A group of thirteen women met on 19 July 1944 at the home of Mrs. J. Shenton (Frances Billings) Lodge to discuss forming a club and joining the Virginia Federation of Women's Clubs (hereafter VFWC). VFWC, founded in 1907, served as a way to connect women's clubs in the state so that members could draw on one another's experience and promote civic works. The attendees of the first meeting worked with the VFWC to establish the club's objectives and structure. The first meeting of The Woman's Club of Loudoun took place on 9 Sept. 1944, and fifty-five women joined. A board of governors was appointed, and Frances Billings Lodge was elected as the club's first president. Acceptance of The Loudoun Woman's Club into the VFWC was announced at a meeting held 4 Nov. 1944. In 1946, the club adopted the iris as its flower, and purple and gold as the club's colors. The club was incorporated in 1948. The Woman's Club of Loudoun sponsored the creation of Junior Woman's Club of Loudoun in 1950, and over the years included it in activities and fundraisers. Membership in The Woman's Club peaked in 1954 at 142 and declined in the following decades. However, in 2004 the club was recognized at the District Meeting for its recruiting efforts, with a membership standing at fifty-nine. The club created seven departments to guide their activities: American Home, Fine Arts, Education, Citizenship, Welfare, War Service, and Red Cross. Over time some departments were added or eliminated, reflecting the changing interests of the club. Department chairmen developed a variety of programs and invited speakers to come to club events. Speakers ranged from a representative from the Norwegian Embassy to Luther H. Evans, Librarian of Congress. While many programs were for club members only, other events included guests and spouses, such as the annual picnic. Four committees were also formed at the first meeting: Hospitality, Publicity, Membership, and Registrar. From the beginning, the arts were a strong area of interest. A music committee was established early in the history of the club, and music was an important part of its activities and programs. Programs included performances and talks by club members, as well as guest artists. The Arts Dept. sponsored art and writing contests in the local schools from 1945 through the 1960s, presenting awards at their annual meeting. Club members entered their own work in contests at the district meeting, which sent winners to the VFWC annual meetings. Local contests were started in 1969. The Arts Dept. also held workshops, organized tours, and brought in speakers. In addition to enrichment activities for members, the club has lent support to the community. Overseen by the Ways and Means Committee, the club engaged in a variety of fundraising activities, such as card parties, fashion shows, bake sales, and rummage sales to finance civic projects. From early on education and youth welfare have been of great interest to the club. The Education Dept. created a Student Loan Fund in 1945, intended to help students who wanted to have a teaching career. Other areas of interest include health and welfare, conservation, and community improvement projects.
From the description of Woman's Club of Loudoun records, 1944-2002 (bulk 1950-1998). (Unknown). WorldCat record id: 75382575
