she hoped to see "The women's clubs of Illinois develop to their highest possible strength and efficiency that they might be capable of accomplishing the greatest amount of good ; the attainment of the highest possible numerical, moral and financial strength on the part of every club and on the part of the State Federation so that their' influence might be felt more definitely than ever before." The constant admonisition was; "Give as you please, individually, but do not use the machinery of your organization for raising money for and building up other organizations. Let charity begin at home." Eadio service, arranged through the Press and Publicity De- partment of the Federation and Miss Judith Waller, Director of W. M. A. Q. for the Daily News at the LaSalle Hotel, Chicago, was inaugurated on the evening of January 24th, 1924, with an address by the President. So far as we have been able to learn, this was the first radio service established by any State Federation. In February, 1924, the business relation proving unsatisfactory, a new publisher was secured for the Edict and the name of the maga- zine was changed to the "Illinois Club Woman's World." The Twenty-ninth Annual Meeting of the Federation was held in the beautiful Methodist Church, Moline, May 21, 22, 23, 1924, and the delegates enjoyed an unusually fine program. The Le Claire Hotel was Headquarters. The Local Board included. Miss Mollie McEniry, Chairman, and Mesdames Charles Peterson, J, B. Hill, C. C. Sloane, Otis Howard, James Pearson, Ellsworth Livingston, Henry Lord and Florence Borg. The social affairs were delightful and in- cluded a banquet Tuesday evening at the LeClaire Hotel, a tea and reception in the very beautiful home of Mrs. Charles Deere Wiman and a view of the art gallerv' of Mr. and Mrs. Wm. Butterworth after Mrs. Wiman's tea. On Thursday evening, Mrs. Frank Gates Allen, a past member of the Board, entertained the old and new members of the Board at a buffet supper. An interesting detail of the program was the fact that an or- dained woman minister gave the invocation, Dt. Clara Cook Helvie, and Dr. Eowena Morse Mann, who made an address on "Art Edu- cation and the Nation," said the Benediction. For the first time, the Club Litany, written by Alice iVmes Winter, President of the General Federation, was used. Very lovely music was a feature of the three days' sessions. The first Club Institute, arranged by the President, was held at this meeting wath Mrs. Sey- mour presiding. Among the high lights on the program were : Mrs. 0. E. Lake who talked on "Loyalty;" Frank B. Slutz, "Education;" Donald Eobertson on "The Civic Theatre in Its Eelation to the Populace;" 108 Oswald Eyan, "Immigration;" Wm. Dudley Folke, "Civil Service;" Miss Julia Connor, "Better Homes;" Dr. Herman G. Adler, "Gen- eral Health and Child Welfare;" Eoy Dewey, "The Narcotic Prob- lem." On Wednesday evening, which was District Presidents' Night, a pageant, "The Spirit of the Federation,"- was given under the direc- tion of Mrs. Seymour. Among the important revisions were those which dealt with the change in the election of the President from the odd to the even calendar year, conforming to the Biennial meeting of the General Federation, the change reading, "In 1925 the President shall be elected for one year with the privilege of re-election in 1926 for two years." Another required that clubs must Join the District Federa- tion before they could be admitted to the State Federation. The resolutions had to do with establishment of County Libraries; Protection of Homes and Lands of the Pueblo Indians of New Mexico ; Loyalty and Obedience to the Constituted Authority of Our Land; Protest against publication of scandal and crime in the daily press; Enforcement of Law; Selective Immigi'ation ; Child Labor Amendment ; Bureau of Visual Education. The Federation had a membership of 67,587 in 608 clubs. Its income was between eight and nine thousand dollars and its dis- bursements between seven and eight thousand. In conformance with a revision passed by the delegate body, the Board eliminated the divisions of work which had been functioning for two years and reverted to the old plan of having a department chairman for each activity, these chairmen all to be voting members of the Board. The new system used for the past two years had proved too unwieldly to be satisfactory. At the July Board meeting, a new charter was arranged for and the Board was enlarged from fifty members to sixty to take care of the new chairmen of depart- ments and committees. It was decided to solicit advertisements for the directory to help carry the expense. District Presidents were advised to ask all club presidents to become members of their district boards. Participation in the Legislative Forum continued. The officers serving for 1924-1925 were: President, Mrs. Palmer ; First Vice-President, Mrs. Seymour ; Second Vice-President, Mrs. McLean; Eecording Secretary, Mrs. McKelvey; Corresponding Secretary, Mrs. J. B. Lieb, Springfield ; Treasurer, Mrs. M. W.Coul- trap, Naperville; Director to the General Federation, Miss Jessie I. Spafford, Eockford. A by-law was adopted at this time providing that the Corres- ponding Secretary be appointed from the same city as the President. For this year the following District Presidents served : Mes- dames Jos. J. Worker, 1 ; John S. Maurer, 2 ; Wallace B. Combs, 3 ; Arthur G. Jackson, 4 ; M. E. Kultchar, 5 ; J. Marc Fowler, 6 ; G. W. Gambrill, 7 ; Jessie Dabe, 8 ; Samuel D. Snow, 9 ; Frederick W. Blocki, 10 ; George B. Watts, Elgin, 11 ; Chas. H. Williams, Stroator, 12; W. H. Sanford, Freeport, 13; W. H. Bissell, Viola, 14; A. E. 109 Bergland, Galva, 15; Chas. B. Scott, Wenona, 16; Archie B. xVpple- gsite, Atlanta, IT; G. F. Patterson,' Milford, 18; Chas. D. Babb, Homer, 19; Edward F. Ford, Greenfield, 20; J. C. Hanna, Spring- field, 21 ; G. W. T. Eeynolds, East St. Lonis, 22 ; Albert Watson, Mt. Vernon, 23 ; W. A. Ball, Carmi, 24 ; Mary A. Wall, Murphysboro, 25. The Chairmen for the same period were: Mrs. Chas. W. Leigh, Art, with Mrs. F. W. Bentley in charge of War Memorials ; Dr. Lena K. Sadler, Child Welfare; Mrs. Chas. J. Trainor, American Citizen- ship; Mrs. Chas. E. Caldwell, Conservation; Mrs. Wm. E. Groten- huis. Literature, all of Chicago; Mrs. F. 0. Van Galder, Rock Island, Community Service, with Mrs. Eoy Hoadley in charge of Motion Pictures; Mrs. H. W. Hartough, Industrial and Social Conditions, with Mrs. J. Marc Fowler in charge of Indian Welfare Committee; Mrs. Grant Beebe, Education; Mrs. Frank S. Goodman, Champaign, Civil Senice; Mrs. L. K. McAlpin, Metropolis, American Home, with Mrs. Wilbur E. Fribley, Chicago, Cliairman of Budget Com- mittee. Mrs. E. J. Murray, Music; Mrs. John T. Mason, Legisla- tion; Mrs. John F. Decker, Park Ridge, Press and Publicity; Dr. Eva M. Wilson, Public Health. The Chairmen of Standing Committees were: Credentials, Miss Mollie McEniry and Mesdames C. G. Goodwin, Finance; H. W. Hartough, Auditing; Allen Elrod, Chicago, Membership and Junior Membership; W. J. Sweeney, Program; John H. Chadwick, Resolu- tions and Revisions; Chas. M. Conkey, Speakers' Bureau; John C. Wilmot, Chicago, Transportation ; R. W. Richards, Park Ridge. International Relations, with Mrs. James W. Morrison, of Chi- cago, as Chairman and Law Enforcement, under Mrs. Wm. Harrison Cade, were added to the list of special committees. Xinety-six county chairmen were listed. Four days after the close of the convention, a special train left Chicago for Los Angeles carrying the delegation to the Biennial Convention of the General Federation. Illinois had approximately 200 delegates, the largest state group outside of the hostess state, and with the exception of Colorado, which presented Mrs. Sherman as a candidate for President, was probably more largely instrumental in her election than any other state. One thousand dollars was pledged at Los Angeles to the G. F. Headquarters. Great stress was laid upon Public Health and Child Welfare dur- ing this administration, and for the first time in the history of the Illinois Federation, and perhaps in that of any other federation, a splendid working agreement was entered into between that organi- zation and the State Medical Society, the State Dental Society and the State Department of Public Health. In cooperation with the State Medical Society which financed the project and under the direc- tion of Dr. Lena K. Sadler, assisted by Dr. Eva Wilson, the Federa- tion held a series of Health Conferences during 1924-1926, Cham- paign, East St. Louis, the Second District and the Third District each taking charge of one. 110 The Federation participated in the Defense Days of 1924 and 1925, being told by the Military authorities that it had done more than any other state organization to make those days successful. The Federation bought exhibition space and took part in the programs of the 1925 and 1926 Woman's World Fair, held for the first time in April, 1925. On one of the opening days the Board of the Federa- tion gave a luncheon at the Fair for all the women members of the old Columbian World's Fair Board, but unhappily, only a few were able to accept. Among those few were Mrs. Isabella Laning Candee, first President of the Federation and Mrs. Eichard Oglesby, widow of Governor Oglesby. Mrs. Sherman, President of the General Federa- tion was also a guest. The Music Department had offered a prize for the best music to be used with the words, "Illinois" and Mrs. Mabel Newell, of Shelby- ville, was the successful contestant. Later, another prize was offered for the best "Song of Peace." This, called "U. S. A." adapted from the poem of that name written by Harriet Hill Mabry, was set to music by Ethelyn Mabry Newell who won the prize. This song, and others deserving honorable mention, one of which was written by Mrs. S. A". McKelvey, were sung at the banquet given at the Decatur Convention in 1925. The work of Law Enforcement was given great impetus. Dur- ing the winter of JL924-25 a mass meeting was held at one of the large Chicago theaters under the direction of Mrs. Cade, the Chair- man. On the platform and through the press, the President and the Chairman worked constantly for a stronger enforcement of all laws and for the prompt punishment of the criminal class. Just prior to the Decatur Convention, all members of the Fed- eration were deeply saddened by the very sudden death of Mr. Walter W. Seymour, husband of the First Vice-President, in Chicago, May 14th, of angina pectoris. The Thirtieth Animal Convention was held in Decatur, May 19, 20, 21, 22, in the First Methodist Church with the following women serving on the Local Board : Mrs. Inez Bender, Chairman, and Mesdames C. H. Patterson, J. E. Eussell, J. J. Moran, C. L. Cassell, P. B. Sullivan, Poland Pease, Dan Macknet, N. M, Bascom, Eoy Stewart, W. B. Henebry, H. F. Carmichael, V. F. Freeman, Leon Monson, Jay Batchelder and George A. CaldM^ell, President of the Woman's Club. The slogan for the meeting was : "America, One Country, One Flag." Mrs. Eugenia M. Bacon, an honored and beloved citizen of Decatur and a Past President of the Federation, gave an address of welcome. Mrs, Sherman was a guest of honor and made an address. Among the other speakers were Dr. Parran and Miss Sara Place who spoke for tlie Public Health Department; Dr. George N. West, on "The Belation of Oral Hygiene to Child Welfare;" Dean James Ed- ward Eogers, of the Playground and Eecreational Association of America; Miss Euth Wardell, of the University at Urbana, who spoke for the American Home Department; Prof, J, W, Garner, also of Ill the University, who talked on International Relations; Prof. Chas. E. Holly, of Decatur; Dean David Kinley, Mrs. J. Paul Goode, Mrs. Edith McClure Patterson, Budget Chairman for the General Feder- ation and Rev. Elmore L. Williams, of Cliieago, who talked on Law Enforcement. Madame Pearl Y. Metselthin in "Tales of a Mandarin's Coat" was presented by the Department of Literature in an evening enter- tainment, while a Pageant, "Our Country'' was the offering of the Citizenship Department on another evening. The Pageant was under the direction of Mrs. Roland Pease, of Decatur, and the performers were all local people. It was Yevj beautifully done. On Monday evening a dinner was given for the State and Local Boards at one of the country clubs. On Tuesday afternoon an auto- mobile ride was enjoyed by the delegates and on Thursday afternoon there was an art exhibit and tea at the Art Institute. The usual banquet took place on Wednesday evening at the Decatur Club. After the necessary change in the constitution, Mrs. Palmer was nominated and re-elected to serve one more year as President. Those serving with her in 1925-26 were : First Vice-President, Mrs. J. Marc Fowler, Chicago; Second Vice-President, Mrs. N. C. McLean, East St. Louis; Recording Secretary, Mrs. John S. Maurer, Chicago; Corresponding Secretary, Mrs. J. R. Leib, Springfield; Treasurer, Mrs. Chas. J. Trainor, Chicago. Miss Spafford continued as Direc- tor and Mrs. Plummer was re-elected Parliamentarian. The list of District Presidents included: Mesdames Jos. J. Worker , 1; David MacLean, 2; W. B. Combs, 3; H. S. Quinn, 4; M. R. Kultchar, 5; W. H. H. Schwedler, 6; G. W. Gambrill, 7; George M. Hartwell, 8; Samuel D. Snow, 9; Wm. F. Farrell, 10; George B. Watts, Elgin, 11; R. F. Hoadlev, Yorkville. 12; W. M. Sanford, Freeport. 13; W. H. Bissell, Alola, 11: A. E. Bergland, Galva, 15; C. B. Scott, Wenona, 16; A. B. Applegate, Atlanta, 17: M. P. Kelly, Watseka, 18 ; C. D. Babb, Homer, 19 : E. F. Ford. Green- field, 20 ; J. C. Hanna, Springfield, 21 ; Fred J. Wagner, Marissa, 22 ; Albert Watson, Mt. Vernon, 23 ; L. K. McAlpin, Metropolis, 24 ; Mary A. Wall, Murphysboro, 25. The Chairmen of Departments were : Mrs. Chas. W. Leigh, Art; Dr. Lena K. Sadler, Child Welfare; Mesdames E. P. Sloan. Bloomington, American Citizenship: Chas. Ei. Caldwell, Conservation; Wm. J. Grotenhuis, Literature and Library Extension ; F. 0. Van Gal- der, Rock Island, Community Ser^-ice; Jchn W. Blacklidge, Public Welfare; Grant Beebe, Education; Frank S. Goodman, Champaign, Civil Service ; Harry Stotlar, Benton, American Home ; E. J. Miirray, Music : John T. Mason, Legislation : John F. Decker, Park Ridge, Press and Publicity : Dr. Eva M. Wilson, Manhattan, Public Health. The Chairmen of Standing Committees remained the same with two exceptions : Mrs. Dan Macknet, of Decatur, took the Program and Mrs. Charles M. Woodman, of Chicago, Transportation. The only change among the Special Committee Chairmen was that Miss Marion Hoffman, of Chicago, took the place of Miss Myrtle Carpenter. 112 It had been the aim and purpose of the past two years to place the Federation in a commanding position of power and influence, not only in the state in relation to other organizations, but also in the General Federation in relation to other states. "Illinois must lead, not follow'' was the slogan. Club Institutes were held for the first time, some seventeen in eighteen months, and they were found to be exceedingly helpful and interesting. A Junior Membership leaflet had been issued, one of the first to be prepared in any state and Junior organizations were encouraged to become a part of every club. Fifty of these auxiliaries had been organized by the end of the ad- ministration though not all formed during this period as some clubs reported having had such departments for several years. American Citizenship, first under Mrs. Trainor and then under Mrs. Sloan, was particularly emphasized, with special stress directed against radical and subversive propaganda and for a wise and sane preparedness. Many Citizenship Institutes were held, eighteen being held in the winter and spring of 1926. Notable work under Mrs. Grant Beehe was done in Education. Eealizing the need for a closer union between the General and State Federations and the rural women, county organizations and county meetings were fostered wherever and whenever possible, the President visiting thirty-four county groups during her last year in oflfiee. At the end of the administration there were ninety-six coun- ties out of the one hundred and two with chairmen and almost com plete organizations. The Federation showed a membership of 72,136 with 625 clubs. During the preceeding year some very large Chicago philanthropic clubs withdrew because they did not wish to be taxed for the EndowTuent Fund and needed their funds for charity. These withdrawals caused a loss of over 4.000 members. A questionnaire was sent to every State President in the spring of 1926 and from the replies certain facts were established concerning our own Federation. Ten thousand leaflets on "Federation Facts" were published giving much information and many talking points useful to club members. These were ready for distribution at the 1926 Convention. We found ours' was the first Federation to estab- lish its own headquarters with a full time, paid executive; the first one to publish a state magazine; the first to establish regular x\sso- ciated Press and radio connections ; the second to have a Law Enforce- ment Committee doing practical work. The constitution was revised, completely rewritten and presented for adoption to the Convention of 1926. The Treasurer's report showed total receipts of $20,831.88 and disbursements of $9,739.68. The State Bills passed by the Legislature and endorsed by the Federation referred to Crippled Children ; Kindergartens ; Preserva- tion of Wild Flowers; Playground Bill amended so it could be adopted as the National Playground Bill; Dance Halls, and one which pro- vided for the acquisition of land for reforestation not valuable for other purposes. National bills endorsed and passed referred to Immigration and placing prohibition agents under Civil Service. 113 The ThirtA'-first Annual Convention was held at the Edgewater Beach Hotel, Chicago, May 18, 19, 30, 21, 1936, the club members of the first ten districts acting as hostesses, and the ten District Presi- dents making up the Local Board with Mrs. Wm. F. Farrell as Chair- man. Mrs. Martin K. Northam, Mrs. Charles H. Challen and Mrs. Frank Nichols were in charge of the banquet, junior dinner and luncheons. The courtesies included an automobile drive along the A^orth Shore with receptions and teas at the North End, Rogers Park and Evanston Woman^s Club houses. Mrs. Wm. Lill was chairman. Very lovely music rendered by different club choruses opened each session. The American Home Department's exhibition suite of rooms furnished by Marshall Field was an inovation and one much admired. There was an interesting exhibition of posters done by the eighth grade pupils of the schools of Illinois. iVmong the speakers were: Dr. Henry C. Cowles whose address was on "Forests;'' Henry Justin Smith, "News Value;" Mrs. Linn White who gave an illustrated lecture on "The Making of a Garden ;" Miss Judith Waller, Eadio Chairman for the General Federation ; Miss June Dunham, "Your Home;" Dr. Maurice L. Blatt; Miss Adah Hess; Ada E. Schweitzer; Miss Florence Monahan, Superin- tendent Minnesota State Reformatory; Honorable Wm. C. Deming; Rev. Frederick Shannon; Nelson L. Greene; Df. Theodore G. Soares. A two hour Club Institute was held on Friday morning. The position of Corresponding Secretary was dropped and a third Vice-President added, the three Vice-Presidents serving the upper, central and southern parts of the state. 114 THE SIXTEENTH BIENj^IUM. 1926—1928. Mrs. Walter Webster Seymour. Winnetka, Illinois was the birthplace of Mrs. Walter Webster Seymour who has lived most of her life in her native state. Mrs. Seymour is a widow, her husband having passed away in May, 1925. She has a most chamiing family of three children, one son, Eobert, and two daughters, Mrs. Emmet Bey, the wife of a young physician of Chicago, and Florence, just out of college, who is now a student of interior decorating. Mrs. Se}aiiour attended high school in Indianapolis and in St. Louis and was later a student at Lindenwood College, St. Charles, Missouri, Vanderbult University, Nashville and University of Chicago. She has served as President of The Bryn Mawr Woman's Club, the Bryn Mawr Parent-Teachers' Associatiaon, the Woodlawn Mothers' Round Table, the Second District I. F. W. C, and as Chairman of Education of the Second District. Her connections and affiliations outside of club work have had to do with Parent-Teacher organizations, the Art Institute of Chicago and with the First Presbyterian Church of Chicago, of whose Sunday School she has been Superintendent for twenty-five years. The officers elected in May, 1926, were : President, Mrs. Walter Webster Seymour, Chicago; Second Vice-President, Mrs. Mary A. Wall, Murphysboro; Third Vice-President, Mrs. John Calvin Hanna, Springfield; General Federation Director, Mrs. George Thomas Pal- mer, Springfield. Those holding over for one more year were : First Vice-President, Mrs. J. Marc Fowler ; Recording Secretary, Mrs. John S. Maurer and Treasurer, Mrs. Chas. J. Trainor, all of Chicago. Mrs. Plummer continued as Parliamentarian and Mrs. Burgess as Eexecu- tive Secretary. The Presidents of Congressional Districts for 1926-1927 were: Mesdames Thos. S. Harper, 1; David MacLean^ 2; George S. Steele, 3; H. S. Quinn, 4; W. H. H. Schwedler, 6; J. M. Laventhal, 7; George M. Hartwell, 8; Samuel D. Snow, 9; Wm. F. Farrell, 10; Richard J. Barr, Joliet, 11: Rov F. Hoadlev, Yorkville, 12: Florence R. Stroh, Stillman Valley, 13; W. H. Bissell, Viola, 14; J. A. Dixon, Avon, 15; Chas. B. Scott, Wenona, 16; Jo Major, Eureka, 17; M. P. Kelly, Watseka, 18 ; George S. Edmonson, Clinton, 19 ; Josephine C. Chandler, Havana, 20; Lyman G. Grundy, Taylorville, 21; Fred J. Wagner, Marissa, 22; Thos. C. Wright, Newton, 23; L. K Mc- Alpin, Metropolis, 24; Fred Hood, Mound City, 25. Chairmen for the Departments of Work for the same year in- cluded: Mesdames H. C. Rodenhouser, Peoria, American Citizen- ship ; Constant Church Hopkins, Highland Park, American Home ; Albert J. Pohlman, Oak Park, Art; Frank S. Goodman, Champaign, 115 Civil Service; F. 0. Van Galder, Rock Island, Community Service; J. D. McKinney, Alton, Conservation; Grant Beebe, Chicago, Educa- tion; James W. Morrisson, Chicago, International Relations; Wm. Harrison Cade, Chicago, Law Enforcement; John T. Mason, Aurora, Legislation; W. J. Grotenhuis, Chicago, Literature and Library Ex- tension; Arthur G. Jackson, Chicago, Music; John F. Decker, Park Ridge, Press and Publicity; Dr. Lena K. Sadler, Chicago, Public Health and Child Welfare; Mrs. John W. Blacklidge, Chicago, Pub- lic Welfare. Chairmen of Standing Committees were: Mesdames S. A. Mc- Kelvey, Sparta, Credentials; Clarence G. Goodwin, Finance; Martin K. Northam, Evanston, Junior Membership; R. W. Richards, Chi- cago, Park Ridge School; Dan Macknet, Decatur, Program; George E. Watts, Elgin, Transportation; Miss Mollie McEniry, Moline, Mem- bership and Miss Livonia Kay, Watseka, Resolutions and Revisions. Special Committee Chairmen remained the same. The 1926-27 Directory listed 625 clubs with a membership of 72,136 members. Great attention having been given during the previous admin- istration to the organization and encouragement of rural clubs and county units and Mrs. Seymour also feeling that it was a very im- portant part of Federation Extension, adopted it as her chief activity. She planned and carried out, with the assistance of her District and Vice-Presidents, two very successful series of Regional County Con- ferences. The President and the Director had places on every program, the President attending every meeting and by her presence and splen- did messages inspiring a fine attendance and a real desire to extend the work of the Federation. To these meetings also went many of the de- pannent chairmen when time and budgets permitted and on invitation of the District Presidents. There was a special demand for talks on Public Health and Child Welfare, Education, Law Enforcement, Pub- lic Welfare and Junior Membership. However every chairman was welcome and every one had a real message to deliver. Fortunately, the larger part of the travelling expenses for these meetings was met by the treasury of the Federation, made possible by the growing income from the endowment fund. It was an ex- cellent advertisement for the fund and proved to the club women that they were at last receiving a direct return on their investment. In October 1926, County Conferences were held in six cities, as follows : Districts 11, 12 and 13, embracing 16 counties — met at Rockford. Districts 14, 15 and 16, embracing 17 counties — met at Gales- burg. Districts 17, 18 and 19, embracing 19 counties — met at Cham- paign, Districts 20, 21, embracing 14 counties — met at Springfield. Districts 22, 25, embracing 13 counties — met at Belleville. Districts 23, 24, embracing 20 counties — met at Mt. Vernon. 116 The last of these conferences for 1926 was held in Chicago on N^ovember 10th, and embraced Lake and Cook Counties. In the morning departmental conferences were held, followed by a social gathering at noon and a patriotic mass meeting. From that time on county organization work became more in- tensified as well as efforts for local county improvements. At the end of the first year of this term 97 counties were organized and func- tioning. The second year brought greater progi'ess and a clearer vision. In October, 1927, eight conferences were held, with a record attendance far in excess of expectations, every county in Illinois being repre- sented. The dates and places of meeting were as follows : Districts 22 and 25 — October 4 — Centralia. Districts 23 and 24 — October 6 — Harrisburg. Districts 16 and 17— October 11— Peoria. Districts 18 and 19 — October 13 — Champaign. Districts 14 and 15 — October 18 — Galesburg. Districts 11, 12 and 13 — October 20 — Aurora. Districts 20 and 21 — November 1 — Springfield. Districts 1 to 10, inclusive — November 10 — Chicago. The Thirty-second Annual Convention was held in Danville, in the Armory, May 17, 18, 19, 20, 1927, with the Danville Woman's Club acting as hostess, and the Wolford Hotel serving as Head- quarters. "American Ideals" was the general theme of the meeting. Mrs. W. B. Murray was Chairman of the Local Board and was assisted by Mesdames Fred Webber, Charles Watkins, Edward Goldsmith, Ealph Cole, W. T. Shaffer, A. R. Samuels, Julius Hegeler, George Cass, Frank Beshoar, Joseph Tanner, W. S. Dillon, Elma Roseberry, Earl Thornton, C. E. Amerman, John Telling, S. Murray Clark, W. J. McConachie, S. R. Driskell, M. L. Coutant, J. S. Emery and H. E. Ducker. Among the outstanding speakers were: Prof. James L. Lard- ner, Northwestern University, whose address, "He Knew Lincoln." was charming ; Mrs. Rufus Dawes, G. F. Chairman of International Relations, who spoke on "The Open Road to Peace;" General John McA. Palmer, U. S. A. Retired, "Preparedness for Peace;" Eugene T. Lies, "The Challenge of Youth;" Mrs. Marx Oberndorfer, "Your Part in America's Musical F'uture." Among the other excellent speakers were: Mrs. Annie Peaks Kenney who talked on "Home Budgeting," Mrs. H. M. Robins, G. F. Junior Membership Chairman; 0. M. Schantz, and Dr. Prank T. Duffey, of the U. S. Veterans' Bureau. The retiring District Presidents, speaking in groups of three at the different sessions, and limited in time, made excellent talks. The General Federation Contest Symposium on "The Scope of the Federa- tion and Why Clubs Should Belong to It," by the winners of the con- test held at the Regional Conferences, provoked much interest. Din- ners were given for the Board on Monday evening; for the Juniors on Tuesday evening and one for all delegates and visitors on Thurs- day. A very charming processional, in which all the incoming and 117 outgoing Board members took part was also a feature of Thursday evening. The President, Mrs. Seymour, gave her charge to all the new members while Mrs. Palmer, the Director, reminded the retiring members of their continued responsibility to the Federation. Interesting exhibits were shown by the Art, Literature and Music Departments, War Veterans, Park Ridge School for Girls, Public Welfare Department, showing handiwork from every State institution and the Foreign Women's Rockford Settlement House. During these two years there was an increase of interest in art subjects; more attention was given to club choruses and community singing; assistance was given in the establishment of town and county libraries. Marion, Illinois, received a $50.00 prize from the CI. F. W. C. for the best outline of Children's Book Week. Thousands of forestry primers were distributed; Junior groups reached 157 in number; there was quiet, steady work along the line of Law Enforcement ; a careful study was made of the needs of War Veterans in the various hospitals; there was a new study of Interna- tional Relations, the Illinois plan being sent to every state federa- tion as requested by the G. F. W. C. One of the most notable pieces of health work ever accomplished, in the Federation had been done in the examination of pre-school and grade school children and in the follow-up work. The Park Ridge Endowment Fund of $15,000 was completed, tlie interest of which was to be used for the maintenance of Illinois Cottage. An intensive drive in certain parts of the state to eradicate illiteracy had been very successful and groups of club women were formed for teaching the adult foreigner and the illiterate. The Federation had been active in the passage of certain im- portant legislation, the bill for a Woman's Reformatory being of par- ticular interest. There was co-operation with the Home Extension and Art Extension divisions of the University of Illinois; with the Conservation Department of the State, at Springfield, with the Legis- lative Forum and with the various Illinois Public Utilities. The Home Equipment Campaign which had been carried on for many months resulted in the most ambitious undertaking of this administration, the Well Equipped Homes Exposition, which, in con- junction ^vith the Illinois Public Utilities, was lield in the Stevens Hotel during the May, 1938, Convention. Membership in the State Federation for the year 1926-27 in- creased by twenty-eight clubs. Membership in the General Federa- tion for 1927-28^^ increased by thirty-five clubs, exceeding the gain made by anv other state in the same period. The Endowment Fund had reached $73,000. The officers for 1927-1928 were: President, Mrs. Seymour; First Vice-President, Mrs. Wm. F. Farrell, Chicago; Second Vice- President, Mrs. Wall; Third Vice-President, Mrs. Hanna; Secretary, Mrs. M. P. Kelly, Watseka; Treasurer, Mrs. David MacLean, Chi- cago, and Mrs. Palmer, Director. District Presidents for tliis year were: Mesdames Thos. S. Harper, 1 ; John F. McKeon, 2 ; George S. Steele, 3 ; H. S. Quinn, 118 4; John K. Oliver, 6; J. M. Layenthal, 7; Miss Clara M. Daum, 8 Mesdames Samuel D. Snow, 9; Harry S. Gradle, Highland Park, 10 Eichard J. Barr, Joliet, 11; Morey Eoberts, Ottawa, 12; Florence E Stroh, Stillman Valley, 13; W. L. Schuppert, Macomb, 14; J. A Dixon, Avon, 15; H. M, Brown, Peoria, 16; Jo Major, Eureka, 17 E. 0. Herman, Momence, 18; George S. Edmonson, Clinton, 19; Josephine C. Chandler, Havana, 20; Lyman G. Grundv, Taylorv'ille, 21 ; J. Paul Carter, Nashville, 22 ; Thos. C. Wright, Xewton, 23 ; T. 0. Elliott, Harrisburg, 24; Ered Hood, Mound City, 25. New Department Chairmen for the same period included: Mesdames Eoy F. Hoadley, Yorkville, American Citizenship ; John H. Chadwick, Tuscola, Civil Service; James Henry Jackson, Chicago, Literature; Chas. H. Zimmerman, Music; W. H. H. Schwedler, Press and Publicity. The "hold-over^' chairmen were: Mesdames Hopkins, Pohlman, Van Galder, McKinney, Beebe, Northam, Cade, John T. Mason, Blacklidge and Dr. Sadler. Standing Committee Chairmen remaining in office were : Mrs. McKelvey, Miss McEnir}', Mrs. Eichards and ]\L-s. Watts, while the new Chairmen were: Mesdames Ealph W. Webster, Chicago, Inter- national Eelations; Wirt E. Humphrey, Evanston, Program, and L. Fay Danforth, Cairo, Eesolutions and Eevisions. The only new Special Committee Chairman was Mrs. Henry Mason, Higliiand Park, Co-operation with War Veterans. The Board extended Courtesy Membership to six Chainnen which entitled them to sit in but not to vote. These included Mrs. Goodwin, Business Supervisor; Mrs. Burgess, Executive Secretary; Mrs. Plummer, Parliamentarian; Mrs. Fowler, Indian Welfare; Mrs. Albert J. Fisher, Editor of the Illinois Club Woman's World, and Mrs. E. J. Boylan of East St. Louis, Co-Chairman of Press and Publicity. 119 ORGANIZATION OF THE DiSTEICTS. In preparation for these brief sketches of the district organiza- tions every effort has been made to secure the information necessary to tell the story but in some instances it has been almost impossible to find even the date and place of orgaiiization. The early club members have either passed away or moved, or the records have been lost or destroyed. The District Presidents to whom we have appealed have done everything possible to assist us. If our readers have in- formation in their possession which is lacking here, will they not send it in to headquarters where it may be filed away and perhaps used in preparing another History? It must be borne in mind that, when the Federation was organized, there were only twenty-two Congressional Districts and not until the state was reapportioned was the number changed to twenty-five, hence the boundaries of neavly all the districts were changed and consequently the numbers changed. In the beginning, and before the districts were organized into federations, the State Board appointed women to represent those districts. Later, when the district federations became stronger, the state by-laws were changed permitting the districts to nominate and elect their own leaders, the elections being confirmed by the State Board. Since the names of the district vice-presidents, and later, presi- dents, are all listed in the administrations in which they served, only the names of the first gi'oup of officers, when they are available, will "be given here. The first ten Congressional Districts are in Chicago and Cook County. The First District was organized on January 2, 1902 and incorporated May 17, 1921. The Second District was originally the First District and was organized January 30, 1900 at a meeting which was held with the Chicago South Side Club. The first President was l\Irs. H. E. Briggs; Secretary and Treasurer, Marcia St. John Mendenhall. On June 30, 1902, the clubs of the south side were grouped to- gether and the Second District formed. Mrs. George Watkins, after- wards State President, acted as presiding officer while the district was being organized, then Mrs. Wm. Sims v/as elected President, Mrs. Luther Flagg, Secretary and Treasurer, and Mrs. George How and Mrs. Edwin Watkins, Directors. The Third District was organized in 1902 with Mrs. T. J. Mc- Grath, of the Current Topic Club of Blue Island, as the first President and Mrs. C. E. Herrick, Secretary-Treasurer. All the early records of the Fourth District were lost at the timo of the death of the District Secretary. Mrs. Wm. E. Watt, of Evans- ton, was the first President. The Fifth District, which at the present time consists of only one club, the Henry Booth Settlement House, has no President and we have no data concerning it. 120 The Sixth District was organized in the home of Mrs. A. W. Br\-ant, of Oak Park, in 1906, with Mrs. C. W. Wright as President; Mrs. D. W. Beggs and Mrs. Coon followed. Mrs. Coon, in her admin- istration, created departments to correspond with those in the State Federation, making every club in the district have representation on the program. This was an innovation and created much interest in both large and small clubs and resulted in the accomplishment of a great deal of work. The records of the Federation show that Mrs. F. A. Davidson, of La Grange, was the first President of the Seventh District, serving with the first State President, Mrs. Candee and that Mrs. Wm. A. Starin, of Waukegan, sei'ved for the next four years, or until 1900, when Mrs. Nathaniel Sears became President of the newly formed district. The original Eighth District included Elgin and ilrs. J. S. Wilcox, of that city, was the first President. She was followed by Miss Fannie Le Baron, of Elgin, Mrs. A. J. Hopkins, Aurora, Mrs. Jennie Elwood, of DeKalb. Mrs. S. C. Stanton was the first Presi- dent of the district as now formed. Mrs. Alice Bradford Wiles of Freeport, State President, 1896-98, was the first President of the original Ninth District while Mrs. John Worthy is listed as the first President of the district as we now know it. The Lake View Woman's Club, the Eli Bates Club and the Good Fellowship Club, the latter, two small settlement clubs, formed the present Ninth District. The Tenth District, as originally formed, included Galesburg and the first President was Mrs. E. B. Frost, of that city. Old pro- grams show that Mrs. Wm. M. Welch, of Rogers Park, was the first President of the reorganized district, or that she represented that district on the State Board. The first organization in that neighbor- hood came in 1898 when the clubs along the North Shore, number- ing twenty-two in all, feeling the need of closer friendliness and a better acquaintance with the work of the state, banded together and elected Mrs. Wm. A. Starin as President. Evidently the district boundary lines were not very distinct at this time as Mrs. Starin is listed also as presiding over the Seventh District. The District was reorganized in 1907 when Mrs. Louis J. Pearson was made President. It has the largest membership in the state, numbering almost 9,000. The Eleventh District was organized in the spring of 1909 at a tea given by Mrs. Charles Wade, of Aurora, then Vice-President, at the Clio Club in Chicago. The meeting was attended by four repre- sentatives from each of eight clubs. In the following October dele- gates from these clubs met in Aurora where the organization was completed. By-Laws drafted by Mrs. Mason and Mrs. Wade were adopted and the officers chosen, Mrs. John F. McCourtney, of Lock- port, being made President. One provision of the constitution of this district is, that each county in turn shall provide a President for the district thus doing away with any rivalry between the counties, of which there are four. 121 The Twelfth District Federation was organized in Kockford, November 10, 1908, with Miss Jessie Spafford as President; Mrs. Carrie S. Brett, of Winnebag-o County, Secretary and Miss Crosby, of DeKalb Connty, as Treasurer. The first Vice-President of the old Twelfth District was Miss Jane Head, of Danville, with Mrs. Wm. L. Elwood, of DeKalb, serv- ing as Vice-President of the newly organized district. Mrs. Norman F. Thompson and Miss Kate F. O'Connor, both of Rockford, and Mrs. Minne Starr Grainger, of Belvidere, also represented the district on the State Board. The Thirteenth District was organized April 22, 1899, in Free- port. The Federation records give Miss Effie Shaw, of Mt. Carroll, as the Vice-President of the district but Miss Shaw writes that Mrs. Charles Knowdton of Freeport was the first President, Mrs. E. C. Parsons, of Dixon, A^ice-President, Mrs. FVank Greenleaf, of Savanna, Secretary and Mrs. C. S. Hostewer, of Mt. Carroll, Treasurer. The explanation of this arrangement is that these officers did serve the district federation but that Miss Shaw was appointed by the State Board to be their representative as was often the case. The first representative on the State Board of the Thirteenth District, as now organized, was Mrs. Dorothy N. Law, of Dixon, 1901, while Mrs. S. T. Busey, of Champaign, served in that capacity in 1894-96. On September first, 1908, a meeting was called at the home of Mrs. J. H. Pattee, Monmouth, for the purpose of organizing the Fourteenth District Federation. The clubs represented at this meet- ing were the Fortnightly of Monmouth, The Mutual Improvement and Carnegia Clubs of Bushnell and the Fortnightly of Macomb. Mrs. Pattee was elected President ; Miss Sarah Gibson. Monmouth, Vice-President; Miss Lillian Vertrees, Bushnell, Recording Secretary; Mrs. C. S. Townley, Macomb, CoiTesponding Secretary ; Mrs. Mary Burpee, Bushnell. Treasurer ; Mrs. Harding, Monmouth, Auditor. Mrs. Virginia Bash, of Peoria, was the representative of this district during the first state administration. At a meeting of the State Federation, held in Peoria, November 17, 1910, the club members present from the Fifteenth District called their group together and organized a District Federation, nine clubs being represented. The temporarv officers elected were : Mrs. N. 0. Crissey of Avon, Chairman and Mrs. Mary D. Overstreet, Secretary. The first annual meeting was held in Avon, April, 1911, at which time five clubs were represented. They were Sorosis and Oliver Wendell Holmes of Galesburg, Portia of Avon, Atlantis of Qunicy and the New Century of Oneida. Twenty delegates were present and the pennanent officers elected were : President, Mrs. N. 0. Cris- sey; Vice-President, Mrs. 0. A. Rich; Recording Secretary, Mrs. Ethel Clayberg; Corresponding Secretary, Mrs. Fred Masters; Treas- urer, Mrs. George Walker. Mrs. Anna L. Parker, of Quincy, repre- sented the distrist on the State Board in 1895, and ^liss Elizabeth B. Frost, of Galesburg, was the President during the same period. With the exception of two counties the old Fourteenth and the present Sixteenth Districts were the same, the counties of Stark and 123 Bureau taking the places of Fulton and Mason in the reapportion- ment. Since the first meeting after organization was held in Peoria, March 29, 1898, we assume that the district was organized in 1897 or early in 1898. Mrs. E. A. Wallace, of Havana, was the first presid- ing officer; Miss B. Strawn, Lacon, Eecording Secretary; Miss Addie L. Turner, Pekin, Corresponding Secretary; Mrs. Donat Miller, Can- ton, Treasurer. The original Sixteenth District was represented by Mrs. Palmer Matthews, Carlinville. The present SeTenteenth District Federation was organized at Lincoln, September 29, 1915, with Mrs. S. D. M'Kinney, of Bloom- ington. District Vice-President, I. F. W. C, presiding. The clubs of Atlanta, Bloomington, Chenoa, Dwight, Fairbury, Lincoln and Xew Holland were represented and formed the organization. Mrs. M'Kinney, by virtue of her office was elected President; Mrs. E. L. Klatt, Lincoln, Vice-President ; Mrs. J. L. Bevan, Atlanta, Secretary ; Mrs. J. E. McNeil, Xew Holland, Treasurer. The original Seventeenth District was formed in Decatur in 1898, Mrs. E. G. Wells being elected President. She was followed by Mrs. Alfred Orendorfl:, of Springfield. Mrs. James W. Patton, also of Springfield, was the first representative from this district on the State Board in 1895. We have no data from the Eighteenth District. The present Nineteenth District was also organized in Decatur in 1902. ^Irs. C. J. McConnell being elected President. Mrs. xVda Kepley, of Effingham, represented this district in 1895. The first representative of the original Twentieth District was Mrs. George W. Evans, of Mt. Vernon, who served in 1898 with Mrs. Farson. For the first three years there seems to have been no repre- sentative. However, in 1896, when Mrs. Wiles was State President, Mrs. Thos. Worthington, of Jacksonville, now in the TVentieth, was on the State Board as coming from the Sixteenth District and Mrs. Worthington continued to serve through Mrs. Parson's administra- tion. Mrs. J. W. Pitner, also of Jacksonville, followed. The present district organization was formed early in the spring of 1900 in the Dunlap Hotel, Jacksonville, with Mrs. Pitner pre- siding, and the first annual meeting was held in that city in 1901. The Twenty-first District Federation, comprising the counties of Sangamon, Macoupin, Christian and Montgomery, was organized in Pana, June 5, 6, 1902. Mrs. Melle Williams, of Taylorville, was elected President; Mrs. Estelle Davis, of Litchfield, Eecording Secre- tary; Mrs. John Hogan, Taylorville, Corresponding Secretary. Five Vice-Presidents were also elected and they were: Mrs. Thomas Einaker, of Carlinville, Mrs. Chas. E. Hay and Mrs. Eebecca Adair, of Springfield, Mrs. G. N. Gilbert, Mrs. J. K. Shaffer, Mrs. J. C. Tureman and Mrs. George Fisher. The old Twenty-first District had no representative on the State Board until 1900 when Mrs. Sarah A. Hallam, of Centralia, was appointed. The Twenty-second District was organized in 1909 at Greenville and the first list of officers included: Dr. Louise Eavold (now Mrs. E. E. Schnepp) of Greenville, President; Mrs. M. E. Johnson, East 123 St. Louis, Vice-President; Mrs. W. E. Drennan, Granite City, Ee- cording Secretary; Mrs. L. B. Washbnm, East St. Louis, Correspond- ing Secretary; Mrs. I^^ancy Bradford, Greenville, Treasurer. The seven clubs signing the constitution were : Pierian, Shakespeare and Browning Circle of Greenville; Schubert, Wednesday and Ladies Literary of East St. Louis and Woman's Club of Granite City. There were fourteen clubs in the Federation the second year. Mrs. Ritten- house, of Cairo, represented the district in 1895. Tlie Salem Woman's Club of that city called a meeting for May 20, 1910 for the purpose of organizing the Twenty-third District into a Federation. Delegates from Mt. Carmel Mothers' Club, Mt. Ver- non Thimble Club, Sandoval Woman's Club, Clio of Olney and Woman's Club of Salem were present. Mrs. Andrew S. Caldwell, then Vice-President at Large was instrumental in the organization and Mrs. Chas. E. Hull, Vice-President of the District, by virtue of her office, became President of the organization. The other officers were: Vice-President, Mrs. A. E. Watson. Mt. Vernon; Recording Secretary, Mrs. Robert Van Ausdel, Olney; Corresponding Secretary, Mrs. L. M. Kagy, Salem ; Treasurer, Mrs. T. M. Floyd, Mt. Carmel. It is interesting to note that the first rural club in the state was organized in Wabash County in the Twenty-third District in 1910, and that Wabash was the first to have county organization. At the present time it has a membership of sixteen clubs and between 500 and 600 women. The only report available from the Twenty-fourth District is that Mrs. P. T. Chapman, of Vienna, represented the District on the State Board in 1900-1902. The Twenty-fifth District was organized in Carbondale, May 1905. Those elected were : Mrs. Andrew S. Caldwell, Carbondale, President: Mrs. J. W. Wenger. Cairo. Vice-President; Mrs. 0. H. Burnett, Marion, Recording Secretary; Mrs. S. E. Harwood, Carbon- dale, Corresponding Secretary; Mrs. P. V. Pope, DuQuoin, Treas- urer. Mrs. Laura J. Rittenhouse, of Cairo, was the first representa- tive from this district, then the Twenty-second, on the State Board in 1895. SUMMARY 1927-1928 District Clubs Membership First 36 4751 Second 27 3947 Third 22 3859 Fourth 6 215 Fifth 1 65 Sixth 30 5962 Seventh 30 2911 Eighth 2 231 A^inth 12 1356 Tenth 37 8873 124 District Clubs Membership Eleventh 40 5434 Twelfth 40 4735 Thirteenth 27 2130 Fourteenth 23 2726 Fifteenth 28 1691 Sixteenth 27 2603 Seventeenth 20 . 1853 Eighteenth 28 1738 Nineteenth 47 3228 Twentieth 24 1596 Twentv-first 18 1988 TwentV-second 34 1465 Twentv-third 15 1391 Twentv-fourth 21 1019 Twentv-fifth 37 1816 632 67583 Federated with State only 16 1788 State Clubs 5 4758 658 74129 CLUB FEDERATIONS District Federations Clubs First 2 40 Tenth 1 11 Eleventh 4 54 Fourteenth 1 5 Fifteenth 1 8 Sixteenth 3 29 Seventeenth 2 21 Eifi^hteenth 1 45 Twentieth 1 6 Twenty-second 1 5 Twenty-third 1 15 Twenty-fourth 2 5 Twenty-fifth 2 14 22 258 Federated with State only 3 164 25 422 '^ ^