University of Arizona Faculty Women's Club records

The University of Arizona Faculty Women's Club grew alongside the Dames Club, which was a social club for wives degree-seeking, male college students. In 1965, after successfully raising funds, the Dames Club decided to establish a scholarship for a husband who needed financial help. This scholarship lasted two years before the Dames decided that the scholarship should be given to a Dame that wanted to take classes. By 1969, donations were limited and there were barely enough funds to provide book donations.

In 1968, the Faculty Women's Club had grown as its own club--founded by wives of professors at the university--and established a Memorial Scholarship in honor of past members. The club first met in September 1930 when Mrs. Homer Leroy Shantz invited six other faculty wives to tea; the group decided the club should be formed and meet once a month, having seven meetings per year. The group’s goal was to promote friendship between women who are connected to the University of Arizona through their husband’s or their own positions at the University.

Because of the interest of Dames was considerable, as indicated in the applications for the Dames scholarship, and since the Faculty Women's Club sponsored the Dames, it was suggested that the Faculty Women's Club may be interested in providing financial aid to encourage the wives of students to finish their education. In the spring of 1970, the first Dame received a scholarship.

The Faculty Women’s Club was social in nature, offering teas and other gatherings where women would discuss issues on campus, took on fundraising responsibilities, and focused on maintaining a scholarship fund aimed to help women taking courses at the University of Arizona. Initially, their memorial scholarship had a stipend of $150 a year, which went to a needy junior woman student selected by the University of Arizona Office of Scholarships and Awards. The first recipient was announced at the Women's Day Assembly on May 2, 1968. The club would eventually establish a scholarship endowment fund with the University of Arizona Foundation.