Houston Heights Woman's Club
United States historic place
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
The Houston Heights Woman's Club was organized in 1900 to support any literary and scientific undertaking; the maintenance of a library; and the promotion of painting, music and other fine arts. When founding members of the Club adopted a Constitution and By-Laws in 1905, they included to "aid and encourage charitable and educational interests of Houston Heights" as an important part of the club's purpose.
Houston Heights Woman's Club | |
The building's exterior in 2026 | |
   | |
| Location | 1846 Harvard St., Houston, Texas |
|---|---|
| Coordinates | 29°48′13″N 95°23′47″W |
| Website | houstonheightswomansclub |
| MPS | Houston Heights MRA |
| NRHP reference No. | 83004463[1] |
| RTHL No. | 16745 |
| Significant dates | |
| Added to NRHP | June 22, 1983 |
| Designated RTHL | 2011 |
Originally founded as a daytime group, the Houston Heights Woman's Club remains active after more than 125 years. Generations of these dedicated, community-oriented women have contributed to the history of the Heights and greater Houston since 1900, and served in the forefront of Women's issues since. They gather regularly for meetings and programs, and enjoy various other activities throughout the year including community outreach volunteer projects, charitable fundraisers, outings, and social events.
In 2007 the Houston Heights Woman's Club-Evening Group was founded.
In 2025 both daytime and evening Groups unified as one Club.
History
The Houston Heights Woman's Club (HHWC) is a registered 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization established to preserve the historical integrity of the club and its clubhouse, and provide social and charitable opportunities for its members.
The Houston Heights Woman's Club was founded in 1900, part of the larger women's club movement across the country. What began as the Houston Heights Literary Club soon outgrew the parlors of its members. In 1912, the Clubhouse at 1846 Harvard became the official home of the Houston Heights Woman's Club. This club would become part of the very fabric of the Heights neighborhood. Through volunteerism and social activities, generations of members have kept the legacy of the HHWC alive.
| President | Year | |
|---|---|---|
| Mrs. D.D. Cooley | 1911–12 | |
| Mrs. W.A. Renn | 1912–14 | |
| Miss Ella McKinney | 1914–15 | |
| Mrs. A.B. Sealdon | 1915–18 | |
| Mrs. J.S. Purdy | 1918–20 | |
| Mrs. B.F. Coop | 1920–22 | |
| Mrs. C.A. McKinney | 1924–26 | |
| Mrs. John Rose | 1926–28 | |
| Mrs. O.F. Gordon | 1928–30 | |
| Mrs. W.J. Roland | 1930–32 | |
| Mrs. W.B. Welling | 1932–35 | |
| Mrs. H.L. Phillips | 1935–37 | |
| Mrs. T.B. Reed | 1937–39 | |
| Mrs. C.H. Wilson | 1939–41 | |
| Mrs. Frank Clappart | 1941–43 | |
Club Collect
By Mary Stewart, 1904*
Keep us O God from pettiness; Let us be large in thought, in word and in deed. Let us be done with fault finding And leave off self-seeking. May we put away all pretenses and meet each other face To face, without self-pity and without prejudice. May we never be hasty in judgment And always be generous. Let us take time for all things; Teach us to put into action our better impulses, Straightforward and unafraid. Grant that we may realize that it is the little things that Create differences, That in the big things of life we are as one. And, may we strive to touch and to know the great, Common woman's heart of us all, And, O Lord God, let us not forget to be kind.
- Written in 1904 by Mary Stewart, then a school principal. Mary said of her poem, "It was written as a prayer for the day. I called a 'Collect For Club Women' because I felt that women working together with wide interests for large ends was a new thing under the sun, and that perhaps they had a need for special petition and mediation of their own." Like many women's organizations across the country, we believe so strongly in Mary's message that we recite her poem at the start of every meeting.
Membership
Membership information is available via the club's website.[2]
Achievements
| Achievement | Year | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Creation of the Houston Heights High School Library | 1905 | The HHWC helped to raise funds and build the new library for the community. |
| Work with the Red Cross | World War I | The HHWC worked with the Red Cross to assist the war effort during World War I by taking in soldiers and creating bandages to send to the troops. |
| Donation to the Houston Public Library on Heights Boulevard | 1926 | The women of the Club raised money and books for the new library that had opened in the Heights neighborhood. |
| Assistance in the creation of the Houston Public Library outdoor reading area [3] | 1939 | The women of the Club assisted the new library build an outdoor reading patio. |
| Assistance to the Red Cross | World War II (1943–1944) | A large group of 2,669 people (members and community volunteers) worked tirelessly to provide 1,176,699 surgical bandages to the wounded soldiers during the second World War. |
| Supported Reagan High School Prom | 2012 to 2017 | The HHWC helped provide Reagan High School students in need an opportunity to join their classmates in attending their senior prom by collecting and giving out dresses, tuxedos, accessories, and more. |
| Star of Hope toiletry bags | 2015-2017 | A sewing project creating personalized toiletry bags then filled with personal hygiene items donated by members and friends of the club. All the toiletry bags created by the women of the Club go to impoverished women and the Houston Star of Hope Organization. |
| Created the Women's Studies Library Initiative | 2015-2023 | The campaign involved an annual collaboration with multiple public school libraries throughout the Heights and included a collection of books of women's studies. |
| Hortense Ward Scholarship [4] | 2007 to Present | Established in 2007, the Hortense Ward Scholarship is presented annually by the Houston Heights Woman's Club to a second- or third-year law school student. The recipient should exemplify the qualities of public service and commitment to social causes, especially those involving women. The scholarship is self-funded by the Club through the generosity of the members and friends of the club. |
| Annual School Uniform Drive [5] | 2015 to Present | Since 2015, Club members have provided uniforms to local area public school students through our annual School Uniform Drive which ensures students at area HISD Elementary and Middle Schools have the clothing they need to be successful in the classroom by donating gently used school uniforms and funds to purchase dress code compliant clothing. |
| Annual Holiday Wish List [6] | 2015 to Present | Through a long-standing partnership with the Communities in Schools® program, year-round support is provided to at-risk students in area public schools. Our initiatives are designed to lift morale and provide a little extra joy throughout the school year including fulfilling holiday wish list items for students who might otherwise go without, ensuring they have a memorable holiday season. |
