Historical Note
The Druzea Club was formed in Bellingham, Washington in 1937 in the
home of Mrs. Maude Fischer with the express purpose of facilitating mental
improvement and social enjoyment for its members. In 1938 the club joined the
Washington State Federation of Women’s Clubs and enjoyed a long association
with this umbrella organization.
Druzea is a Russian word meaning ‘friendship’ which was to be the root
of the Druzea Club’s purpose in the local and regional communities. The club
was active in a number of service projects which included aiding needy families
during the holidays, collecting magazines for monthly drop-off at the Juvenile
Detention quarters of the Court House, sponsoring a rural school through the
Save the Children Federation, assisting in the restoration of the Whatcom
Museum as well as engaging in war service projects during World War II.
Library service was also one of the main focuses of the Druzea Club,
which took an active role in the formation of Friends of the Bellingham Public
Library in October 1952. The club was also involved in the establishment of a
library at Pt. Roberts by furnishing books and magazines to the local
community.
The Druzea Club was active as well in supporting State and General
Federation of Women’s Clubs projects and also gave financial assistance to the
Heart, Cancer, and Polio funds, the local food bank, the Indian Youth Mission,
the Home for Abused Women and the Salvation Army. The club also acted as a
leadership training ground in that five of its members eventually became
Federation of Women’s Clubs district presidents, three were general chairman to
the state convention when it was held in Bellingham, and several members went
on to become state officers and department chairs. This connection with the
Federation was cherished by club members and fortified their resolve to
continue actively supporting their local and regional communities. The club
celebrated its fiftieth anniversary in 1987 and has since disbanded.
Content Description
The Druzea Club Records (1937-1987) contain textual materials which
document the history of the club’s volunteer and community service activities
as well as the active role the group played within the Washington State
Federation of Women’s Clubs.
The materials primarily consist of club scrapbooks which are organized
chronologically. Scrapbooks contain numerous clippings from the Bellingham
Herald and the Washington Clubwoman regarding the activities of the club,
certificates of award from the Washington State Federation of Women’s Clubs,
photographs of club members, thank you letters to the club, yearly membership
and officers lists as well as numerous ephemera from various functions and
gatherings.
The collection also contains materials relating to the Washington
State Federation of Women’s Clubs of which the Druzea Club was an active part.
These materials include Bellingham-hosted convention booklets, club bylaws, a
1986-87 directory and speech and communication help-manuals. These materials
can help in the establishment of the connection between the Druzea Club and the
umbrella organization of the Federation.
Use of the Collection
Restrictions on Access Collection open to the public.
Preferred Citation Druzea Club Records, Center for Pacific Northwest Studies, Western
Washington University, Bellingham, WA, 98225