The Woman's Club of Palo Alto
historic place
The Woman's Club of Palo Alto, located at 475 Homer Avenue in Santa Clara County, is a significant historic place. The club was formally organized on June 20, 1894, when 24 women gathered at the old Presbyterian Church. Their initial goals included friendship, community involvement, and self-improvement. Mary Grafton Campbell served as the first president. Early members made notable contributions to Palo Alto's development. Anna Zschokke was instrumental in establishing the Palo Alto Unified School District, and Julia Gilbert formed a circulating library in 1898, which led to the city's first public library. The club also actively campaigned for women's rights, contributing to California achieving suffrage by 1911. The club's distinctive Tudor Craftsman style building, designed by architect Charles Edward Hodges, was completed in 1916. This structure has since served as a venue for civic, philanthropic, and social events in the community. In recognition of its historical and architectural importance, the Woman's Club of Palo Alto building was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 2014.