About Us |
The College Club of Hartford, Inc. was founded in 1905 by a group of forward-thinking women as a social, educational and philanthropic organization, with the support of higher education as one if its primary interests. They were all college graduates, which at the time was no small achievement, as women made up barely 4% of the college educated population.
Over a century later, that mission continues. In addition to providing scholarships to high school students and a special grant annually to an area organization, we maintain an active schedule of educational, civic and social programs for our members. |
Who We Are |
Membership in the College Club of Hartford is open to all women who are graduates of two- and four-year colleges and universities, and we welcome new members and guests of members at meetings and programs throughout the year. Join us and become a member!
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Our History |
The College Club of Hartford came into being in 1905 following "a mass meeting and rally in the gallery of the (Wadsworth) Atheneum to consider formation of a college club". Seeking to create an organization where women who had attended college could socialize and engage in civic activities, several members of the local college clubs of Wellesley, Smith and Mt. Holyoke gathered to discuss the matter and decide how to proceed.
In May of 1908, the third annual meeting report of the College Club of Hartford was presented to members as "a summary of another year of social engagement, intellectual stimulus and serious philanthropic effort". Our founding mothers would be pleased and proud to know that over a century later we've held true to their intentions. |
The Founding of Connecticut College |
At the May 27, 1911 College Club meeting, president and Wellesley alumna Mrs. S. H. Williams "spoke of the need for a college for women in Connecticut, of the agitation of the question, as a result of which the Executive Board had appointed a committee of investigation which had been most zealous in getting information on the subject".
For more about the role of Wesleyan alumna Elizabeth Wright and her fellow members of the College Club of Hartford in the founding of Connecticut College for Women in New London, please click the link below to view the April 2011 Centennial Founders Day Keynote Address by Wheaton College Provost Dr. Linda Eisenmann: Centennial Founders Day Keynote Address: Refocusing Our Lens, The Founding of Connecticut College in Historical Context |