International Order of the King's Daughters and Sons

Also known as "The King's Daughters and Sons" or "IOKDS," the organization's mission statement is derived from the Bible's Mark 10, verse 45: “Not to be ministered unto, but to minister.” Its stated objective is: "The development of Spiritual Life and Stimulation of Christian Activity.

Bottome reportedly was inspired to host the meeting by Edward Everett Hale, a Unitarian minister who had risen to nationwide prominence as an abolitionist and writer for the Atlantic Monthly prior to the American Civil War, and had then achieved wider name recognition through his establishment and promotion of "Lend-A-Hand" clubs across America — the motto of which became "Look up and not down, look forward and not back, look out and not in, and lend a hand.

"[6] Invited by Bottome to attend that initial meeting were eight of the organization's other nine founding members: Mary Lowe Dickinson,[7] Mrs. C. DePeyster Field, Helen Hammersley, Mrs. Theo.

Offering a safe environment to socialize for women living and working away from their homes, the club was an affiliate of Hale's Lend-A-Hand network, and operated from various locations throughout its history, including a department store in the city's downtown area.

As the club grew, so did its amenities, which included a bath and shower area, cafeteria, gymnasium, laundry, parlor, and reading rooms.

By 1922, club leaders had raised enough money to construct the organization's own facility, a building which was located on South Main Street across from the Dillon Memorial.

[18] In 2018, the organization closed its thrift store in Moline, Illinois, which was reportedly one of the longest running resale operations in the Quad-Cities region of the United States.