The GFWC Maryland Federation of Women’s Clubs, Inc. has a long and exemplary history. One of the first clubs in Maryland was started in Mount Washington, a suburb of Baltimore, as a neighborhood group … and eventually was named the Lend-a Hand Club in 1872. Another early club was the Mutual Improvement Association of Sandy Springs which was founded in the Quaker settlement in 1857. The object of both clubs was mutual helpfulness and neighborhood improvement. They were preceded, as in other parts of the country, by church and charitable societies. In October of 1899 several of these clubs met with the idea of forming a state federation. In December of 1899 a constitution was adopted. There were 19 Charter Clubs. The first annual meeting of the MD Federation was held in March of 1900 in the Baltimore area and in April of 1900 MFWC was admitted to the General Federation of Women’s Clubs.

One of the first statewide projects was the beginning of traveling libraries of Maryland which started in Cecil County, and another was the plight of women and children in industry after hearing a speech by Jane Addams. Other projects were undertaken according to the needs of society: motion picture menace, women’s vote, safety, health, war efforts, scholarships, and many others.

Three of our GFWC Maryland women have served as GFWC International Presidents.

Our 7th GFWC Maryland President, Bettie M. Sippel, became the 11th GFWC International President. Our 9th GFWC Maryland President, Sara Whitehurst became the 15th GFWC International President and our 42nd GFWC Maryland President, Babs J. Condon became the 50th GFWC International President.

Another seven notable GFWC Maryland women have served or are serving as our GFWC Southeastern Region Presidents. They are Inez Middlekauf, 1966-68, Betty Chritopher 1974- 76, Lee Crippen 1982-84, Kaytee Mizell 1994-96, Bette Brust 2002-04, Mary Thompson 2014 and currently Reno Manning Eitel 2024-2026.
Excerpts and information here was taken from the two history books on GFWC Maryland that have been compiled and published. The first volume covered 1899-1941 and the second volume covered 1941-1964.

Ending with a quote from the second GFWC Maryland history volume “Only as we serve shall we deserve, for through service alone, can the individual, the God in us, grow to its full stature … and upon the growth and development of the women who compose it, depends then, the future of this Federation.” Rebecca Douglas Lowe