Chicago Women's Club.

Admin note: Founded on February 17, 1876, the Chicago Womens Club, CWC, had twenty one original members. Founded by Caroline M. Brown, who served as the first president for three years, the Chicago Womens Club was officially chartered on October 28, 1885. The goal of the club, as stated in its constitution the mutual sympathy and counsel, and united effort toward the higher civilization of humanity. The clubs original committees consisted of Reform, Home, Education, Philanthropy, Art, and Literature. Early on the club shifted focus from literary activities to what they dubbed practical work. This process began with the 1884 effort by the Committee on Reform to put women doctors in institutions serving women. They first targeted the Cook County Insane Asylum and after a period of petition writing and meeting with Asylum administrators, the Chicago Womens Club was successful. Similarly, they founded the first public kindergarten in Chicago, Charity Kindergarten, and later facilitated the appointment of Ellen Mitchell to the Chicago Board of Education. Over several years, the CWC founded the Protective Agency for Women and Children, the Industrial Arts Association, and Society for Physical Culture and Correct Dress, and the School Childrens Aid. The groups interest spanned from nurses training, food and clothing for children, temperance, and Cook County jail reform to the management of charities and long term support of the Chicago Symphony Orchestra, Art Institute, and the Chicago Public Libraries system.