The Emporia Welfare Association Building in Emporia KS is a registered contributing property in the Emporia Historic Downtown District.
331 Merchant
Emporia, KS
66839
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The Emporia Welfare Association Building is an enduring symbol of Emporia’s aspirations as the ideal Progressive-Era community; a community that promised a way out of poverty for those who were willing to work. Before the late nineteenth century, most American workers fell into two categories: farm laborers and small business owners or shopkeepers. But as agriculture became increasingly mechanized and catalog vendors and chain stores encroached on small shops, cities (large and small) became home to a growing class of wage earners whose livelihoods could be dashed by a single accident or illness. In 1913, inspired by Jane Adams, “Christian influences," and "high ideals,” a group of women students at the College of Emporia pioneered a nationwide movement to encourage women to pursue careers in social work. After focusing their attention on European war refugees, the Social Service Club joined forces with other Emporia organizations – the Emporia Social Service Committee and the Emporia Welfare Committee - to identify and fill community needs by providing jobs for those who were able - and necessities to those who were not. The combined efforts of these organizations culminated when wealthy widow Margaret Warren commissioned the Emporia Welfare Association Building in 1927. This distinctive Mission Revival Style Building, designed by architect J. H. Felt, would signal a new kind of social welfare agency just as the Great Depression loomed. William Allen White was significantly involved with the launch of the women’s club, and he actually coined the phrase “Social Service Club”.
We are blessed to have the support of former club members and the Lyon County History Center who also understand how important preserving the past is to ensuring a future. Most importantly, LCHC notes that "this structure has stood the test of time for 90 years… It housed three organizations that worked toward the betterment of Emporia and Lyon County. It stands as a testament of the power of generosity.." Historic preservation is an act of generosity by those brave enough to undertake it.
The building was purchased by a local area preservationist in Fall of 2019, and in March of 2020 was awarded a Heritage Trust Fund Grant to preserve and secure the outer envelope of this historic Emporia landmark.
