Today we’d like to introduce you to The Woman’s Club of Fort Worth.
Thanks for sharing your story with us. To start, maybe you can tell our readers some of your backstory.
In 1923, The Woman’s Club of Fort Worth was founded under the leadership of businesswoman Anna Shelton. The Club was formed by the coming together of numerous independent women’s clubs that were meeting in various locations throughout the city. On January 13, 1923, 11 clubs gathered at First Christian Church in Fort Worth to discuss a place where they could all meet together. This strategic move combined the energy, talents, and resources of the many groups into what became a Club of clubs with a common stated purpose: “to promote the study of literature, history, science, painting, music, and other fine arts.” A philanthropic widow, Mrs. William G. (Etta) Newby, knew of the new Club’s need for a permanent meeting location and decided that a stunning house for sale in a “lovely Fort Worth neighborhood” could benefit the new Club and also provide a fitting tribute to her late husband. Mrs. Newby purchased the 1316 Pennsylvania Avenue property and gifted it to the newly organized group. With her gift, The Woman’s Club had a permanent place to call home. Club membership grew so rapidly that by 1925 plans were drawn up, and funds were raised to build an auditorium that would seat 350 at tables and 700 in rows. As demand for membership continued to grow, additional buildings (neighboring homes) were purchased, and additions were made. In 1952 a generous Gift from the Amon G. Carter Foundation allowed The Woman’s Club to purchase the last house on the block. With this purchase, the Club’s current two-block campus was complete. Over the years, homes were reconfigured into wonderful meeting spaces, and a commercial kitchen, tearoom, art studio, and large parking lot were added. The Club has an impressive art collection, as well as its Texas Library, which is composed of books written by Texans or about Texas. The Library is the envy of genealogists and serious Texana collectors. Just as in the past, member participation in community service is extremely important. Through its 37 clubs and 15 departments, members provide financial assistance and volunteer support to a wide range of charitable organizations.
FWSO
The Fort Worth Symphony Orchestra was organized in 1925, with Mr. Brooks Morris as its director. It enjoyed the support of the citizens of the community until the depression. During the winter of 1930-31, Mr. OK Shannon, honorary president of the Symphony, appealed to the women to save the Symphony Orchestra. In February 1931, The Woman’s Club Magazine quoted President Anna Shelton as saying, “The Woman’s Club of Fort Worth has had an ambition to someday be of service to the public in a big way… the Directors feel that this is the looked-for opportunity.” The Woman’s Club then took over the management of the Symphony and guaranteed at least two concerts that spring. For several years, the concerts were held in the Central High School Auditorium. Club Women assumed responsibility for the sale of all tickets and for securing sponsors in sufficient numbers to meet expenses. In order to have an even closer connection with the project, the Woman’s Club manager of the Symphony was made a member of the Board of The Woman’s Club. The active management remained the responsibility of The Woman’s Club through 1938, when the financial outlook of the community was rosier, and the public was turning to symphonic music again for their pleasure. The Woman’s Club returned the business management of the orchestra to its own Board.
RADIO
In May 1931, The Woman’s Club was given a radio “hour” on KFJZ on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays, beginning at 11:30 a.m. Programs included: “Purpose of The Woman’s Club Radio Hour,” “Parliamentary Law,” and “Value of Physical Education.” In April 1932, KFJZ was sold.
MANUFACTURERS LUNCHEON
During the depression, local citizens were dazed, and business was virtually at a standstill. In order to get the channels of trade open again and to get the public into the habit of making purchases, the manufacturers and merchants in Fort Worth turned to the Woman’s Club for help. A luncheon was held on the last day of September 1931 which aroused the community from its lethargy. The Manufacturers Luncheon continued for four years.
THE FRONTIER CENTENNIAL – 1936
The Woman’s Club played an active role in the 1936 Frontier Centennial, Fort Worth’s celebration of the Texas centennial, operating a Texas history speakers bureau and a small history museum on the event grounds. They also organized a Texas Centennial scrapbook project and a program to place Texas history books in local school libraries. The women organized All States Clubs ad provided a speaker’s bureau through which several hundred women were available for talks — in person or on the radio. Their work in the schools was considered one of the most outstanding patriotic accomplishments in the state.
THE FORT WORTH GARDEN CLUB
The Fort Worth Garden Club was organized in 1926 under the auspices of TWCFW, although it was not a formally affiliated club. The garden club used TWC’s facilities for a number of years. Frances Portwood (Mrs. Ben O.) Smith was the garden club’s first president (1926-1929), and it was during her tenure that the garden club secured the services of S. Herbert Hare (Hare and Hare, out of Kansas City, MO) to create a landscape plan for the complex.
The ladies who founded The Woman’s Club of Fort Worth were true visionaries. They identified and answered a need within the Fort Worth community to not only broaden the base of adult education for women but to provide an open door for frequent cultural opportunities. While we honor the work of our founders by celebrating our past, it is our duty as current Woman’s Club members to build our future by identifying and answering the needs of today’s woman.
Membership applications are now being accepted. Junior Woman’s Club membership is for women ages 21-40; The Woman’s Club of Fort Worth, 40 and up. Please contact the Business Office at 817.335.3525 for more information about how you can be a part of this historic organization.
I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
Although it has been challenging throughout the years, The Woman’s Club of Fort Worth is adaptable. Challenges The Club currently face include:
Identifying the importance of The Woman’s Club of Fort Worth in the lives of today’s professional women. Building bonds of friendship outside of workplace or family atmospheres helps women to maintain a balanced emotional and mental equilibrium. The study clubs and departments that The Club offers also allows women to fellowship with others who have similar interests.
Maintaining our 100+-year-old buildings. Earlier this month (May 2023), The Woman’s Club of Fort Worth was named to the Historic Fort Worth Most Endangered Places list. This list “spotlights historic resources threatened by a variety of circumstances including deterioration, neglect, vandalism, encroachment, loss of parking, development, and lack of financial resources, etc.” We are hopeful that the FW community will remember the wonderful things that TWCFW has done for it these past 100 years. Perhaps there is a philanthropist who, when they read our story, will be interested in partnering with us to revive our tired buildings and restore the sparkle they once had.
Appreciate you sharing that. What else should we know about what you do?
The Woman’s Club of Fort Worth is a 501(c)(3) organization. It is a safe and welcoming place for women of all backgrounds to work together to provide support and continuing education for all members. The Club continues to actively support and participate in service projects that support women and education; and, at all times maintain and support an educational environment through its services, its library, lectures, discussions, meetings, and civic contacts for the improvement and development of its members and the community.
Pricing:
- New Members: $425 + $75 entrance fee
- Reinstating Members: $425 + $50 entrance fee
- Venue space: Fee structure based on room/day/time of event.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.thewomansclubfw.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thewomansclubfw/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TheWomansClubFortWorth/
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/company/thewomanscluboffortworth/
Image Credits
Portraits by Polly Sunnae Hiler
