The Madison Civics Club is a women's organization concerned with discussing city and state problems at luncheon meetings. After the failure of the campaign for woman suffrage in 1912, the need to organize women for the purpose of discussing topics and problems of public interest became apparent to a small group of Madison, Wisconsin women. According to the last surviving founding member, Mrs. Richard H. Lloyd Jones, these “Madison women had gravitated toward each other because of like-mindedness and general congeniality...to oppose some of the wrongs of society that we consider most pressing. Women's suffrage was our prominent project.”
The initial impetus was provided by the Mmes. W.G. Bleyer (considered “the moving spirit” by a later member), Edna Chynoweth, Richard Lloyd Jones, Charles McCarthy, and Miss Mary (“Bonnie”) Orvis. Meeting at the home of Mrs. Chynoweth, this group decided to follow a format similar to that of the then-existing Men's Saturday Lunch Club, namely, a social luncheon followed by a discussion of a current topic or problem of civic or state interest. Although this organizational meeting took place in the early winter of 1912, it was not until September 1913 that the Club had its first meeting. Each of the founders asked three others who had developed a civic conscience to join them, making a group of 20. Each of these 20 then invited 3 or 4 others, so that 75 women were present at the first meeting.
A certain exclusivity surrounded the Club. Mrs. Richard Lloyd Jones, in her letter to the Club, July 31, 1962, wrote that
We had established a new aristocracy in Madison. Small but choice. In almost no time waiting lists grew so lengthy we had to loosen up. But outstanding ability and civic concern had to come first among the candidates. And those closed membership lists!!! Sororities are not so dumb after all. In no time we were renting space in the old Women's Building on Gilman Street....The lunch menu grew out of all original intentions. Rival politicians clamored to be heard by the Club. We grew strong and influential and nobody was more amazed than we humble originators.
Until 1924, all meetings were held at the Women's Building, and the average attendance was 235. In 1924, the luncheons were moved to the Loraine Hotel, and the Civics Club became a “listening club.” Membership grew until the average attendance was over 450. In 1943 the meetings were discontinued due to the difficulties caused by the war in obtaining food and locating a meeting place. In 1950 the Club was reactivated.
Around 1940 some of the members felt that the purpose of the Club was being defeated, because local affairs were no longer brought to the attention of the members. That year Mrs. Harrison Garner became the first Local Affairs Committee Chairman. (This committee is now known as the Public Affairs Committee.) A report on civic affairs has been presented to the Club at each meeting since that time.
The files of the Public Affairs Committee do not contain names of committee members nor subjects of reports before 1952-1953. It was apparently the practice originally to have all members work on reports, which were delivered at Club meetings by the committee chairman. At the close of the 1956-1957 season, Chairwoman Helen M. Patterson noted that this was the first year that each member prepared and presented a topic by herself.
On September 30, 1960, the Madison Civics Club was incorporated as a non-stock, non-profit organization for the stated purposes of discussing topics and problems of public interest and considering ideas for the benefit of the community. The by-laws designate the Club's activities as arranging and presenting cultural and educational programs for its members at luncheon meetings. The Board of Directors, known as Executive Committee, consists of ten members who are chosen each year by the outgoing Committee. An attempt is made at choosing an Executive Committee representative of various other city organizations. The Committee also aims at alternating between presidents representing city and university interests.
Membership in the Club is limited to 475 women and is not transferable. Vacancies are filled from a waiting list. There are 2 classes of members: 1.) The Executive Committee who are Class A and voting members; and 2.) Class B members who are non-voting members.
The major officers of the Club include a chairman, secretary, treasurer, hostess, public affairs chairman, and publicity chairman, each elected annually by the Executive Committee. The Executive Committee determines dues which are sufficient to pay for the members' luncheons, gratuities, and programs.
