Life for a pioneer woman wasn’t for the faint of heart. She had to cook, clean, tend the children, wrangle laundry, feed the chickens, milk the cow, help in the fields, and still had to hitch up the horse and wagon anytime she needed something from the general store. And with all that work? Most women still longed for something more than chores and survival.
They longed for companionship. Yes, there were sewing circles and quilting bees, but did you know there were also women’s clubs? I had no idea!
In the 1880s, a few women in Lodi, California found work outside the home. Millinery, dressmaking, hotel domestic work, and serving as waitresses. One remarkable woman, Laura DeForce Gordon, even became the second woman ever admitted to practice law before the U.S. Supreme Court. But most women lived quietly in the background of their own towns, gathering mainly at church for a moment of fellowship.
By the 1890s, the itch for community grew stronger. Some women joined temperance groups or formed auxiliaries connected to the men’s lodges like the Masonic, Knights of Pythias, and Oddfellows. But it still wasn’t enough. They wanted a voice. They wanted a hand in shaping the town they called home.
So in 1906, they finally stepped into their own. That year, Lodi officially became a city and was able to pass laws, levy taxes,
pave streets, build water and sewer systems and all that fun stuff. With nearly 2,000 residents, it was ready to grow… and the women of Lodi were ready to help guide that growth.
So, twenty-eight ladies gathered in the Methodist Church and formed the Ladies Improvement Club. Their mission? To work for the “progress and betterment of Lodi.”
Their first president, Emma Witte Humphrey, served until 1909. Meetings began in kitchens and parlors, then moved to rented halls as membership grew. By 1908, they joined the State Federation of Clubs and got to work improving their town: planting trees along main roads, installing a drinking fountain downtown to offer a non-alcoholic option for the menfolk, and petitioning for more sidewalks.
One of their first major projects was saving Lodi’s public library. The library, founded in 1885, desperately needed a permanent home—but lacked the property ownership required to apply for Carnegie funding. So the Ladies Improvement Club stepped in.
On June 5, 1909, they held a dance, raised enough for a down payment on a Pine Street lot, secured the land, and unlocked the door for Andrew Carnegie’s donation. By 1910, Lodi had its Carnegie Library—thanks entirely to the town’s women.
By 1913, they adopted a new name: The Woman’s Club of Lodi. With 65 members and dues of $2, they opened their doors to women of every walk of life, encouraging fellowship, community improvement, and intellectual growth.
And they dreamed bigger…
In 1915, they decided Lodi needed a woman’s clubhouse—their own place to gather, host events, and continue building their community. They formed the Lodi Woman’s Building Association and sold shares of stock to fund it. A building lot was purchased for $10 in gold at the northeast corner of Lee Avenue and Pine Street.
World War I and the 1918 flu pandemic delayed construction, but by April 1920, the women were ready to build. The cornerstone was laid in March 1922, and by March 1923 the colonial-style clubhouse opened its doors—complete with towering columns, an elegant auditorium, and room enough for gatherings large and small.
Cost of land and construction totaled $51,000.
Membership surged to 450 women.
Dues: $5.
Spirit: priceless.
They hosted conventions, fashion shows featuring gowns from the 1830s onward, minstrel shows (as common for the era), and the town’s annual children’s Christmas parties. For decades, the clubhouse was the shining heart of Lodi’s social life.
Today, the Woman’s Club of Lodi has around 160 members and still meets in that same historic building—now on state and federal historic registers. The old colonial beauty has seen generations of women walk through its doors, from early pioneers to modern volunteers.
It’s still welcoming gatherings, card parties, and community events, just as it did over a century ago. From feeding chickens to founding civic institutions, Lodi’s women have always found ways to lift their town, lift each other, and leave a legacy that still stands tall on Pine Street.
After stumbling across these tidbits of information, it makes me wonder how many other little towns in the old west also took that extra step and formed a women’s club.
Is there a women’s club in your town? There isn’t in my home town, but there is a quilting club. I’m giving away one free e-book copy of His Prairie Sweetheart, which begins with the Ladies Sewing Circle deciding to get a school teacher for their town.
USA Today bestselling author Kit Morgan is the author of over 180 books of historical and contemporary western romance! Her stories are fun, sweet stories full of love, laughter, and just a little bit of mayhem! Kit creates her stories in her little log cabin in the woods in the Pacific Northwest. An avid reader and knitter, when not writing, she can be found with either a book or a pair of knitting needles in her hands! Oh, and the occasional smidge of chocolate!
Wonderful history!
There are lots of different kinds of women’s clubs in the area. Anything from quilting groups, those affiliated with their worship, sports, auxiliary groups, Junior League, political, etc…
You never think about what’s in your own town! Of course my home town is pretty small. Sounds like you have quite a few where you are, Denise!
We have lots of clubs here. One of the biggest is the Garden club.
Ah, yes, garden clubs. I didn’t even think of those, Ann!
I’m not sure but Indiana has philanthropic sororities that fund scholarshipsfor graduating high school students, fill charitable needs in local communities.
That’s cool, Kate! I’m going to have to dig into my own hometown and see what other sorts of clubs they have.
No, not that aware of.
A lot of clubs are sort of hidden it seems, Karijean.
We have several huge Home Ec clubs locally that my Mom and Grandmother were part of – they seem to be a group of the same aged people – our church has a women’s group as well that meets monthly and has service projects!
That’s neat, Teresa. I know my little town has to have more than just their quilting club. I’ll have to do some digging.
Thus was very interesting. Thank you for sharing. As far as I know, where I live does not have a women’s club. They may have in the past but I don’t know.
I had no idea they were even a thing back in the day, Susan!
no club
I’m sure some of these clubs are tucked away under the radar, and we don’t even know they exist!
Good morning Kit! We had a Woman’s Club in our small town. I was aware of it and went to a few while working. I mainly joined the Artist Guild and became involved with it. I became vice president of it. We did some community events. And an Art Splash for the kids in the summer. The funds went to a high school art scholarship to a senior. I gave it out to the winner of my daughter’s class and then the next year for my son’s class winner/recepient. It was one of the most challenging and rewarding club I have ever been in.
Thanks for the history Kit! I just finished Wilbert’s story! I love the town characters and especially the Snows! Waiting patiently for the next one!
Best wishes!
That’s really cool that your town had an Artist’s Guild! That’s something I wouldn’t mind joining. I bet you had a lot of fun.
How fascinating! I didn’t know about this. To my knowledge the towns we live closest to do not have any ladies clubs.
I guess we all automatically think of places like our town’s Moose Lodge or Elks club. No one ever thinks about a ladies club.
That I know of, there’s no women’s club. However, my church has a quilting group!
That’s something! I think there’s got to be more of those than women’s clubs, Trudy!
Good morning, this is so very interesting I live in a small town and I am not aware of any women’s club here. Have a great day.
Yeah, I don’t think my town or even the closest town to us has a women’s club. But I’m sure some of the bigger ones do.
No Women’s club that I know about here in my small town.
My town either, and I’m not sure if there ever was one. But I could be wrong.
We have a garden club in our community. Also a Women of Today Club. Interesting blog. Thanks for sharing your research.
I think I’ve heard of Women of Today, clubs, but can’t be sure. I also think my little town has a garden club. But again, not sure.
I’m not sure if the Women’s Club still exists in one of the towns near me but for many years they had their own building. I never understood how that club differed from groups such as Soroptomist, Lady Lions, and the many other women’s groups in town. I do know they existed, at least in this town, before the other organizations were formed there.
That’s a good question, Alice. What were the differences? I’ve heard of Lady Lions, but we never had that in my little town.
I do not know of any, but I shall contribute that Girl Scout leaders have a lot of fun together
I bet they do, Debra!
I don’t know if there is a women’s club in my home town
I bet there are a lot of towns that have them and a lot of people that don’t know they exist, Bridgette!
While my husband was still in the Air Force, I belonged to the Officer’s Wives’ Club. It was and is a great group of women who had projects for the base community and was a good social gathering. With young children and husbands who could deploy with little notice for who knows how long, It was also a good support system.. The monthly luncheon was the a brake that was so needed to give me some adult time. Each squadron also had a monthly coffee which worked even better since we were all in the same situation. I really do miss those get togethers, but our units have kept in touch and have reunions every 2 years.
Since my husband retired, I have really missed those gatherings. About 20 years ago, while working at the neighboring county’s library, I was invited to join the town’s Monday Club which is member of GFWC (General Federation of Women’s Clubs). They were founded in 1890 during the Progressive Movement, much like the Lodi Women’s Club. GFWC is an international organization and focuses on promoting civic improvements through volunteer service. I no longer work in that county, but still belong to the club. They are a great group of women that do much to support the community and projects that are further reaching. The monthly meetings are enjoyable and what they do is worthwhile. There is no group in my town, but the extra distance to drive is worth it to be with these ladies.
Kit, I hopw you and your family and friends have a wonderful Thanksgiving.
That’s so cool, Patricia! So you know first hand how belonging to something like the Officer’s Wives’ Club is! I bet you have so many fond memories of your time spent with those ladies!
You know what they say, “behind every good man is a better woman”. Enjoyed learning about this early women’s club. Love how they were so determined and did not give up. Can you imagine how long it took to raise the funds for their building. Women are a force to behold when “we” are determined and don’t lose our focus. Would love to win a book.
Happy Thanksgiving
That’s right, Sarah. We women can do a lot when we put our minds to it!
Fascinating peek into the past! Thanks for sharing! I’m in a small town with an active historical society, but unaware of the existence of a women’s club locally. Will have to ask around!
I know, now that we’ve all learned more about women’s clubs, I bet a lot of us are going to be asking around!
Fascinating history and only club in my town is the Ladies of the church have a monthly Dinner usually to get together eat, talk and do other stuff
Hey, we need it! Even today!