The history of
the Rotary Club of Philadelphia starts in Chicago. Much of the material
compiled by History Committees of this club, down thought he years, comes
from the writings of Guy Gundaker, a distinguished president of RC of
Philadelphia. Gundaker was also president of Rotary International in
1923 (convention page).
President's home page
President's obituary,
from the November 1960 issue of
The Rotarian,
by PRIP Everett W. Hill, 1924-25
From "Rotary," a publication of the University of Chicago in 1934 comes:
"Paul
P. Harris occupies an almost unique position among leaders of men, in that
the movement which he initiated in the city of Chicago in 1905 has, within
his own life-time, become a world wide force of impressive scope and power.
The seeds of the Rotary idea germinated in the mind of Paul Harris for
several years before he took any action looking toward the establishment of
an organization.
"In
looking back on these years, he has declared that 'he conceived of a group
of business men banded together socially; then he thought there would be an
especial advantage in each member's having exclusive representation of this
particular trade of profession. The members would be mutually helpful. He
resolved to organize such a club.'
Five years after the founding of Rotary, in 1910, there were five bachelors
living together in Philadelphia. One of them, W. Warren Shaw, music
instructor, had been a classmate of Paul Harris at the University of
Vermont.
That was the reason for the start of Philadelphia and on 30 April 1911 the
club joined the family of Rotary Clubs, soon to be known as Rotary
International.
Soon the very active Philadelphia members had founded Harrisburg, PA;
Washington, DC; Baltimore, and Camden, NJ.
In 1912, the
International Convention at Duluth had elected Philadelphia Rotarian
Glenn Mead as the first president of the "International" organization.
Philadelphia, the 19th Rotary Club now had Rotary's second president among
its ranks.
Mead's 1913 convention was in Buffalo, NY
President Mead's home page
Also, please read Mead's article
"Service Begins at Home"
Rotary's founder, Paul Harris served as president of the "National
Association of Rotary Clubs," from 1910-1912 and with the term of President
Mead, became "President Emeritus" until his death in 1947.
Glenn Mead and Guy Gundaker and others campaigned relentlessly to elevate
Rotary's "objects and purposes" and gradually became successful fin leading
Rotary to become the unselfish and respected institution that has led to its
present enviable status worldwide.
Tribute to Glenn Mead
by Guy Gundaker
The passing
of Britain's Queen Alexandra was observed by
Rotary world wide, and in 1926 this autographed portrait of the Queen
was presented to Rotary Club of Philadelphia by Rotary Club of London.
Collection of
Dr. Wolfgang Ziegler
22-26
June 1914 and 1,288 Rotarians make the long journey to
