Philomath Club

[2] Before going to the World's Columbian Exposition (Chicago, 1893), Lowenberg was imbued with the idea that there were many intellectual Jewish women in San Francisco who lacked the opportunity of development by organization, which was a potent factor in commercial and educational as well as club life.

So when she returned from the exposition, with impressions intensified, she asked Mrs. A. S. Bettelheim to assist in naming some women who would form and foster an organization to be conservative, but progressive, to promote the general culture of its members through the discussion of educational, moral and social topics and lectures by eminent men and women of the day.

Mrs. William Haas became deeply interested in such an organization and worked zealously for its success with the result that the Philomath Club was launched with the following charter members: Mrs.

I. Lowenberg, Mrs. Helen Hecht, Mrs. A. S. Bettelheim, Mrs. William Haas, Mrs. J. H. Neustadter, Mrs. Charles L. Ackerman, Mrs. Moses Heller, Mrs. S. Nickelsburg, Mrs. H. Ansbacher Meyers.

The Mesdames Neustadter allowed Philomath the use of their dance hall in their home in Van Ness Avenue, where for some months, meetings were held in happy surroundings.

Materials were supplied by the club, with members meeting three days weekly to make garments, surgical dressings, and bandages.

The directors of Philomath Club were: Miss Rachel Abel, Mrs. Simon Anspacher, Mrs. J. J. Eppinger, and Mrs. Herbert Clayburgh.

[3] New officers of the Philomath Club elected at the annual meeting, May 1922, following the administration of Mrs. Richard Newman and her executive staff included the following: Mrs. Charles Schlesinger, president; Mrs. William L. Hyman, first vice-president; Mrs. Samuel Hirschfelder, second vice-president; Mrs. Joseph I. Cahen, business secretary; Miss Anita Levy, recording secretary; Mrs. Max Blumlein, corresponding secretary; and Mrs. Benjamin Arnhold, Mrs. Oscar Hoffman, Mrs. Julius Feigenbaum, Mrs. H. G. W. Dinkelspiel, directors; and Mrs. Julius Kahn, Mrs. Caspar Rosenheim, and Miss Rebecca Godchaux, honorary members.

The art and dramatic sections were presided over by prominent professors from the universities who gave instructive interpretations of the reading of modern plays.

That year's elected officers included: Mrs. John J. Sampson, president; Mrs. Robert H. Willard, business secretary, and Mrs. Henry L. Baer, treasurer.