Women Who Lead
If you think back really hard to your high school U.S. history class, you may recall learning about events that happened in 1890. The Sherman Antitrust Act became law in July of that year, followed days later by the admission of Idaho and Wyoming to the country as states. The Wounded Knee Massacre in South Dakota would follow less than six months later. In a quiet parlor of a home at Fourth Street and Broadway in Louisville, Kentucky, another historic event was happening.
A group of women had gathered at the invitation of Susan Look Avery, the 68-year-old widow of a local businessman, B.F. Avery, whose successful plow business had made them wealthy. She had an idea, and that was to begin a civic organization run and organized entirely by women with the goal of helping the community.
One hundred thirty-six years later, The Woman’s Club of Louisville (WCL) remains a vital and vibrant organization that continues to build on its long legacy. Its history is one of the things that Margaret Young most enjoys about being a member. As a volunteer at the Conrad-Caldwell House Museum, Margaret already had an interest in local history, so in 2011, when fellow museum volunteers encouraged her to check out The Woman’s Club of Louisville, she accepted and now serves as fundraising chair and historian.
For history enthusiasts, The Woman’s Club has much to offer. The organization petitioned for the passage of the Married Women’s Property Act of 1894, which allowed women to keep and hold property in their own name after marriage. It also worked to have the age of consent changed from 12 to 16. In her time as a Woman’s Club member, Margaret has been able to use her interest in history to have a Kentucky Historical Society marker about Susan Look Avery and The Woman’s Club of Louisville written and installed in front of their building at 1320 S. Fourth St.
Of course, history isn’t the only draw for members. Woman’s Club President Gayle Bonnarens didn’t really have an interest in the club, even though her mother had been a member for many years. When she did finally visit after a friend hounded her to do so, Gayle walked in and immediately saw her mother’s best friend, a connection that made her feel that being part of the organization was actually for her.
With experience running a medical practice, Gayle has used her passion for organizational structure to help The Woman’s Club review and revise its bylaws, some of which were more than 100 years old.
If there is a downside to such a long history, it is often the misperceptions that people have about what The Woman’s Club is like. They may think incorrectly that the club is only comprised of older women who don’t work and have extensive wealth. Perhaps they may imagine members still coming to events in their Sunday finery as they did in the 1890s, with hats and high-neck blouses with gigot sleeves. While The Woman’s Club takes pride in its history, its members live throughout Kentuckiana, with unique personal and professional experiences and from a variety of age ranges.
One thing members of The Woman’s Club share in common is a desire to do good in the community and actively serve others. For more than 25 years, the organization has worked closely to support children at Whitney Young at Englehard by donating clothing and food. They also have a long-term supportive relationship with the Heuser Hearing & Learning Academy. In fact, it was The Woman’s Club that co-founded the school in 1948, which was originally known as the Deaf Oral School.
Members of The Woman’s Club of Louisville are proud of their fundraising efforts, which go to not only support their three historic buildings but small, local nonprofit entities that provide worthwhile services.
“In the last five years, we gave out more than $153,000 in community grants. That includes COVID years when we couldn’t do fundraisers,” Margaret says.
“We’re really proud that we’re on track to give $45,000 this year,” Gayle adds.
In order to generate these funds, The Woman’s Club hosts a variety of events throughout the year. For example, their Bourbon & Bites event in November 2025 showcased 18 distillers for a remarkable bourbon-tasting event that included a live auction. The Woman’s Club also runs Carriage Trade, an upscale consignment boutique that accepts donations. All items sold help to benefit the Charity Fund.
As if history and service weren’t enough, The Woman’s Club is also focused on the simple act of connecting women with each other and having fun. Each week, The Woman’s Club hosts a luncheon for its members, which features some kind of entertainment, whether that be a speaker or even a fun performance by a local musician. Within the club, there are also numerous “special interest” groups, including a book group, a drama group, a garden group, a musical interest group and a travel group. Sometimes these groups host special events for the public. For instance, in 2024, The Woman’s Club drama group performed “In Juliet’s Garden,” in which several of Shakespeare’s heroines discuss issues they have with their respective plots. In addition to an enjoyable play, it featured a beautiful pre-show reception.
Suffice it to say, The Woman’s Club of Louisville is a place that cherishes its history but strives to effect positive change in the here and now, with an eye on the next 136 years. Whether sponsoring its Non-Jury Art Show, an annual event for the past 87 years, or filling up its Little Free Library with books that neighbors can enjoy, the club remains a dynamic force for good in our city.
If you are a woman 18 years or older, have a wide range of interests and want to be part of a long history of exceptional women who offer service to the community, The Woman’s Club of Louisville might be for you. To learn more, you can visit wclouisville.org.
