OUR HISTORY

The National Federation of Republican Women (NFRW) was founded at a conference held at the Palmer House in Chicago, September 23-24, 1938.

The organization originally was known as the National Federation of Women's Republican Clubs of America.  The name was changed in January 1953 to the National Federation of Republican Women.

The seal of the NFRW is the American Eagle, king of birds, holding a quill pen and standing guard over our most treasured tool of democracy - the ballot box.  The seal was adopted at the biennial convention in 1944.

The Tennessee Federation of Republican Women (TNFRW) was founded in 1955 under the leadership of Mrs. Alice Garrison.  She became the first president of the Tennessee Federation. She organized women's groups in her own district and across the state before Tennessee became affiliated with the National Federation.

Women from Tennessee who served on the Republican National Committee preceding the Tennessee Federation of Republican Women were:

Mrs. Mary Giles Howard  
Mrs. Beulah Overall Hughes  
Mrs. Ruby Roach McLane  
Mrs. Lupton Patton  
Mrs. Irene B. Parker  

1924-29
1928-32
1942-53
1955-60
1960

Mrs. Mary G. Howard served as an associate member of the RNC.  National Committeewomen serving since the affiliation of the Federation are:

Mrs. Louise G. Reece  
Mrs. Jeanne Geraghty  
Mrs. Peggy Spurrier  
Mrs. Maida Pearson  
Mrs. Alice Algood  
Mrs. Lilian Coker  

First District
Third District
Ninth District
Ninth District
Seventh District
Third District

Tennessee Federation of Republican Women
Past Presidents

1955-1962
1963-1966
1967-1969
1970-1973
1974-1977
1978-1981
1982-1983
1983
1984-1987
1988-1991
1002-1993
1994-1997
1998-1999
1999-2001
2001-2003
2004-2005
Alice Eder (Mrs. Garrison)
Julia Bales Calloway
Ann Tuck (Mrs. James R.)
Ruth Tobias (Mrs. Melvin)
Dorothy Clawson (Mrs. John)
Eleanor Rooks (Mrs. Ned)
Frances Turner (Mrs. Tom)
Louise Chamberlain (Mrs. Buford)
Reba Brown (Mrs. Hebert)
Ellida Fri (Mrs. Jim)
Marcy Hale
Barbara McAndrew (Mrs. Y. J.)
Shirley Curry
Claire Bawcom (Mrs. Richard)
Betty Cannon (Mrs. Jim)
Annette Pannell (Mrs. Winston E.)
Chattanooga
Morristown
Nashville
Chattanooga or Signal Mt.
Morristown
Brownsville
Murfreesboro
Greeneville
Chattanooga
Memphis
Brentwood
Dandridge
Waynesboro
Franklin
Nashville
Kingsport