User:NatFee/Peoria Women’s Club

Peoria Women's Club is a women's club in Peoria, Illinois. It is the second oldest women's club with a continuously operated historic clubhouse building in the United States.

Architecture
The clubhouse building was designed by Chicago-based architecture firm Jenney & Mundie in a Romanesque Revival style with solid red brick and Lake Superior sandstone. On May 22, 1893, the cornerstone of the Women's Club building was laid. The building was dedicated on January 5, 1894.

It has semi-circular Roman arches over the entry and second-floor windows. Wrought iron gates and an ornamental scrollwork sign created by A. Lucas and Sons adorn the main entry.

The first floor contains a meeting parlor, a dining room, a cloakroom, pantry, and kitchen. The second floor contains a 453-seat music hall with excellent acoustics and a raked stage.

It has never been significantly altered. In April 2013, the building was listed as a City of Peoria historical landmark.

Founding
The Peoria Women’s Club was founded by Clara Parsons Bourland. In 1878, it was known as the Peoria Ladies’ Art Society. This group was the foundation for the Peoria Women's Club chartered in 1886. Borland was inspired by a trip to Europe and organized the club to promote music, literature, and art. Bourland served as the club's first president for 25 years.

The club met in January 1886, then on Mondays for nine months out of the year. Meetings were hosted in Bourland's home on Knoxville Avenue, the Pettengill Seminary (now the site of the Scottish Rite Cathedral), the parlors of the old National Hotel on Hamilton and Jefferson, and the YWCA auditorium.

The club's early days focused on classical works such as Shakespeare. Philanthropic efforts such as the Protection Agency and a special fund to aid women were established.

The club incorporated in 1890 with 129 members. They decided to build their own clubhouse. The members formed a stock company, raising $25,000 with shares priced at $10 each. Lydia Moss Bradley purchased $5,000 in shares. The First Baptist Church at the corner of Madison and Fayette was demolished in preparation for the new clubhouse to be erected. The remaining $20,000 mortgage was paid off in 1911.

Civic reform in the early 20th century
From 1895 to 1900, the departments and committees included Art & Literature, Education, Home, Philanthropy, Reform, Fine Arts, Home and Education, Luncheon & Public Affairs, and Volunteer Services. By the turn of the century, the club had begun to include civic reforms in their goals. The club lobbied for humane treatment of the mentally ill, which led to the creation of the Peoria State Hospital in Bartonville. The club provided kindergarten classes in public schools. A traveling library supplied books to rural areas. A cooking school for poor girls was taught in the club's kitchen in 1904. In 1907, the club voted to support municipal suffrage for women by the Illinois House of Representatives.

During WWI, the club supported the Red Cross by offering the clubhouse for training classes, sewing, and bandage rolling for the soldiers. The women sent an ambulance to the front and financial support to the Furlough Houses in France.

In 1912, Bourland was a charter member of the Peoria Equal Suffrage Association. PWC's second president, Julia Proctor White, was also a charter member and became the first president of the Peoria chapter League of Women Voters in 1924. Another PWC member, Adella Maxwell Brown, was the first president of the local suffrage association and was elected to the state suffrage organization in 1915. In 1913, PWC member Genevieve Stone was one of five women to lobby to President Woodrow Wilson for full voting rights for women. From 1919 to 1920, the club worked toward the 19th amendment for women's voting rights.

During the 1918 influenza pandemic, the building was used as a hospital.

1920s to 1960s
The club was involved in several philanthropic causes during the 1920s through the 1960s. In 1921, they participated in the distribution of 108,000 printed pieces on “Starving Children of Europe.” In 1921, they helped establish a recreational camp for girls on Fondulac Lake. In 1924, they hosted classes for Girl Scout leaders.

In 1942, the first Red Cross Blood Bank was held at the clubhouse. In 1948, they helped with the Park Ridge School for girls. They furnished rooms at the new addition of Methodist hospital in 1950 and the new Proctor Community Hospital in 1959. In 1961, they held a Midsummer Garden Party fundraiser for the Peoria State Hospital.

1970s to present
In 1970, a small fire damaged the second floor theatre, which has been closed since the incident. The 453-seat theatre served as a performance space for the Peoria Players, Amateur Musical Club, and Peoria Symphony Orchestra. It also hosted lectures and performances by Carl Sandburg, Ethel Barrymore, and Steve Allen.

In 1997, the club's president reported declining membership.

In 2019, the club celebrated 125 years with a Founder's Day celebration.

Restoration
In 2019, Kim Blickenstaff donated $500,000 towards the restoration of the clubhouse  ; in 2021, Blickenstaff donated an additional $1 million.

Membership
Membership is open to any women over the age of 18. Peoria Women's club is a registered 501(c)3 nonprofit organization. Meetings are open to the public, including men. The first floor space is available to rent for events. The clubhouse is furnished with art from local artists, including sisters Nona and Emily White.