Woman's Club of Boulder

The Woman’s Club of Boulder exemplified the application of the values of domesticity to voluntarism. Following the example of many women clubs at the time, these women formed a group to address the cluster progressive women’s concerns at the turn of the 20th century. Although many issues that the women’s clubs addressed at the turn of the century were absorbed by the social welfare state and professional organizations, many women’s clubs still exist today in the state of Colorado and throughout the nation; adding their own brand of social movement and volunteerism to society.

The Woman’s Club of Boulder began organizing in 1900. About one hundred Boulder club women attended a mass meeting held at the District Court room on December 8, 1900 to organize the Woman’s Club of Boulder. The first officers of the Club were elected at this meeting. The first president was Mrs. James H. Baker (Jennie Baker), the wife of the President of the University of Colorado. At this meeting a committee on constitution and by-laws was formed. A notice was put in the Boulder Tribune Friday, January 4, 1901 inviting the women of Boulder to a meeting of the Woman’s Club of Boulder at the District Courtroom. It was the intent of this meeting to write the by-laws of the Club and to finalize the election of the Club officers. The meeting also decided the Club logo and colors. The Club motto was “Where there is work, there we are” and the Club colors were dark green, yellow, and white. The Woman’s Club of Boulder was incorporated February 1902 and it was admitted into the State Federation of Women’s Clubs in 1902. The Club was admitted into the General Federation of Women’s Club in 1904. The goals of the Woman’s Club of Boulder were to provide public service to the Boulder community and to provide a social and educational resource to the women of the Boulder community.

To address the issues involved in community service, the Woman’s Club of Boulder formed many different committees over the years. Some of the issues that these committees addressed were public parks, the environment, childcare, public health, enforcement of Boulder laws, literacy, and public schooling. Committees were also formed to provide opportunities for the education and growth of club members and to maintain the Club and the Club’s business. Several of these committees included the music committee, fine arts committee, scrapbook committee, legislative committee, and international affairs committee. These committees were either departmental or standing, formed to meet the changing needs of the Club and the Boulder community.

The Woman’s Club of Boulder took both an active and a financial interest in community service ideas and organization. To fund community service and to provide entertainment to Club members and the city of Boulder, the Woman’s Club of Boulder hosted many plays, musicals, luncheons, and other forms of amusement and learning. The first fund-raising event that the Woman’s Club of Boulder hosted was “Living Whist” in 1902. The proceeds from this event were used to plant trees in the Columbia cemetery. The Club made donations of books, clothes, toys, time, food, and money to many public service events and organizations in the community of Boulder throughout the Club’s existence.

In addition to these longstanding community services, the Woman’s Club of Boulder donated the town clock, which was installed in the tower of the County Court House on July 11, 1911. In order to fund this venture, the Club held many fundraising events, such as a baby show and packing and serving lunches for the National Hardware Association of America. The clock was burned in a fire on February 9, 1932. In 1912, the Woman’s Club began a scholarship fund for the continuing educations of female students in Boulder. The Club also opened and maintained public restrooms in the basement of the Court House in the summer of 1910. In 1916, with the collaboration of the school board, the Woman’s Club hired a visiting nurse and provided her with her own transportation to carry out her duties. During WWI, the Woman’s Club of Boulder was in charge of the Council of National Defense in Boulder county and contributed to the War effort by donating their meeting rooms as headquarters for War activities of the Club, such as knitting and preparing bandages and donated field glasses to the Navy. In 1921, the Woman’s Club of Boulder started the Boulder Day Nursery and continued their support for the organization with annual donations. During WWII the Club participated in many War activities, such as selling War bonds, providing forms of entertainment for the Military that was based at the University of Colorado, and running canned food drives. Beginning in the 1950s, every year the Club provided a Boulder girl the opportunity to attend Girls State. The Woman’s Club also provided the opportunity for two local youths to attend the HOBY Foundation every year.

The Woman’s Club of Boulder was involved in many State and General Federation of Women’s Clubs events. The Woman’s Club of Boulder hosted several of these occasions in Boulder, including the Colorado Federation of Women’s Clubs 43rd Annual Convention held in September of 1937. During State and General Federation competitions the Woman’s Club of Boulder won many awards and certificates for their community service and presentation of ideas, such as art and craftwork and scrapbook organization. Members of the Woman’s Club of Boulder also served on State and General Federation boards and committees as officers. Due to the dwindling membership, the Woman’s Club of Boulder was forced to disband in the year 2000 after 100 years of community service to the city of Boulder.

From the guide to the Woman's Club of Boulder, 1900-2001, (University of Colorado at Boulder Libraries. Archives Dept.)