Happy Birthday to Us!

By NJSFWC | December 10, 2018

November 16, 1894…
It was a cold Friday morning when approximately 150 women met in Union Hall, Orange, New Jersey. To arrive on time for the 10 AM meeting, many of the women left their homes well before daybreak to travel by train, trolley or carriage.

Although the majority of them were from the northern part of the state, there were representatives who came from as far south as Salem, Bridgeton, Haddonfield, Vineland and Merchantville.

By the time the meeting was concluded, the New Jersey State Federation of Women’s Clubs was an established fact! Margaret B. Yardley of Orange had been elected President and a committee was formed to prepare a Constitution for the organization.

November 16, 2018…
On this cold Friday morning, NJSFWC recognizes the 124th Anniversary of our founding. Happy Birthday to Us!

Naturally, this is a time to reflect on the Federation’s accomplishments. Some of our most often cited achievements include:

  • founding of the New Jersey College for Women in 1918 (Douglass College)
  • rallying to protect the magnificent, historic Palisades from destruction by quarrying in the 1800’s and again in 2014 to protect its viewshed from developers
  • sponsoring an annual Girls Career Institute, which provides a 3-day mini college experience for over 175 high school juniors each year
  • hosting a state-wide spelling bee for 4th and 5th graders annually

Now we are preparing to pave the way for a Shining Future, with the launch of our Shining Future Endowment Campaign to raise much-needed funds and enable us to continue our mission for at least another 125 years! Please visit our new website, njsfwcshiningfuture.org to learn more about the campaign.

We have a legacy of which to be proud and, with your help, we will have a shining future!

Sincerely,
Mary E. Wolfe, President
New Jersey State Federation of Women’s Clubs of GFWC