Sorosis was the first professional women's club in the United States. It was established in March 1868 in New York City by Jane Cunningham Croly.
Sorosis was the first professional women's club in the United States. It was established in March 1868 in New York City by Jane Cunningham Croly.
In March 1868, a group of women were denied the ability to purchase a ticket to attend the all-male New York Press Club hosted dinner for author Charles Dickens at Delmonico's.[1] In response to being excluded by the New York Press Club, Sorosis was organized.[1] On April 20, 1868, Sorosis hosted its first lunch meeting at the same restaurant.[1] They extended an invite to Dickens, but he declined to attend.[1] At the meeting, the 14 charter members of Sorosis were Alice Cary, Jane "Jennie" C. Croly, Kate Field, Phoebe Cary, Ella Clymer, Celia M. Burleigh, Josephine Pollard, Ellen Louise Demorest, Charlotte B. Wilbour, Anne Botta, "Fanny Fern" Parton, Henry M. Field, Lucy Gibbons, and James T. Field.[2] In January of 1869, Sorosis would become incorporated meaning it became a legal institution.[3] Within one year, Sorosis had 83 members.[3] Along with Boston's New England Woman's Club (also founded in 1868), Sorosis inspired the formation of women's clubs across the country.[3]
The Sorosis ... was organized ... to promote "mental activity and pleasant social intercourse," and in spite of a severe fire of hostile criticism and misrepresentation, it has evinced a sturdy vitality, and really demonstrated its right to exist by a large amount of beneficent work. ... These ladies pledged themselves to work for the release of women from the disabilities which debar them from a due participation in the rewards of industrial and professional labour ... I believe it has been the stepping-stone to useful public careers, and the source of inspiration to many ladies.
— Emily Faithfull, 1884[4]
Sorosis is a latinate word meaning 'aggregation' (from the Greek sōros, meaning ‘heap’). Its object was to further the educational and social activities of women by bringing representative women of accomplishment in art, literature, science, and kindred pursuits.
Early members of Sorosis were participants in varied professions and political reform movements such as abolitionism, suffrage, prison reform, temperance and peace. Sorosis expanded into local chapters beyond New York City in the early twentieth century and the various chapters went on to organize war relief efforts during both World Wars. Peacetime activities included philanthropy (such as support for funding the MacDowell Colony), scholarship funds, and social reforms (such as literary training for immigrant women). In later years, Sorosis focused its activities on local projects, raising money for the aid of other women's clubs, funding scholarships for women, and aiding local rescue missions.[3]
Sorosis was among the 63 clubs that formed the General Federation of Women's Clubs in 1890.[5]
The University of Texas at San Antonio houses a collection of records for the San Antonio chapter of Sorosis. The collection spans the years 1923 through 1991 and provides information about the club's members and activities primarily through minutes, photographs, scrapbooks and yearbooks.[3]
