How the Detroit Soroptimist Club Began: A Look Back 100 Years
One hundred years ago this week, more than 100 charter members marked the beginning of Detroit’s Soroptimist club with a charter and installation banquet. As the 15th Soroptimist club in North America and the 18th in the world, Detroit joined a growing movement of women in business and the professions.
Building a New Club
The club’s story began in early June 1926, when Stuart Morrow, the original organizer of many Soroptimist clubs, arrived in Detroit. By mid-June, newspaper columnist Mrs. J. Leslie had noted his efforts to make an introduction: “The man from the ‘Soroptimists’ just sent in his card.”
By mid-July, 29 charter members had joined. The club met on Mondays from noon to 1:15 p.m. at the Book-Cadillac Hotel, following the format Morrow had established with the first Soroptimist club in 1921. Weekly meetings featured presentations by prominent people in business and the professions.
Music also played a lively role in early Soroptimist gatherings. A notice for Detroit’s August 9 meeting announced, “Soroptimist club songs will be introduced during the luncheon.”
Growing Through the Summer
By August 23, charter membership had grown to 54. At that day’s meeting, members were presented with a draft constitution for adoption. Attendance was limited to club members and visiting Soroptimists.
Meanwhile, the wider Soroptimist movement was considering its future. Two days later, representatives of 10 Pacific Coast clubs met in San Francisco to begin discussing whether the independent clubs should unite in a federation.
Morrow cited his work in Detroit as the reason he could not attend. He was assisted there by Mrs. Alva O’Brien, one of his most experienced club organizers. Despite describing Detroit’s summer climate as “oppressive” in an August 13 letter to California club organizer Helena Gamble, Morrow remained in the city to help complete the club’s formation.
With charter membership expected to close soon, a newspaper notice for the August 30 meeting urged members to send prospective members’ names to O’Brien immediately. Recruitment continued, and by the time the charter closed a month later, membership had surpassed 100.
A Milestone Celebration
The club scheduled its officer elections for September 27, followed by the charter and installation banquet on October 5.
At the banquet, Morrow installed President Hannah Hood, Vice President Blanche Bliss Lyons, Secretary Marilyn Gregg and Treasurer Ruth Haag. He also installed six directors: Mary Breen, Dr. Rhoda Farquharson, Dr. Elsie Seitz, Bess Luther, Beatrice Scott and Cecile Rebora.
In just four months, Detroit’s Soroptimist club had grown from an organizer’s first introductions into a community of more than 100 women ready to serve their city.
A Legacy of Community Service
In its early years, the club worked to alleviate hunger, support the YWCA and establish world citizenship education in local high schools.
Although the club disbanded in 1983, it had been part of Detroit’s civic life for 57 years. This centennial offers an opportunity to remember its members, their service and their place in Soroptimist history.
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