Junior League
Encyclopedia
The Association of Junior Leagues International, Inc. (AJLI) is a non-profit organization
of 292 Junior Leagues in Canada
, Mexico
, United Kingdom
and the United States
. Junior Leagues are educational and charitable women's organizations aimed at improving their communities through volunteerism
and building their members' civic leadership skills through training. According to its mission, "The Association of Junior Leagues International Inc. (AJLI) is an organization of women committed to promoting voluntarism, developing the potential of women and improving communities through the effective action and leadership of trained volunteers. Its purpose is exclusively educational and charitable."
The first Junior League, the Junior League for the Promotion of the Settlement Movement
(now the Junior League of the City of New York, Inc. also called the New York Junior League) was founded in 1901 in New York City by Mary Harriman, daughter of railroad executive Edward H. Harriman. Inspired by a lecture on settlement movements that chronicled the works of social reformers such as Lillian Wald
and Jane Addams
, Mary organized others to become involved in settlement work. The organization's first project was working at the College Settlement on Rivington Street in New York City’s Lower East Side. The League was soon emulated, and by 1921, 30 Leagues joined to form the national association.
In 1921, after serving as New York city's Junior League president from 1907–1910 Dorothy Payne Whitney
became the first president of the Association of Junior Leagues International Inc., operating as the umbrella organization for all Junior Leagues worldwide. There are currently 296 Leagues in Canada, the United States, Mexico and the UK. The first League outside the United States was in Montreal, Canada.
Non-profit organization
Nonprofit organization is neither a legal nor technical definition but generally refers to an organization that uses surplus revenues to achieve its goals, rather than distributing them as profit or dividends...
of 292 Junior Leagues in Canada
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
, Mexico
Mexico
The United Mexican States , commonly known as Mexico , is a federal constitutional republic in North America. It is bordered on the north by the United States; on the south and west by the Pacific Ocean; on the southeast by Guatemala, Belize, and the Caribbean Sea; and on the east by the Gulf of...
, United Kingdom
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
and the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. Junior Leagues are educational and charitable women's organizations aimed at improving their communities through volunteerism
Voluntarism (action)
Voluntarism is sometimes used to mean the use of, or reliance on voluntary action to maintain an institution, carry out a policy, or achieve an end. In this context the word voluntary action means action based on free will, which in turn means action which is performed free from certain constraints...
and building their members' civic leadership skills through training. According to its mission, "The Association of Junior Leagues International Inc. (AJLI) is an organization of women committed to promoting voluntarism, developing the potential of women and improving communities through the effective action and leadership of trained volunteers. Its purpose is exclusively educational and charitable."
History
Settlement movement
The settlement movement was a reformist social movement, beginning in the 1880s and peaking around the 1920s in England and the US, with a goal of getting the rich and poor in society to live more closely together in an interdependent community...
(now the Junior League of the City of New York, Inc. also called the New York Junior League) was founded in 1901 in New York City by Mary Harriman, daughter of railroad executive Edward H. Harriman. Inspired by a lecture on settlement movements that chronicled the works of social reformers such as Lillian Wald
Lillian Wald
Lillian D. Wald was a nurse; social worker; public health official; teacher; author; editor; publisher; activist for peace, women's, children's and civil rights; and the founder of American community nursing...
and Jane Addams
Jane Addams
Jane Addams was a pioneer settlement worker, founder of Hull House in Chicago, public philosopher, sociologist, author, and leader in woman suffrage and world peace...
, Mary organized others to become involved in settlement work. The organization's first project was working at the College Settlement on Rivington Street in New York City’s Lower East Side. The League was soon emulated, and by 1921, 30 Leagues joined to form the national association.
In 1921, after serving as New York city's Junior League president from 1907–1910 Dorothy Payne Whitney
Dorothy Payne Whitney
Dorothy Payne Whitney was an American-born social activist and philanthropist and a member of the prominent Whitney family.-Biography:...
became the first president of the Association of Junior Leagues International Inc., operating as the umbrella organization for all Junior Leagues worldwide. There are currently 296 Leagues in Canada, the United States, Mexico and the UK. The first League outside the United States was in Montreal, Canada.
Notable League Members
Members listed are not solely a representation of women who have dedicated their time to the Junior League, but rather are or have been associated with the organization. Several have achieved eminence on their own merit apart from this organization.- Florence BirdFlorence BirdFlorence Bayard Bird, was a Canadian broadcaster, journalist, and Senator.Born Florence Rhein in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. She attended Bryn Mawr College and, in 1928, married journalist John Bird. They moved to Montreal in 1931...
, Canadian broadcaster, journalist and Senator - Margot Birmingham, wife of Ross PerotRoss PerotHenry Ross Perot is a U.S. businessman best known for running for President of the United States in 1992 and 1996. Perot founded Electronic Data Systems in 1962, sold the company to General Motors in 1984, and founded Perot Systems in 1988...
- Pam BondiPam BondiPamela Jo Bondi is the current Attorney General of Florida.-Early life and education:Bondi's hometown is Temple Terrace, Florida. Her father, Joseph Bondi, was a City Councilman and then Mayor of Temple Terrace. She is a graduate of C. Leon King High School in Tampa, Florida...
, Attorney General of Florida - Lindsay Brice, photographer
- Barbara BushBarbara BushBarbara Pierce Bush is the wife of the 41st President of the United States George H. W. Bush, and served as First Lady of the United States from 1989 to 1993. She is the mother of the 43rd President George W. Bush and of the 43rd Governor of Florida Jeb Bush...
, former First LadyFirst LadyFirst Lady or First Gentlemanis the unofficial title used in some countries for the spouse of an elected head of state.It is not normally used to refer to the spouse or partner of a prime minister; the husband or wife of the British Prime Minister is usually informally referred to as prime... - Laura BushLaura BushLaura Lane Welch Bush is the wife of the 43rd President of the United States, George W. Bush. She was the First Lady of the United States from January 20, 2001, to January 20, 2009. She has held a love of books and reading since childhood and her life and education have reflected that interest...
, former First LadyFirst LadyFirst Lady or First Gentlemanis the unofficial title used in some countries for the spouse of an elected head of state.It is not normally used to refer to the spouse or partner of a prime minister; the husband or wife of the British Prime Minister is usually informally referred to as prime... - Julia ChildJulia ChildJulia Child was an American chef, author, and television personality. She is recognized for introducing French cuisine to the American public with her debut cookbook, Mastering the Art of French Cooking, and her subsequent television programs, the most notable of which was The French Chef, which...
, chef and author of Mastering the Art of French Cooking - Sarah Palfrey CookeSarah Palfrey CookeSarah Hammond Palfrey Fabyan Cooke Danzig was a female tennis player from the United States....
, two-time Wimbledon champion - Jeannie DeakyneJeannie DeakyneJeannie Deakyne née Panton is the winner of the Mrs. Texas International 2005 and Mrs. U.S. Beauties 2008 beauty pageants.-Early life and education:...
, Army Officer and recipient of the Bronze Star MedalBronze Star MedalThe Bronze Star Medal is a United States Armed Forces individual military decoration that may be awarded for bravery, acts of merit, or meritorious service. As a medal it is awarded for merit, and with the "V" for valor device it is awarded for heroism. It is the fourth-highest combat award of the... - Rebecca Dorman, labor leader, award-winning field examiner for Region 15, National Labor Relations Board
- Ruth DraperRuth DraperRuth Draper was an American actress, dramatist and noted diseuse who specialized in character-driven monologues.-Early life and family:...
, actress - Louise Kirk Edwards, philanthropist
- Pat EvansPat Evans (mayor)Patricia A. Evans was the mayor of Plano, Texas from 2002-2009. She was first elected in May 2002 and was reelected to another two-year term in May 2004. On May 13, 2006, Evans clinched a third term with 57.4 percent of the vote. Her final term lasted three years. This makes her the...
, former three-term mayor of Plano, Texas from 2002–2009 - Betty FordBetty FordElizabeth Ann Bloomer Warren Ford , better known as Betty Ford, was First Lady of the United States from 1974 to 1977 during the presidency of her husband Gerald Ford...
, former First LadyFirst LadyFirst Lady or First Gentlemanis the unofficial title used in some countries for the spouse of an elected head of state.It is not normally used to refer to the spouse or partner of a prime minister; the husband or wife of the British Prime Minister is usually informally referred to as prime... - Cornelia FortCornelia FortCornelia Clark Fort was an aviator in the Women's Auxiliary Ferrying Squadron later called Women Airforce Service Pilots, who became the first female pilot in American history to die on active duty.-Early life and career:...
, first female pilot in American history to die on active duty - Judith Giuliani (née Nathan), wife of former New York City Mayor Rudolph Giuliani
- Margaret HamiltonMargaret HamiltonMargaret Hamilton was an American film actress known for her portrayal of the Wicked Witch of the West in the 1939 film The Wizard of Oz...
, actress, best known for her portrayal of the Wicked Witch of the West in The Wizard of Oz - Margaret HanceMargaret HanceMargaret Taylor Hance was the first female mayor of Phoenix, Arizona, taking office in 1976. She proved popular, winning four consecutive two-year terms, from 1976 to 1983.-Biography:...
, first female mayor of Phoenix, Arizona - Mary HarrimanMary Harriman RumseyMary Harriman Rumsey was the founder of The Junior League for the Promotion of Settlement Movements, later known as the Junior League of the City of New York of the Association of Junior Leagues International Inc. Mary was the daughter of railroad magnate, E.H. Harriman and sister to W...
, founder of the Junior League - Katharine HepburnKatharine HepburnKatharine Houghton Hepburn was an American actress of film, stage, and television. In a career that spanned 62 years as a leading lady, she was best known for playing strong-willed, sophisticated women in both dramas and comedies...
, actress - Oveta Culp HobbyOveta Culp HobbyOveta Culp Hobby was the first secretary of the US Department of Health, Education and Welfare, first commanding officer of the Women's Army Corps, and chairman of the board of the Houston Post....
, first secretary of the Department of Health, Education and Welfare, first commanding officer of the Women's Army Corps - Glenda HoodGlenda HoodGlenda Evans Hood is a U.S. politician, who was Secretary of State of Florida, from 2003 to 2005, and the first woman to serve as Mayor of Orlando ....
, first woman mayor of Orlando, Florida from 1992–2003 - Martha Rivers IngramMartha Rivers IngramMartha Robinson Rivers Ingram is the chairman of Ingram Industries, chairman of the Vanderbilt University Board of Trust, and a noted philanthropist and patron of the arts. She was married to the late E. Bronson Ingram, who inherited his father's petroleum and barge empire in 1963...
, business woman, noted philanthropist - Margaret McTavish KonantzMargaret KonantzMargaret McTavish Konantz, née Rogers was a Canadian politician, who represented the electoral district of Winnipeg South in the Canadian House of Commons from 1963 to 1965...
, Canadian Parliament, first woman elected to Canadian House of Commons from Manitoba - Mary Pillsbury LordMary Pillsbury LordMary Pillsbury Lord was a civic worker and officer in several charitable organizations, as well as serving as a U.S. delegate to the United Nations General Assembly.-Early life:...
, United Nations Delegate - Carolyn Maloney, USUnited StatesThe United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
CongresswomanUnited States CongressThe United States Congress is the bicameral legislature of the federal government of the United States, consisting of the Senate and the House of Representatives. The Congress meets in the United States Capitol in Washington, D.C.... - Doris MatsuiDoris MatsuiDoris Okada Matsui is the U.S. Representative for , serving since 2005. She is a member of the Democratic Party. The district consists of the city of Sacramento and the surrounding area...
, Congresswoman, California (5th District), elected in 2005 - Willie Landry MountWillie MountWillie Landry Mount is an American politician from Louisiana. Mount is a Democratic member of the Louisiana State Senate and has since 2000 represented District 27, which includes parts of Lake Charles and surrounding cities Sulphur and Westlake. From 1993 to 1999 she served as the first female...
, first female mayor of Lake Charles, LouisianaLake Charles, LouisianaLake Charles is the fifth-largest incorporated city in the U.S. state of Louisiana, located on Lake Charles, Prien Lake, and the Calcasieu River. Located in Calcasieu Parish, a major cultural, industrial, and educational center in the southwest region of the state, and one of the most important in...
, currently Louisiana State Senator. - Sandra Day O'ConnorSandra Day O'ConnorSandra Day O'Connor is an American jurist who was the first female member of the Supreme Court of the United States. She served as an Associate Justice from 1981 until her retirement from the Court in 2006. O'Connor was appointed by President Ronald Reagan in 1981...
, former Associate Justice of the U.S. Supreme Court - Helenka Adamowska PantaleoniHelenka PantaleoniHelen Tradusa "Helenka" Adamowska-Pantaleoni was an American silent film actress and humanitarian who was the founding director of the U.S. Committee for UNICEF, a role that she held for 25 years...
, humanitarian; co-founder of U.S. Fund for UNICEFU.S. Fund for UNICEFThe United States Fund for UNICEF is the United States non-profit non-governmental organization that supports the United Nations Children's Fund . Founded in 1947 by Helenka Pantaleoni, it is the oldest of the 36 UNICEF National Committees that support UNICEF worldwide through fundraising,...
and president of that organization from 1953-1978. - Suzanne Perron, fashion designer
- Tracy Mueller Prater, author, noted philanthropist
- Nancy ReaganNancy ReaganNancy Davis Reagan is the widow of former United States President Ronald Reagan and was First Lady of the United States from 1981 to 1989....
, former First LadyFirst LadyFirst Lady or First Gentlemanis the unofficial title used in some countries for the spouse of an elected head of state.It is not normally used to refer to the spouse or partner of a prime minister; the husband or wife of the British Prime Minister is usually informally referred to as prime... - Elizabeth Redenbaugh, 2011 Recipient of the The John F. Kennedy Profile in Courage AwardProfile in Courage AwardThe Profile in Courage Award is a private award given to recognize displays of courage similar to those John F. Kennedy described in his book Profiles in Courage...
- Eleanor RooseveltEleanor RooseveltAnna Eleanor Roosevelt was the First Lady of the United States from 1933 to 1945. She supported the New Deal policies of her husband, distant cousin Franklin Delano Roosevelt, and became an advocate for civil rights. After her husband's death in 1945, Roosevelt continued to be an international...
, former First LadyFirst LadyFirst Lady or First Gentlemanis the unofficial title used in some countries for the spouse of an elected head of state.It is not normally used to refer to the spouse or partner of a prime minister; the husband or wife of the British Prime Minister is usually informally referred to as prime...
, United Nations Delegate - Margaret Chase SmithMargaret Chase SmithMargaret Chase Smith was a Republican Senator from Maine, and one of the most successful politicians in Maine history. She was the first woman to be elected to both the U.S. House and the Senate, and the first woman from Maine to serve in either. She was also the first woman to have her name...
, first woman elected to U.S. Senate - Bobbie SparrowBobbie SparrowBarbara Jane Sparrow, PC is a former Canadian politician.Sparrow, a Registered Nurse and businessperson, was first elected to the Canadian House of Commons in the 1984 federal election as Member of Parliament for Calgary South, Alberta. That election brought the Progressive Conservative Party of...
, Canadian politician, House of Commons - Nadine SpencerNadine SpencerNadine Ann Marie Spencer is the founder and CEO of Nadine Spencer Company , a group of gourmet food companies specializing in product procurement, brand management, consulting and distribution to retailers in the food industry. Their offices are located in Toronto and New York.-Early life:Nadine...
, author, businesswoman, noted philanthropist - Carole Keeton StrayhornCarole Keeton StrayhornCarole Keeton Strayhorn is the former Texas Comptroller of Public Accounts....
, first woman mayor of Austin, Texas; served 1977–1983 - Deborah Taylor Tate, FCC Commissioner
- Shirley Temple BlackShirley TempleShirley Temple Black , born Shirley Jane Temple, is an American film and television actress, singer, dancer, autobiographer, and former U.S. Ambassador to Ghana and Czechoslovakia...
, actress, United Nations Delegate, US Ambassador - Eudora WeltyEudora WeltyEudora Alice Welty was an American author of short stories and novels about the American South. Her novel The Optimist's Daughter won the Pulitzer Prize in 1973. Welty was awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom, among numerous awards. She was the first living author to have her works published...
, author and Pulitzer Prize winner - Martha Rivers IngramMartha Rivers IngramMartha Robinson Rivers Ingram is the chairman of Ingram Industries, chairman of the Vanderbilt University Board of Trust, and a noted philanthropist and patron of the arts. She was married to the late E. Bronson Ingram, who inherited his father's petroleum and barge empire in 1963...
, chairman of Ingram Industries