The Woman's Club of Fort Worth facts for kids

The Woman's Club of Fort Worth
U.S. National Register of Historic Places
The Woman's Club in 1926
The Woman's Club of Fort Worth Location in Texas Show map of Texas The Woman's Club of Fort Worth Location in the United States Show map of the United States
Location	1316 Pennsylvania Ave. Fort Worth, TX
Area	2.2 acres (0.89 ha)
Built	1910–1926
Organizer	Anna Shelton
Architectural style	Queen Anne, Colonial Revival, Italian Renaissance Revival, Craftsman
NRHP reference No.	100000862
Quick facts for kids Significant dates
Established	January 1923
Added to NRHP	10 April 2017

William G. Newby Memorial Building.

Anna Shelton Hall.

The Woman's Club in 2017.

The Woman's Club of Fort Worth is a very old and important group in Fort Worth, Texas. It was started in 1923 when many smaller women's clubs decided to join together. The club has eight old buildings in Fort Worth's Near Southside area. These buildings were recognized as important historic places in 2017. The Woman's Club began during a time called the Progressive Movement. Its main goal was to help Fort Worth grow culturally and civically. They also wanted to study things like literature, history, science, art, and music.

How the Club Started

A Vision for Unity

A local businesswoman named Anna Shelton (1861-1939) saw that Fort Worth had many different women's clubs. She thought it would be a good idea to bring them all together. This way, they could share one main organization and a physical space.

Forming the New Organization

In January 1923, representatives from eleven local women's clubs met. They gathered at the First Christian Church to create the new organization. These first clubs included the Fort Worth Federation of Women's Clubs, the Woman's Wednesday Club, and the Euterpean Club. The Euterpean Club was named after Euterpe, the Greek muse of music.

Anna Shelton's Leadership

Anna Shelton was a member of several clubs and attended national women's club meetings. She became the first president of The Woman's Club in 1923. She led the club until shortly before she passed away in 1939.

A Special Gift: The Newby Building

In 1923, a woman named Etta O. Newby, who was not even a club member, gave a house to the organization. This house was on Pennsylvania Avenue in Fort Worth. She donated it to honor her late husband. The house was named the William G. Newby Memorial Building. The gift came with some rules, like no drinking or gambling. The club later updated its rules to be more welcoming to everyone.

Club Activities and Impact

Broadcasting and Music

In 1931, The Woman's Club of Fort Worth made history. It became the first women's club in Texas to have its own radio show on KFJZ. The same year, the club also took over managing the Fort Worth Symphony Orchestra. They held concerts at the Central High School auditorium.

Building a Library and Preserving History

The club started its Texas Library in 1932. Today, this library has a valuable collection of rare books and items about Texas history. The club also played a big part in the 1936 Frontier Centennial. This was Fort Worth's celebration of 100 years of Texas history. They organized speakers, a small history museum, and a project to put Texas history books in school libraries.

Famous Visitors and Community Support

Many famous people spoke at the club from the 1930s to the 1950s. These included writer Gertrude Stein and artist Grant Wood. During this time, the club also supported many local charities for children and medical needs. They helped the American Red Cross and the Fort Worth Public Library. They even offered free music and art lessons to children.

Modernizing the Club

In 1970, the club updated its original rules to follow new laws for non-profit groups. This update removed the old rule about who could be a member, making the club more inclusive. In 1993, the club created a special trust to help take care of its historic buildings and grounds.

The Club's Historic Buildings

A Collection of Styles

The Woman's Club of Fort Worth is located on a 2.2-acre site. It includes buildings with different architectural styles. These include Queen Anne, Colonial Revival, and Craftsman styles. All the buildings are painted a similar color to make them look unified.

Key Buildings on the Grounds

• William G. Newby Memorial Building: This house was built around 1910. It was given to the club in 1923 and became their first permanent home.
• Florence Shulman Hall: Built before 1910, the club bought this building in 1924.
• Anna Shelton Hall: This hall was built in 1925-26 and named after the club's first president.
• Ida Saunders Hall: Built in 1903, the club bought it in 1929. It was recognized as a Recorded Texas Historic Landmark in 1966.
• Margaret Meacham Hall: This building was constructed around 1904. It was used as a nursing school and a funeral home before The Woman's Club acquired it in 1954. It was also named a Recorded Texas Historic Landmark in 1967.

Beautiful Grounds and Recognition

The club's grounds were designed in 1926 by a famous landscape architecture firm, Hare & Hare. In 1976, a Texas Historical Marker was placed outside Ida Saunders Hall. The club has received many awards for its historic preservation efforts. In 1990, the club's complex was named a City of Fort Worth Landmark.

Special Collections

The Woman's Club has a wonderful collection of furniture and art. This includes nine grand pianos and a chandelier that once belonged to Anna Jarvis, who founded Mother's Day. They also have portraits of important members and a bronze sculpture called Pipes of Pan.

Important Members

Many notable women have been members of The Woman's Club of Fort Worth:

• Mary Daggett Lake: A historian and botanist who started the club's famous Texas history library.
• Blanche McVeigh: A well-known printmaker who led the Art Department.
• Jennie Scott Scheuber: The director of the Carnegie Library of Fort Worth and one of the first members of the Fort Worth Federation of Women's Clubs.
• Anna Shelton: The founder and long-time president of The Woman's Club of Fort Worth.

Participating Clubs

As of 1998, many clubs were active members of The Woman's Club of Fort Worth. Here are some of them: