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8.C. - Page 12 of 54 William Kostura, Historic Resource Evaluation of the Redwood City Woman Club The Parlor is located immediately to the left as one enters the the Auditorium from the main entrance. This room measures about 20 feet by 17 feet. Paneled wainscoting is about five feet in height while the walls and coved ceilings are finished in plaster. A picture railing runs around the perimeter of the upper walls. Windows have board casings topped by thin moldings. Doors to a restroom and a closet are paneled and have casings similar to those around the windows. Light is provided by a small chandelier that appears to be old. The carpeted floor appears to be the only non -original feature of this room. History Clubs and other organizations for women in Redwood City. 1905-1930 The Redwood City Woman's Club was one of several women's organizations in Redwood City during the early 20th century, it is one of two that still survive, and it is the only one that has owned its own building. The earliest women's group in Redwood City that is known of to this writer was formed at the beginning of 1893 and was called the Spinsters. On New Year's day of that year six members met at the residence of F. W. Wooten for music and refreshments. Men were also invited, and eleven showed up, outnumbering the women. This appears to have been a short-lived group. Two other early Redwood City women's groups were the Rebekahs and the Women of Woodcraft. These were the women's auxiliary groups of the national fraternal organizations Independent Order of Odd Fellows and the Woodmen of the World, respectively. Both of these women's groups were established in Redwood City by 1905. In that year, they were two of eleven fraternal organizations that were listed in the city directory. Of the remaining nine, eight were men's groups, including the Odd Fellows, the Masons, the Fraternal Order of Eagles, two Foresters organizations, and Woodmen of the World. The heavy predominance of men's lodges over clubs for women in Redwood City was typical for American cities at this time. Only a temperance organization, the Independent Order of Good Templars, admitted both men and women. In early 1909 Redwood City had nineteen lodges of various kinds, including three of Odd Fellows, two of Masons, two of Good Templars, and two of the Native Sons of the Golden West. Three lodges were for women: Robin Hood Circle No. 517 of the Women of Woodcraft; Olive Branch No. 48 of the Rebekahs; and a Degree of Pocahontas, which was the female auxiliary of the Improved Order of Red Men. In May 1909 a twentieth group formed: the Redwood City Woman's Club. It was the only women's group that was not an auxiliary of a men's lodge. 536