Founded in 1910 by Mrs. Elmer Blair (proper married women of the time used their husband’s name publicly), The Woman’s Club of Albany began as a civic organization to help women and children and to improve conditions in the City of Albany.

The Club was part of an international movement that saw similar groups formed in the late 19^th and early 20^th centuries. The 22 charter WCA members met in Mrs. Blair’s garden to discuss reform. After a year, the group had more than 300 members who rallied support for many civic programs still in place today.

The WCA pushed the city to initiate city-wide garbage collection, fire protection programs and mandatory meat and milk inspections. Largely through the WCA’s efforts, the first local female probation officer was hired in 1911. In 1914, the Club began its tradition of community outreach and philanthropy with a program to keep children off the streets.

Although the WCA flourished for decades, only three elderly members remained in 2003 and the house had fallen into disrepair. In 2004, a small group of energetic women became determined to revive the Club as a center of activity benefiting the community.

In April 2024, the Club celebrated twenty years of renewal at a festive gathering. Today, the WCA has nearly 200 members of varied ages, interests and professions. 

THE PILLARS OF THE WCA

Learn more about the history of the WCA by visiting the Pillars of the WCA pages. Each one identifies a person, initiative or defining moment in the history of the WCA through documents and photos.