The Palo Alto organization that began in 1893 as the Mother’s Club, formally incorporated on June 20, 1894 as the Woman’s Club of Palo Alto with 24 members. Their goals were self-improvement, mutual help and community work, and they didn't waste any time fulfilling them. Within the first four years of the club's existence, they had founded the city's first reading room and library, as well as its
first elementary school and high school. The Club’s founders dreamed of having their own clubhouse. By 1906 they had raised $1,000 and purchased a lot on the corner of Homer Avenue and Cowper Street. At the time, they worried that this property was “too far out in the country”! It took 10 more years of continuous fundraising, collecting $5,300, to begin construction of their Tudor-Craftsman style “home”. Hodges, a noted architect of the day, designed the building. As so often happens, there were cost overruns and final cost of construction was $10,590. In September 1916, 400 Palo Alto residents attended a gala celebration to mark the completion of this charming building. During Palo Alto's formative years, the Club was the women's arm of local government and school affairs at a time when women were ineligible to vote or hold political offices. Today, most of the women who have served on the Palo Alto City Council are members. Early civic activities included tree planting, beginning our library system, and setting up one of the first gymnasiums in town.
