[3] As with many woman's clubs in the United States, the Woman's Club of Fort Worth has its roots in the Progressive Movement,[4] with its original mission of "the cultural and civic advancement of Fort Worth; and the study of literature, history, science, painting, music, and other fine arts.

"[5] Local businesswoman Anna Shelton (1861-1939) recognized the need to bring together Fort Worth's many disparate woman's clubs into one umbrella organization with a shared physical space.

[4] The deed of gift transferring ownership of the building, to be named the William G. Newby Memorial Building, to the Woman's Club limited its use to white women engaging in educational and cultural activities; the deed also forbade drinking, smoking, and gambling on the premises.

In 1932, the club started its Texas Library, which today holds a respected collection of rare books and Texana.

Notable structures include: The landscape architecture firm of Hare & Hare, which the Fort Worth park board secured to develop the city parks master plan, designed the club's grounds in 1926 as a gift to the Fort Worth Garden Club.

The Woman's Club has a notable collection of furnishings and art, including nine grand pianos; the Jarvis Light, a chandelier once owned by Anna Jarvis, the founder of Mother's Day; portraits of prominent members by painter Emily Guthrie Smith,[4] and Pipes of Pan, a bronze sculpture by Frederick MacMonnies.