HerStory Series

Discovering the women, stories, and history preserved in the Marion Women's Club archives.

More Than a Club. A Part of History.

The Marion Women's Club archives hold more than meeting minutes and photographs. They tell the story of women who shaped Marion, Ohio, and their communities through generations of service, advocacy, education, and civic involvement.

Through HerStory, we are sharing pieces of those archives and exploring the connections between local, state, and national history.

Explore the HerStory Collection

Miss Edna Dutton

HerStory Spotlight: Edna S. Dutton For more than four decades, Miss Edna S. Dutton helped tell the story of Marion through her work at The Marion Star. Beginning her career as a proofreader in 1914, she later became the paper’s society editor, chronicling the people, events, and civic life that shaped the community until her […]

Pan-American Scholarship

HerStory of global learning: In the early 20th century, women’s clubs in Ohio recognized that education could build bridges far beyond their own communities. Through scholarship programs and international partnerships, they supported women pursuing higher education and leadership opportunities at a time when those paths were often limited. One scholarship recipient, Ophelia (or Ofelia) Mendoza […]

Nature Study in Public Schools, 1927

Another HerStory of conservation: Long before environmental education became common in schools, women’s clubs recognized the importance of helping children understand and appreciate the natural world. In the 1920s, nature study was seen as a way to inspire curiosity, stewardship, and responsibility, which are values that continue to shape conversations around conservation and environmental awareness […]

Club Woman to Professional Woman

HerStory of change: By the 1970s, women across America were redefining their roles in the workplace, education, and public life. As opportunities expanded, women’s organizations also evolved, supporting not only civic service, but professional growth and financial independence. Programs like these reflected a new era where the identity of the “club woman” was growing alongside […]

Club Membership!

We will let our HerStory speak for itself this time! If you are interested in joining our club, visit our website at marionwomensclub.org

Norman Thomas Calls for Preservation of Democracy

HerStory of dialogue: In the mid-20th century, communities across the country were grappling with America’s place in a rapidly changing world. Figures like Norman Thomas (Marionite and longtime leader of the Socialist Party) encouraged thoughtful discussion on economic justice, democracy, and global responsibility. By bringing speakers with diverse viewpoints to Marion, club women created space […]

Loan Scholarship Fund

HerStory of opportunity: At a time when higher education wasn’t always within reach for women, club women recognized its power to transform lives. Through early scholarship efforts and ongoing support, they helped open doors for generations of women.

Mrs. Myrtle Reid Lowe

One of the early “Black Heritage Awards” dinners took place in February 1981 at the Abigail Harding Lewis Auditorium where Mrs. Myrtle Reid Lowe won a “Citizen Award.” According to Horace G. Worthington, one of the organizers that year, Myrtle Lowe was an “amazing person and the pride of the community.” The current President of […]

Remembering Mrs. Evelyn Ghearing

Today we remember Mrs. Evelyn Ghearing, who will be dearly missed to family, friends, and the Marion Women's Club. Evelyn was President of the Club from 2006 to 2008, during which she kept the Club and Home afloat during trying times for Women's Clubs across the nation. Join us in celebrating her legacy today. https://www.marionstar.com/obituaries/pwoo1467487

Day Nursery, Child Conservation League

HerStory of care: As more women entered the workforce in the early 20th century, our community began finding new ways to support working families. Women’s organizations arounds the nation often stepped forward to create safe, nurturing spaces for children. Background picture from the Ben and Maxine Miller Child Development Laboratory School.

Girl Scout Troop & the Club

Happy Earth Day. Here's a HerStory of mentorship: When Marion women first partnered with the Girl Scouts of the USA, they helped nurture a generation of girls learning leadership, service, and confidence. Over the decades, Girl Scouts have also become champions of caring for our planet by planting trees, protecting wildlife, and leading conservation efforts. […]

Our Abigail Harding Lewis Auditorium

HerStory of gathering: As Marion grew in the mid-20th century, the Women’s Club Home continued to evolve with the community it served. New spaces created room for neighbors to celebrate milestones, share ideas, and strengthen civic life. The auditorium honors Abigail Harding Lewis, and its construction was made possible through the generosity of her husband, […]

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