History
The seeds of the San Diego Woman’s Club were sown in 1888 when a severe water shortage halted San Diego’s population boom and the city called upon its women for help. The Ladies Annex of the Chamber of Commerce was formed, and its members arranged a convention of the Southern California Editorial Association to publicize the town. The convention was a great success and the ladies turned their attention toward improving the city. Early records showed that they pledged themselves to buy in San Diego, and to work for more and cheaper water, park improvements, new railroads, factories , and a public market.
From the beginning, the club had fine musical and lecture programs and study themes, in addition to its endeavors for civic betterment. Social gatherings were held not only in members’ homes, but throughout the county in various settings, until a small clubhouse was inaugurated in 1901. Our current colonial-style clubhouse was built and dedicated in 1940.
Women’s suffrage, child labor reform, cultural projects, civic improvements, building restoration, volunteer services, and fund raising, were among the many activities of club members in the early years. This same dedication to public service continues to this day.
OUR EARLY YEARS (In depth account of the progress and growth of the San Diego Woman’s Club)
The seeds of the San Diego Woman’s Club were sown in 1888, when a severe water shortage halted San Diego’s population boom and the city called upon its women for help. In 1885 and 1886 the city had experienced a tremendous real estate boom. The town site had moved from Old Town to the downtown plaza area where Alonzo Horton had built his Horton House, now the U.S. Grant Hotel site, and scores of houses had radiated out over the surrounding sagebrush-covered hills. The population had escalated from 1,000 to 40,000 by 1887, and then the water disaster hit. The rapidly shrinking river was quite far from town, water was selling for twenty-five cents a pail, and people were getting discouraged and anxious. Even the discovery of an artesian well in Balboa Park didn’t alleviate the situation, and more than 10,000 persons gave up and left the city in 1888. There just wasn’t enough water to encourage manufacturing or commercial agriculture.
It was then that the alarmed Chamber of Commerce, with the support of the local newspapers, the Union, the Sun and the San Diegan organized the Ladies’ Annex of the Chamber of Commerce. The members started by arranging a convention of the Southern California Editorial Association to publicize the town. Through the efforts and hospitality of the Annex, the convention was a great success, and when it was over, the ladies turned their attention toward improving the city.
Early records show that they pledged themselves to buy in San Diego, and to work for more and cheaper water, park improvements, new railroads, factories, and a public market.
The public market was established at 4th and G Streets, where small farmers brought their produce for sale and the Chamber dispensed literature to stimulate membership. Miss Kate Sessions supervised the planting of seven hundred trees in Balboa Park.
To raise money, the Annex held a Home Products dinner in three halls on two successive nights and cleared over $200 at fifteen cents a plate. Charles S. Hardy donated a sheep, and other donations included an ox, 150 pounds of potatoes, fresh vegetables and one hundred homemade cakes.
The early records of our club indicate that these seven ladies met with attorney Daniel Cleveland at 1740 B Street to form articles of incorporation. A communication from Mr. Cleveand identifies the address as the home office of Dr. Park, and the founding date as February 9, 1892.
Mr. Cleveland was a prominent citizen, and a friend of the Berry family, and he continued to act in an advisory capacity for the club for many years. He was the only man ever to be named an honorary member.
The seven founders met with the first group of twenty-five charter members at the home of Mrs. J. D. Capron, 12th and D Streets (Broadway) for their first meeting.
Mrs. John (Mary Smith) Berry, Founder
The program consisted of musical selections by members, and a paper on botany. The club formed six committees, each to present a program during the year. These committees were Home, Education and Literature, Philanthropy and Reform, Music and Art, Philosophy, and Science and Art.
Thus our club began its work, its growth, and its concern for the community.
On the advice of Mr. Cleveland, the name San Diego Club was adopted, because, he contended, “the sex distinction in membership of clubs ought to be abolished. Membership should include both men and women on equal terms and with equal privileges, that both men and women would prove mutually helpful and beneficial.”
Mr. Cleveland was an enthusiastic natural history student, and an authority on the Torrey pine. In fact, it was partially through his concern that the Natural History Society petitioned for the preservation of this endangered natural treasure and for the eventual establishment of the public Torrey Pines Park on July 24, 1899. He died in 1929 at the age of 90, active and alert to the end.
From the beginning, the club had fine musical and lecture programs and study themes, in addition to its endeavors for civic betterment, social gatherings were held not only in members’ homes, but throughout the county in various settings. The first was in 1892 when we held a reception for Miss Kate Sanborn, the author, and Mrs. Flora Stansfield, who were visiting San Diego. The locale was the beautiful Pacific Beach College and the adjoining residence of Mrs. Rose Hartwick Thorpe, a poet and one of our charter members. Mrs. Thorpe was hostess again in 1893, and glowing descriptions are given of the beautiful grounds and view, as well as the stunning round assembly hall.
In 1895, at the invitation of the Suffrage Society, we joined them in honoring Mrs. Susan B. Anthony and Dr. Anna Shaw, of suffrage fame. The reception was held in the beautiful National City home, Olivewood, of our member Mrs. Flora Kimball. The records tell of eating lunch in the beautiful grove and enjoying “luscious oranges from the grand old trees.”
Meanwhile, the Reform Committee was particularly active, and had as its first project “to secure cheaper and better public baths for women and children. Apparently, due to the lack of water and home plumbing, many of the citizens used the public bath house. Our group complained bitterly over the lack of “modesty, a matron, and a moderate fee.”
In 1898 we voted to “condemn the inhumane traffic and cruelty used in acquiring Persian Lamb fur and to disapprove of any member wearing such.” There are several early references to being in favor of and having a member on the Restroom Assocation, as proposed by the County Federation. We were instrumental in establishing a public restroom and maintaining a matron there. We were also an influence in seeing that a matron was appointed to the jail.
In 1901 we supported a measure to obtain “a half day off each week for dry goods clerks during the summer.” Also in 1901 the K Street Park became a pet of the club’s and for many years we fought its battles. We subscribed money for its upkeep (George Marston donated fifty dollars), we provided hostesses for its lounge, and joined with the Mother’s Club and the Anti-Saloon League in keeping saloons from the vicinity. We were lauded for our success inpreventing it from “lapsing into a beer garden.” This later became the province of the Neighborhood House.
During this first decade we had as presidents Dr. Lottie Park, Mrs. G.H. Ballou, Mrs. J. D. Parker, Mrs. G. K. Phillips, and Mrs. Estelle Langworthy, some serving more than one term. Within the club during these early years, there were some items of interest that might be noted. A month after the club was founded, in March 1892, we adopted the first amendment to the by-laws, that “no malt or alcoholic beverages may be served at any banquet or entertainment.” This remained in effect until 1986.
In a letter dated June 3, 1893, “The Young Ladies’ Musical Club” (The Music Endeavors) asked to be considered auxilliary to the San Diego Club. It was unanimously voted to regard their association as “eldest daughter” to the club and place their letter on file with the minutes. It was noted in November, 1894, that “these flowers of our flock” had attended an evening meeting. Earlier that year there was mention in the minutes of “our Girls’ Auxiliary assisting the club members to dispense hospitality in the old-fashioned way to the gentlement friends at the New Year’s Reception.”
The first yearbook in 1893 reveals a highly ambitious listing of the year’s program. Its single, folded over sheet is titled “The San Diego Club Course of Study” and consists of five sections of eight weeks each as follows:
LITERATURE – eight centuries of Australian history and literature.
SCIENCE – light, heat, sound, color, electricity, photography, chemistry, and alumnium (sic).
ART – Italian, German, Flemish, French, Dutch, English, Spanish and American.
THE HOME – Sanitation, domestic service, training children, dress – from boots to hat with reason; the table, decoration, public schools and women’s duties regarding them, cooperation among families, and expenditure of money.
MODERN AUTHORS – Wallace, Besant, Woolson, Edward, Cable, DuMaurier, Burnet, and Wilkins.
By 1896 the membership had outgrown most of the home parlors, and meetings were held in the Willard Hotel Parlor, and the Reception Hall of the Terrace, among other sites. Rent was one dollar a meeting. Also, in 1896, aware that “strength united is stronger,” we joined the General Federation. In 1898 we helped organize a County Federation, and one of our members, Mrs. Estelle Langworthy, became president. In 1900 the San Diego Club became one of the 40 charter members of the State Federation.
…More Coming Soon…