History

History of the Woman's Club

Woman's Clubs arose in Pre-Civil War America as modern household advances increased the leisure time of women. Their original, primary function was as “study clubs and reading circles”. Eventually, the took on social welfare goals, such as building schools, hospitals, and libraries. Woman's Clubs helped found 75-80% of all Libraries in communities across the nation, including the Goodwin Library in Farmington.

The height of the cultural Institution building period for Woman's Clubs was between 1870 – 1930.