HISTORY OF TENNESSEE FEDERATION AND BPW/TN
In June 1919 approximately one hundred business and professional women met in the YWCA in Nashville, Tennessee, to stimulate interest in attendance at the organizational meeting in St. Louis, Missouri, for the purpose of establishing the National Federation of Business and Professional Women’s Clubs, Inc. Present from four clubs in Tennessee were Miss Florence Arp, Knoxville; Dr. Elise Rutledge, Memphis; Miss Mattie Lou Alford and Miss Fletcher Farris, Columbia; and Mrs. W.A. King of the Altrusa club of Nashville.
As an outgrowth of that meeting, Fletcher Farris of Columbia was elected delegate and Dr. Elise Rutledge of Memphis, alternate to represent Tennessee in St. Louis at the organizational meeting of the National Federation of Business and Professional Women’s Clubs, at Hotel Jefferson in St. Louis, July 14-17, 1919. In addition to Miss Farris and Dr. Rutledge, those attending from Tennessee were Miss Leora Fellate, Memphis; Mrs. W.A. King, Nashville; Miss Louise Neilson, Knoxville; and Miss Bertha Childs of Nashville. History reveals that Miss Childs was elected a vice-president of the national federation.
Early in 1920, Mrs. Ethel Crabtree of Chattanooga became interested in forming a state federation and had much correspondence with business women in Tennessee. By reason of the interest expressed, a call went out to all the business and professional women’s clubs in Tennessee (about twenty at that time) to convene in Chattanooga in July.
On the afternoon of July 3, 1920, a group of women representing seven business and professional women’s clubs of Tennessee met in the Hotel Patten, Chattanooga Tennessee, and agreed that a state federation should be formed. By seven o’clock that night the group was having dinner together at “The Hitching Post,” a rustic tearoom in Chickamauga Park, and the Tennessee Federation was an accomplished fact. The seven charter clubs of the Tennessee Federation were Chattanooga Business and Professional Women’s Club, Chattanooga Business Women, Columbia Business and Professional Women’s Club, Jackson Business and Professional Women’s Club, Knovville Business and Professional Women’s Club, Memphis Business and Professional Women’s Club, and Business and Professional Women’s Club of Nashville.
During the years, in addition to Miss Bertha Childs, elected vice-president at the organizational meeting, Tennessee has given to the National Federation of Business and Professional Women’s Clubs, Inc., two outstanding national presidents, Miss Charl Ormond Williams and Miss Osta Underwood; two national treasurers, Mrs. Sara C. Bruce and Miss Wanda Carter (Bates); recording secretary and 2 Vice President, Miss Ann Scott; an executive secretary, Miss Elinor Coonrod; a national parliamentarian, Miss Margaret Heath, who served longer than any other person in a national position; and a number of national committee chairs and members.
In 1921 the first convention of the Tennessee Federation was held in Nashville. In 1922 Tennessee entertained a highly successful national convention in Chattanooga. In July 1984 National Area 3, of which Tennessee was a member, hosted a dynamic national convention in Nashville.
The Tennessee Federation of Business and Professional Women’s Clubs, Inc., which became Business and Professional Women of Tennessee, Inc. (BPW/TN) on July I, 2009, has gained prestige and power for the business and professional women of Tennessee; has taken part in affairs affecting women, along with a long career of state and community usefulness, which completely justifies the vision and hopes of our great organization.
BPW/TN Objectives
To elevate the standards for women in business and in the professions.
To promote the interests of business and professional women.
To bring about a spirit of cooperation among business and professional women [of the United States].
To extend opportunities to business and professional women through education along the lines of industrial, scientific, and vocational activities.
These objectives were of the National Federation of Business and Professional Women’s Clubs, Inc., of the United States of America, known as and herein after referred to as BPW/USA prior to its merger with BPW Foundation on July 1, 2009, and of all local organizations inthe state federation They are now the objectives of BPW/TN, changing only by the removal of the phrase “of the United States.”
The Emblem
In 1920, at the St. Paul National Convention, with Gail Laughlin as president, a committee was appointed to select an emblem typifying the emergence of women in the business world, with vision and courage for unlimited possibilities and growth in an organization of business and professional women. This committee was composed of Fern Bauersfeld of Kansas, Nina B. Price of New York, and Georgia Emery of Michigan.
In February 1921, under the leadership of Lena Lake Forrest, second national president, the committee selected from a number of designs the one in use until July 2009.
Emblem Symbols(see top right corner)
The emblem of BPW/TN [and formerly of BPW/USA] consists of the following symbols:
Nike—The Winged Victory of Samothrace; symbol of strength, progress, freedom, triumph, facing squarely the winds and waves of prejudice and other limitations.
Torch—symbol of light, wisdom, principle, and leadership.
Wand—winged staff of Mercury; herald of a new day for women and symbol of opportunity, equality, cooperation, healing, harmony, and power.
Ship of Commerce—symbol of activity and growth, economic independence, and adventures in friendship.
Scroll—symbol of achievement; typifies our faith, ideals and accomplishments, while denoting our obligation to the future.
These symbols are within the Golden Circle. The circle, representing the globe, signifies unbroken harmony and endless friendship. The components of the completed circle are illumination, vigor, tranquility, development, and victory.
BPW/TN Colors
The colors of BPW/TNare Green and Gold.
Green was chosen to symbolize victory, growth, activity, and strength.
Gold was chosen to represent the sun, faith, and fruitfulness.
Tennessee Official FlowerThe flower of BPW/TN is the purple iris. It is customary that members wear lavender or purple outfits at any time requested by the state president.
