History of The Bradenton Woman's Club

The story begins…

      An article inspired sixteen ambitious women to meet in the Jeplinor Hotel in March 1913 to organize what they hoped would be a service club.

      The outcome of that meeting came in June 1913 when nineteen ladies signed the Charter of Incorporation for the Woman’s Club of Bradenton. Their motto, “be not simply good, be good for something”

      In 1918, with only $3.00 in the treasury, two lots on Wares Creek at the corner of Manatee Avenue and Virginia Drive were purchased for the sum of $1500.

      The membership voted, in 1920, to build a clubhouse for not less that $20,000. With only $11,500 in the treasury, a loan was secured from Bradentown Bank & Trust Company for $11,000. The final agreed-upon price with the architect was $23,000.

      In 1921, the building was completed. The Club had a beautiful home to dedicate. But not a single chair to sit in. A distress meeting was called and enough was collected to buy the chairs in time for the night of the building’s dedication.

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Bradenton Woman's Club
Since 1913
Member of the GFWC:

General Federation of Woman’s Clubs

(GFWC) – the world's oldest nonpartisan, nondenominational women's volunteer service organization - was founded in 1890. A non-profit 501(c) (3)

GFWC Florida Federation of Women's Clubs

Organized February 21, 1895
Admitted to the General Federation of Women's Clubs
January 25, 1898

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PAST PRESIDENTS:

MRS. T J BACHMAN 1913-16
MRS. F C WHITAKER 1916-17
MRS. JOSIAH VARN 1917-18
MRS. C E STREET 1918-20
MRS. G O SMYTHE 1920-22
MRS. A H BROWN 1922-24
MRS. CHARLES M EATON 1924-27
MRS. FRANK A HARRISON 1927-28
MRS. T M MCDUFFIE 1929-30
MRS. A A BARKER 1930-32
MRS. CHARLES M EATON 1932-33
MRS. ANSON J MITCHELL 1933-34
MISS DENISE SHIELDS 1934-36
MRS. L C BUTLER (RESIGNED) 1936
MRS. ALFRED STAPLES 1936-37
MRS. CHARLES ROGERS 1937-39
MRS. BLANCHE HENDRICKSON 1939-40
MRS. HAROLD BONDY 1940-41
MRS. EVELYN CHAIRES 1941-42
MRS. CHARLES E ROGERS 1942-43
MRS. J ROGERS BURYAN 1943-47
MRS. OLIVIA MAKIELL 1947-49
MRS. E R BROWN 1949-51
MRS. MAX TYLER 1951-53
MRS. FRANK WARD 1953-55
MRS. JUNE FERGUSON 1955-57
MRS. MASON SNOW 1957-59
MRS. ALBERTA LITTELL 1959-61
MRS. MARCIA COLE 1961-62
MRS. ANGUS (SPERRY) COX 1963-64
MRS. JAMES B WARD 1964-66
MRS. C B STEWART SR. 1966-68
MRS. W J MORGAN 1968-70
MRS. GRACE MCCOOL 1970-72
MRS. ALICE COWLING 1972-74
MRS. CAROLINE ROBINSON 1974-76
MRS. BEATRICE YEAGER INNES 1976-78
MRS. JEAN NEWBERRY 1978-80
MRS. ALICE COWLING 1980-82
MRS. CATHERINE LEWIS 1982-84
MRS. ALICE COWLING (RESIGNED) 1984
MRS. RUTH E BONHAM 1984-85
MRS. HARRIET PERCIVAL 1985-86
MRS. RUTH BONHAM 1986-88
MRS. WILMA MARSCH 1988-90
MRS. JUDY KNUDSTRUP 1990-92
MRS. CATHERINE LEWIS 1992-94
MRS. ROSE VICKERS 1994-96
MRS. BEATRICE INNES 1996-98
MRS. JACKIE MCKINZIE 1998-00
MRS. CONNIE DOUGLAS 2000-02
MRS. BETH RICHARDSON 2002-04
MRS. JANET ORR 2004-06
MRS. KELLY HELM 2006-07
MRS. JOANNA TRULL  2007-08

Interested in joining our club? 

Please call:

Membership Chairman:
Clara @ 941-727-7416
claramparker@hotmail.com 

House Coordinator:
For Rentals: Janet Orr @ 941-773-0177
janetaorr@yahoo.com

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WHAT DO WE DO?

The philanthropic projects include Bradenton Library, The Children’s Academy of Southwest Florida, Inc, Habitat for Humanity, Manatee Boys and Girls Club, HOPE Services, Council on Aging, Adopt a Family, Special Olympics, Manatee County Nursery Schools, Children’s Home Society of Florida, Adopt a Highway, Meals on Wheels and a variety of Assisted Living Homes.

For the past three years, the membership has been actively involved in repairs and renovations to the Clubhouse with the goal of returning it to its original condition.

In addition to our Fundraising projects the building is available for rent for wedding receptions, Birthday parties, Anniversary parties, or any special event, during our monthly dance fundraiser. For more rental information contact the House Chair listed above.

 

The Bradenton Woman’s Club is a non-profit volunteer organization for the betterment of the educational, moral and civic condition of the community that has served Bradenton since 1913. 

We receive no funding other than our own fund-raisers.

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Mission Statement

The General Federation of Women's Clubs is an international organization dedicated to community improvement through volunteer service and to providing opportunities that strengthen the role of women.

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CLUB MOTTO:

“BE NOT SIMPLY GOOD,

BE GOOD FOR SOMETHING”

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A  COLLECT  FOR CLUB  WOMEN
By:  Mary Stewart
April 1904

KEEP US, O GOD FROM PETTINESS;
LET US BE LARGE IN THOUGHT, IN WORD, IN DEED

LET US BE DONE WITH FAULT-FINDING
AND LEAVE OFF SELF-SEEKING

MAY WE PUT AWAY ALL PRETENSE AND MEET EACH OTHER FACE TO FACE, WITHOUT SELF-PITY AND WITHOUT PREJUDICE.

MAY WE NEVER BE HASTY IN JUDGEMENT AND ALWAYS GENEROUS.

LET US TAKE TIME FOR ALL THINGS; MAKE US TO GROW CALM, SERENE, GENTLE.

TEACH US TO PUT INTO ACTION OUR BETTER IMPULSES, STRAIGHT-FORWARD AND UNAFRAID.

GRANT THAT WE MAY REALIZE IT IS THE LITTLE THINGS THAT CREATE DIFFERENCES, THAT IN THE
BIG THINGS OF LIFE WE ARE AS ONE.

AND MAY WE STRIVE TO TOUCH AND TO KNOW THE GREAT COMMON HUMAN HEART OF US ALL.

AND, O LORD GOD,  LET US NOT FORGET  TO BE KIND

 

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Bradenton Woman’s Club
1705 Manatee Avenue West
Bradenton, Florida 34205
(941) 747-6222