For middle and upper class women, the late 19th and early 20th century was a time
of growing freedom to engage in leisure time pursuits of their choice. This was
especially true for those women who had servants that handled most of the work
around the home leaving, them time to enjoy a hobby or participate in social
activities.
A favorite activity for these late Victorian/Edwardian women was to join a
ladies
’ club. Clubs were formed to further a wide variety of interests. Clubs were of
several types that included political clubs, domestic groups, literary circles,
religious societies and civil service organizations.
That women could not vote did not stop them from expressing political opinions.
These clubs often formed to support political movements of the time: populism,
progressivism, socialism and others. Some women
’s political groups were auxiliaries of the men’s groups such as the Republican Party. Quite a few women joined clubs to push
for suffrage or the right to vote. Temperance clubs advocating prohibition were
also popular.
Most ladies’ clubs formed with the objective of educating their members. Many women didn’t attend college, but wanted to further their education. They formed book or literary clubs and domestic education groups that would meet
weekly to discuss books, plays and poetry; hear presentations on the latest in
domestic techniques and technologies; and sponsor lectures for their members
and the general public. There was a Shakespeare Club in Richmond in 1901 and a
Houston Heights Literary Club in Houston in 1900 to name just two examples.
These clubs often expanded to add charity work or music activities. Libraries
and schools were supported by ladies
’ clubs as well as health and senior citizens initiatives. The Red Cross was
another well supported ladies
’ service organization.
The Ladies Afternoon Club formed in Richmond and featured literary activities
such as readings of romances written by club members and musical numbers.
Garden clubs that focused on gardening and civil service were formed in
Richmond, Sugar Land and other area communities.
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