It was founded by journalist Phyllis Deakin and ran for 25 years, when, for financial reasons, it changed its name and began to accept men into its membership.
The club's establishment was inspired by Eleanor Roosevelt's visit to England in 1943, when women on Fleet Street, with the exception of a few female magazine editors, were denied access to her.
[6] The club was officially founded in August of that year, for women working in journalism, either on the editorial staff of a newspaper or magazine, or as an established freelancer.
[7] Clementine Churchill was guest of honour at the opening luncheon,[8] this being only the second time she had met a large group of female journalists (the first being in America).
[13] In 1945 a "christening party", attended by Lady Bonham Carter, Brendan Bracken and William Berry, 1st Viscount Camrose, was held to mark the official opening of the premises.