Square and Circle Club (San Francisco, Calif.)

Founded in 1924, the Square and Circle Club has served the San Francisco Bay Area for over 80 years. Comprised primarily of professional women of Chinese descent, the mission of the club is to promote local community issues, provide monies to organizations and persons in need, and act as a social fellowship for club members.

From the description of Square and Circle Club records, 1924-2003. (San Francisco Public Library). WorldCat record id: 429507695

Organizational History

The Square and Circle Club derives its name from an old Chinese couplet translated as "In deeds be square, in knowledge be all-round". The Square and Circle Club is believed to be the oldest active Chinese women's service organization in the United States and has served the San Francisco Bay Area for over 80 years. Comprised primarily of professional women of Chinese descent, the mission of the club is to promote local community issues, provide monies to organizations and persons in need, and act as a social fellowship for the club members.

The Square and Circle Club was formed in 1924 by a group of seven young women: Daisy Wong Chinn, Jennie J. Lee, Ann Lee Leong, Ivy Lee Mah, Bessie Wong Shum, Daisy K. Wong, and Alice Fong Yu. The group originally came together to raise funds for flood and famine victims in China and the first fundraiser was a benefit dance that successfully raised $250 for relief packages. After the success of the event, the Square and Circle Club turned their attentions to the local San Francisco community, embarking upon what has become a much respected and longstanding philanthropic tradition.

Early service projects focused upon orphans, healthcare, and educational activities. Fundraising for projects at Laguna Honda Hospital, the Chung Mei Home for Chinese Boys, the Mei Lan Yuen Home and the Ming Quong Home for Chinese girls, took the form of raffles, benefit dances and variety shows. From the late 1920s through the early 1940s, the Square and Circle Club produced many well-attended events that showcased popular themes, dances and music of the era and provided funds for the many service projects of the club. "It Happened in Zandavia", presented in 1933, was the first such musical and featured boys from the Chung Mei Home performing alongside the women of the club. Above and beyond raising money, members often volunteered their time to a variety of community projects including assisting with local tuberculosis screening and visiting the patients of the Laguna Honda Hospital. In addition to serving the community, Square and Circle Club also organized dinners, picnics and anniversary parties for the growing numbers of members. While the club's main focus was local service, the women did become active in larger volunteer arenas such as involvement with the Chinese War Relief Association, supporting a bill promoting rights of entry and U.S. citizenship to Chinese persons, and voicing staunch support of boycotts against Japanese products during World War II.

After World War II, the women of the Square and Circle Club continued to further the philanthropic activities of the club while pursuing their own educational and career advancement. The musicals and variety shows continued to be very popular with titles such as "Goo Ma Steps Out", "Once Upon a Holiday", "Song of Dynasty" and "My Fair Co-ed". The club's popular fashion shows and New Years Eve Charity Balls began during this time and continued with great success. Always innovative in their fundraising ideas, the club launched the publication of a Square and Circle Cookbook in 1976, Cooking with Square and Circle, which sold out its 5,000 copies and went into a third printing.

Many of the members have been individually recognized and awarded for their community leadership and accomplishments. The club's first president, Alice Fong Yu, was the first Chinese American teacher hired into the San Francisco Unified School District, and after a long and respected career in elementary education and speech therapy, had a Chinese immersion school named for her in 1996, the Alice Fong Yu Alternative School.

The Square and Circle Club's mission to "promote and foster philanthropic projects and community service" has remained unchanged since its inception in 1924. Through its fundraising efforts and volunteer projects, the club has provided support for YMCA and YWCA camperships; scholarships to City College, San Francisco State University, Mills College and the annual Close-up Washington, D.C. program; equipment for On Lok Senior Health Services and Chinese Hospital; and funds for the Asian Women's Shelter, Chinatown Youth Center, San Francisco Public Library, Chinese Education Center, the Chinese Newcomers Service Center, and Laguna Honda Hospital, to name a few.

From the guide to the Square and Circle Club Records, 1924-2003, 1954-1999, (San Francisco History Center, San Francisco Public Library)