Sorosis was the first professional women's club in the United States. It was established in March 1868 in New York City by Jane Cunningham Croly.
Sorosis was the first professional women's club in the United States. It was established in March 1868 in New York City by Jane Cunningham Croly.
Sorosis is a latinate word meaning 'aggregation' (from the Greek sōros, meaning ‘heap’). Its object was to further the educational and social activities of women by bringing representative women of accomplishment in art, literature, science, and kindred pursuits. The club's name, Sorosis, would be founded by Jane Croly through searching countless of dictionaries. [1] Jane was fond of "its full, appropriate signification, its unhackneyed character and sweet sound". [1] Briefly, Kate Field, one of the 14 beginning charter members, would change the club's name from Sorosis to the "Women's League", but after much consideration and a second ballot, Sorosis would be restored to become the club's final name. [1] As a result, Kate Field and others would withdraw themselves from the club. [1] The meeting would conclude with Alice Cary presenting her inaugural address. [1] The following week, Alice would resign from presidency due to the strain the disputes caused on her health. [1]
In March 1868, a group of women were denied the ability to purchase a ticket to attend the all-male New York Press Club hosted dinner for author Charles Dickens at Delmonico's. [2] In response to being excluded by the New York Press Club, Sorosis was organized. [2] On April 20, 1868, Sorosis hosted its first lunch meeting at the same restaurant. [2] They extended an invite to Dickens, but he declined to attend. [2] At the meeting, the 14 charter members of Sorosis were Alice Cary, Jane "Jennie" C. Croly, Kate Field, Phoebe Cary, Ella Clymer, Celia M. Burleigh, Josephine Pollard, Ellen Louise Demorest, Charlotte B. Wilbour, Anne Botta, "Fanny Fern" Parton, Henry M. Field, Lucy Gibbons, and James T. Field. [3] In January of 1869, Sorosis would become incorporated meaning it became a legal institution. [4] Within one year, Sorosis had 83 members. [4] Along with Boston's New England Woman's Club (also founded in 1868), Sorosis inspired the formation of women's clubs across the country. [4]
The Sorosis ... was organized ... to promote "mental activity and pleasant social intercourse," and in spite of a severe fire of hostile criticism and misrepresentation, it has evinced a sturdy vitality, and really demonstrated its right to exist by a large amount of beneficent work. ... These ladies pledged themselves to work for the release of women from the disabilities which debar them from a due participation in the rewards of industrial and professional labour ... I believe it has been the stepping-stone to useful public careers, and the source of inspiration to many ladies.
Early members of Sorosis were participants in varied professions and political reform movements such as abolitionism, suffrage, prison reform, temperance and peace. Sorosis expanded into local chapters beyond New York City in the early twentieth century and the various chapters went on to organize war relief efforts during both World Wars. Peacetime activities included philanthropy (such as support for funding the MacDowell Colony), scholarship funds, and social reforms (such as literary training for immigrant women). In later years, Sorosis focused its activities on local projects, raising money for the aid of other women's clubs, funding scholarships for women, and aiding local rescue missions. [4]
In 1890, Sorosis invited other women's clubs to attend a ratification convention in New York City. [6] Sixty-three clubs were in attendance and formed the General Federation of Women's Clubs. [7] Together, these women's clubs would push for social and political reform on the local, state, and national level. [6]
The University of Texas at San Antonio houses a collection of records for the San Antonio chapter of Sorosis. The collection spans the years 1923 through 1991 and provides information about the club's members and activities primarily through minutes, photographs, scrapbooks and yearbooks. [4]
Each month, with the exception of a summer recess, Sorosis hosted symposiums on the following topics: literature, science, philosophy, art, drama, and education. [8] Members of Sorosis formed committees that conducted work and research on the various symposium topics. [8] Each committee was granted one day each year to present their work. [8] The club also hosted business meetings two weeks after each monthly symposium. [8]
The viewpoints of Sorosis leaned more conservative than other women's groups of the time. [9] Though many of its members were suffragists, the group did not actively work towards the advancement of women's suffrage. [10] Sorosis was known to support abolition movements, [9] temperance, [10] women's education, [9] dress reform, [11] and rights for working women. [9] In general, Sorosis accepted traditional ideas about the differences in sexes. [12] This included the idea that men and women have naturally different temperaments, and that men are less spiritually pure than women. [12] They also held the viewpoint that serving others was more important than acting in self-interest for women. [12] Sorosis and other women's clubs believed that it was these inherent gender differences, such as women's naurally higher morality and nurturing tendencies, that made it so women should take active roles in reform and bettering society. [12]
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