History of the Colorado Federation of Business and Professional Women's Organization

In 1917 World War I was raging - the United States was at war in Europe. With the absence of the men of our nation to operate the businesses and factories, the federal government turned to the women of the U.S. to keep the country running. The War Department engaged the services of the YWCA in identifying and unifying business and professional women across the U.S. After two years of research, information exchange and rallying of female forces, the National Federation of Business and Professional Women’s Clubs of the USA (BPW/USA) was born. Created alongside BPW/USA was the Colorado Federation of Business and Professional Women’s Clubs, Inc. (BPW/Colorado). Both organizations were founded in the summer of 1919 and together helped keep the country running during time of war, while paving the way for future generations of business and professional women.

Over the years, BPW/Colorado has initiated, supported and participated in various endeavors, including legislative and political issues, human and civil rights issues, and health, education and quality of life issues. Beginning in 1922 with the establishment of a state scholarship fund to assist young women with educational endeavors, to today and the support for pay equity, BPW/Colorado has been active at both the state and national levels to improve the working and living world of working women. Here are just a few of BPW’s accomplishments and endeavors:

1922 Established state scholarship fund to assist young women with educational endeavors;
1924 Endorsed and lobbied for passage of Child Labor Law;
1930 International Federation of Business and Professional Women was established;
1944 Obtained jury service for women;
1947 Established the Florence Sabin Grant for graduate work in public health;
1955 Equal Pay for Equal Work bill passed in the Colorado Legislature;
1950 -1959 Instrumental in introducing driver’s education into Colorado high school system; and participated in a national         study to make traffic signs and signals uniform across the country;
1964 Colorado Commission on the Status of Women was created by Governor John Love;
1964 Young Career Woman Program established at the national and state levels to honor and assist successful young         women;
1972 Chartered the first Samothrace Club for college-age business and professional women;
1972 Colorado passed the Equal Rights Amendment;
1976 Colorado Business and Professional Women’s Foundation established to grant loans and scholarships to Colorado         women who need assistance in achieving educational goals;
1981 Anasazi National Conservation Area was established by Congress at the request of the BPW/Colorado to preserve         and protect the ruins;
1985 -1986 Colorado Women’s Hall of Fame created;
1989 Colorado Women’s Leadership Coalition founded;
1990 -1994 Colorado Coalition for Choice was formed.

These are only a sampling of the many initiatives and endeavors in which BPW/Colorado has been involved for over eighty years. While the road behind us has been sometimes difficult, the road ahead awaits us with excitement and challenges, and the opportunity to continue making history.