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Arkansas Federation of Women's
Clubs
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The Arkansas Federation of Women's Clubs has been an
organization for 22 years. It was founded in Little Rock in 1897
and Mrs. W.C. Ratcliffe was its first president. The first years
of the work were devoted to study, and literary clubs
predominated. After some years the different departments were
gradually added and many interests were aided by an increasing
membership and its increasing interest in state affairs. After
22 years there are the departments of Art, Civics, Civil
Service, Conservation, Education, Health, Home Economics,
Legislation, Literature, and Library Extension, Music, Press,
and Social and Industrial, so that every phase of statehood is
attempted and largely helped. For the furtherance of local needs
to make sociability more possible the state is divided into
districts, and where railroad facility allows, there is
developed much wholesome competition and comparison both alike
most helpful to the work. The districts bear the names of the
larger towns about which the boundaries lie, namely: Fort Smith,
Forrest City, Pine Bluff, Camden, Harrison, and Little Rock. Of
late years, much educational interest has developed, and the
federation has two university scholarships at Fayetteville, one
for a boy and one for a girl. In addition, the Elks have at
different times maintained a scholarship for a girl at the
university and placed it at the disposal of the federation. Five
music scholarships are donated the federation by the following
schools: Little Rock Conservatory, two; Ouachita College,
Galloway College, and Crescent College. Each district has a
corresponding chairman to the state chairman, and an effort is
made to keep the state work before the districts at all times
and co-operate to the end that the annual meeting may see
organized work and effort evenly distributed over Arkansas. The
meetings are held on the hospitality plan, opening homes as well
as communities to the delegation, and in this democratic
wholesomeness has the work been strengthened. Over two hundred
delegates are often present. The 1919 meeting owes its stimulus
to Hot Springs, where the work of the year will pass in review.
Hot Springs made it possible for the Arkansas Federation to
become hostess for the National Federation of Women's Clubs for
its biennial meeting in 1918. Over 1,200 delegates from all over
our country were present and it was declared the most successful
meeting in the history of the Biennial. This was because a
simple and hospitable manner made the women so graciously
welcome and no display was attempted, but a meeting of service
planned and executed. It was the largest and most influential
convention ever held in Arkansas, and the women of the state
were responsible for its success.
Little Rock and Helena have furnished the executives of the
organization largely, as the following list of officers and
their tenure of office shows: W.C. Ratcliffe, Little Rock, 1897;
Mrs. Jerome B. Pillow, Helena 1898-1899; Mrs. Frederick Hanger,
Little Rock, 1900 - 1901; Mrs. W.M. Neal-Reedy, Helena,
1902-1904; Mrs. John R. Dala, Texarkana, 1905 - 1906; Mrs.
Richard B. Willis, Searcy, 1907 - 1908; Mrs. S.E. Ellsworth, Hot
Springs, 1909 - 1910; Mrs. John Fletcher, Little Rock, 1910 -
1912; Mrs. Jo Frauenthal, Conway, 1912- 1914; Mrs. JOhn Ike
Moore, Helena, 1914 - 1917; Mrs. H.C. Gbson, Little Rock 1917 -
1919.
All ex-presidents are honorary presidents of the Arkansas
Federation of Women's Clubs.
Our Motto: "Courtesy, Culture, Courage"
Arkansas Gazette Centennial Edition 1918 |
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