History

BPW is the oldest and largest organization of working women in this country with representative membership from the entire spectrum of occupations. The common thread that unites all our members is a concern that women here and throughout the world be treated equitably in all areas of their lives.

Milestones

• Served as a consultant at San Francisco when the United Nations Charter was drawn in 1945. It continues to support the work of the United Nations, particularly in those areas that impact women.
• Supported national equal pay measures for 14 years before their enactment into law in 1964.
• Was active in supporting jury service for women and equal pay legislation in many states.
• Supported legislation that made women's branches part of the armed forces and helped secure equal status for women in the medical services of the armed forces.
• Established the judge Sarah T. Hughes World Friendship Fund to help women from other countries study in the United States for professional advancement.
• Has endorsed and actively supported qualified candidates for elective and appointive policy-making posts at the local, state, and national levels.
• Endorsed and supported the Child Labor Amendment.
• Has sponsored Conferences of Business and Professional Women of the Americas to promote friendship, cooperation, and understanding among women of the Americas and determine ways women can contribute to the social, cultural, and economic progress of the western hemisphere.
• With the encouragement of past President John F. Kennedy initiated the establishment of the State Commission on the Status of Women which led to the creation of commissions in all states.
• Worked for the passage of Equal Pay Act of 1964 which required equal pay for equal work.
• Lobbied for enactment of Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972 which prohibits sex discrimination in any educational program or activity receiving federal financial assistance.
• Effectively supported the Equal Credit Opportunity Act of 1974 which prohibits sex discrimination on the basis of sex or marital status in any credit transaction.
• Lobbied for equal representation in political organizations.
• Lobbied for child care services.
• Lobbied for tax reforms equalizing treatment of men and women.
• Lobbied for improving laws and services regarding sexual assault.

Collect

The Collect is recited at the opening of every meeting. The Collect was written by Mary Stewart in Longmont, Colorado in 1904. Miss Stewart until 1910 signed the Collect with her pen name, "Mary Stuart."

Keep us, Oh God, from pettiness;
let us be large in thought, in word, in deed.
Let us be done with fault finding
and leave off self-seeking.
May we put away all pretense
and meet each other face to face,
without self-pity and without prejudice.
May we never be hasty in judgment
and always be generous.
Let us take time for all things;
make us to grow calm, serene, gentle.
Teach us to put into action our better impulses,
straight forward and unafraid.
Grant that we may realize
it is the little things that create differences;
that in the big things of life we are at one.
And may we strive to touch and to know
the great, common human heart of us all.
And, Oh, Lord God,
let us forget not, to be kind.
       -Mary Stewart

The Emblem

History

At the first birthday of the Federation, during the St. Paul Convention in 1920, national president Gail Laughlin appointed a committee to select a design for the Federation Emblem. In 1921 President Lena Lake Forrest and committee selected the emblem that we continue to use today. It was designed by a sculptor name Nygaard. The emblem is in the form of a golden circle. The symbols of Nike, Scroll, Torch and Wand, and Ship of Commerce are imposed above the initials of NFBPWC. The Nike design symbolizes progress, strength, freedom, and triumph facing squarely the winds and waves of prejudice and all other limitations. The Torch is a symbol of light, wisdom, principle, leadership. The Wand is the winged staff of Mercury, herald of a new day for women, and a symbol of opportunity, equality, cooperation, healing, harmony, and power. The Ship of Commerce typifies the entrance of women into business and the expansion of opportunities until there now remains no door closed to the prepared woman. The Scroll of Achievement began in 1919 and is still unrolling. Here may continue to record our accomplishments and successes.

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