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# Women doing it for themselves for 100 years
- URL: https://www.smdp.com/women-doing-it-for-themselves-for-100-years/
- Published: 2006-01-19T16:00:00.000Z
- Updated: 2026-10-23T17:03:52.000Z
- Author: Guest Author
- Tags: Community, Santa Monica, #archive-import

*By Daily Press staff*

The Santa Monica Bay women’s club is marking its 100th year. The club was founded on Dec. 11, 1905 by Elmira T. Stephens with 88 members. The club was formed to enable women to meet and discuss world affairs, promote cultural activities and volunteer their time to address worthy causes in the community. Among the early club founders was Mrs. John P. Jones, wife of the city of Santa Monica co-founder, Senator J. P. Jones.

The clubhouse, designed by local architect Henry Hollwedel, was inaugurated on Oct. 5, 1914\. The purchase of the lot at 1210 Fourth St. was made possible by a donation of Senora Arcadia Bandini de Baker, wife of city founder Col. Robert de Baker. The building is an example of the classical revival style. During the period of construction, the club’s members held many fundraisers so that the building was completely furnished when it opened. The original mortgage was paid off in June 1922\. On Apr. 8, 1991, the club building was designated as a Santa Monica landmark.

Through the years, club members were featured prominently in community life providing public services such as Red Cross classes, feeding the needy during the depression years, opening its doors to entertain service personnel of both world wars; a baby clinic; needlework guild; scholarship funds; helping the veterans and many other community projects. The club held programs for continued education with reading programs, study courses of legislation, citizenship and conservation, lectures in history, Indian affairs, health and mental health, as well as musical performances, art and creative writing. Today, the membership continues to give scholarships to Santa Monica High School seniors, and to raise money for a number of other charities.

The Santa Monica Bay Woman’s Club is a member of the General Federation of Women’s Clubs and the California Federation of Women’s Clubs and of the Marina District No. 18\. The club’s original membership of 88 ladies rose to almost 700 in the 1950s but afterwards kept decreasing as more and more women joined the work-force. A membership drive this fall enlisted almost two dozen ladies who want to provide community service through fun and fellowship. Monday afternoons are devoted to raising money for scholarships by playing social bridge, canasta and other games. Lessons for bridge, canasta, knitting and tatting are offered and a book group is set up to meet in the club’s lounge. The club holds two annual parking lot sales and several fundraiser luncheons.

A centennial birthday party is scheduled for Jan. 29, followed by a dance/concert series of music from the 1920s and other major centennial events during the year.

*Originally published in the Santa Monica Daily Press print edition on January 19, 2006.* [Read the original PDF.](https://s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com/smdp%5Fbackissues/011906.pdf?ref=smdp.com)