Alumnae associations, formed from the graduates of colleges, institutes, academies and seminaries, "To unite graduates for their mutual benefit, to preserve the pleasant relations formed during college life, and advance the cause of education among women" come under the head of women's clubs. Kindergarten clubs have furthered good work. Library clubs have built vp free libraries. In the South and West traveling libraries have accomplished useful work toward free education. Professional clubs include many associations of teachers, nurses, lawyers and women of other professions. Press clubs, for members of the literary profession in all large cities exist. The Professional Woman's League of New York, one of the strongest clubs of this class, was organized in December 1892 for the benefit of members of the dramatic, musical and literary professions.
It is a distinctive society in that it loans money to its members when sickness or sudden calamity overtakes them. To this class belong the educational and industrial unions. The Woman's Christian Temperance Union is a large active body, doing the work its name implies.
The International Sunshine Society, founded by Mrs. Cynthia Westover Alden, 1896, and incorporated 8 March 1900 has for its object: "To incite its members to the performance of kind and helpful deeds, and to thus bring the sunshine of happiness into the greatest possible number of hearts and homes.' This is the largest individual club in the country, although it might be classed in the line of federations, as it has branches all over the United States and a few in other parts of the world. The estimated membership is 250,000.
The National Association of Colored Women was organized in 1894. Its motto is 'Lifting as we Climb.° Mere mention of all the important organiza tions of women would require a large volume. Many of these bodies are federated with branches, or chapters, or units, in every State. One of the largest of the patriotic societies is the Daughters of American Revolution (D. A. R.), founded in 1890, with headquarters at Memorial Continental Hall, Washington. This numbers 140,853 members with chapters in all the States. The Daughters of the Revolu tion, founded in 1891, also has chapters in all the States. The National Society of Colonial Dames, founded in 1892, comprises 9,000 mem bers. Its council meets in Washington every two years. Each State has its independent so ciety and all are presided over by the national society. The Colonial Dames of America, founded in 1892, has also a large membership.
In addition to these there are the Society of Daughters of Holland Dames; National Soci ety of United States Daughters of 1812, 3,500 members; Pocahontas Memorial Association, 3,200 members; United Daughters of the Con federacy, 1894, 100,000 members; Daughters of the Cincinnati, incorporated 1894, the purpose of which is to educate a daughter of a naval or army officer with a view to self-support in teachers' college; Imperial Order Daughters of the British Empire in the United States; Mount Vernon Ladies' Association of the Union, founded in 1853, to care for Washing ton's home on the Potomac, 34 members; Na tional Society of New England Women; Na tional Society of Ohio Women; Society of Illi nois Women; National Congress of Mothers and Parent Teachers' Associations, 1897, 100, 000 members; National Women's Life Saving League. 1911, 2,000 members, to teach women and children swimming; American Nurses' Association, 3,500 members; Women's Univer sity Club, 1891, 1.200 members; New York Women's League for Animals, free hospital and dispensary, 1910, 1,500 members; Women's Municipal League, New York, 1,500 members; Women Lawyers' Association, New York, 1899, 250 members; College Women's Clubs; Association of Women Painters and Sculptors; National League for Women's Service, 1917, over 300,000 members, organizations of wo men volunteers doing economic and social emergency service; Vassar Students. 1889. 1225 member.; Camp l.tre Curls, 1912. 100,000 mem bers; Girl Scouts, MOOD members; and the Needlework Guild in America, established M 1885 and incorporated in 1896, office in Phila delphia with 500 branches, the object of which is to furnish garments and household linen an nually to hospitals, homes and other charities and special contributions in times of disaster.
Organization in Great Britain.-The prin cipal London clubs are: Albemarle, estab lished 1874, 1,100 members; Alexandra. 1884, 800 members; Automobile, 1903, 450 mem bers; Empress, 1897, 2500 members; 1911, 800 members; 1911, un limited; Ladies' Army and Navy, 1902, 3,000 members; Ladies' Atheneum, 1904, 910 mem bers; Ladies' Em.ire, 1902, 1200 members; Ladies' Imperial, l' 2,300 members; Ladies' Park, 1905, 1,400 man. rs; Lyceum, 1904, 2,400 members; New Century, 1M9, 3,000 members; New Victorian, 1896, 800 members; Pioneer. 1892, 700 members; Sesame, 1895. 950 members; Three Arts, 1911 1,200 members; University, 1887, no limit; Victoria, 1894, 450 members, and Writers', 1891, 400 members.