A Legacy to Be Proud Of

The Greater Southlake Women’s Society is a member of the Texas Federation of Women’s Clubs and the General Federation of Women’s Clubs. With over 100,000 members worldwide, GFWC is the largest and oldest nondenominational, international women’s volunteer service organization in the world. GFWC was founded in 1890 and chartered by the 56th United States Congress in 1901.

Our members of the past have given us a rich history full of accomplishments that we, the women of today, still benefit from. With the birth of GFWC came a united front of womankind. They fought for and successfully assured the passing of the Child Labor Law. They established 75% of all the Libraries in the United States including the very first Traveling Library. They gave audience to such speakers as Booker T. Washington. They fought segregation in their clubs. All this they accomplished before even receiving the right to vote in 1920. The Illinois statue giving us the right to vote was drafted by one of our very own. We were leaders in the Suffrage movement and every other movement of social reform that came before our country.

Founder and journalist, Jennie June believed in the potential of women and in their strength in unity. The GFWC, born in that belief, has met the challenges of women working as individuals and together. Women from diverse backgrounds had found common interests and have joined together to help others. The clubwomen themselves moved from self-education to social service, to leadership and community development. Our strength to continue working toward a better world comes from our association with General Federation of Women’s Clubs.