The General Federation of Women's Clubs Headquarters, also known as the Miles Mansion, is a social clubhouse headquarters in Washington, D.C. Built as a private residence in 1875, it has served as the headquarters of the General Federation of Women's Clubs (GFWC) since 1922. It was declared a National Historic Landmark in 1991 for its association with the federation, which serves as an umbrella organization for women's clubs, a social movement dating to the mid-19th century.[2][3] Tours of the headquarters, available by appointment, provide information about the activities of the GFWC and several historic rooms, including the 1734 entryway, the Julia Ward Howe Drawing Room, the dining room, music room and the GFWC International President's office. The headquarters also features changing exhibits of art, photographs and artifacts from its collections.
The GFWC headquarters is located southeast of Dupont Circle, on the south side of N Street between St. Matthew's Court and 17th Street. It is a four-story masonry structure, built out of ashlar stone in a Renaissance Revival style. The entrance is in a slightly raised basement level, sheltered by a splayed glass and iron marquee with supporting ironwork brackets. The main floor windows are elongated, with paired casement windows topped by transoms, and keystoned lintels. A polygonal bay projects from the first two floors on the left, and a shallower rectangular one projects to the right of the entrance; both are topped by lower balustrades. The interior has been adapted for the GFWC's use, but retains some original finishes.[3]
The house was built in 1875 by Rear Admiral William Radford, at a time when the Dupont Circle area was being developed as a fashionable residential neighborhood. In 1895 he sold the house to the state of Massachusetts, which gave it to General Nelson A. Miles in recognition for his military service. It was next owned by John Jay White, a big-game hunter who traveled with Theodore Roosevelt, and who commissioned the murals by Albert Herter that adorn some of its walls. In 1922 the house was purchased by the GFWC for use as its headquarters, a role it continues to play today.[3]
The GFWC represents the culmination of smaller-scale women's organizations that sprang up in the 19th century, generally to improve the conditions for working and single women. It was the first nationwide organization of this type, enabling a broader scope of influence by these local and regional organizations.[3]
^ ab. National Historic Landmark summary listing. National Park Service. Archived from the original on 2011-06-06. Retrieved 2008-05-08.
^ abcdPage Putnam Miller and Jill S. Topolski (June 6, 1991). "National Register of Historic Places Registration: General Federation of Women's Clubs Headquarters" (pdf). National Park Service. {{cite journal}}: Cite journal requires |journal= (help) and Accompanying photos, exterior, from 1989(32 KB)
External linksedit
General Federation of Women's Clubs web site
December 17, 2023
general, federation, women, clubs, headquarters, also, known, miles, mansion, social, clubhouse, headquarters, washington, built, private, residence, 1875, served, headquarters, general, federation, women, clubs, gfwc, since, 1922, declared, national, historic. The General Federation of Women s Clubs Headquarters also known as the Miles Mansion is a social clubhouse headquarters in Washington D C Built as a private residence in 1875 it has served as the headquarters of the General Federation of Women s Clubs GFWC since 1922 It was declared a National Historic Landmark in 1991 for its association with the federation which serves as an umbrella organization for women s clubs a social movement dating to the mid 19th century 2 3 Tours of the headquarters available by appointment provide information about the activities of the GFWC and several historic rooms including the 1734 entryway the Julia Ward Howe Drawing Room the dining room music room and the GFWC International President s office The headquarters also features changing exhibits of art photographs and artifacts from its collections General Federation of Women s Clubs HeadquartersU S National Register of Historic PlacesU S National Historic LandmarkGeneral Federation of Women s Clubs Headquarters in 2020Show map of Washington D C Show map of the United StatesLocation1734 N St NW Washington D C Coordinates38 54 25 N 77 2 25 W 38 90694 N 77 04028 W 38 90694 77 04028Architectural styleRenaissanceNRHP reference No 91002057Significant datesAdded to NRHPDecember 4 1991 1 Designated NHLDecember 4 1991 2 Contents 1 Description and building history 2 See also 3 References 4 External linksDescription and building history editThe GFWC headquarters is located southeast of Dupont Circle on the south side of N Street between St Matthew s Court and 17th Street It is a four story masonry structure built out of ashlar stone in a Renaissance Revival style The entrance is in a slightly raised basement level sheltered by a splayed glass and iron marquee with supporting ironwork brackets The main floor windows are elongated with paired casement windows topped by transoms and keystoned lintels A polygonal bay projects from the first two floors on the left and a shallower rectangular one projects to the right of the entrance both are topped by lower balustrades The interior has been adapted for the GFWC s use but retains some original finishes 3 The house was built in 1875 by Rear Admiral William Radford at a time when the Dupont Circle area was being developed as a fashionable residential neighborhood In 1895 he sold the house to the state of Massachusetts which gave it to General Nelson A Miles in recognition for his military service It was next owned by John Jay White a big game hunter who traveled with Theodore Roosevelt and who commissioned the murals by Albert Herter that adorn some of its walls In 1922 the house was purchased by the GFWC for use as its headquarters a role it continues to play today 3 The GFWC represents the culmination of smaller scale women s organizations that sprang up in the 19th century generally to improve the conditions for working and single women It was the first nationwide organization of this type enabling a broader scope of influence by these local and regional organizations 3 See also editList of National Historic Landmarks in Washington D C National Register of Historic Places listings in the upper NW Quadrant of Washington D C References edit nbsp Wikimedia Commons has media related to General Federation of Women s Clubs Headquarters National Register Information System National Register of Historic Places National Park Service January 23 2007 a b General Federation of Women s Club Headquarters National Historic Landmark summary listing National Park Service Archived from the original on 2011 06 06 Retrieved 2008 05 08 a b c d Page Putnam Miller and Jill S Topolski June 6 1991 National Register of Historic Places Registration General Federation of Women s Clubs Headquarters pdf National Park Service a href Template Cite journal html title Template Cite journal cite journal a Cite journal requires journal help and Accompanying photos exterior from 1989 32 KB External links editGeneral Federation of Women s Clubs web site Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title General Federation of Women 27s Clubs Headquarters amp oldid 1091258055, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
