Our Story & Mission

The University of Virginia Women’s Club was founded in the 1948-1949 academic year as the Faculty Wives Club “to promote sociability” among the faculty wives.

During the early 1900s, the University experienced tremendous expansion and many reforms and modernizations. As the University grew in size, by the late 1940s, faculty wives were seeking ways to maintain the sense of community they enjoyed, so a group of women met at Madison Hall in 1948 to discuss the topic. These women established the Faculty Wives Club as a social organization that would provide opportunities for faculty wives to become acquainted with one another.

Mrs. Joseph L. Vaughan was elected as the Club’s first president for the 1948-1949 academic year. Mrs. Colgate W. Darden, Jr., wife of the University president, served as Faculty Wives Club’s first Honorary President and hosted the first social event, a Tea, on April 20, 1948. The Faculty Wives Club sponsored numerous social events and served the larger university community in a variety of capacities.

Over the years, as the University has expanded and made advancements to meet the needs of its exceptional academic community and the expectations of a changing culture, Faculty Wives, too, has changed to meet the needs of university women. Beyond participating in social gatherings and contributing to the University’s various annual receptions, Faculty Wives had Annual Meetings with interesting speakers and formed smaller Interest Groups that provided opportunities for lifelong learning or service to the university community. Philanthropy became an important part of Faculty Wives when one of their own faced a cancer diagnosis. Club members began to work with the university medical center to provide for the special needs of women during their treatment. Currently, the Club’s Philanthropy Project supports the Women’s Center on Grounds, among other important projects.

In 1991, the name was changed to the University of Virginia Women’s Club, and its membership was extended to a broader group of university women. In 1998-1999, Women’s Club celebrated its 50th Anniversary. Then-President John Casteen began the celebration in April 1998 at the annual Carr’s Hill Luncheon, which he hosted each year for Women’s Club. The 50th Celebration ended with a Spring Luncheon at Alumni Hall in May 1999. At the April 1998 Luncheon Celebration, President Casteen made these remarks:

“Your club has provided a great deal of service to the university over the years and helped it through many complex changes. You helped the university through the process of integration. You helped ease the introduction of co-education…and the growth of the student body and faculty. The changes have been successful in large part because of you.”

These words are a tremendous testament to the positive influence Women’s Club has had within the university community. This year, as Women’s Club celebrates 75 Years, it continues to be a significant organization as it now welcomes all women across Grounds, a change that was made in 2014 to truly reflect the University and to represent it well. (See Constitution, page 29, for specifics.)

The Club has successfully recovered from the enormous challenge of maintaining fellowship and staying connected during the coronavirus pandemic, and members are actively participating in all areas once again. Club President Connie Brown is doing a wonderful job encouraging the various groups to continue their activities with an emphasis on keeping members “safe.” The Fall presented many opportunities for returning to all of Women’s Club’s regular activities and meetings, and the Spring calendar is full.

The UVA Women’s Club meets the needs of university women by providing opportunities to meet other university women, to participate in lifelong learning through a variety of intellectual pursuits and activities, and to form lasting friendships, especially as the demands of family and careers have begun to wane. The Club also continues to provide service to the university community through meaningful philanthropy projects. The longevity of the Club demonstrates the willingness of its leadership to keep the organization relevant and at the same time true to its founding purpose – to give university women a vehicle for staying in touch and being actively involved.