Washington Women's History Consortium
Women's Clubs and Organizations
Mable Campbell, President, 1929-1931
Washington State Federation of Women's Clubs
Mrs. George Norman Campbell, Mable Buland, the eighteenth President of WSFWC was elected at the convention in
Yakima in June 1929. She was a native of Greenwood, Wisconsin and came with her parents to the state of Washington when
she was quite young. She attended the University of Washington, graduating with the class of 1905, having the distinction
of being the youngest student to receive a degree from the institution. Besides her B.A. and M.A. degrees from the
University of Washington, she received a Ph.D. degree from Yale, in 1909.
Her professional work included being a graduate instructor of English at the University of Washington, professor of
English at the College of Puget Sound and at Whitman College. She also served as Superintendent of Schools at Kalama.
Mr. and Mrs. Campbell were married at Castle Rock, the Washington home of her parents. The Campbells had two children,
George Buland and Catherine.
Mrs. Campbell's mother, Mrs. George L. Buland, was an esteemed clubwoman in both Washington and Oregon.
Mrs. Campbell, following in the steps of her mother, was widely known for her activities in club circles and no woman in
Federation was better qualified to take over the work as President.
She held memberships not only in the Kalama Woman's Club, Longview Woman's Club, and the Round Robin Study Club of
Longview, but also in A.A.U.W., W.C.T.U., Congregational Church, and D.A.R. She was a regent of the Lower Columbia
Junior College, a member of the Kalama School Board, and was State Vice-chairman of the Republican Party during both
the Coolidge and Hoover campaigns.
She presided at the thirty-fourth annual convention June 16-19, 1930, in Meany Hall at the University of Washington.
There were 461 registered delegates, the largest delegation at a convention in the history of the Federation. The
theme was "Building International Friendships." The thirty-fifth annual convention was June 16-19, 1931, at
Shumway Junior High School in Vancouver. Four hundred fourteen delegates attended with the theme being
"Is it Well with the Child?"
Among the outstanding developments of Mrs. Campbell's administration was the organization of E.S.O. E.S.O. are the
initials of Epsilon Sigma Omicron and mean "Enlighten Your Own Pathway." Marked interest was shown in this new
organization and was the incentive for many to read the lists of books in the reading courses.
During these years attention of the clubwomen was directed toward the preservation of natural beauty along the highways.
Due in part to the depression, the "Bulletin," the Federation publication had financial difficulties and the policies of
management were somewhat revised. A temporary loan from an inactive fund in the treasury was made to the Bulletin fund.
The Federation assumed definite responsibility for the financial situation and thus, a turning point in the history of
the Bulletin passed.
Two significant changes in the established practice of the Federation were made during these years. One, which had recently
been adopted by the General Federation, was that of limiting the tirne of service of chairman of departments, divisions and
committees to four years. The other was the plan of charging a registration fee to the delegates at the annual convention.
Ella M. Higginson had for many years been recognized and honored as the Poet-Laureate of the Washington State Federation
but never officially. It was an appellation well earned. The formal coronation of Mrs. Higginson, as Poet Laureate of the
State Federation, was a big feature of the Vancouver convention, June 17, 1931.
Mrs. Campbell had the exceptional experience of acting as President of the State Federation and General Federation Director at
the same time. Mrs. Mathews, the Junior Past President, according to a traditional routine, had been elected General
Federation Director to take office in June 1930. An opportunity presented itself for Mrs. Mathews to spend 1931 in Europe.
So with a suggestion from the board, ratification by the Federation, and consent of Mrs. Campbell, arrangements were made
for Mrs. Campbell to serve in place of Mrs. Mathews. At the end of two years, Mrs. Mathews was elected to serve, what in
the regular routine, would have been Mrs. Campbell's term.
Mrs. Campbell had the happy privilege of inviting the General Federation to have its 1932 Biennial Convention in Washington
state. The invitation was accepted.
Soon after the conclusion of Mrs. Campbell's period of service as President and General Federation Director, the state of
Washington was honored by having her elected President of the Western Federation, a regional organization with representatives
from 11 western states and Alaska being eligible to membership.
Sources