San Pedro Woman's Club facts for kids
The San Pedro Woman's Club (SPWC) was a group started in 1905 in San Pedro, California. This club was made up mostly of wives from important families in the area. They cared a lot about making their city better. The SPWC was connected to the California Federation of Woman's Clubs (CFWC), which was a bigger group for women's clubs across California.
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What Was the San Pedro Woman's Club?
The San Pedro Woman's Club began in 1905 as a group focused on reading and literature. However, in 1906, it changed its focus under the leadership of Fanny Hogaboom. This change happened because the city of Los Angeles was trying to take over San Pedro. The club quickly became very active in improving San Pedro.
How Did the Club Help San Pedro?
The club officially joined the California Federation of Woman's Clubs in November 1907. They worked with another local group, the Women's Christian Temperance Union (WCTU). Together, they started by trying to reduce the number of saloons (places that sold alcohol).
Making the City Better
To help people avoid saloons, the SPWC put up drinking fountains around the city. They also convinced the city council to close saloons one day a week. In 1909, on Arbor Day, they planted many trees throughout San Pedro, making the city greener.
Learning and Helping Others
Besides making civic improvements, the club also hosted talks and lectures. Some of these talks were very practical, like teaching women how to prepare for voting. The club also did a lot of charity work. For example, when the United States Coast Guard ship, USRC McCulloch, was in a shipwreck, the crew members were given a place to stay at the San Pedro Woman's clubhouse.
