Women's Republican Club of Lancaster County
The Heart of the Republican Party in Lancaster
Celebrating the History of America and The History of Women in Government
History
In the summer of 1922, a group of women made plans to gather other civic-minded women such as themselves into one large Republican Club for Lancaster County. Having helped Republican candidates and worked hard to fight for their right to vote, these ladies were already politically active. The founders of our club were Mrs. Charles Stauffer, Mrs. Bernard J. Myers, Mrs. I.H. Herr and Mrs. Mary S. Long. They printed an invitation in the local newspaper urging women to attend the first meeting of the Women’s Republican Club of Lancaster County (WRC) on October 3, 1922. 1,000 women attended this meeting at the Brunswick Hotel in Downtown Lancaster and the Women’s Republican Club was born. Membership peaked in 1972 at 3,500 members.
For decades, members of the WRC have engaged in projects to introduce candidates to the electorate, preparing and supporting women to hold public office, and supporting Republican principles.
In February 1923, the Pennsylvania Council of Republican Women was organized in Harrisburg, PA with the goal of uniting all Women Republican Clubs throughout the state. In February 1926, the WRC of Lancaster County became a part of the Pennsylvania Council of Republican Women. The name was later changed to the Pennsylvania Federation of Republican Women.
DO YOU KNOW
The Republican Party consistently supported women’s suffrage throughout the 72-year campaign to win the vote. Republicans also advocated for the abolition of slavery, for equal rights and for the principle of equal pay for equal work.
A BIT OF HISTORY
In September 1922, two years after the 19th amendment guaranteed American women the vote, Lancaster suffragettes met with Governor Pinchot, who had served as a vice-president of Men for Suffrage, to discuss forming a Republican Women’s Club. They wanted a Republican Women’s Club because the Republican Party had always supported the fight for women’s suffrage. On October 3, 1922, 1,000 former suffragettes formed the club.
TODAY
We stand on the shoulders of our visionary predecessors to organize events, introduce candidates, educate the public, promote the Republican ideals of freedom and liberty, help with campaigns, and support Republican women running for office.
Did You Know:
The Republican Party pioneered the right of women to vote by introducing the 19th amendment in 1878. Republicans continued to support women's suffrage throughout the very long campaign for acceptance. Finally, when the Republican Party regained control of Congress in 1919, the Equal Suffrage Amendment passed. During all those years, the Democrats fought women's suffrage just like they fought the abolition of slavery.
But even before the passage of the 19th amendment, women were attracted to the Republican Party because of its anti-slavery stance. That's why the Republican Party attracted reformers like Susan B. Anthony, Elizabeth Cady Stanton, and Lucy Stone. All of these women identified themselves as Republicans.