History of AAUW Kansas
from “A History of the First 30 Years of the Kansas Division
of the American Association of University Women”
by Teresa Marie Ryan

In February 1906, the first branch of the National Association of Collegiate Alumnae was formed in Lawrence Kansas.  In March 1916, the Emporia branch of the University Women of Emporia was organized.  Then, in 1917, Topeka formed a branch of ACA.  The state of Kansas AAUW was organized in 1919 with Alice Winston of Lawrence as its president.

By 1920, the Kansas State Convention was held with delegates present from a new branch in Wichita.  The Lawrence branch aided college women financially with scholarships.  The Wichita branch was interested in child welfare and the milk campaign.  Mrs. C.W. Smith of Topeka was elected president of the state of Kansas AAUW  in 1921.

In Wichita, in 1921, eleven delegates were present from 5 branches.  Each branch contributed $5 annually to finance the work of the state organization.  The name was changed to AAUW to comply with the national organization.  Each member was involved with one of the branch departments – book club, music club and drama club.

The national AAUW Conference was held in Kansas City Missouri and the Kansas Division met there also on April 7, 1922 at the Hotel Muehlebach.  In May 1927, the Kansas Division Bulletin reported that Kansas was second in the United States in number of branches – 21.  $1,421 was raised to help pay for a National AAUW Headquarters in Washington D.C.

From 1927 to 1931, the Kansas membership increased to 1,522 with 25 branches.  Practically every branch had a study group in international relations.  The Million Dollar Fellowship Fund raised $40,000 for the Southwest Central Section.  By 1933, 9 Kansas colleges were eligible for national membership.  By 1950, there were 3,396 members in 43 branches.