Women's Club of Trinity College
The Women's Club of Trinity College began in January 1971 as The Trinity College Girls Club, organized by a group of female staff members. The purpose of the club was “to give [members] an opportunity to socialize outside of working hours, to pursue common interests and activities, and to cooperate with other organizations in advancing the welfare of the community.” To this end, the club participated in both college and community projects, such as campus beautification, supporting the campus day care center, the Big Sisters program, and working with schools and churches in the wider Hartford community. Annual community projects included donating food and money to local food banks. Additionally, the club held social events, such as annual Christmas parties, progressive dinners, game nights, and trips to the theater.
In 1976, the club moved from an annual calendar of events to an academic year calendar, and in December of 1978, the club changed its name to The Women's Club of Trinity College. In his approval of the name change, then-president Theodore Lockwood wrote in a private letter, “I approve the change although I know that the accomplishments of the Club under either name have been and will continue to be excellent.”
In 1979, the club established and endowed an award to be given during the spring Honors Day ceremony to a student from the Individualized Degree Program (IDP), for “superior academic and personal achievement.” In 1989, the IDP Award was given to not one, but two students, and continues to be awarded each year. At its inception, the endowment for the award was funded solely by the club's fundraising efforts, most notably, the creation and sale of a cookbook, A Book of Favorite Recipes, in 1982.
The 1983-1984 academic year was the last formally structured year for the Women's Club. At an informal meeting in September 1984, club members came to the consensus that the club would function as a social club for that year, meeting once a month for lunch or dinner on and off campus.