A Short History of the Madison Civics Club

In the winter of 1912, women’s right to vote was being considered by both Congress and state legislatures. Locally, this proposal had met with strong opposition in the Wisconsin State Legislature, and it was resoundingly defeated. Five Madison women, all activists in the women’s suffrage movement, formed a study group to develop ways of formulating their ideas for positive social legislation and to provide active support for such proposals. The five founding members each invited three more women who had demonstrated a civic awareness to join in the study group, and each of these invited three more to join. The first meeting of the group was in September of 1913 and took place in a member’s home. It was organized along the lines of the existing Men’s Saturday Lunch Club, with a social luncheon followed by the discussion of a current topic or matter of civic interest. Seventy-five women attended the first luncheon meeting, and the Madison Civics Club was off to a good start.

The membership was carefully chosen. Each candidate, it was said, “must be brainy and outstanding in her own right, and must have developed a civic conscience.” Study groups were formed, speakers were invited to address the Club, and topics of local interest were presented in forum fashion followed by general discussion. By its tenth year the Club was considered an active and crusading organization of many accomplishments. In 1919 the Civics Club proposed that the city build a civic center and auditorium to accommodate large groups and offer hospitality, but the city was concerned with issues of planning and finance and did not follow through. By 1924 Civics Club membership had grown so large that meetings were moved to the Loraine Hotel and a waiting list for membership was begun.  Club meetings had shifted focus from discussion of local issues to that of a general forum for ideas. Nationally known speakers were invited to address the Club on their topics of expertise. In 1937 the Club celebrated its twenty-fifth anniversary with a public meeting at the University Field House and heard Mrs. Franklin Roosevelt speak to an audience of 5,000 on the topic of “Youth in a World of Turmoil.”

With the exception of the period during World War II, the Club has met regularly and has continued to grow. Four or five luncheon meetings are held each Club season. In 1963 the site of the luncheon meetings was moved to the Park Motor Inn on the Capitol Square. By 1997, increasing membership caused another move to the newly constructed Monona Terrace Community and Convention Center. It was considered highly appropriate for the Civics Club to hold its meetings there as such a facility had been proposed much earlier by Club members.

Today the Madison Civics Club is open to both men and women. Anyone who wishes to join is welcome. The Club functions with a Board of officers, committee chairs, and assistant chairs, who take pride in the Club’s commitment to providing stimulating national, state, and local speakers, recognition of outstanding young individuals and youth organizations, and the betterment of our local communities. Celebrating its 100th anniversary this year, the Madison Civics Club continues its long tradition of civic responsibility and public engagement.