Yakima Woman’s Century Club

The Yakima Woman’s Century Club is a local organization committed to empowering woman, serving the Yakima area, and preserving history in Yakima. We seek to enrich others as we maintain the historic Donald House that has been on N 2nd St since 1908. Preserving history for future generations, we promote high standards of social and intellectual culture.

We love to promote local businesses, especially woman entrepreneurs! Many of our members are either business owners, or retired business owners. We celebrate women in all their glorious, diverse facets. Our committees have fun and educational events all year round-there is always something going on at the YWCC! New members are always welcome.

The concept of the Woman’s Club of North Yakima (now Yakima) originated at a March 7th, 1894, informal gathering of woman at the home of Mrs. Mrs. Susanna Steinweg.  As a result of that gathering, on March 27th, 1894, several women met for the first documented meeting to organize the club.  The first few two meetings were held at the home of Mrs. Graham.

By the beginning of May 1894, the club began meeting regularly at the homes of Mrs. Nellie Whitson and Mrs. Steinweg.  By the end of May the club had twenty-two members.  Over the next few years membership increased to one hundred and ten women.

Two years after the Woman’s Club of North Yakima was formed it became part of the Washington State Federation of Women’s Clubs.  Mrs. J. M. Gilbert, a Yakima member, became and served as a charter member of the State Club.

Literature, history, and art were deemed focal points of the Woman’s Century Club in North Yakima.  Their collection of books helped start the city’s public library.  Literature was so important to the women of the club that within four years some of the members decided to form an extension group that focused on other women’s issues.  

By 1900, North Yakima had grown significantly and a need to address various other women's issues existed.  Mrs. F. C. Hall and Mrs. Mary Cannon, members of the Woman’s Club of North Yakima, formed a new club called the Twentieth Century Club.  Upon its formation, Mrs. Mary Blanker served as the clubs first President. At the time there were fourteen to sixteen initial members were reported.  The clubs primary focus was to promote self-culture, although over time it expanded into other woman’s issues and included their own literature group.  Rose Larson, one of the clubs initial members, played a large role in the promotion of not only the club, but woman of all ages when she became the 14th President of the Washington State Federation of Women’s Clubs.  

Both woman’s groups continued to meet separately and contribute to the community in various forms.  Some of their community services included the overall support of woman, the Red Cross War Relief and various local educational projects.  Both groups also continued to grow in membership.  

By 1909 the Woman’s Club had grown enough that the purchase of a location for meeting was necessary.  In order to purchase the property, the club incorporated and sold stock as a membership fee.  Eight years later, in 1917 the Woman’s Club of Yakima purchased a small church building on South 3rd Street to use as a meeting place.

By the spring of 1926 discussions regarding the merger of the Woman’s Club and the Twentieth Century Club had begun.  Members of both clubs established a committee to work out the details as well as receive permission from the Secretary of State to change the club name.  On March 28th, 1927, over a quarter of a century after the two groups formed, the Yakima Woman’s Club and the Twentieth Century Club united as one. The official joining of the two groups was observed in a mock wedding ceremony at the home of none other than one of its original members, Mrs. Nellie Whitson.   The new group's name became the Woman’s Century Club.

In 1930, Mary sold the Donald House to the Women’s Century Club for $30,000.00.  Included in the sale was the Woman’s Club building on South 3rd Street and two other city lots.  After the purchase of the Donald home the club made modifications to better serve the club.  (See the Donald House.) The first documented meeting of the Woman’s Century Club to occur in the Donald House was in October 1930.  

Today the Yakima Woman’s Century Club has over eighty members and remains open for new membership. Through various events they help to promote and preserve the club, the Donald House, and the community.

Just shy of a hundred years after the Woman’s Century Club was formed, it still owns, maintains, and preserves the beautiful historic Donald House.  Over the years members have continued to preserve their core values through their mission statement: “To enrich the community with our 1908 historic Donald House and to maintain and preserve this building for future generations.  To promote the standards of social and intellectual culture among its members and the community in general along literary, social, intellectual and civic lines”.  

Interested in history? Read more about the Donald House and the family Here.