The first National Women’s Rights Convention was held in Worcester in 1850. On the 30th anniversary of that conference, a group of local women formed the Worcester Woman’s Club, including some of the wives and daughters of Worcester’s prominent industrialists. They met in members’ homes and ran committees on literature, history, art, science, education and social entertainment.

When membership grew to 600 women in 1898, the club urgently needed a large meeting space. It hired Josephine Wright Chapman, one of the country’s first female architects, to build the “Woman’s Club Building” on a triangular piece of land donated by Stephen Salisbury III. Adjacent to the Worcester Art Museum, the Federal Revival-style building soon became known by the name of its larger auditorium: Tuckerman Hall (named for Salisbury’s grandmother, Elizabeth Tuckerman). Tuckerman Hall hosted important cultural, educational, philanthropic, and social activity throughout much of the 20th century. National and international speakers, including Woodrow Wilson and John F. Kennedy, lectured from its stage. The Worcester Woman’s Club promoted educational reforms, such as public kindergartens and vocational training, and advocated for public health improvements.

In 1981, the club sold Tuckerman Hall to the Massachusetts Symphony Orchestra, using the proceeds for community enrichment and scholarships. For over a century, its members have contributed their time and talents to improving the quality of life for Worcester residents. The spirit of those women lives on in this permanent gift to support local students in their pursuit of higher education.