california history - California Historical Society

Caroline attended the September 1899groundbreaking ceremony for the club’sfirst permanent headquarters. Followingthe advice of their businessmenhusbands, club members had formed acorporation and issued stock in order toobtain financing to buy and build on theland. As the cornerstone for the clubhousewas laid, the reformer, still optimistic atage seventy-nine, called upon her friendsand colleagues to rededicate themselvesto the “highest welfare of our homes,our schools, our city, our country andthe world” and predicted that a “fairerfuture” lay ahead for her sex.California Historical Society/USC SpecialCollectionsIn 1900, club members moved into theirhandsome, mission-style headquartersat 940 South Figueroa, where Carolineplanted a camphor tree from El Nido toshade the patio in the rear garden. Likethe tree, the club thrived and grew, provingCaroline’s contention: “It stampsas blasphemy to God and man and asuntrue to the facts of life and history, theclaim that competition is necessary to thehighest development of the individual orof society.” The club’s achievements in itsearly years under Caroline’s leadershipincluded the establishment of kindergartensand efforts on behalf of women’ssuffrage.California Historical Society/USC SpecialCollections7