Milestones of Achievement
Women Creating Change
A Great Tradition of Community Service
Since 1897, The Woman’s Club has served as a guiding force in City of Jacksonville affairs.
The Windsor Hotel
On January 20, 1897, an organizational meeting of The Woman's Club of Jacksonville was held at the Windsor Hotel, the club's founding site. The Windsor Hotel, located in downtown Jacksonville on Hogan Street, fronted the St. James Park, renamed Hemming Park in 1898.
Click on each name to learn more about these amazing women and our accomplishments through the years
Year - President
1897 - 1899 Harriett S Fairhead
Harriett S Fairhead
First President of The Woman’s Club of Jacksonville, Inc.
1897 - 1899
- On January 20, 1897 the first meeting of the Woman's Club of Jacksonville was held at the Windsor Hotel, a representation of which is on our current logo.
- In 1898 The club sponsored Jacksonville's first Flower Show and first Art Exhibit, both philanthropic fundraisers. This allowed the Woman's Club to contribute the $1000 needed to keep the public schools open a full term.
1899 - 1900 Mrs R M Pollard
Mrs R M Pollard
1899 - 1901
1901 - 1902 Mrs Joseph H Durkee
Mrs Joseph H Durkee
1901 - 1902
1902 - 1904 Mrs W W Cummer
Mrs W W Cummer
1902 - 1904
- The Club organized the first Mother's Club. This was the forerunner to the P.T.A. in Duval High School.
1904 - 1906 Mrs Duncan U Fletcher
Mrs Duncan U Fletcher
1904 - 1906
- Operated a Fresh Air Camp for Tubercular children.
1906 - 1908 Mrs Arthur Gerrish Cummer
Mrs Arthur Gerrish Cummer
1906 - 1908
- Established the first city playground in Dignan Park, now Confederate Park.
1908 - 1908 Mrs Beukllah Milam Warner
1908 - 1909 Mrs Guy Pride
1909 - 1911 Mrs Walter P Corbett
- Organized Associated Charities, a forerunner of the Community Chest.
1911 - 1913 Mrs William B Young
Mrs William B Young 1911 - 1913
- Organized the Y.W.C.A.
- Started a music program in the public schools
- Opened first school lunchrooms
- Provided for the city's first Infant Welfare Nurse by paying salary for six years.
1913 - 1915 Mrs Louise C Meigs
Miss. Louise C Meigs
1913 - 1915
1930 - 1931
- Established the first ward for contagious diseases in St. Luke’s Hospital.
1915 - 1917 Mrs Frank E Jennings
Mrs Frank E Jennings
1915 - 1917
1917 - 1918 Mrs Francis P L'Engle
- Organized the first Artist Concert Series, now Civic Music.
1918 - 1920 Mrs N B Broward
1920 - 1921 Mrs Beulah Warner
1922 - 1924 Mrs Matilda F O'Donald
Mrs Matilda F O'Donald
1922 - 1924
1924 - 1926 Mrs Malcom M Landers
Mrs Malcom M Landers
1924 - 1926
1926 - 1928 Mrs Fred B Noble
Mrs Fred B Noble
1926 - 1928
- November 24th, Grand Opening of new $60,000 clubhouse on Riverside Avenue
- Organized the first Junior Woman's Club
- Jacksonville's first Policewoman’s Bureau established.
- Started the Parental Home.
1928 - 1930 Mrs Marcus C Fagg
Mrs Marcus C Fagg
1928 - 1930
- The Little Woman’s Department was organized for girls, ages 12-18.
- Paid the full salary for matron in Union Depot, anticipating Traveler’s Aid Society.
Presidents Day Celebration January 23, 1929
1930 - 1931 Mrs Louise C Meigs
Miss Louise Meigs
1930 - 1931
1931 - 1932 Mrs Louise C Clark
Miss Louise C Clark
1931 -1932
1932 - 1934 Mrs Waldo E Cummer
Mrs Waldo E Cummer
1932 - 1934
1934 - 1936 Mrs James W Spratt
Mrs James W Spratt
1934 - 1935
1935 - Mrs William A Bisbee
Mrs William A Bisbee
1935 - 1936
1936 - 1938 Mrs Thurston Roberts
Mrs Thurston Roberts
1936 - 1938
1938 - 1940 Mrs Granville Emmett Batey
Mrs Granville Emmett Batey
1938 - 1940
- Organized first Marathon Round Table, forerunner of Civic Round Table.
1940 - 1942 Mrs Horace C Avery
Mrs Horace C Avery
1940 - 1942
- Entertained servicemen
- Supported Red Cross
- Provided classes in civil defense
- Aided in establishing Teen Town
1942 - 1944 Mrs Joseph F Marrow
Mrs Joseph F Marrow
1942 - 1944
1944 - 1946 Mrs Charlotte Bowden Perry
Mrs Charlotte Bowden Perry
1944 - 1946
- Entertained servicemen
- Worked with Red Cross
- Provided classes in national defense
- Aided in establishing Teen Town.
1946 - 1948 Mrs A Cecil Tharin (Eloise)
Mrs A Cecil Tharin
1946 -1948
1948 - 1950 Mrs James Bright Lee
Mrs James Bright Lee
1948 - 1950
1950 - 1952 Mrs Robert C Marshall
- Sponsored the first Child Hygiene Clinic
1952 - 1954 Mrs Ralph R Anderson
Mrs Ralph R Anderson
1952 - 1954
1954 - 1956 Mrs Joseph H Riggs
Mrs Joseph H Riggs
1954 - 1956
- Established the first School Crossing Guard Program
1956 - 1958 Mrs John P Miller
Mrs John P Miller
1956 - 1958
- The Friendship Club for senior citizens organized by the new Gerontology Division.
1958 - 1960 Mrs Olin W Stagg
Mrs Olin W Stagg
1958 - 1960
- The Club established the city’s first “Pal Day for Service Women.”
1960 - 1962 Mrs Robert B Cowan
Mrs Robert B Cowan
1960 - 1962
- Sponsored classes in languages open to the public, including a weekly English class for Cuban refugees.
Year - President
1962 - 1964 Mrs Chester F Cluxton
Mrs Chester F Cluxton
1962 - 1964
- Sponsored “Mental Health Alert,” a public educational program
- Received a $500 award for the Club’s scholarship and education work.
1964 - 1966 Mrs. E Ross Harris
Mrs. E Ross Harris
1964 - 1966
- "Operation Teenager" educated thousands of junior and high school students for crime prevention.
1966 - 1967 Mrs C LaFon Lash
Mrs C LaFon Lash
1966 - 1967
- Established Translators and Interpreters Bureau, representing 19 languages.
1967 - 1969 Mrs H Ward Strickland
Mrs H Ward Strickland
1967 - 1969
1969 - 1971 Mrs Lloyd T Thurmond (Mildred)
Mrs Lloyd T Thurmond
1969 - 1971
- Roberta (Mrs. Walker J.) Bennett Library at Woman’s Club of Jacksonville dedicated.
1971 - 1973 Mrs Oscar G Rawls (Carolina)
Mrs Oscar G Rawls
1971 - 1973
1973 - 1975 Mrs J A Camera (Marguerite)
Mrs J A Camera
1973 - 1974
1975 - 1977 Mrs Joseph W Blake (Edna)
1977 - 1979 Mrs Julian Warren (Regina)
Mrs Julian Warren
1977 - 1979
1979 - 1980 Miss Josephine Scalise
1980 - 1982 Mrs Norwood M Phelps (Minnie Louise)
1982 - 1984 Mrs Charles F Johnson (Betty)
1984 - 1986 Mrs Luther E Cranford (Helen)
1986 - 1988 Mrs Charles F Bryans (Nancy)
1988 - 1990 Mrs B B Neeley (Adrianne)
1990 - 1992 Mrs Joseph Kennelly, Jr (Carol)
1992 - 1994 Mrs Emmett Ferguson, Jr (Jerry)
1994 - 1996 Mrs C F Bryans (Nancy)
1996 - 1997 Mrs W Paul Reagan (Suella)
- 100th birthday of the Woman’s Club of Jacksonville.
1998 - 2000 Mrs Bennett Wattles (Porshia)
2000 - 2002 Mrs C J Schultz
2002 - 2004 Mrs James B May (Janice)
2004 - 2006 Mrs William H. Dodson (Harriette)
- First Gala, “Grand Dame of Riverside,” a fundraiser for the restoration of our historic building.
2006 - 2008 Mrs Mel Sanders (Ruth)
- Sale of the Riverside Avenue property to the Cummer Museum. The Community Foundation became the fiduciary of the resulting funds.
- Purchased a $25,000 passenger van for the Police Athletic League to transport children to events
2008 - 2010 Mrs Alexander Oldano (Alice)
- Donated $10,000 to Hubbard House to assist abused women, $3,000 to Firefighters Local 122 for Iris Roberts Fund, and $1,000 to St. Andrews Lighthouse.
- Donated 30 lap blankets to Taylor Manor Nursing Home and 300 lbs of supplies to US Army for distribution to the troops in Iraq.
- Donated personal items to Hacienda Girls Ranch, Christmas gifts for the Salvation Army Angel Tree program.
2010 - 2012 Mrs Paul Swan ( Linda)
- Financial grants given to Jacksonville Historical Society, Gateway Council of Girl Scouts, City Rescue Mission, Jacksonville Symphony, Pace Center for Girls, Jacksonville Humane Society, Second Harvest Food Bank, St. Catherine's Episcopal youth program and Hubbard House.
2012
2014 - Janice May
- Formed "Young Women in Leadership" monthly program at Robert E. Lee High School, mentoring ten girls
- Presented five college scholarships
- Grant given to Jacksonville Historical Society for archival copy machine
2015 - 2018 Laura Ward Crooks
Laura Ward Crooks
2015 - 2017
2015
- Special Project: “Young Women in Leadership” provided one scholarship.
- Contributed to a female veteran who needed home repairs where she lived with two teenage daughters.
- Created a fiduciary relationship with the Community Foundation for Northeast Florida to continue the Club’s charitable work in perpetuity.
2016
- Purchased sound system for West Jacksonville Elementary School ($1000)
- purchased a Special Reading Program to help children at risk for West Jacksonville Elementary School ($16,000.).
- Became presenting sponsor for “Tee Up" fundraiser for Pine Castle program for people with disabilities
- Gave scholarships to six high school or college women at $2,000. each.
- Awarded a grant of $3,500.00 to Fletcher High School to purchase sheet music for its choral groups and provide transportation to musical events.
2017
- Presented $ 6,000 grant to The Jacksonville to archive papers, photographs and other paraphernalia of The Woman's Club of Jacksonville.
- Purchased All-In-One Touch Screen Classroom Technology Unit Table and Chairs as part of a "Make-over" for the art room at West Riverside Elementary School,($5,100.).
- Granted $2,500 to Duncan U. Fletcher High School towards the purchase of new concert dresses for young women in the Concert Chorus
- Granted the Jacksonville Public Library $500 to purchase books for their Early Literacy Parent/Child Program
- Granted Theater Jacksonville $1,000 toward scholarships for their Summer Theater Camp Program for inner-city children
- Provided a $1,000 grant to "We Care" for medical supplies
- Scholarships were awarded to 9 students totaling $14,000
2018 - 2022 Katherine Schnauss Naugle
Katherine Schnauss Naugle
2018 - 2021
- Awarded $5,000 grant to The Jacksonville Historical Society to continue archiving Woman’s Club Collection
- Awarded $5,000 to Family Promise of Jacksonville in support to their mentoring program for women who are head of household
- Awarded $5,000 to West Riverside Elementary School to provide musical instruments for the newly created music program
- Awarded $5,000 to Downtown Ecumenical Services Council- for woman's nutrition program;
- Awarded $2,900 Ortega Elementary School to be used for kindergarten reading program;
- Awarded $2,000 to We Care to be used towards education for women who prepare meals for family members with chronic illness;
- Awarded $40,0000 in scholarships to 20 students.
Sheriff Michael Williams
Guest Speaker
2019
- Awarded $44,000 in scholarships to 22 young women attending Florida schools.
- Donated $1,000 to Theatre Jacksonville in support of their 100 year anniversary fundraising campaign
- Donated $1,000 to North Florida School
- Grants presented to Downtown Ecumenical Services Council for food, clothing, overdue rent, overdue electricity, to Family Promise for housing, employment assistance, to Jacksonville Historical Society for continuation of archiving TWCJ documents, for family health care through WeCare of Jacksonville, and music assistance to West Riverside Elementary School
2020
- Funding to several small agencies COVID-related food distribution
- $30,000 in scholarships awarded
2022 - 2024 Mattie Fraser
2022
- Awarded $60,000 in scholarship funding to 20 young women
- Grants to West Riverside Elementary School for recorders, music teaching supplies and to the DAR for one book for each student at the book fair
2023
- Initiated the Jerry Ferguson Memorial scholarship.
- Awarded additional $40,000 of scholarships to 16 young women.
- Grants given to First Coast Pops Orchestra, Lend-an-Ear Outreach, Ruth N. Upson Elementary School, West Riverside Elementary School, and R.E.S.T.O.R.E. for unreleased women prisoners
2024 - 2026 Martha Radley Tromberg
2024
- Gave over $70,000 cash for grants and scholarships.
- Grants were awarded to R.E.S.T.O.R.E., Lend-an-Ear Outreach, First Coast Pops Community Orchestra, UNF Food Pantry, Theatre Jacksonville.
- In addition to the Jerry Ferguson annual Scholarship, scholarships in varying amounts were awarded to 20 young women
2025
- Awarded $63,000 in Grants and Scholarships
- Grants were awarded to Lend-an-Ear Outreach, First Coast Pops Orchestra, Museum of Contemporary Arts (MOCA) and A Summer Orchestra Clinic.
- In addition to the Jerry Ferguson Annual Scholarship, scholarships were awarded to 20 deserving young women
