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Sorosis
Sorosis was the first professional women's club in the United States. It was established in March 1868 in New York City by Jane Cunningham Croly.
Sorosis is a latinate word meaning 'aggregation' (from the Greek sōros, meaning ‘heap’). Its object was to further the educational and social activities of women by bringing representative women of accomplishment in art, literature, science, and kindred pursuits. The club's name, Sorosis, would be chosen by Jane Croly through searching countless of dictionaries. Croly was fond of "its full, appropriate signification, its unhackneyed character and sweet sound". Briefly, Kate Field, one of the 14 charter members, changed the club's name from Sorosis to the "Women's League", but after much consideration and a second ballot, Sorosis would be restored as the club's name. As a result, Field and others withdrew from the club. The meeting concluded with president Alice Cary giving the inaugural address. The following week, Cary would resign the presidency due to the strain the disputes caused to her health.
In March 1868, a group of women was denied the purchase of tickets to attend the all-male New York Press Club hosted dinner for author Charles Dickens at Delmonico's. In response to being excluded by the New York Press Club, Sorosis was organized. On April 20, 1868, Sorosis hosted its first lunch meeting at the same restaurant. They invited Dickens, but he declined to attend. At the meeting, the 14 charter members of Sorosis were Alice Cary, Jane Cunningham Croly ("Jennie June"), Kate Field, Phoebe Cary, Ella Dietz Clymer, Celia M. Burleigh, Josephine Pollard, Ellen Louise Demorest, Charlotte Beebe Wilbour, Anne Botta, "Fanny Fern" Parton, Henry M. Field, Lucy Gibbons, and James T. Field. In January 1869, Sorosis would become incorporated as a legal institution. Within one year, Sorosis had 83 members. Along with Boston's New England Woman's Club (also founded in 1868), Sorosis inspired the formation of women's clubs across the country.
The Sorosis ... was organized ... to promote "mental activity and pleasant social intercourse," and in spite of a severe fire of hostile criticism and misrepresentation, it has evinced a sturdy vitality, and really demonstrated its right to exist by a large amount of beneficent work. ... These ladies pledged themselves to work for the release of women from the disabilities which debar them from a due participation in the rewards of industrial and professional labour ... I believe it has been the stepping-stone to useful public careers, and the source of inspiration to many ladies.
— Emily Faithfull, 1884
Early members of Sorosis participated in professions and political reform movements such as abolitionism, suffrage, prison reform, temperance and peace. Sorosis expanded its local chapters beyond New York City in the early twentieth century. They went on to organize war relief efforts during both World Wars. Peacetime activities included philanthropy (such as support for funding the MacDowell Colony), scholarship funds, and social reforms such as literacy training for immigrant women. In later years, Sorosis focused its activities on local projects, raising money for the aid of other women's clubs, funding scholarships for women, and aiding local rescue missions.
In 1890, Sorosis invited other women's clubs to attend a ratification convention in New York City. Sixty-three clubs were in attendance and formed the General Federation of Women's Clubs. Together, these women's clubs pushed for social and political reform on the local, state, and national level.
The University of Texas at San Antonio houses the records for the San Antonio chapter of Sorosis. The collection spans the years 1923 through 1991 and provides information about the club's members and activities primarily through minutes, photographs, scrapbooks and yearbooks.
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Sorosis
Sorosis was the first professional women's club in the United States. It was established in March 1868 in New York City by Jane Cunningham Croly.
Sorosis is a latinate word meaning 'aggregation' (from the Greek sōros, meaning ‘heap’). Its object was to further the educational and social activities of women by bringing representative women of accomplishment in art, literature, science, and kindred pursuits. The club's name, Sorosis, would be chosen by Jane Croly through searching countless of dictionaries. Croly was fond of "its full, appropriate signification, its unhackneyed character and sweet sound". Briefly, Kate Field, one of the 14 charter members, changed the club's name from Sorosis to the "Women's League", but after much consideration and a second ballot, Sorosis would be restored as the club's name. As a result, Field and others withdrew from the club. The meeting concluded with president Alice Cary giving the inaugural address. The following week, Cary would resign the presidency due to the strain the disputes caused to her health.
In March 1868, a group of women was denied the purchase of tickets to attend the all-male New York Press Club hosted dinner for author Charles Dickens at Delmonico's. In response to being excluded by the New York Press Club, Sorosis was organized. On April 20, 1868, Sorosis hosted its first lunch meeting at the same restaurant. They invited Dickens, but he declined to attend. At the meeting, the 14 charter members of Sorosis were Alice Cary, Jane Cunningham Croly ("Jennie June"), Kate Field, Phoebe Cary, Ella Dietz Clymer, Celia M. Burleigh, Josephine Pollard, Ellen Louise Demorest, Charlotte Beebe Wilbour, Anne Botta, "Fanny Fern" Parton, Henry M. Field, Lucy Gibbons, and James T. Field. In January 1869, Sorosis would become incorporated as a legal institution. Within one year, Sorosis had 83 members. Along with Boston's New England Woman's Club (also founded in 1868), Sorosis inspired the formation of women's clubs across the country.
The Sorosis ... was organized ... to promote "mental activity and pleasant social intercourse," and in spite of a severe fire of hostile criticism and misrepresentation, it has evinced a sturdy vitality, and really demonstrated its right to exist by a large amount of beneficent work. ... These ladies pledged themselves to work for the release of women from the disabilities which debar them from a due participation in the rewards of industrial and professional labour ... I believe it has been the stepping-stone to useful public careers, and the source of inspiration to many ladies.
— Emily Faithfull, 1884
Early members of Sorosis participated in professions and political reform movements such as abolitionism, suffrage, prison reform, temperance and peace. Sorosis expanded its local chapters beyond New York City in the early twentieth century. They went on to organize war relief efforts during both World Wars. Peacetime activities included philanthropy (such as support for funding the MacDowell Colony), scholarship funds, and social reforms such as literacy training for immigrant women. In later years, Sorosis focused its activities on local projects, raising money for the aid of other women's clubs, funding scholarships for women, and aiding local rescue missions.
In 1890, Sorosis invited other women's clubs to attend a ratification convention in New York City. Sixty-three clubs were in attendance and formed the General Federation of Women's Clubs. Together, these women's clubs pushed for social and political reform on the local, state, and national level.
The University of Texas at San Antonio houses the records for the San Antonio chapter of Sorosis. The collection spans the years 1923 through 1991 and provides information about the club's members and activities primarily through minutes, photographs, scrapbooks and yearbooks.
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