WHRC Celebrates 40 Years
The GFWC Women’s History & Resource Center (WHRC) celebrated its Ruby Anniversary yesterday at Headquarters. Founded on May 1, 1984, the WHRC was established as an extension of the GFWC with the goal of collecting, preserving, interpreting, and promoting the history of the clubwomen nationwide.
Guest speakers at the event included Natasha Dupee, Director of the Mayor’s Office of Women’s Policy and Initiatives, representing District of Columbia Mayor Muriel Bowser; Anna Laymon, Executive Director of the Women’s Suffrage National Monument Foundation; and Juanita Bryant, GFWC International Past President (1982-1984).
Dupee opened the event by reading a letter of commendation from Mayor Bowser for WHRC’s 40th Anniversary and thanking GFWC for its dedication to the community: “I appreciate the hard work of the GFWC, and so admire the amount of dedication to our community demonstrated by each member and volunteer… a great example of the impact we can make when we get involved and work together.”
Next, Joanna Church, WHRC Librarian, reflected on the impact of the WHRC over the past forty years, and shared letters of appreciation from former WHRC staff and researchers whose lives and work were influenced by their time here.
Afterward, Laymon of the Women’s Suffrage National Monument Foundation gave a moving presentation on the push to build a monument on the National Mall that would recognize the women who advocate for women’s right to vote and be counted.
GFWC International President Deb Strahanoski and Church concluded the event by presenting Juanita Bryant with a commemorative key to the WHRC in appreciation for her role in bringing it into existence. Bryant thanked everyone for supporting the WHRC and the North Carolina contingency of clubwomen in attendance for traveling to Washington, DC, to celebrate this momentous milestone in GFWC history.
Other special guests in attendance were:
Madeleine Bordallo, former Delegate to the U.S. House of Representatives from Guam and First Lady of Guam; GFWC International Past President Babs Condon (2014-2016); Suellen Brazil, GFWC President-elect; Wendy Carriker, GFWC First Vice President; and Mary Beth Williams, GFWC Secretary.