Page:The part taken by women in American history.djvu/436

Rh Mrs. Croly was born in Leicestershire, England, December 19, 1831. Her father, the Reverend Joseph Howes Cunningham, brought his family to the United States when Jennie was about nine years old. The latter was a precocious child and early showed her literary trend in little plays written in childhood. Her first production that was published appeared in the New York Tribune. Her taste for journalism grew rapidly and she filled many important positions on various of the New York newspapers for many years. Her pen name was "Jenny June." Her activity was remarkable and she extended her work to a number of the magazines. She edited and controlled many publications for a great number of years. Early in life she became the wife of David B. Croly, then city editor of the New York Herald, later managing editor of the New York World, and subsequently editor of the Daily Graphic. In all of these publications Mrs. Croly collaborated with her husband. In March, 1868, Mrs. Croly, "Fanny Fern," Alice and Phoebe Cary, Mrs. Charlotte B. Wilbour, Miss Kate Field, Mrs. Henry M. Field, Mrs. Botta and other women met in Mrs. Croly's home in New York and started the famous Sorosis with twelve charter members. This was one of the pioneer women's clubs of America and to Mrs. Croly should be given the credit of its inception. She served for fourteen years as its president. She was among those calling the Woman's Congress in New York in 1866, and again in 1869. She was a member of the New York Academy of Sciences, of the Goethe Club, and vice-president of the Association for the Advancement of the Medical Education of Women. Her home was for many years a center of attraction for authors, artists, actors and cultured persons. Her writings, which continued until her death in 1901, would fill many volumes.

The president-general of the Federation of Women's Clubs was born in Rockford, Illinois, and educated at Vassar College, at which institution she pursued a full mathematical and scientific course. The years from 1876 to 1879 she spent in travel and study abroad. Since her marriage she has resided in Kentucky and Missouri. She has been connected and actively interested in the St. Louis Training School for Nurses; is a member of the board of directors of the Providence Association and chairman of their district nurse work from its inception. She is vice-president of the St. Louis School of Philanthropy; is a charter member of the Wednesday Club, and was president of the Missouri Federation from 1901 to 1905; was first vice-president of the General Federation of Women's Clubs from 1904 to 1908. She is intensely interested in the musical growth of St. Louis and assisted in the formation of the Musical Club which brings to St. Louis the best artists in every line and is also devoted to the interests of a larger musical organization, the St. Louis Symphony Society, in which she is an active worker. She has been president of the National Federation of Musical Clubs. Mrs. Moore holds all educational influences to be of the greatest importance; from 1903 to 1907 she was president of the Association of Collegiate Alumnae and one of the