Houston Heights Woman's Club

The Houston Heights Woman's Club was organized in 1900 to support any literary and scientific undertaking; the maintenance of a library; and the promotion of painting, music and other fine arts. When founding members of the Club adopted a Constitution and By-Laws in 1905, they included to "aid and encourage charitable and educational interests of Houston Heights" as an important part of the Club's purpose.

Houston Heights Woman's Club
The building's exterior in 2016
Location1846 Harvard St., Houston, Texas
Coordinates29°48′13″N 95°23′47″W
MPSHouston Heights MRA
NRHP reference No.83004463[1]
RTHL No.16745
Significant dates
Added to NRHPJune 22, 1983
Designated RTHL2011

The original group, now known as the Houston Heights Woman's Club-Heritage Group, is still strong after 100 years. Generations of these friendly and community-oriented women have contributed to the history of the Heights and greater Houston since 1900, and served in the forefront of Women's issues since. They gather regularly for meetings and potluck luncheons, and enjoy various other activities throughout the year including community service projects, charitable fundraisers, outings, and social events.

In 2007 the Houston Heights Woman's Club-Evening Group was founded.

History
Signage above the door

The Houston Heights Woman's Club (HHWC) is a registered 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization established to preserve the historical integrity of the Club and its clubhouse, and provide social and charitable opportunities for its members.

The Houston Heights Woman's Club was founded in 1900, part of the larger women's club movement across the country. What began as the Houston Heights Literary Club soon outgrew the parlors of its members. In 1912, the Clubhouse at 1846 Harvard became the official home of the Houston Heights Woman's Club. This Club would become part of the very fabric of the Heights neighborhood. Through volunteerism and social activities, generations of members have kept the legacy of the HHWC alive.

Today, this Club is growing while others have stalled. This is due in part to the strong bond Heights area residents feel to the neighborhood and its history. It can also be credited to the forward-thinking nature of the women who have helped the HHWC for the last century.

PresidentYear
Mrs. D.D. Cooley1911–12
Mrs. W.A. Renn1912–14
Miss Ella McKinney1914–15
Mrs. A.B. Sealdon1915–18
Mrs. J.S. Purdy1918–20
Mrs. B.F. Coop1920–22
Mrs. C.A. McKinney1924–26
Mrs. John Rose1926–28
Mrs. O.F. Gordon1928–30
Mrs. W.J. Roland1930–32
Mrs. W.B. Welling1932–35
Mrs. H.L. Phillips1935–37
Mrs. T.B. Reed1937–39
Mrs. C.H. Wilson1939–41
Mrs. Frank Clappart1941–43

Club Collect

By Mary Stewart, 1904*

Keep us O God from pettiness; Let us be large in thought, in word and in deed. Let us be done with fault finding And leave off self-seeking. May we put away all pretenses and meet each face To face, without self-pity and without prejudice. May we never be hasty in judgment And always be generous. Let us take time for all things; Teach us to put into action our better impulses, Straightforward and unafraid. Grant that we may realize that it is the little things that Create differences, That in the big things of life we are as one. And, may we strive to touch and to know the great, Common woman's heart of us all, And, O Lord God, let us not forget to be kind.

  • Written in 1904 by Mary Stewart, then a school principal. Mary said of her poem, "It was written as a prayer for the day. I called a 'Collect For Club Women' because I felt that women working together with wide interests for large ends was a new thing under the sun, and that perhaps they had a need for special petition and mediation of their own." Like many women's organizations across the country, we believe so strongly in Mary's message that we recite her poem at the start of every meeting.

Membership

The annual fee for being a member of the club is one-hundred dollars in cash/check or online payment for one-hundred and three dollars. There is no requirement to be a woman or a member of the Heights community, but the majority of the members are female and live in the Heights community and many events and activities are aimed towards women of the community.[2]

Achievements
AchievementYearDescription
Work With the Red CrossWorld War IThe HHWC worked with the Red Cross to help during the World War I by taking in soldiers and creating bandages to send to the troops
Creation of The Houston Heights High School Library1905This Achievement helped to raise funds and build the new library for the community.
Donation to the Houston Public Library on Heights Boulevard1926The woman of the club raised money and books for the new library that had opened in the Heights neighborhood.
Assistance in the Creation of the Houston Public Library outdoor reading area [3]1939The woman of the club got back to what they thought was most powerful, literature. They decided to help the new library build a reading area outside.
Assistance to the Red CrossWorld War II (1943- 1944)A large group of 2,669 people (members and community volunteers) worked tirelessly to provide 1,176,699 surgical bandages to the wounded soldiers during the second World War.
Created the Women's Studies Library Initiative [4]PresentThe campaign is worked on in multiple libraries throughout the Heights and includes a collection of books of Women's studies.
Helped Reagan High School Prom2012The HHWC helped Regan high school students in need. Many of the Kids could not afford what they needed to go to their Senior prom, the HHWC helped out by collecting and giving out dresses, tuxedos, accessories, and more.
School Uniform Drive [5]PresentSchools such as Hogg Middle School, Browning Elementary, Hamilton Middle School, Reagan High School, Field Elementary, Love Elementary, Harvard Elementary, Helms Elementary are being asked to help bring in new or slightly worn uniforms, these collections will benefit the needy students at the participating Heights schools.
Star of Hope Toiletry Bags [6]PresentThe women in the Houston Heights Woman's Club have been creating toiletry bags containing things like toothpaste, soap, etc. All the toiletry bags created by the women of the club go to the impoverished woman and the Houston Star of Hope Organization.

See also

References
  1. "National Register Information System". National Register of Historic Places. National Park Service. July 9, 2010.
  2. "Houston Heights Woman's Club Membership". Houston Heights Woman's Club. Retrieved 20 January 2016.
  3. "Houston History Magazine Houston Heights Woman's Club" (PDF). Houston History Magazine. Retrieved 20 February 2016.
  4. "Houston Heights Woman's Club". Houston Heights Woman's Club. Retrieved 9 February 2016.
  5. "Houston Heights Woman's Club School Uniform Drive". Houston Heights Woman's Club. Retrieved 10 February 2016.
  6. "Houston Heights Woman's Club Star of Hope". Houston Heights Woman's Club. Retrieved 3 February 2016.
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