Zonta Club of New York

Our History

The roaring twenties roared. The flappers flapped and the bootleggers prospered. It was the year 1923 and the Zonta Club of New York, after a first failed attempt, was formally chartered.

History is often a study in contrast — so was the Zonta Club of New York a contrast to the decadent activities of the speakeasy age. No cocktails were necessary to activate the interesting and inspiring meetings.

Marian De Forest was the founder of the first Zonta Club of Buffalo, New York and shortly after, formed and became president of the confederation of Zonta Clubs, comprised of nine founding clubs-Buffalo, Rochester, Binghamton, Elmira, Syracuse, Erie, Utica, Ithaca, New York City and Detroit. The Confederation later become Zonta International with incorporation of Toronto, Canada in 1927. Ms. De Forest saw Zonta grow from nine to 124 clubs that were established in the United States, Canada, and Europe.

The Zonta Club of New York was fortunate in the selection of Dr. Rosalie Slaughter Morton as the first president.

The Zonta Club Members always the one great service of Zonta - the fellowships of other Zontians and the satisfactions, which came from the implementation of the service the service projects and the professional achievements of the members.

The Membership of the early Zonta Club of New York City included many famous women, such as Jane Cowl, an American film, stage actress and playwright; Lucille La Verne, legendary stage actress; Blanche Yurka, film and stage actress; Harriet Seymour; Carolyn Beebe; Mildred Dilling, first harp who performed for five US presidents; and Princess Chinquilla, of the Cheyenne tribe of Native Americans, brought knowledge of an old and beautiful culture.

After Amelia Earhart’s first women solo non-stop across the Atlantic in 1932, the Zonta Club of New York sponsored a large dinner held at the Waldorf Astoria Hotel at which time, at which time, the statue designed by a member, Baroness Silvercrys, was presented to Amelia. A broadcast from Radio City, honoring Zonta Day was on the program as “Let’s Talk It Over”. The speaker on the program were George Putnam, Amelia Earhart’s Husband, Suzzane Silvercrys, who designed the trophy for Amelia.

During the Great the Depression and World War Two, Dorothy Kemble and Helen Bradley as president kept the club functioning. In 1948, a group, with difficulty, persuaded Florence Stephens to become president. The membership had fallen and they all agreed to work hard to support Florence and the Zonta Club of New York. As she later became Governor of the Zonta District, the group was pleased at the results of their efforts.

By the time that Dorothy Funck become the club president in 1949, the membership increased to sixty-two members, Many good meetings were held and active programs followed. The Zonta Club of New York acted as co-host with the Mount Vernon and New Rochelle Clubs for the fall conferences of District 3.

Louise Eaten was the president from 1952-53. Her partner, Ms. Vollmer was a gifted Entertainer who was very generous to the Zonta Club of New York. Dorothy West become the president for 1953-55. It was in this period that the service clubs were organized to hold one meeting a year. Maxime Vollmer was the speaker at the joint meeting.

Muriel Reynolds, an officer of the Standard Oil Company of New Jersey, was the president from 1955-57. Funds were given to the Amelia Earhart Scholarship, towards Hungarian relief and to the Issac T. Hopper Home for Women. Mildred Oak became president in 1957. It was a busy year, as preparation had to be made for the Zonta International Convention, to be held in 1958.

Maude Collester became president in 1958 and with Eleanor Cavanaugh as Charmain of the Zonta International Convention and other members of the club proved the New York Club a successful host to the Zonta International Convention. The membership in 1959 and 1960 was 74. The Zonta Club of New York entertained thirty Zontains from abroad and thirty-five from other clubs domestically.

Ordway Clifford was the president from 1960-1962. In 1960 the Service Party was charged by Elsie Kerber and held at the Carlyle Hotel. As had been the custom, for several years its and donations were sent to the House of the Hold Comforter.