Anna-Jonesboro Women’s Club celebrating centennial in 2012

Some years ago two boxes were found in a closet at Stinson Memorial Library in Anna.

They were given to Anna-Jonesboro Women’s Club and to the delight of members, many years of old club records were discovered.

There were copies of many yearbooks dating back to the club’s beginning in 1912 as well as earlier items. 

It is believed that the literature and records were the personal file of former club historian and community volunteer, Mrs. J.A.(Blanche) Worthington (1860-1936).

The books, when combined with collections maintained by later presidents, documented almost all the years of the club. 

In the rescued collection were two treasurer-secretary books that revealed clues to several of the club’s early projects and volunteer service work in the community.

Information indicates that the Lilac Club of Domestic Science (and later, Domestic Arts), and the Jonesboro Matron’s Club were forerunners of the Anna, and eventually, the Anna-Jonesboro Women’s Club.

In 1904, Mrs. George Hess founded the Domestic Science Association as a counterpart to her husband’s Fruit Growers’ Association. 

Yearbooks state the club’s objectives were to promote the interests of the home by a careful study of foods, needs of the body, sanitation and disease, good housekeeping, instruction of the young.

At some time the club took on the Lilac Club name (because there were lilacs on the table of the executive committee). 

In those early years the club cooperated frequently with the Cobden Rose Maple Club that later became the Cobden Women’s Club.

The Woman’s Club of Anna was organized in 1912 by Mrs. George Hess with the motto “Ready In Spirit and Resources.” 

The initiation fee was $2.  Early programs included “English History through Norman conquest:, The Crusades, Chaucer, Reformation of England, Elizabeth’s Reign, and Shakespeare.” (Program chairman was Mrs. Kirkpatrick.)

In 1918, many Woman’s Club members participated in an ”Historical Anniversary Pageant: Anna, Illinois” that was presented by the Anna Amusement Company. 

The 100th anniversary was in honor of Illinois statehood and the founding of Union County.

Also in 1918, an Illinois Federation of Women’s Clubs directory lists both the Lilac Club of Domestic Art (30 members) and the Anna Women’s Club (54 members) as registered in the 25th district.

In 1919 standing committees were entertainment, press, program, art, charities, civics, drama, literature, music and parliamentary law. 

Programs featured American women artists, musicians, preachers, present day women, education of women, novelists and writers. Annual dues were $1 and membership fee was $2.

Fund-raising projects in the 1920s and 1930s were interesting, as was how monies were spent by the club. 

There were a few dollars for the school nurse’s fund, or there were small donations of money to the lunch and milk fund at local schools. Recorded are funds for a family whose home burned or for children who needed shoes.

It is fascinating to read subjects of past club programs. They range from highly cultural and entertaining to educational and service related themes.

The 1928 minutes tell some of the community projects of the club.

Members wrote letters to councils and commissions to lobby for improvements to the city. It was thought that the utility lines impaired the beauty of Anna’s Main Street and that they should be moved. 

Another issue was the danger related to numerous streets that were crossed by the busy railroad passing through town. 

In the early 1930s the Women’s Club lobbied for an underpass where the railroad crosses Main Street.  Neither of those issues has been accomplished to date, (2012).

However, the club was successful in getting “livestock pens banned from the city limits.”

Documented in the secretary’s book of 1928 is a record of $2 rent collected on the “bird bath mold.”

As a Women’s Club fund raiser, metal molds were purchased, and then rented out to citizens of the community to make their own concrete bird baths as adornments to gardens and lawns. 

Oral history relates that the metal molds were, at some time, recycled as wartime materials. Monies raised were used to fund service projects.

There is an on-going effort to find and document all the surviving concrete bird baths in the community that were made from the Women’s Club mold.

In the 1930s there was an Anna Junior Women’s Club.  The aims of the Junior Club were” Study, Service, Sociability.” Objectives were to help the underprivileged and cooperate with the senior club. There were 61 members.

In 1932, the General Federation of Women’s Clubs celebrated a George Washington anniversary with a national recognition. 

Locally, the club purchased, installed and dedicated a stone monument in then Hindman Park in east Anna. 

In 1999, the A-J club had the damaged and faded stone repaired and restored by a monument company and hosted a rededication ceremony.

In the 1940s, the clubs supported the war effort and continued to be activists for community and family welfare. 

The club supported the American Red Cross and promoted conservation efforts. The club has always maintained a department or focus area in support of veterans affairs.

In the 1950s the club notes support to education and civic affairs. It contributed to youth development and sponsored local girl Barbara Bauer as an exchange student to Turkey with the 4-H club program.

Funding the Bald Knob Cross of Peace was a focus project on a national level of the General Federation of Women’s Clubs in the late 1950s.

The 50th anniversary of the club was celebrated in 1962 and about that time a cookbook was published. (The books are rare now, 50 years later.)

The yearbooks of the 1960s state: “The object of this club shall be mutual help, intellectual improvement, and united effort for the welfare of the community.” 

Programs and projects focused on mental health, art, music, the American home, international relations and literature.

Records from the 1970s report support of the library, student workshops, donations to hospital auxiliary and an interest in hobbies and crafts. 

There were gifts to Anna State Hospital patients at Christmas and donations to Shawnee National Forest conservation projects.

In the 1980s many of the former programs and service projects were continued. 

In 1983, “Roses and a hemlock tree were planted in the park at 146 and 51.” 

Health and concerns of aging were among the program subjects as was consumer education, book reviews, and the blood donor network. 

Support was given to the veterans home at Marion and to the local United Fund.

The centennial year of the General Federation of Women’s Clubs was 1994-1995, since the national organization was federated in 1894. 

Therefore, many of that year’s activities noted that anniversary. A motto for the 1990s was “Federation Hugs Your Heart.” 

Local activities included the rededication of the Washington memorial in Hindman Park. In the 1990s, the A-J Women’s Club was sponsor of local holiday open houses and helped to collect history of families and properties.

In the year 2000 a district motto was “21st Century: Action and Vision.” The A-J club adopted the motto: “The work of the world is done by few. God asks that part be done by you.” 

A new special emphasis was “A Safe Place for Every Child” and an effort toward prevention of domestic violence. 

The A-J club adopted a project to challenge a local 4-H club to collect more pounds of cardboard, as a part of their conservation program to reduce, reuse and recycle resources. 

The “loser” bought ice cream for the “winner.” Of course, the 4-H club won the contest. All members are now more conscious of the need to recycle, as the “fun” project is remembered.

In 2004, during Anna’s 150th anniversary celebration, the club sponsored a flag design contest and an essay contest. Winners were recognized and invited to ride in the celebration parade.

In the centennial year of the organization of Anna-Jonesboro Women’s Club, 2012, the club continues to foster fellowship of members, to promote arts and music, to encourage conservation and good health practices and to support education and local school programs. 

The club has a focus on international affairs, veterans’ affairs, native American affairs and on home life, business and finance.

Club members are committed to devotion to God, patriotism to country, and service to community.  

100th Anniversary Tea

The Anna-Jonesboro Women’s Club will mark its 100th anniversary with a Celebration Tea on Monday, April 2, at the United Methodist Church in Anna from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m.  The public is invited to attend and help celebrate the occasion.