More than 20 attendees gathered at Dixon United Methodist Church, 209 N. Jefferson St., from 2 to 4 p.m. Aug. 17 for a trivia-style presentation on Dixon Women’s Improvement Club History, hosted by the Dixon Historical Society. Discussion was led by Teri Brown, the current Dixon Women’s Improvement Club president. 

DIXON, CA (MPG) - The Dixon Historical Society hosted a trivia-style presentation Aug. 17, highlighting the legacy of the Dixon Women’s Improvement Club, the city’s oldest women’s organization established in 1899.

According to Kim Schroeder-Evans, Dixon Historical Society president and improvement club member, the presentation was the idea of her mother and improvement club member Diane Schroeder.

More than 20 attendees gathered at Dixon United Methodist Church, 209 N. Jefferson St., from 2 to 4 p.m. Aug. 17 for the themed presentation, led by Teri Brown, the current Dixon Women’s Improvement Club president.

The event celebrated the club’s history of civic contributions, including its instrumental role in establishing Dixon’s first public library.

Community members and Dixon Women’s Improvement Club members joined together to answer questions about the historic club's history. The top three scoring tables earned prizes.

“I found five things that we are known for and continue to be known for: Carnegie Library, Dixon Women's Improvement Park, scholarships, community grants and our Community Resource Guide,” Brown said

After community announcements and a moment of thanks to supporters, Brown began her presentation with an interactive trivia session.

Prizes were awarded to the top three tables as participants tested their knowledge of the club’s evolution, from its inception as the Shakespeare Club to its current community outreach projects. In time, the club eventually evolved into a study club, then an art club and finally the Dixon Women’s Improvement Club in 1905.

“All these women’s clubs were avenues for women to learn,” Brown said

Brown highlighted the club’s early advocacy for public services, including a successful 1911 petition to secure a $10,000 Carnegie grant for the Dixon Library, the first in Solano County.

“Our library is the first in Solano County,” said Brown. “With a library, you can travel everywhere without leaving your home.”

Attendees also learned about the club’s impact on local recreation, including the establishment of the Dixon Women’s Improvement Park and preservation efforts. The park’s largest parcel was donated by Oscar C. Schultze.

The Dixon Women’s Improvement, initially established in 1899 as the Shakespeare Club, has existed in perpetuity to support the needs of women and the Dixon community as a whole. Teri Brown, alongside Jewel Fink and Diane Schroeder, researched 102 years of recorded meeting minutes in preparation for this presentation.

The club awarded its first scholarship in 1970, $200 at the time, which is equivalent to more than $1,700 today. This year, the club awarded $6,000 in scholarships and has distributed 97 scholarships totaling $75,000 to date. It has also granted $24,000 across 45 community grants since 2017.

Brown thanked club members Diane Schroeder and Jewel Fink for their help reading more than a century of handwritten meeting minutes. According to Brown, the club was officially recognized as a nonprofit organization in July 2019.

Museum curator Frank McKinney also addressed the audience, introducing updates to the museum’s displays under the new exhibit title, “Dixon: A Walkthrough History.”

“You’ve got the artifacts, the sound and the actual narrative of Dixon, so come check it out,” McKinney said.

The museum at 125 W. A St. is open from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Thursdays and from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays. Memberships include event access, announcements and a quarterly newsletter.

The historical society’s final presentation of the year will be held Oct. 19.

For more information about the Dixon Historical Society and its presentations, visit online dixonhistoricalsociety.org or call 707-693-3044.