In 1887, Misses Pope and Shipman conceived the idea of forming a club to reflect and promote the “social philanthropic and literary interests” of Cleveland’s college-educated women. An invited group met on January 15, 1898 and signed up 88 charter members representing 17 colleges and universities. Louise Pope (later Mrs. Homer H. Johnson, mother of architect Philip Johnson) became the first president. Annual dues were $3 and regular meetings took place every two weeks on Monday afternoons.
Early meetings were held in homes and college buildings until 1900 when the club reached a membership of 115, representing 25 colleges. A suite of two rooms was secured in a downtown building; subsequently the club moved to another downtown site until 1908, when it moved to a hall in the Unitarian Church at 82nd and Euclid Avenue. In 1908 The College Club incorporated under Ohio Law as “The College Club Company” and was then able to own property. On January 15, 1913, the club purchased its own house on East 93rd Street. Membership rose to 565 in 1920 and, for several years, remained above 600.
After World War II, changes in the community and a need for parking motivated a search for new quarters. In 1948 the Articles of Incorporation of the non-profit corporation states the mission is “to promote the educational, cultural, literary and philanthropic interests of its members, and to cooperate with organizations in encouraging and promoting kindred interests in the community; to work toward a better understanding of local, national and international problems through the holding of lectures and discussion groups; and to encourage active participation by its members in civic and humanitarian projects.” In March 1951 the next clubhouse, on Overlook Road, was acquired. It was purchased from the estate of D. Edward Dangler, its second owner. The house had been designed for W.D.B Alexander in 1904 by the architectural firm of Meade and Garfield (son of President Garfield). Much repair and restoration was required before occupancy. Over the years additions and improvements were made to meet the changing needs of members, programs, and activities of the club. These included the addition of an auditorium, air conditioning, a ramp, and an elevator.
In 2012, then-President Judith Schneider began a study of the Club and formed a Future Committee in response to rising expenses and declining membership. An extensive analysis of the cost of maintaining the Clubhouse led to a 2015 vote by the membership under then-President Mary Lou Bregitzer to sell the Clubhouse. The Clubhouse was sold in 2017 with net proceeds of $1,024,152. In November of 2017, the membership voted to donate $650,000 from the proceeds to the College Club of Cleveland Foundation (a 501(c)(3) entity with investments managed by the Cleveland Foundation). All current College Club of Cleveland members are members of the College Club of Cleveland Foundation.
The College Club of Cleveland offers many programs and activities for its members and membership requirements have evolved over the years to permit greater diversity in its membership. The current mission statement states: “A community of lifelong learners who engage the mind and body to understand ourselves, our community, and our world.” We meet at various venues in the community and hope that you will be a part of our future.