Business and Professional Women’s Club Charter
The following article appeared in the Missoulian Centennial issue on page 26 of Section E.
Business and Professional Women’s Club Charter Issued in Missoula in July 1923
The Missoula Business and Professional Women’s Club was the first of its kind in Missoula. In the 1920s women in Missoula who worked were unable to belong to women’s clubs as they usually met in the afternoon and concerned themselves with the problems which were not held in common with business and professional women.
In 1920 a start was made to fulfill this need when local employed women became affiliated with the National Federation of Business and Professional Women’s Clubs, which had been organized in St. Louis, Mo., in 1919. The local club was chartered in July 1923.
Charter Members
Charter members were Mrs. Julius (Clara) Hansen, Edith Davies, Laura B. Ellithorpe, Winnifred Woods, Winnifred Feighner, Mrs. Florence Irving Shannon, Amelia Loffnes, Mrs. Mary Ring Walker, and Helen Stoddard. Mrs. Hansen, Mrs. Shannon and Mrs. Walker are still active. The first president was Mabel Humphreys.
In early years dues were 50 cents per member and when dues were raised to $5 several years later, membership dropped to about half. Dues are now $8.50, but as high as $30 in clubs in larger cities in the United States.
Because of low dues the club sponsored many dances, movies, shows, fashion revues, card parties and rummage sales to raise funds. This has not been necessary in later years.
Profitable Ventures
In early days three movies reimbursed the club considerably. They were “Missing Daughters,” “A Fool’s Awakening,” and “The Duchess of Buffalo.”
As a service during World War II the Missoula Club conducted a house-to-house survey securing registrations of all women between 18 and 50. The U.S. Employment Service felt that an emergency would arise in which women would be called to work in war industries. It was believed at the time that a national registration of women would soon be necessary.
For years the local group maintained a scholarship fund aiding needy students. The club also provided clothing for high school students who otherwise might have dropped out of school, and nursing and business scholarships. It has sponsored girls attending Girls State and provided camperships to Girl Reserves of the YWCA and Camp Fire Girls camps.
Club’s Objectives
Objectives of the organization are to promote the interest of business and professional women of the United States, to elevate the standards of women in business and the professions, to extend opportunities to business and professional women through education along industrial, scientific and vocational fields.
Officers are Kathryn Furno (Furne), president; Geraldine Allen, first vice president; Carolyn M. Frojen, second vice president; Grace Buchanan, recording secretary; Beulah Wills, corresponding secretary, and Jacqueline Peterson, treasurer.