Washington Women's History Consortium
Women's Clubs and Organizations
Elvira Marquis Elwood, President, 1901-1903
Washington State Federation of Women's Clubs
Mrs. Harry S. Elwood, Ellensburg, was the third in line of pioneer leaders whose wise guidance set the Federation on
"A straight course and kept it on an even keel."
Elvira Marquis Elwood was born of Presbyterian parents on a farm overlooking the little town of Pulaski, Pennsylvania. The
death of her father when she was a mere child took the mother, who was a teacher, and her four small children away from their
farm home.
Elvira early began preparation to become a teacher. She graduated from the Teacher's College at Indiana, Pennsylvania and
at once began her teaching career in Beaver Falls and later in the Normal from which she graduated. In 1892 she arrived in
Ellensburg and taught five years in the English Department of the Washington State Normal School.
In 1897 she married Harry S. Elwood, a pharmacist of Ellensburg. With the exception of two years in Seattle, Mr. and Mrs.
Elwood resided almost continuously in Ellensburg.
Mrs. Elwood was one of the early members of the Friday Club of Ellensburg and was instrumental in organizing the Gallian Club.
She was a member of BF chapter of P.E.O.
During World War 1, she organized the Soldiers and Sailors' Club of Ellensburg which made and furnished comfort kits to all
service men of Kittitas County. She also was an active member of the Red Cross.
For more than 15 years, she was a member of the City Council and for many years a member of the School Board.
Always interested in civic betterment, she helped form a Civic League, including both men and women's groups, which
fostered a city beautification program. She was an active church worker and an estimable, patriotic citizen.
Not the least of her worthiness and patriotism was manifested in her work as leader of the Federation. She attended her first
State Federation meeting in 1889 in Seattle. At this meeting, she was elected Recording Secretary. Two years later, at the
fifth annual convention in Tacoma, she was promoted to the office of President.
In an article relative to her administration, Mrs. Elwood modestly says: "Not a great deal was accomplished during my two
years of service, as President, except to strengthen the foundations of our organization."
Not only were the foundations of the organization strengthened but some projects of the greatest merit had their incipiency
during her administration. It was during her administration that interest was aroused in the study of forestry, much of
which was due to her personally.
Quoting from her address given at the sixth annual convention at Pullman in 1902, Mrs. Elwood said: "Aside from the work
already undertaken by our clubs, there is a line of work in which I am particularly interested. This is forestry. It seems to
many, perhaps, an unnecessary precaution to sound the note of alarm regarding the destruction of trees by forest fires and the
lumberman's ax when our Evergreen State is so richly endowed with magnificent forests, but now is the time to urge a systematic
study of the trees, the influence of forests upon climatic conditions, reforestation and the proper observance of Arbor Day.
Let us endeavor to arouse sentiment in favor of forest reserves, the best means of preventing forest fires and the intelligent
use of our trees for legitimate purposes."
The convention resolved to have a standing committee on Forestry and Outdoor Act. A committee was appointed, the Spokane Floral
Association being named as the conimittee. This eventually developed into the Conservation Committee, the culmination of one of
its greatest projects being the acquisition of the magnificent Federation Forest.
It is of interest to note that during the same year, the General Federation took cognizance of the same work and appointed
committees on Forestry, Civics and Irrigation at its meeting in Los Angeles.
At this time, there were no stated and specific means of communicating between the General and State Federations. The General
Federation requested the states to appoint a "General Federation Secretary" whose duty it was to keep the General and State
Federations informed of each others policies, purposes and accomplishments. This was done by means of correspondence and the
writing of articles for the General Federation Club Woman. During the term of the third President, then, the first General
Federation Secretary was appointed and this was the forerunner of the General Federation Director.
Sources