On May 15, 1935 Mrs. Annabelle Hutton Crowell of Almond, Wisconsin met with about 20 women to discuss establishing a branch of the American Association of University Women (AAUW) in River Falls. The first regular branch meeting was held May 22, 1935 with 17 charter members. The branch doubled its size to 34 in the first ten years of its organization.
The AAUW River Falls Branch normally has held regular monthly meetings from September-May with a variety of monthly topics. Throughout the years, program themes have included concerns in education, the economy, freedom, international relations, child welfare, and the changing role of women in society. Local members have also been active in the Wisconsin Division of AAUW and the national AAUW.
The branch has made contributions to the community in a variety of ways. Activities in the River Falls schools have included a “Volunteers in Education” program and “Read-It” both of which received monetary contributions and donations of time from the women of the branch. An “Outstanding Women” series was sponsored in conjunction with the River Falls State College during the 1960s. This brought to the city such prominent women as Eleanor Roosevelt, Margaret Bourke-White, Indira Gandhi, Pauline Frederick, and Anna Chennault.
Membership dues, bake sales, book sales, and sales of note paper have helped raise funds for the many branch activities. In 1953 a scholarship for a junior woman at River Falls State College was started. Funds have also been used to support a variety of fellowship and legislative activities.
A growing membership and active community involvement have made the River Falls Branch of the American Association of University Women an important part of the city of River Falls.
