History of Business & Professional Women/USA
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The legacy of Business and Professional Women/USA began in 1919. Although the organization has transformed over time, the legacy and vision remain intact.
While mobilizing for World War I, the U.S. Government recognized the need for a cohesive group to coordinate identification of women's available skills and experience. A Women's War Council, financed through a federal grant, was established by the War Department to organize the resources of professional women. The National Federation of Business and Professional Women's Clubs was founded on July 15, 1919. Throughout the years, three major issues shaped BPW's legislative agenda: elimination of sex discrimination in employment, the principle of equal pay, and the need for a comprehensive equal rights amendment. |
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HISTORY OF TENNESSEE FEDERATION AND BPW/TN
In June 1919 approximately one hundred business and professional women met in the YWCA in Nashville, Tennessee, to stimulate interest in attendance at the organizational meeting in St. Louis, Missouri, for the purpose of establishing the National Federation of Business and Professional Women’s Clubs, Inc. Present from four clubs in Tennessee were Miss Florence Arp, Knoxville; Dr. Elise Rutledge, Memphis; Miss Mattie Lou Alford and Miss Fletcher Farris, Columbia; and Mrs. W.A. King of the Altrusa club of Nashville.
As an outgrowth of that meeting, Fletcher Farris of Columbia was elected delegate and Dr. Elise Rutledge of Memphis, alternate to represent Tennessee in St. Louis at the organizational meeting of the National Federation of Business and Professional Women’s Clubs, at Hotel Jefferson in St. Louis, July 14-17, 1919. In addition to Miss Farris and Dr. Rutledge, those attending from Tennessee were Miss Leora Fellate, Memphis; Mrs. W.A. King, Nashville; Miss Louise Neilson, Knoxville; and Miss Bertha Childs of Nashville. History reveals that Miss Childs was elected a vice-president of the national federation.
Early in 1920, Mrs. Ethel Crabtree of Chattanooga became interested in forming a state federation and had much correspondence with business women in Tennessee. By reason of the interest expressed, a call went out to all the business and professional women’s clubs in Tennessee (about twenty at that time) to convene in Chattanooga in July.
On the afternoon of July 3, 1920, a group of women representing seven business and professional women’s clubs of Tennessee met in the Hotel Patten, Chattanooga Tennessee, and agreed that a state federation should be formed. By seven o’clock that night the group was having dinner together at “The Hitching Post,” a rustic tearoom in Chickamauga Park, and the Tennessee Federation was an accomplished fact. The seven charter clubs of the Tennessee Federation were Chattanooga Business and Professional Women’s Club, Chattanooga Business Women, Columbia Business and Professional Women’s Club, Jackson Business and Professional Women’s Club, Knoxville Business and Professional Women’s Club, Memphis Business and Professional Women’s Club, and Business and Professional Women’s Club of Nashville.
During the years, in addition to Miss Bertha Childs, elected vice-president at the organizational meeting, Tennessee has given to the National Federation of Business and Professional Women’s Clubs, Inc., two outstanding national presidents, Miss Charl Ormond Williams and Miss Osta Underwood; two national treasurers, Mrs. Sara C. Bruce and Miss Wanda Carter (Bates); recording secretary and 2nd Vice President, Miss Ann Scott; an executive secretary, Miss Elinor Coonrod; a national parliamentarian, Miss Margaret Heath, who served longer than any other person in a national position; and a number of national committee chairs and members.
In 1921 the first convention of the Tennessee Federation was held in Nashville. In 1922 Tennessee entertained a highly successful national convention in Chattanooga. In July 1984 National Area 3, of which Tennessee was a member, hosted a dynamic national convention in Nashville.
The Tennessee Federation of Business and Professional Women’s Clubs, Inc., which became Business and Professional Women of Tennessee, Inc. (BPW/TN) on July I, 2009, has gained prestige and power for the business and professional women of Tennessee; has taken part in affairs affecting women, along with a long career of state and community usefulness, which completely justifies the vision and hopes of our great organization.
As an outgrowth of that meeting, Fletcher Farris of Columbia was elected delegate and Dr. Elise Rutledge of Memphis, alternate to represent Tennessee in St. Louis at the organizational meeting of the National Federation of Business and Professional Women’s Clubs, at Hotel Jefferson in St. Louis, July 14-17, 1919. In addition to Miss Farris and Dr. Rutledge, those attending from Tennessee were Miss Leora Fellate, Memphis; Mrs. W.A. King, Nashville; Miss Louise Neilson, Knoxville; and Miss Bertha Childs of Nashville. History reveals that Miss Childs was elected a vice-president of the national federation.
Early in 1920, Mrs. Ethel Crabtree of Chattanooga became interested in forming a state federation and had much correspondence with business women in Tennessee. By reason of the interest expressed, a call went out to all the business and professional women’s clubs in Tennessee (about twenty at that time) to convene in Chattanooga in July.
On the afternoon of July 3, 1920, a group of women representing seven business and professional women’s clubs of Tennessee met in the Hotel Patten, Chattanooga Tennessee, and agreed that a state federation should be formed. By seven o’clock that night the group was having dinner together at “The Hitching Post,” a rustic tearoom in Chickamauga Park, and the Tennessee Federation was an accomplished fact. The seven charter clubs of the Tennessee Federation were Chattanooga Business and Professional Women’s Club, Chattanooga Business Women, Columbia Business and Professional Women’s Club, Jackson Business and Professional Women’s Club, Knoxville Business and Professional Women’s Club, Memphis Business and Professional Women’s Club, and Business and Professional Women’s Club of Nashville.
During the years, in addition to Miss Bertha Childs, elected vice-president at the organizational meeting, Tennessee has given to the National Federation of Business and Professional Women’s Clubs, Inc., two outstanding national presidents, Miss Charl Ormond Williams and Miss Osta Underwood; two national treasurers, Mrs. Sara C. Bruce and Miss Wanda Carter (Bates); recording secretary and 2nd Vice President, Miss Ann Scott; an executive secretary, Miss Elinor Coonrod; a national parliamentarian, Miss Margaret Heath, who served longer than any other person in a national position; and a number of national committee chairs and members.
In 1921 the first convention of the Tennessee Federation was held in Nashville. In 1922 Tennessee entertained a highly successful national convention in Chattanooga. In July 1984 National Area 3, of which Tennessee was a member, hosted a dynamic national convention in Nashville.
The Tennessee Federation of Business and Professional Women’s Clubs, Inc., which became Business and Professional Women of Tennessee, Inc. (BPW/TN) on July I, 2009, has gained prestige and power for the business and professional women of Tennessee; has taken part in affairs affecting women, along with a long career of state and community usefulness, which completely justifies the vision and hopes of our great organization.
