Page:History of Iowa From the Earliest Times to the Beginning of the Twentieth Century Volume 3.djvu/318

 history, parliamentary law and innumerable subjects has not only interested women in a wide range of topics but enabled them to become proficient speakers and writers. Clubs devoted to philanthropy, organized industrial schools, libraries, village improvement and humane societies.

So widespread and varied had this movement become that the need of a State organization was felt and at a meeting held in Des Moines, in April, 1893, the Iowa Federation of Women’s Clubs was organized. The object of the Federation was stated in the constitution to be “to bring into communication with one another the various Women’s Clubs throughout the State, that they may compare methods of work and become mutually helpful.” The officers consist of a president, first vice-president, recording secretary, corresponding secretary and auditor.

It was further provided that the president of each federated club should be a vice-president of the State Federation and that these, with the general officers, constitute the executive board to transact the business of the Federation subject to its direction. The constitution of the clubs, applying for admission to the Federation, must show that no sectarian or political test is required and that while distinctly humanitarian movements may be recognized, their chief purpose is not philanthropic, or technical, but social, literary, artistic or scientific culture. The meetings of the State Federation are biennial. The number of clubs belonging to the State Federation at the close of the Nineteenth Century was one hundred ninety-eight, the number of members 7,000. The number of towns and cities represented by these clubs was one hundred thirty-six.