The 1940s
In the 1940s, the Club was active in raising funds for local scholarships to Layton School of Art students as well as the Lucille Nielson Memorial Scholarship for a Visiting Nurse Association member who wished advanced training.
On a joyous note, in May of 1940, Club members attended the chartering of the Zonta Club of Madison, Wisconsin.
The next decade of course was that of WWII. The club was involved with the YWCA Building Fund, the Community Chest, Red Cross, China Relief, War Bonds and Civil Defense. At the 1940 International Convention in Colorado, attended by four Club members, International President Dr. Helen Pierce spoke of “Women’s Contribution to Social and Economic Change”. Thus November’s dinner meeting theme was “Women as World Citizens”. How can Zontians study the world’s humanitarian problems and be part of their solutions?
At the 1941 International Convention, members learned of women’s role in national defense and making democracy work. Social justice and international cooperation were stressed by a speaker from Canada who also pointed out that if women have a greater share in directing political issues, peace would be easier to maintain.
During the War, Zontians adopted eleven youngsters through the “Save the Children” organization and sent many CARE packages overseas. In 1948, additional funds were raised through tickets for a performance of a Brazilian soprano from the New York Metropolitan Opera.
In October of 1942, Club members attended a presentation sponsored by the Business and Professional Women’s Club. The program was a true story of Nazi persecution and a family’s flight to England and then America as told by Ada Roetter of Madison, a German refugee.
The Milwaukee Sentinel, October 14, 1942
On Zonta International’s 23rd anniversary, the Club celebrated with a luncheon and honored its Blue Star Mothers.
The Club continued to grow with eight new members installed in September of 1942 and twenty-0ne in 1943. Club programs continued to include topics of women’s work in industry, administration, shipbuilding, and child rearing during the war effort. Members voted to provide ten pounds of cookies each week for a year for the Soldiers’ and Sailors’ Club on N. Water St.
Club meetings in 1943 included a County Park Commissioner speaking about the Milwaukee Park System and three lectures by Dr. J. Martin Klotsche addressing a post war world, the U.S. in the new world, and what should be done with a conquered Germany. Members also learned about speech defects and experiences of two women medical doctors.
In February of 1944, the Wisconsin Federation of Women’s Clubs commended the “initiative and vision” of BPW, Altrusa, and Zonta clubs in planning a “world war victory memorial building in the form of a cultural center as a tribute to the men and women who are winning the war.” This initiative spurred further discussions by service clubs, architects, and planners to form a committee and join with the Milwaukee Civic Alliance’s steering committee.
Thus, after the war, Milwaukee Zontians partnered with Business & Professional Women and Altrusa, to spearhead the community’s creation of the War Memorial on our lakefront. Club Presidents Grace A. Kelly and Catherine Cleary were involved in the efforts. Our Zonta Club donated $2,500 toward the building, a sum equivalent to over $35,000 in 2018 dollars. Altrusa pledged $5,000 and BPW $1,000.
Cleary with a check for the War Memorial
In The Milwaukee Journal of Jan. 09, 1944, “The city’s three women’s service clubs have joined forces to aid in initiating an organized movement for a distinctive Victory Memorial to commemorate Milwaukee’s participation in the World war. They are convinced that this can best be done by urging the men’s service clubs to unite their forces and assume the responsibilities of leadership.” The women’s groups indicated that “We believe that it should be a tribute to both the living and the dead.”
In September of 1944, Club member Meta Steinfort was elected Chairman of Region B, District 2.
Lucille Clock, Edna Gillette, & Marvina Wilson Madison; and Meta Steinfort, Milwaukee 1944
With Senate elections coming up, the Club joined Altrusa, BPW, Women’s Service Club, Council of Jewish Women, and the Milwaukee League of Women Voters in holding an open forum on October 21 for all senatorial nominees to learn about their views.
International Zonta Day was observed on November 15, 1944 with Past International President S. Katherine Maddus speaking at the Ambassador Hotel about service clubs and funds were collected for the Marian DeForest Fund that promotes new clubs and assists old ones.
In the midst of a very event filled 1945 was the Dumbarton Oaks Conference in Washington, DC which were discussions about International Peace and Security leading to the establishment of the United Nations. The Club joined with many many others in Milwaukee in studying and disseminating the proposal.
Prior to Spring Workshops, Zonta clubs held Spring Intercity Meetings with other Zonta clubs. Our Club was host to one in 1945 which included Zonta Clubs from Madison, South Chicago, Oak park, and Evanston.
Joining the war memorial effort in 1945 was the Women’s Advertising Club. The four clubs held a “Forward Looking “dinner during which the needs of the Public Library and Public Museum were discussed and whether those needs could be met in the war memorial. The groups were most concerned about the overcrowded and hazardous conditions at both facilities.
In March of 1946, Zontian Annette M. Snapper, who toured Europe studying postwar conditions, addressed the Club at its luncheon meeting. She was considered an authority on living conditions and food distribution and spoke about problems facing French citizens.
On Zonta International’s 27th anniversary, the Club did a radio broadcast from 5:15 -5:30 pm on WMAQ in Milwaukee.
Milwaukee’s long struggle against smoke and soot was taken up in January 1947 by the Club and the Milwaukee Civic Alliance, Milwaukee County League of Women Voters, and the Milwaukee County Federation of Women’s Clubs. Petitions were circulated for an ordinance to immediately control smoke countywide. An ordinance was drafted and an air pollution control engineer position created. A smoke control ordinance was finally passed in March of 1948.
The Club was also involved with the organizing of the Inter-Group Council for Women in Public Policy in Milwaukee in 1947. The group was to find ways and means of discovering qualified women and bringing them to the attention of those making appointments to Boards and Commissions as well as public office. Its Chairman was Zontian Dr. Florence Medaris, Club President at the time.
By May 1947, the Club had 95 members, ranking fifth in size among Zonta clubs in the United States. Along with other women’s service clubs, Zonta advocated for a woman to be appointed to the vacated Board of Public Welfare.
In June of 1947, Club member Meta M. Steinfort was installed as Chairman of District 2. In November she became the first Governor of Zonta District 6.
Advocacy continued in 1947 as the Club along with the Whitefish Bay Woman’s Club asked the state planning board, state highway commission, and state legislative library to propose legislation determining the permitting or prohibition of billboards along Rt. 30.
In April of 1948, the Club submitted two names of women for the School Board to the Inter-Group Council for Women in Public Policy for consideration and support. Also in that month Milwaukee Mayor Frank P. Zeidler addressed the Club regarding why women should participate in city government. In the following October, the Club submitted names of women for the Harbor Board. By 1960, we know that the Secretary of the Harbor Board Commissioners was Zontian Julia McCarthy.
In October of 1948, The Milwaukee Journal reported that “Mrs. Paula Lynagh of the Zonta club submitted a proposed resolution for county board consideration” of a juvenile home on the county institutions grounds and the creation of a full-time juvenile court. The resolution was the result of a two-year study and was supported by twenty women’s clubs.
The 1940s also saw Zontian Breta Griem co-author of “The Best from Midwest Kitchens” (1946) as the host of a popular local cooking show on WTMJ from 1949 to 1962.
Breta Griem (ca. 1954) is on the left. Photo from WTMJ Archives
Becoming a Zontian in 1949, Greta W. Murphy was Vice President of Public Relations and Development in the Milwaukee School of Engineering, a national director of American College Public Relations Association; past president of Wisconsin Chapter, Public Relations Society of America; and past president of Women’s Advertising Club of Milwaukee. She was also a director of Zonta Manor, Inc. and was a Club President. Recognized as a pioneer in the field of public relations in America, Greta Murphy is listed in Marquis’ Who’s Who in the Midwest, in American Women, in Women in Communications, and in 2000 Women of Achievement. Greta served as Club Secretary, Board member, Vice-President, and President (1959-60). She was appointed Regional Governor of Zonta International in 1961-62.