Sorosis Club (Bowling Green, Ohio) records

The Bowling Green woman's organization, now known by the name "Sorosis," was formed in 1934 as a response to the wishes of its founding members to create an organization for the purposes of study and discussion. Charter members, Clarice Banks, Dora Campbell, Clara Charlton, Ruth Claypool, Mildred Dicke, Helen Eisenhour, Maye Green, Sadie Leitman, Mary Mercer, Martha Ritz, Sara Sheon, and Helen Swanson first met on October 26, 1934 and organized such a discussion group which was called "Junior Sorosis." Meeting twice a month from September through May or June, the members studied wide-ranging topics in the areas of music, art, politics, religion, social issues, theatre, first aid, education and history.

Through the years, "Junior Sorosis" has changed very little in terms of purpose and the members continually have promoted the first established goal of, "to encourage intellectual growth and further personality development through social interests." Membership has fluctuated from as few as 10 to as many as 30, though in 1956, it was decided to place a ceiling of 25 on future membership. Meetings originally were held twice monthly from September through May or June, but by 1952, settled into a once-a-month pattern, September through May. The club affiliated with the Ohio Federation of Women's Clubs in 1945 and officially became "Sorosis" in that same year.