Established in Birmingham in 1895,[1] and admitted to the General Federation of Women's Clubs (GFWC) on December 26, 1907.
The State Federation was fully organized, however, with Mary LaFayette Robbins, of Selma, as president; Mrs. George B.
[1] Eligibility for GFWC membership required the club to show "that its purpose is not sectarian or political, but chiefly educational, literary, scientific or artistic.
"[1] With the growth of the organization, it was found imperative to divide the state into seven districts, in each of which an annual meeting was held in the spring by the clubs of that territory, presided over by a chair who is a vice-president of the Federation.
The District assembly could not initiate or endorse any movement not already approved by the Federation as a whole, but could discuss such matters and make recommendations in regard to them to the annual convention.
[1] "To bring together for mutual help, for intellectual improvement and for social union the different women's literary clubs of the state," were the original objects of the organizations, but with the development and growth that followed a few years experience, the Constitution was changed to read: "To bring into communication the various women's clubs throughout the state, that they may compare methods of work, become mutually helpful and through Federation grow to be a power for good.
The Federation editors were, Mesdames Joseph McLester, L. J. Haley, Erwin Craighead, E. R. Morrisette, A. J. Ridale, J. Sydney Robbins, J. H. Phillips, H. P. Harshfield, W. H. Seymour, J. D. Elliott, Dora C. Fell, J. Walter Black.
Later, they were given to the Department of Archives and History and became, with extensive enlargements through the generosity of Dr. Thomas M. Owen, Director, greatly increased in numbers and constantly in circulation.