(Kensington has the distinction of being home to two longstanding
women's organizations that bring community members together for friendship,
learning, and community service. In past newsletters, we featured one
of these clubs, the Woman's Community Club of Kensington. In this issue,
we are pleased to share some of the history of the club that is now in
its second century and, even more remarkably, is Montgomery County's first
women's club. On the Community Activities page of Gary Ditto's Web site,
you'll find more, as well as photos of beautiful quilts created by club
members.)
In October 1999, celebration and memories filled the Kensington
Community Center as members and friends of the Woman's Club of Kensington
honored the organization's first 100 years. On display were a spectacular
quilt commemorating women's history and accomplishments in Maryland, as
well as photos and writings recalling the many people and service activities
of Montgomery County's first women's club.
Known to many as "the little club," the Woman's
Club of Kensington is also the second oldest women's club in Maryland.
Both the "little club" and the newer organization are part of
the Maryland Federation of Woman's Clubs.
A charming history by Anna H. Farrell and Marion M. Corddry
opens with Marion's comment that "It is quite remarkable that a little
band of Victorian ladies could carry their influence from the end of the
19th century to the end of the 20th. But it has happened, and the annually-elected
historians duly recorded years when not much happened as well as when
great events occurred."
"The Kensington club has been shaped but not hemmed
in by the founders' ideals and organization," she continues. "On
the contrary, what was established for us was a set of enlightened guidelines.
While meetings have become more informal, club purposes remain steadfast
and the term 'mutual improvement' recurs..." The 100th Anniversary
Program tells the story as follows:
"On October 20, 1899, a handful of Victorian ladies
gathered in Kensington to plan a mutual improvement organization for women.
Membership was limited to 30, a manageable number for meeting
in homes. Having obtained their husbands' permission to join, this band
of activists set out to learn about their world, to improve their community,
and to possibly even vote in real elections."
