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New York Journalist Jane Croly created the first syndicated woman’s column under the pen name Jenny June. Her career included managing the Worlds woman’s department for ten years, chief staff writer for Mme. Demorset’s Mirror of Fashions 1862-1872. Her dedication to the rights of women was predicated on the assumption of responsibility for self-betterment and productive effort by women. When the New York Press Club denied women journalists admission to a dinner honoring Charles Dickens, Jane Croly believed it was time women had their own clubs.

Her original club, SOROSIS* founded in 1868 became the stimulus for the strong club movement across the country. The programs for clubs reflect the entry of 19th century women into the public sphere addressing issues of education and social welfare. Many town libraries later supported by taxes were started by women’s clubs. Out of this club movement grew the Federation of Women’s Clubs, the Association for the Advancement of Women and the Women’s Press Club. The footstone at her grave in Evergreen Cemetery, Lakewood New Jersey was provided by the GFWC Junior Past President’s Club. It quotes Jane Croly: "I HAVE NEVER DONE ANYTHING THAT WAS NOT HELPFUL TO WOMEN SO FAR AS IT LAY IN MY POWER."

*Note:  Phebe Hanaford was vice-president of several woman’s clubs including Sorosis, Association for the Advancement of Women (Archives at Sophia Smith Collection, Smith College Northhampton, Mass.) and was President of the Woman’s Press Club. (Archives at Butler Library, Columbia University, New York City) Women assembled in the 19th century in reaction to the exclusionary practices of Victorian Society. Beginning in 1868 club women dined in restaurants and met to engage in social, intellectual and political cooperation. In 1897, Rev. Hanaford was President of the Society for Political Study founded for" the purpose of obtaining an understanding of the Government in all its forms." (New York Times December 5, 1897.) The eleven club pins she wore with pride were donated to the Nantucket Historical Association upon her death.

To read a newspaper article written by Loretta Cody about Jane Croly, please Click Here.

Further Study

Blair, Karen. The Clubwoman as Feminist: True Womanhood Redefined, 1868-1914.

MacDonald, Anne L. Feminist Ingenuity: How Women Inventors Changed America.

A Century of Challenge, New Jersey State Federation of Women’s Clubs.

© 1999 Loretta Cody
All Rights Reserved