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Our History

"Celebrating their 120th anniversary, the Lockport Woman's Club has the distinction of longevity but also of quietly transforming its community. The Club was founded during the Progressive Era in American history, at the turn of the 20th century, when people founded associations that they believed would better society."

- Dennis H. Cremin, Ph.D., Professor of History, Lewis University


The first meeting of the Lockport Woman's Club was held in October 1902. The constitution stated the object of the Lockport Woman's Club shall be: Mutual sympathy and counsel and united effort in the improvement of ourselves, our homes, and the community in which we live. The club work shall be divided into four departments of Home, Education, Philanthropy, and Reform and Physical Culture. Dues were 25 cents. By 1907, membership rose to 106 women. Dues were $1.


On October 27, 1921, Mrs. Anna Bruce, Chairman of the Library Committee, presented the subject of establishing a local library and explained the steps that had been taken toward securing one.  Mrs. Bernice Frazer moved, and it was seconded that a special meeting be called on November 18, 1921, to act upon the question of establishing a library in Lockport. It was additionally moved that $5 be paid to cover the rent for the library. The motion carried. The official opening of the Lockport Library was January 26, 1922.


As the Lockport Woman's Club embarked on its 13th decade, it continued its unwavering commitment to promoting educational initiatives, strengthening community bonds, and fostering philanthropic efforts.


"With Charity For All...." is the title of a comprehensive history book chronicling the remarkable journey of the Lockport Woman's Club from 1902 to 2022. This insightful book is available at the Lockport Branch of the White Oak Library.


Organized

1902


Incorporated

September 2, 1919


Illinois Federation

1905


Eleventh District Federation

1909


General Federation

1923 


Club Color

Red and White


Club Motto - Traditional

"With malice toward none, with charity of all"


Club Emblem - Traditional

Toleration Justice Fidelity Fraternity Cooperation


Club Emblem - 21st Century

Proud Legacy ~ Promising Future

Empowering women through friendship and service



Volunteer Hands

Our Mission

 

The mission is to foster interest in literary, scientific, musical, historical, and other areas of general interest for its members; and to promote education and contribute to the welfare through philanthropic and community endeavors.


LWC Officer, 23-24
Our 2024 - 2025 Officers

President
Janine Wheeler

1st Vice President
Kathy McDermott

2nd Vice President
Pat Jarog

Recording Secretary
Anne Magosky

Corresponding Secretary
Heather Schwarz

Treasurer
Jane Vescovi

Assistant Treasurer
Chris Kosek

Collage 2023

Our Community Service Projects

Education
Lockport Woman's Club continues its unwavering commitment to advancing educational programs, fostering community connections, and supporting philanthropic endeavors. Since October 2023, the LWC has collaborated with Lockport Township High School to introduce Sewing Initiatives for special needs adults at LTHS Career & Community Connection (CCC). LWC volunteers gather with adult students twice a week to provide instruction in fundamental sewing skills and guide them in creating practical and useful items. In addition, on a weekly basis, LWC volunteers extend their support to LTHS students by imparting essential lessons in Financial Literacy Initiative, covering topics such as spending, saving, budgeting, and investing.

Food Baskets

The LWC conducts two food drives each year, prior to Thanksgiving and in the spring. Needy families are identified through the social workers of local schools. Food is ordered from the Northern Illinois Food Bank and gathered through local donations. It is sorted and distributed based on family sizes. In addition to member volunteers, the Lockport Township High School Interact Club assists with this project.  In 2022, the LWC granted $4,250 directly to area food pantries and spent $3,395 on food for distribution through the Food Baskets Project.


In addition to addressing food scarcity, each year prior to Christmas, the Food Basket Committee conducts a gift collection among LWC members to support the children of these families. In 2022, 64 gifts were collected, an estimated value of $1,600.

Book Club

The Book Club has been a staple of the LWC. This year, the book club met on four occasions.

Goodwill

Birthdays, anniversaries, new babies and grandbabies, family losses, and illnesses, are dutifully remembered by the LWC Goodwill representatives who faithfully send cards, emails, and make phone calls.

Monthly Projects

At each meeting, cash and in-kind collections are taken to support the Lockport Food Pantry. Items are also collected for a recycling program sponsored by the Dragon Master Foundation in support of brain cancer research. At different times of the year, other collections are taken for specific needs, such as school supplies for children in SOS Children's Village or gift cards for Lockport Township High School’s graduation lock-in, Senior Late Night.

 

In addition to its own activities, the LWC provides regular financial support to other worthy local organizations in accordance with the LWC's mission statement.

Communications & Public Relations

The LWC, in addition to promoting the club and its events through Facebook and its websites, maintains separate websites and Facebook accounts for the Christmas Crossroads and Spooky Night Out fundraisers.  The Artisan Market also maintains a Facebook account. In 2022, a marketing specialist was also contracted to boost the visibility of these events.  In addition to these platforms, the members have represented and promoted the club through participation in community events, such as the Old Canal Days parade, Young Hearts for Life, Trunk or Treat, Wreaths Across America at Lincoln Cemetery, and Christmas in the Square.


Scholarship
Our Scholarships 

The Lockport Woman's Club extends annual scholarships to our community, covering a range of educational pursuits. These scholarships encompass various categories, including support for high school students attending Summer Camp for the Arts, individuals pursuing a two-year program at a community college or vocational/technical/trade school, those seeking a four-year university education, and adult women who are returning to school and reside or work in Lockport. In addition, LWC Continuing Education Fund awards $1,000 to one member from each graduating class for their sophomore, junior, and senior colle
ge year.

In the year 2023-24, the Lockport Woman's Club distributed a generous sum of over $32,000 in scholarship funds. The financial resources for these scholarships are obtained through the Lockport Woman's Club's fundraising endeavors.

To obtain essential information regarding the LWC Scholarship, such as eligibility criteria, application deadlines, and the application process, please refer to our Scholarships Page.

Lockport Sign

Our Community


Lockport is a city in Will County, Illinois, United States, located 30 miles southwest of Chicago. Per the 2020 census, the population was 26,094. The city was incorporated in 1853. It is situated along the Illinois and Michigan (I&M) Canal, and was the headquarters of the canal when the canal was operating. A section of the canal runs through Lockport, including the remains of the canal's Lock No. 1 from which the town received its name. The canal right-of-way is now the Illinois and Michigan National Heritage Corridor.

Downtown Lockport contains four museums, all within walking distance of one another, as well as other historic places: Gaylord Building, Illinois and Michigan Canal Museum, The Lockport Gallery, The Gladys Fox Museum and Lincoln Landing. Wikipedia