According to an article published around 1937 in the Greenbelt Cooperator, when Greenbelters were asked what they did, they responded, "We organize." (Williamson, 72). And organize they did. In less than two years, the citizens of one of the first "green" towns that grew out of President Roosevelt's New Deal proposal had established for themselves a model community. Greenbelt, which was established approximately ten miles outside of Washington, DC, in 1937, boasted over 40 community organizations as of October 1939 (Williamson, 79). These organizations ranged from a theatrical club to athletic groups to citizens' associations. The Evening Star, in August 1939, stated that "last winter, many Greenbelters, men and women, went to club meetings of one kind or another three to six times a week. It is doubtful if that pace will be maintained in the future because, as several citizens put it, 'There's no sense in having comfortable homes and not having any home life'" (Evening Star) The flurry of club activity in Greenbelt was a popular concern with Greenbelt's citizens. In December of 1938, Greenbelt resident Dr. Linden S. Dodson made a motion at a Citizens' Association meeting that the last week of the year be "At Home Week In Greenbelt." During this week, no organizational meetings could be held, so people could spend the holidays at home with their families (Williamson, 77) Despite the fact that the clubs took up a lot of the townspeoples' time, Greenbelters managed their town through these organizations, and they were intensely proud of their accomplishments.
Among the most busy with these organizations were the women of
Greenbelt. Most women, aside from the few widows in Greenbelt, did not
have jobs outside of the home. As if children and homemaking didn't
keep them busy enough, many housewives were also members of several
community organizations, and they played crucial parts in defining the
roles of women in Greenbelt. Read on to find out more about these groups,
and discover how the women of Greenbelt helped to shape their
community into the "utopia" it has been known as for over 60 years.
Women's Organizations of Early Greenbelt |
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|---|---|---|
| Navy Wives' Club | American Legion Auxiliary | Woman's Club |
| Better Buyers Club of Greenbelt | Women's Athletic Group | Housewives' Club |
| Miscellaneous Clubs | Women's Religious Organizations | Mothers' Clubs |
| Conclusions | ||