Our History
A Glance Backward in 1954 - the 35th Anniversary 
Thirty-five years ago, when the Woman's Department Club was founded, Shreveport had a population of 43,000 persons in comparison with the 1954 census figures of 156,000. It is hard for the present-day citizen to envisage the Shreveport of 1919, just after World War I, in the midst of a boom brought about by the discovery of oil in the Pine Island and Haynesville-Homer fields, but with few organized cultural activities. There was no Little Theater, no community and Symphony Concert Societies, not even a public library.
But there were women in the community of vision, cultural tastes and leadership capacities and on November 5, 1919, under the aegis of Hypatia, the oldest woman's club in the state, with Mrs. J. D. Wilkinson, president, a mass meeting of interested persons was called to consider forming a club “To provide a center of thought and action, thereby focusing the strength of the women for promotion of educational, literary and artistic growth of Shreveport and vicinity.” And this was to be a community service, non-partisan, non-sectarian and non-political.
As a result of this meeting, the club was organized, with 85 charter members. Among these earliest members of the infant organization and those through the years who have contributed constructively and wisely their many talents to the furtherance of this dream, are names which will be forever associated with the best of the social, cultural, religious and civic life of Shreveport.
 In accepting as a landmark this dignified Georgian building, with its small, but well-landscaped grounds, it is easy to forget the early struggles, the phenomenal feat of financing which left the building, costing $58,438.04, entirely free of debut by May 1928, nine years after the club’s founding. The late Mr. Clarence F. King drew up the plans and the late Mrs. M. R. Purnell was building chairman. For the furnishings, Mrs. E. A. Frost was given the small available sum and with gifts from friends and members, an interior of taste and beauty was achieved. It became a chartered institution in 1923.
The new club having been brought into existence, officers elected, and constitution framed, no time was lost in beginning a program in pursuance of its avowed aims. The literature department was the first organized, with Mrs. Clarence Ellerbe chairman and Dr. French lecturer. The first meetings, held in Mrs. Ellerbe’s home, was so large that subsequent meetings were held in the City Hall and in what is now the children’s room of the Shreve Memorial Library, until 1925 when the rapidly increasing membership triumphantly took possession of its beautiful new home on Line Avenue at Margaret Place.
For 17 years, Dr. French lectured to an enthusiastic audience on English and Classical Literature. Her rich endowments of mind and spirit have left an indelible imprint on the club to which from the beginning she gave so much time and effort. A bronze plaque on the rear wall of the auditorium gives tangible evidence of the love and esteem in which she is held.
 A discerning eye, looking over the minutes of the early years, could have foretold the success of the undertaking, because of the zeal which was evidenced and which extended into may fields besides those purely cultural.
There were then many more departments than the present five. Scanning rapidly, we find a very active civics department under the chairmanship of Grace Rice Sewall. This department embarked on a clean-up campaign which was so effective the Mayor and Commission of Public Safety allotted a sum of money to be used at Mrs. Sewall’s discretion for two inspectors. They cleaned alleys, inspected and improved sanitary conditions in the schools, had garbage removed, and cut weeds. Prizes were given for the best garden, cleanest store, and best-kept school grounds. They also inaugurated a series of summer band concerts.
The “housewives” in the department of that name were concerned over high prices. They petitioned the U. S. District attorney to appoint a food committee to investigate and adjust prices: the names of 1,000 persons were secured to pay cash, “since that lowers prices”; they sponsored cooking schools, they were horrified at the conditions at local dairies which furnished milk to the city’s children and proceeded to do something about it.
The educational department aided the truant officer in his duties. The department of sociology got the endorsement of the club board on the following bills pending in the State legislature; an 8-hour day for women industrial workers; a minimum wage for women; and a part of prisoner’s earnings to be paid to their families. They passed a resolution asking the Levee board to do something about river bank protection. They adopted an Armenian orphan and endorsed a Federated Woman’s Clubs request that stores close at 5 o’clock during the months of July, August, and September.
But in the midst of these and many other activities, they did not loose sight of their primary aims and in the years before the club had a home of its own, such artists as Geraldine Farrar, Robert Frost, Tolstoi, and Rabindranath Tagore were brought under their sponsorship to the city.
Later when the work of the club was placed under five heads – literature, music, education, art, and garden – many other attractions of fine caliber were secured.
The club has always cooperated whole heartedly with local affairs within its jurisdiction. In World War II, the use of its rooms was offered to the defense council, it created a Red Cross chairman, and its members assisted the USO in various capacities. War bonds amounting to half a million dollars were sold by the club members bond committee in the Third War Loan drive and for this service, a citation was given by Secretary of the Treasury, Henry Morganthau, Jr.
Another half million dollars in bonds was secured during the Fourth War Loan Drive and used for 7,000 much-needed hospital beds, the club’s request when asked its choice about the disposition of the money.
The club’s relations with Barksdale Air Force Base have been consistently cordial and the wife of the commanding officer is an honorary member of the board if she accepts her invitation to join.
50th Anniversary – 1969
Many improvements have been made in recent years – central air conditioning was installed and this debt was paid off in about four years; the kitchen was modernized; and the education wing was added. Many lovely and useful gifts have been accepted – all adding to the beauty, comfort and usefulness of the building.
Several different projects have been inaugurated: the Annual tour of Homes, and annual European Tour.
The early members who were mentioned are gone, but from our present membership of 1,300, others have come forward to carry on their work. It is our hope and prayer that the Woman’s Department Club members will show the same dedication in the next half century as has been given in the first fifty years, keeping ever within their vision the motives that inspired those founding members.
75th Anniversary and into Changing Times - 1994
In the early years may outstanding musicians and speakers were presented, but as other groups were organized for the same purpose, competition became a factor. Higher fees have curtailed these programs to some extent. However, our Department Chairmen work may hours in order to bring the best programs available, and they have been very successful.
88th Anniversary in a new Century – 2007
As we look forward to our 100th anniversary in 2019 we reconfirm our commitment to enhance friendship among women of our community by providing opportunities for participation in a variety of settings including meetings, luncheons, committees, interest groups and special events. |
