Charlotte Emerson Brown (April 21, 1838 – February 5, 1895) was an American woman notable as the creator and first president of the General Federation of Women's Clubs (GFWC),[b] a progressive women's movement in America beginning in the 1890s.

[3] During her presidency, membership expanded quickly from 50 cultural clubs to several hundred, and grew to representing tens of thousands of women.

[3] Brown was born in Andover, Massachusetts[4] to Reverend Ralph Emerson[c] and Eliza Rockwell.

[4] Brown taught in Montreal with Hannah Lyman, Vassar's first female president,[2] and studied business in Chicago.

[7] According to one viewpoint, the exclusion of men in these clubs was helpful in allowing women to develop their own leadership skills.