Our Club History

It started with vision.

After the Civil War, American women began to organize into clubs dedicated to community and self-improvement. Members read and discussed books while working to solve social problems sparked by the rapidly expanding nation.

By 1890, this grassroots movement formalized into a national network – the General Federation of Women’s Clubs – and clubs sprouted up across the nation – and became an American civic institution of the 20th century.

Marion’s club began with a few women forming a book club – and grew by the 1950s to nearly 1,000 women in 31 service clubs – all working tirelessly for the “betterment of Marion.”

Today, the Marion Women's Club honors the values early Clubwomen established when the Club was formed 130 years ago: health & wellness, intellectual growth, civic engagement, and cultural education.

Read more below...

Their early work

Championed literacy, successfully lobbying for the city’s first Public Library and supporting the education of public-school children with book drives, college scholarships, and school levy endorsements.

Promoted public health, hiring the first nurses for the county and public schools, while funding free city hospital clinics, leading the fight against tuberculosis, and spearheading yearly Christmas Seals campaigns to support the Red Cross.

Fostered cultural education, bringing Marion’s first free art exhibit to the city in 1902, sponsoring art, music, and poetry events, and showcasing the work of local artists.

Encouraged civic engagement, stepping up to support the nation through two World Wars leading war bond campaigns, Red Cross initiatives, running a canteen at the train depot that welcomed and fed thousands of soldiers, and ensuring that veterans’ graves were decorated and honored.

Club women met in private homes, church basements, and the Library, but always wanted a “Club Home” where they could hold meetings, host the public, and plan their civic work. Members were blessed in 1945 when Ida Barlow, an early Club member, and her husband, Shauck Barlow, a local industrialist, bequeathed their home to the Marion County Federation of Women’s Clubs, making the home its “forever” clubhouse.

Moving Forward

By the 2010s, with the number of Women’s Club members dwindling and costs rising, the Club’s “Home” was nearly sold to a group of out-of-town investors. Yet again, Marion women successfully rallied together, determined to save the old home, join the Club as new members, and bring the Women’s Club and its mission back to life.

The revitalized Marion Women’s Club again boasts an active membership devoted to honoring the passion of early Clubwomen while continuing to “empower women, improve the community, preserve the historic home and promote their legacy.” Our work still takes place in our original Clubhouse, now lovingly preserved and nationally recognized. In addition, in 2025, Clubwomen dedicated the new "Women's History Resource Center" to safely house its rich archive collection, helping the Club write its next chapter.