North Carolina Sorosis

North Carolina Sorosis, organized in Wilmington on 4 Dec. 1895, was the first federated woman's club in North Carolina. Begun by 15 community-minded women, the organization's name comes from the well-known New York woman's club, Sorosis, a Greek word that means a cluster of flowers on one stem. Highlighting the group's endeavors was a circulating library begun in 1897. The original collection and a 1906 donation of 1,700 books formed the nucleus of the present New Hanover County Public Library. In the early 1900s, North Carolina Sorosis actively promoted better sanitary conditions-assisting housewives in complying with city sanitary ordinances, promoting the use of garbage cans with lids, and protesting the use of the common drinking cup found at every neighborhood water pump. Members helped organize the ywca.org">Young Women's Christian Association in 1913 and in the early 1920s began a night school for the residents of the Delgado Mill community. In 1925 Sorosis was instrumental in the city of Wilmington's purchase of Greenfield Lake as a recreational park.

Sorosis members were committed to home front activities during both world wars, selling war bonds, making bandages, and canning fruit. In the 1950s Sorosis first awarded a scholarship for a girl to attend Wilmington College and financially assisted Girls Club (today known as Girls, Inc.). The organization, with its younger associates, Junior Sorosis, looking on, celebrated its 100th anniversary on 21 May 1995.