Athens Woman's Club records

Formally organized in January of 1899, the Athens Woman's Club met monthly with Mary Ann Rutherford Lipscomb presiding. The group initially worked with the General Federation of Women's Clubs in encouraging rural committees to build model schools for children. Tallulah Falls School, opened in 1905, is one such school that the Athens Woman's Club helped establish. The club awarded scholarships and raised funds for various causes. A headquarters location was secured at 248 Prince Avenue in Athens, Georgia, which became known as the Joseph Henry Lumpkin House. The Athens Woman’s Club Cookbook, published by the organization in 1922, helped to finance the purchase of the headquarters. Other projects undertaken by the group included the Child Health Demonstration in 1925 to teach preventive measures in health education and dentistry; the establishment of kindergartens; setting up curb markets to promote the sale of local produce; the establishment of the Athens Public Library, predecessor to the Athens Regional Library System; organizing cancer education programs with the American Cancer Society; and publicity and fundraising efforts for the American Red Cross.