The Woman’s Club of Whittier, an organization dedicated to community betterment, has a rich history rooted in the early days of Whittier. It began as a means for women to connect, offer support, and contribute to the community. The club, which formed when Whittier was a Quaker town, later focused on various philanthropic endeavors, including supporting World War I efforts, establishing a library, and contributing to post-war relief efforts. 

Here’s a more detailed look at the club’s history:

• Early Days:

The Woman’s Club of Whittier was established to provide a space for women to connect and offer mutual support, particularly as Whittier was developing. 

• Community Focus:

The club’s early activities included establishing the city’s first library with 89 books in 1913 and actively participating in the community’s response to World War I. 

• Philanthropic Efforts:

During World War I, the club actively raised funds for Liberty Bonds and to help build a clubhouse. 

• Post-War Contributions:

The club continued its philanthropic work after the war, contributing to post-war relief efforts in places like Korea and Greece. 

• Later Focus:

The club’s activities in later years included supporting automotive safety and recognizing American history, including donations to restore Independence Hall in Philadelphia. 

• Clubhouse Construction:

By 1926, the club had raised enough money to begin construction on their own clubhouse, which was completed and dedicated in September of that year. 

• Decline and Dissolution:

Despite its long history and contributions, the Woman’s Club of Whittier eventually disbanded due to declining membership after 105 years of service. 

The original Woman’s Club of Whittier met at their 1931 building on the southeast corner of Friends Avenue and Bailey Street in Uptown Whittier. This building was damaged in the 1987 Whittier Narrows Earthquake. The building was sold to the Rio Hondo Chapter of the American Red Cross and the monies distributed to different charities in the community.

Whittier Daily News article from November 9, 2008.

By DAILYBREEZE | [email protected]

PUBLISHED: November 9, 2008 at 12:00 a.m. | UPDATED: September 6, 2017 at 10:50 a.m.

WHITTIER – It’s the end of a century of giving.  After 105 years of service, the Woman’s Club of Whittier has disbanded because of declining membership.  There typically were about 25 active members in the club’s later years, but only about 15 to 20 remained at the end, said Eileen Tracy, former acting president of the club.  “We couldn’t fill a bus,” Tracy said.  Most of the current members ranged in age from 80 to 90 years old and had been at the club for years. The last year a new member joined was 1995, Tracy said.  “It was pretty hard to get new members, because who wants to join a bunch of old ladies?” she added.

Hazel Shesgreen, former president and member since 1971, said their club lost many women because of their age.  “We lost eight in one year. It’s our age. There’s not much you can do about it,” Shesgreen said.  Tracy said the number of people involved in charity groups is dropping because nobody wants to do volunteer work.

Sandy Teel, 65, vice president of the Whittier Junior Woman’s Club, agreed.  “So many women are working now and have children to look after, that they don’t have the time and energy,” Teel said.  The Whittier Junior Woman’s Club is a similar group in the area that was formed in 1978. It started off with around 40 members but currently have about 16, Teel said.  She said the majority of their current members joined in the 1990 s, and perhaps one or two new members will join each year.  “We’re just kind of holding our own now,” Teel said.  The junior club will be losing its junior title soon as most members are 40 to 60 years old.  They now will be known as the Whittier Woman’s Club, a name members approved with the recently disbanded group.

The Woman’s Club of Whittier held monthly events like teas, weekend trips, dinners and luncheons. The club gave away $163,000 in total assets as of May 31.  The donations were handed out in smaller increments – from $1,000 to $4,000 – to groups like the YMCA and Salvation Army, with the exception of one large $100,000 donation to the Presbyterian Hospital Foundation.  The money for their previous annual giveaways, which usually came to about $20,000, came from the sale of the group’s original building to the Rio Hondo Chapter of the American Red Cross, according to Shesgreen.

The building, which was constructed in 1931, became too large for their needs in March 1982, and since then the women rented the First United Methodist Church of Whittier for meetings, Tracy said.

The group began back when Whittier was a Quaker town.  “These women needed something. This was their way of getting together and having a good time,” Tracy said.  Shesgreen said the Woman’s Club was the only club around at the time it started, but in the end many of its members were involved in other local service clubs as well.

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