Biographical / Historical Notes
The National Woman's Christian Temperance Union (WCTU) was founded in Cleveland, Ohio in 1874. The WCTU rallied support for temperance and was active in many other social issues including woman's suffrage, women's economic and religious rights, as well as prison, education and labor reforms.
A report included, “Report of the First WCTU of San Diego since 1889,” recounts the early history of the First WCTU of San Diego, stating it was initiated by Frances Willard in 1883. Frances Willard was the second National WCTU President (1879-1898), organized the Prohibition Party in 1882 and during the same year was elected president of the National Council of Women. She was also the first dean of women and professor of aesthetics at Northwestern University. The First WCTU of San Diego received a certificate of incorporation in 1890. No account of its first six years of activity can be found and it is speculated that that the Union may have disbanded for a period of time. Initially, the group met weekly on Mondays, though this changed to primarily monthly or bi-monthly meetings by 1904. Women were required to wear a bow of white ribbon as a badge at all times. At one time woman were fined five cents if they did not wear the ribbon which “brought quite an increase to the treasury.” The trysting hour at noon was observed and was a time when “every heart lifted to God in prayer for a blessing of [their] work.”
The First WCTU of San Diego was active in the community and made visits to inmates within the prison system; at one time they created at library at a penitentiary. They also delivered temperance literature to school libraries, providing information on the movement to students and teachers. The “Report of the First WCTU of San Diego since 1889” also reports that the first presidents included Mrs. Johnson, Mrs. Hinkle, Mrs. House, Mrs. Waugh, Mrs. Todd, Dr. Park, Dr. Strausser and Dr. Crandall. Initially meetings were principally held at the Methodist and Congregational churches.
From the guide to the Women's Christian Temperance Union Records, 1866-1960, (San Diego History Center Document Collection)
