HISTORIC HIGHLIGHTS

Did you know? Since 1893, The Woman's Club of Houston has donated hundreds of thousands of dollars and countless hours to help Houston's women and children, from education and literacy efforts to helping improve the health of our community. Our first scholarship was established at the University of Houston in 1944, and we continue to award scholarships to students in their final years of college. We trained Houston's first kindergarten teachers after opening the first free kindergarten. Today, we enjoy our partnerships with some of the same institutions we helped found, such as the Houston Public Library. For more interesting facts about our Club, scroll down.

---

In 1992, Mayor Bob Lanier and the Houston City Council recognized the many accomplishments of The Woman's Club of Houston with a Resolution.

---

The Woman's Club of Houston has enjoyed a long history with the Houston Public Library, and in 2016 celebrated our 117-year partnership with a luncheon in the Meldrum Room of HPL's Julia Ideson Building.


​
​





​Mr. Carnegie acts on The Woman's Club of Houston's request to create a public library in Houston.  (October, 1899)

---

Houston Chronicle did not get our name right in this article, but we all know it was The Woman's Club of Houston that encouraged Andrew Carnegie

Reen Catanzaro delivers children's books and Teddy bears to CMHH following a successful Very Beary fundraiser

Did you know​? In 1963, our Club trained 275 young women to care for children with cerebral palsy. This project led to the founding of the Houston Chapter of the United Cerebral Palsy Association. Our Club has either participated in or originated many good projects in Houston, and we are continuing that tradition today. ​

Below are various plaques awarded to The Woman's Club of Houston recognizing our commitment to Houston's women and children.

Thanks for Making Miracles Happen The Woman's Club of Houston Memorial Hermann Children's Hospital 2001 Children's Miracle Network

Did you know? The Woman's Club of Houston helped organize Friends of the Public Library in 1945. That organization has since become independent, and flourishes to this day.

THE WOMAN'S CLUB OF HOUSTON "Your Love and Concern for Children is Truly Appreciated" Child Advocates, Inc. 1991

Did you know? In 1902, the Woman's Club started the first free kindergarten in a lean-to shed in the Second Ward. Later, the Club leased a lot on Gable Street and erected a one-room school at no cost. In 1904, a second kindergarten was added. In 1951, the Houston Board of Education authorized tuition-free kindergarten as the first level in the regular curriculum.

Did you know? The Club was responsible for the Battleship Texas​ being permanently grounded near the San Jacinto Battlegrounds in 1946.

Below are excerpts from "The 100-year history of The Woman's Club of Houston," a book by Jewel Boone Hamilton Gunter
Phyllis Owens, Research Assistant

We started the first free public kindergarten in Houston!