Women's Auxiliaries

There are several excellent accounts of the attitude of early Rotary to the idea of women becoming Rotarians or perhaps more usually starting Rotary Clubs exclusively for women. In David Forward's excellent book 'A Century of Service' , there is a full account of this, under the heading of 'Women's Auxiliaries'.

When Rotary was created, it was considered essentially a male preserve, and the Board of what was then the National Association of Rotary Clubs, vigorously opposed any attempt to change this. This remained the official attitude until the last quarter of the 20th century. In Minnesota and possibly elsewhere, clubs were formed in 1911 and 1912 called 'The Women's Rotary Club of Minneapolis' and of Duluth based on the ideals and organisation of Rotary. The clubs were composed of business women, one woman from each line of business making up the membership and thus echoing the set up in Rotary.. The object of the clubs were to promote sociability among the business women and to work for business advantages." The National Rotarian 11, no.1 (November 1911): Interestingly, the foundation of these clubs was contemporary with those of the men's clubs.

The ' Minneapolis Journal' in 1911 reported that "Dr. Gertrude Stanton was elected President of the Minneapolis Women 's Rotary Club at the meeting of the club yesterday at the West Hotel. The club was organized last spring and has continued to meet during the summer."

As David Forward writes "A year later, Ida Buell of Duluth, Minnesota, was granted permission to address the 1912 Rotary Convention. She told the delegates about the women's Rotary Club of Duluth and asked Rotarians for support in establishing similar clubs in other cities. Although 'The Rotarian' described Buell as "an interesting and entertaining speaker,"the delegates took no action on her request.

By the end of the war, there were several "women's Rotary clubs" in existence and they were supported by many influential members within what had by than become the International Association of Rotary Clubs. Some highly placed support for them within the International Association, the opponents won the day every time the matter came to the RI Board of Directors. In his Weekly Letter to club officers, the General Secretary, Ches Perry reported:

"In December 1918, the Board agreed it did not favour the establishment of organizations of women similar to Rotary and that Rotarians should discourage such organizations from using the name Rotary or Rotarians."

From Chesley Perry's, article called "Women's Clubs Similar to Rotary," in 'The Weekly Letter', January 20 1919,

For further work on Duluth, please see the article submitted by Geri Appel on 'Looking back in history'.

We acknowledge the work of David Forward, of archivist Francine Keyes at R.I. Evanston, of Peter Bagley of Duluth RC in compiling this article and of Rachael E. Martin, Duluth Club historian. Any errors in the above are the work of the editor Basil Lewis.