Do you ever wonder about the portrait of the lovely woman that hangs in our dining room at the Peoria Women’s Club? An artist, author, and visionary, Ellen Galusha Smith was a founding member of the Peoria Women’s Club and one of its most dynamic early figures. Born in Lisbon, Illinois in 1849 to a family of prominent Vermont lineage—including two early governors—Ellen inherited a love of learning and a pioneering spirit.
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As we welcome March, we look ahead to National Poetry Month in April—a time to celebrate the power of words and the beauty of expression. President John F. Kennedy, in his remarks at Amherst College on October 26, 1963, honoring poet Robert Frost, eloquently captured the essence of poetry's role in our lives:
“When power leads men towards arrogance, poetry reminds him of his limitations. When power narrows the areas of man's concern, poetry reminds him of the richness and diversity of existence. When power corrupts, poetry cleanses.”
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On February 17, 1896, the Peoria Women’s Club received a unique business proposition from Gauss & Shurtleff, a well-established local grocery firm. The company sought exclusive rights to name a special tea blend after the club. In return, they promised to provide the club with free tea. After a brief discussion, a motion was passed granting them the right to name it "Peoria Women’s Club Tea," modifying the originally proposed name by dropping "House" and adding "Peoria."
We are excited to revive a cherished tradition from our early years for this year's Founder's Day celebration. In honor of the club’s 139th anniversary, we invite members to present thoughtful gifts to the club, just as our founding members did in 1896.
These contributions will help us celebrate our past and look forward to the future of the Peoria Women's Club. Following this announcement, you will find a registry of items requested by the Social Committee. We look forward to celebrating this special occasion together!
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Suffrage cookbooks blended culinary tradition with political strategy, offering women a platform to showcase their skills while advocating for their right to vote. Descendants of post-Civil War charity cookbooks, these publications aimed to raise funds for war victims and church-related initiatives.
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When the Peoria Women’s Club (PWC) was founded in 1886, it became a crucial platform for addressing issues like education, suffrage, and social reform. During this era, Spiritualism also surged, offering comfort and a unique public space for mourning. Séances and mediumship became popular as people sought solace.
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The Peoria Women’s Club (PWC) embarked on an ambitious quest to establish a permanent headquarters, with Lydia Moss Bradley playing a crucial role in bringing this vision to fruition.
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The Peoria Chapter NSDAR was founded on Flag Day in 1896, with Mary Rouse and Lucie Brotherson Tyng among its 16 charter members. Interestingly, Mary and Lucie helped found the PWC a decade earlier.
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Notably, a Shakespeare Class was founded under the Art and Literature department in 1888, preceding the establishment of the first Shakespeare Club in Avon, Illinois, by six years in 1894.
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