History:

The General Federation of Women's Clubs (GFWC) is the world's oldest non-partisan, non-denominational women's volunteer service organization. It was founded in 1890 by Mrs. Jane Cunningham Croly. An accomplished newspaperwoman writing under the pen name of Jennie June; Mrs. Croly and other women were denied admittance to a banquet in honor of Charles Dickens, at the all-male New York Press Club. This gave Mrs. Croly the determination to found a club for women only, thus the General Federation of Women's Clubs!

GFWC is now one of the largest volunteer organizations for women in the world and currently has members in 6,500 clubs around the United States and more than one million members worldwide. The GFWC National Headquarters is located in Washington, DC and houses the administrative offices, the National Women's History and Resource Center and the GFWC International President during her two-year term.

FFWC:

The GFWC Florida Federation of Women's Clubs (FFWC) was organized in 1895 in Green Cove Springs, Florida under the leadership of Mrs. P.A. Borden Hamilton. FFWC has been active in the preservation of the Everglades and building the first home at Hacienda Girls Ranch in Melbourne. The FFWC state headquarters are located in Lakeland, Florida, with the President and the Executive Committee members overseeing the operation of our state federation.