The DeKalb Business and Professional Women’s Club, sponsored by the Aurora and Batavia Clubs, received its charter in September 1927. The eighty-four charter members elected Cora Schoonmaker the first president; Mrs. E. L. Boardman, Mrs. Inez Nevins, Luella Custer, and Margaret Otis served as vice president, treasurer, recording secretary, and corresponding secretary, respectively. The adopted constitution and by-laws declared the organization’s goals as elevating the standards for women in business, promoting the interests of business and professional women, bringing a spirit of cooperation to women of the working world, and extending women’s professional opportunities through education. To achieve these objectives the group offered educational scholarships, supported legislative proposals beneficial to women (e.g., E.R.A.), scheduled meeting presentations and lectures detailing social problems and concerns, donated funds to numerous community charities and sponsored the organization of the Rochelle B.P.W. Club in 1968.
Several members of the DeKalb Club played prominent roles in achieving the organization’s goals. Marguerite Mihm, the most active participant, served on the State Committee for the Celia M. Howard Fellowship Fund (1951-1952, 1960-1963), presided as Co-Chairman of the State Federation Membership Committee (1954-1955), and in the community, became Treasurer of the DeKalb Sanitary District (1963-1964) and the DeKaib Park District (1965-1966). Other members served in state and district positions including the Radio and Television Committee of the State Federation, the State Rules Committee, Chairman and Vice-Chairman of the District, the State Federation Board, Secretary/Treasurer of the District, and the District Nominating Committee. In addition, at least one member appeared at a national, state, regi nal, or district meeting each year. Evelyn Merritt managed to attend an International Convention in Vienna in 1930.
Over the years, the DeKalb B.P.W. Club endorsed many issues of national importance. During the late 1950’s the members supported resolutions and bills attacking communistic practices in the United States and some mailed magazines to universities in other countries to counteract communism. An Equal Pay Bill for women and men raised interest as early as 1946. Other measures endorsed included the Child Labor Amendment (1927), the Motor Driver License Act (1928, 1930), entering the United States in a World Court (1929), the March of Dimes Movement (1928), and the call for a Constitutional Convention (1944). The DeKalb B.P.W. Club continues to support and work for any proposed legislation, charity, or scholarship which can insure the quality of women’s lives in the DeKalb community, the state, the nation, and the world.
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