Savannah Women's Federation (Ga.)

The Savannah Women's Federation (SWF) was founded as the Savannah Federation of Women's Clubs and chartered in 1913. It was originally a federation of existing women's groups and consisted of about seventy women's organizations. The Federation was sometimes known as a "Public Service Council." These groups dealt with a variety of interests, such as education, child welfare, jails and prisons, public health, and housing. This arrangement lasted through World War II. After the war, many of the federated organizations went on their own and some disbanded completely. The Savannah Women's Federation became an independent group in April 1955. It is the oldest Savannah club affiliate of the Georgia Federation of Women's Clubs (GaFWC) and is the second oldest GaFWC club in the First District. On a national level, the Savannah Women's Federation is a member of the General Federation of Women's Clubs. SWF focuses on six different departments of work. These are the Education, Arts, Home Life, Conservation, Public Affairs, and International Affairs departments. The club met monthly and each month's program focused on a different department. The club won many awards for its work in the community. Some of the areas in which SWF were involved include: tree planting at Jacob G. Smith Elementary, working with Chatham Nursing Home, anti-litter campaigns, Salvation Army, American Red Cross, establishment of a memorial for the victims of the Challenger space shuttle, and the Arthritis Foundation. Tallulah Falls School, owned and operated by the GaFWC, was another interest of the Savannah Women's Federation. The school was founded in 1909 in the northeast Georgia mountains as a boarding school for boys and girls in Grades 6-12.

From the description of Savannah Women's Federation (Ga.) records, 1913-1994. (Georgia Historical Society). WorldCat record id: 43895929